AJJ

This will explain I think. AJJ

Edited due to other postings (perhaps they could all be combined) but the two quotations on the front page of Stephen's website sums it all up I think. He will be missed. AJJ

And maybe also the fact that if one is used to an instant reaction electric action then anything (except maybe an instant reaction mechanical action) is going to have its own oddities. Last time I was at Bristol Cathedral it seemed ok but very much a pneumatic action (albeit in quite good condition) with all one would expect from this type of mechanism. AJJ

Good one pc!! (2 slice or 4?) AJJ

I have a Wyvern Sonata - 'very happy with it. AJJ

I have a vague memory of playing one with harmonium type pedals - 'can't remember where though. Something like this maybe - though it now has an electric blower. AJJ

This sounds fairly normal - A while ago I played for a concert of Baroque music on this one - it worked quite well soundwise - you could get quite a bit of sparkle with the octave coupler - fine for Monteverdi etc. (!) but as you say - then the action was decidedly unreliable - ' it maybe works better now. (I'd still rather have my Wyvern at home though!) AJJ

I get someone else to do that! AJJ

And to those like me who need to 'cheat' at the start of the Bach P in D major!! AJJ

'Pouring with rain - kids occupied downstairs, wife at work - 'found this - exciting stuff!! Check out his 'Overture Libanese' (anyone here play this?) and the Messaien that appear as 'choices' on the RHS also. I find his music reasonably accessible from a listeners POV - there are certainly links back to Langlais, Dupre, Vierne etc. AJJ

There's a fairly recent one here - Paul Hale was consultant I think. AJJ

But not on any Wyvern I suspect. AJJ

...............one of the main reasons I got mine - it does very little that a 'real' organ doesn't. I even tried to get them to replace the 'Auto Bass' thing - where the Pedal plays on the lowest part of the Great - but they couldn't give me anything worthwhile in return! AJJ PS 'Anyone got a digital Cymbelstern or know whether they exist?

My 8 month old Wyvern Sonata is all I could have asked for - sound, cost and space wise etc. I was worried I would get fed up fairly fast wth the non pipe sounds but this has not happened yet. Above all my technique has improved which would not have happened even if I had spent more time at the church where I regularly play - the organ there is a nice little Victorian 1 man with 'odd' pedals whereas mine is a respectably endowed 2 man. I can also pop in and play whenever I want which I can't do at any local church. I spent a little bit more than the basic cost and bought one with the 'on board' voicing facility so that from the console the individual notes/stops can be adjusted fairly easily. 'Not sure about the half sized pedalboard in the previous but two posting though - mine is a 'standard' r & c. AJJ

Great - thanks! AJJ

There's also a recording of him playing on the big Klais at Altenberg (I think) including a transcription of Danse Macabre - an amazing sound with chamades all over the place, celestes and even a glock. I'd love to know if that were on CD - I've got it as an LP but have not seen it reissued anywhere. AJJ

I find the same with Thomas Murray - scholar etc. but superb 'communicating' musicain too. I'd like to hear him play at Redcliffe or the Cathedral. AJJ

Thanks Tony - 'will do. AJJ

'Came across this semi accidentally - does anyone know any more? It all looks interesting and the whole musical set up very commendable. The NPOR stoplist only has 2 manuals but the pictures have 3?? AJJ

I can still remember the agony as a treble of at least a top C at the end of the response ' Thanks be to GOD' when the former precentor at a certain large eastern county cathedral came in dangerously over high with his bit before - the look of panic on our MD's face was a picture too. He comes on here sometimes (the MD not the precentor) - I wonder if he remembers the event? Then there was also the cantor who started the responses at another eastern counties establishment with what he thought was a note from the organ - to prevent embarassment (and accusation of a 'Carry On' films type sense of humour) all I will say is that one of the alto lay vicars had apparently eaten a particularly potent chilli con carne before the service. The following loud whisper of ''Better out than in'' from the alto in question gave the game away somewhat though! AJJ

Sometime ago I was playing for a wedding - the previous incumbent was returning to take it. At about the time the bride was to arrive the said priest walked in through the church door and waved heartily at me. I immediately started the 'coming in' music thinking that this wave was the signal to do so. It turned out that he was just waving hello as we had not seen eachother for a few years! The bride was nowhere to be seen. Another time I was playing for the installation of a new incumbent at a church where I sometimes deputized. However the order of service given to me in advance was by the time the actual service took place a very out of date first draft. None of the hymns were announced so much of what I played at first was completely wrong. It didn't help that the church was one of those with the console in such a position as for me to not be able to hear much of what was going on anyway! The Archdecon himself eventually had to pay me a visit to sort out the problem! AJJ

Try this - go to the links page and select a country. AJJ

Our local news goes up as far as there - they hadn't mentioned that the water had got into the Abbey as of half an hour ago. AJJ

...........and on occasions on instruments in serious need of money spent on them or unworthy immitations. AJJ PS Where I work - the largest uptake for instrumental tuition next term by a long way is for Guitar, closely followed by Singing and then Piano/Keyboard - the orchestral instruments (despite encouragement etc.) are less popular. Organ I am afraid does not figure.

Someone has done something like this fairly recently in the US - 3 manuals - mechanical action - possibly with the Stopped 8' and a contrasting 4' on the Choir with an Oboe 8' on the Swell. 'Can't remember the actual spec. For me at any rate if I had the space and had not recently purchased my 'digital immitation' (which I incidentally find nicely adequate for my needs) I would go for something more like this or the instrument above than anything with resembling a renaissance positif. Maybe it's my age (or repertoire - or both) but in a medium to small room even contrasting/combining 8s and 4s with some sort of expression is better in my opinion than something more 'in your face and close up'. AJJ