AJJ

And well deserved too - he does a fantastic job. AJJ

Does anyone know what is happening here?

There seemed to be quite a few Bombarde and Organ recitals posted when we were in northern France last year - isn't a Bombarde a wind instrument like a medieval Shawm - Bretonne Folk etc. One would have thought that the noise it would make would possibly drown out an Ocarina though! AJJ

The overall top 20 is a bit scary too!! AJJ

To put it mildly! AJJ

And don't forget the former Gloucester Cathedral Tuba! AJJ

These pictures (as are the Worcester ones on another thread) are giving an amazing opportunity to view the organ taking shape - thanks for this - any more Aubertins heading this way? AJJ

And here's another one! AJJ

Has anyone ever forgotten which transposition of a hymn tune they are playing mid hymn? Our hymnal has alternative high and low versions in some cases and I ended up playing an atonal version of 'I vow to the my country' when this happened - it's the same sort of feeling as when driving home from work today I suddenly realised that I had passed through a couple of villages without the fact actually registering! AJJ PS.....suddenly mid piece finding that the photocopies (!) are in the wrong order causes a similar feeling of helplessness.

I let my younger daughter (7) sit at the console for one of the remembrance services that I had to play yesterday - half way through one of the hymns the order of service was removed from the music desk so that she could check what was coming next - she was oblivious ro the fact that not only was I following the words but could not actually hear from the congregation what verse I was on. Mercifully my guess was right and we all ended the hymn at the same place. But.. she also had her new joke book with her so mid sermon we also had .....'What did the elephant............' etc. in a very loud whisper. She really means well but...! AJJ

There's a rather lovely version of the Adagio from Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony done by Jeffrey Smith of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco - he recorded it on the Schoenstein at St Paul's K Street in Washington when he was DOM there. AJJ PS The CD concerned also has some fantastic choral singing - scroll down here to take a look - the disc title is 'Show Yourself Joyful'.

'Happens to us all! AJJ

I think it is still there but at the start of the particular review section. AJJ

Oh Dear.....................! AJJ PS Mind you PCND has gained a 'Chair' organ so it all can't be bad

The Bradford on Avon Music Centre is a smashing little hall and for small scale events the Rook Lane Chapel in Frome is effective too. AJJ

The recent 'Grand Chorus' set of CDs played on South London organs did this. AJJ

Thanks - I will. AJJ

I do too - 'even semi transcribe bits myself. Some of the easy orchestra stuff from school works quite well played straight from the score/piano reduction. They've had chunks of Star Wars done this way - Peter and the Wolf is a possibility, I've got Elizabethan Serenade ready and does anyone know The Procession of the Sardar by Ipolitov Ivanov?- 'fantastic piece - I'm surprised there isn't a 'proper' organ version already!! AJJ

Spec. and potted organ history, biog, a little about the music and perhaps why it works on the Romsey instrument. AJJ

Mind you I had a similar comment some years ago from a long past Sub Dean of Lincoln when he pointed out that sandals were inappropriate garb (even under a cassock in high summer - when at least one other singer was wearing shorts) for midweek evensong in the Cathedral. AJJ

I'd be the same in your sitation - even here at home I keep a close eye on my two daughters when they decide to have a go though the problem here is more often sticky fingers on the keys. I once played a new organ ('can't remember where) with a notice on the console instructing players to wear socks or organ shoes but not on any account outdoor shoes. AJJ

I feel that you do yourself something of an injustice David - you seemed to manage extremely well at Marlborough College with boots on as I remember! AJJ

I must admit that I have never had specific shoes for playing - probably because I am highly likely not to have them with me when I need them. Since the house organ arrived however I have been much more prone to not playing in shoes at all - I would probably not do this at church however - with the pedal board there being in the state that it is! AJJ

We do this one too - there is an effective setting by David Halls from Salisbury Cathedral that appeared in the local Diocesan Choral Festival book a year or two ago which was 'outed' for a while and was congregationally friendly yet interesting enough to challenge choir and organist. We did it for a while as an experiment and then returned to Thorne - possibly because of congregational preference. AJJ

Likewise Geoffrey Atkinson at fagus music.com AJJ