AJJ

Coincidentally I have just been listening to a recording of Daniel Roth playing 18th Century and 19th/20th Century music at St-Sulpice. OK the Cavaille-Coll 'caged' Recit and big GO reed sounds are there but so are the Basse de Trompette and 'classical' Cromorne etc. S-S is a bit of a 'special case' having a large ammount of the 1781 Clicquot still around after the 1858 C-C work but all the same the newer and older work sounds (at least to my less than educated ears in the detailed matter of historical voicing voicing etc.) to have come from the same 'sound world' so to speak. AJJ

Here's another new one from overseas - http://www.organrecitals.com/s/sprc.html I have not heard of this company though I believe that another branch of the family is also building in Germany. Has anyone heard it or have any info. There are some interesting pictures on the church website if you scroll down. http://www.stpeters-roath.co.uk/events.htm The company website has some interesting work on it too. http://www.spaeth.ch/ AJJ

Try this - precentor@guildford-cathedral.org AJJ

Wantage PC also seemed ok last time I played it and I quite like Tewkesbury too. AJJ

My former teacher and choirmaster at Barnet Parish Church David Patrick was previously Harold Darke's pupil and assistant at Cornhill at one time - he might be able to help and could be contacted via his music publishing website (there's also some good music there!) - http://www.impulse-music.co.uk/fitzjohnmusic.htm Darke did occasional concerts with us - he composed an anthem for us and I think he also wrote an organ piece used at David Patrick's wedding. The current Organists' Review also has an article about Darke. AJJ

Most of the slightly off the beaten track music that I have tried to get over the years have been found either by Allegro Music who are now in the wilds of Herefordshire or the Organ Historical Society in the USA. Both have excellent websites and can be found by a quick Google. The other thing I have done on occasions s to write to the performers on CDs etc. and sometimes copies have even been forthcoming - one very kind Belgian recitalist was a great help and likewise the composer of a piece I wanted sent a copy from Canada. AJJ

And I think perhaps Philip Baker - ex Osmond still looks after it - he has quite a tuning round in this area. AJJ

There's a church near here where they they are practically beseiged by people wanting to hold weddings there. Virtually none come from the parish or area needless to say. The building is small, Victorian (quite nice actually) and situated on an idyllic island in a lake that forms part of a large estate including the 'big house' (also impressively Victorian) which is actively being marketed as a reception venue. There has been some friction about all this and even a BBC documentary! The organist there (and pumping assistant - there is no electricity - see below!) could just about work full time though the repertoire must be somewhat limited by the instrument. The income is a welcome one for the parish I would think. http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=K00053 AJJ

Try the JAV 2 CD set with Tom Murray narrating and playing if you want proof of this - he goes through everything including the sound of the blowers! http://www.pipeorgancds.com/thommurplayw1.html AJJ

This sounds better - I wasn't going to chip in on the trains debate having no interest at all except in the fact that the one from Bristol to Bath today did all it should on time for myself and small daughters. (Mind you I did meet the Assistant Organist of Bath Abbey at one end of the journey). However - a pint of either the brew from my local pub's micro brewery or Adnams in Southwold or surrounding area (it doesn't travel well I think) is a different matter. AJJ

And Elizabeth Stratford at Arundel Cathedral. AJJ

I have a friend who gained a post at an important church in Denmark a year or two ago - not somewhere out in the wilds but large parish, good organ, music festival etc. Some years ago there seemed also to be a migration of organists in the direction of Scandinavia (one of my own organ teachers went) - is this still going on in any shape or form? It would also be interesting to know if any organists from abroad were taking up posts over here. AJJ

I played this some years ago now but still remember the sounds vividly - I could live with it week in week out. There is superb workmanship and above all a French/German synthesis that really worked with Bach etc. and the Couperin school. The Clicquot style reeds on the Recit are amazingly 'energised' and the rest has the typical Danish style one associates with the smaller companies that were building instruments there during the 80s - perhaps more individuality and ingenuity in design than the bigger firms. http://www.saeddenkirke.dk/a.php?i=215 AJJ

Sorry I didn't get to your Bordeaux recital after all Paul - transport problems in the form of a blocked motorway! The Qouirin/Dom Bedos organ should be on every one's list of 'greats' for the French repertoire of Couperin, De Grigny etc. I managed to get hold of a CD down there of a live recording of Marie Claire Alain playing the Couperin Parish Mass plus plainsong - fantastic sound!!! AJJ

Coincidentally I pass the lane to this one twice a day on the way to/from work! Another GG compass oddity with an interesting history somewhat off the beaten track down here can be found at Laverton - 'needs a proper restoration though - Osmonds seem to have done some strange things in the late 60s. http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=D01983 AJJ

Thanks AJJ

This sounds interesting - who is building it please? AJJ

...........and John Scott at St Thomas, New York, Michael McCarthy at Washington National Cathedral and David Briggs. AJJ

'Started off in the choir at Barnet PC with piano lessons from David Patrick then a Music degree at Southampton University with organ lessons from Jeremy Blandford. PGCE in Winchester then teaching in Worcestershire and Lincoln with more organ lessons from Roger Bryan at Lincoln Cathedral and a spell as a supernumary in the choir there. For a time also Assistant Conductor of the Lincoln Chorale. More teaching in Bristol and more singing at Bath Abbey together with a further teaching diploma at Bath Spa University. Took early retirement in 2012 after twenty two years first as HO Perfoming Arts at an 11 - 16 school in Andover then latterly 'just' HO Music - slightly part time - to do more composing etc. Organist at St Peter's Stourton, Wilts. beside the fabulous Stourhead NT estate - but not every week! One wife, two daughters - and a 2 man house organ. A

You can also read about it in the latest 'Choir and Organ' AJJ

I am trying to get hold of details/spec. for the new 4 manual organ - can anyone help please? AJJ

Maybe Ralph Downes will do the same at the RFH. AJJ

August OR arrived today - it seems to be quite a good read from what I've seen so far. AJJ

I know someone who had this happen at St Pauls where some ff Dome was still conected to where he thought was only pp strings for a psalm!! AJJ

You are probably closest to the truth here!! AJJ