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AJJ

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Posts posted by AJJ

    Abbreviated Combinations

    in The Organ

    Posted

    Peter Hurford once wrote or said ('can't remember which) that we need to play with our ears to a large extent and not with pre ordained rules and regulations to the fore. This would seem to be especially necessary on the sort of organ that most of us have to play large chunks of repertoire on and try to enliven psalms and anthems etc. In consequence - if it sounds the way the player wants it to sound, is achievable to a lesser or greater extent then should be valid. I have encountered seemingly weird combination settings on well used liturgical instruments where obviously the resident player knows what he/she wants and is used to the effects set up. Only time spent experimenting can allow familiarity to be achieved.

    I remember at Bath Abbey before the Klais work - in the Britten Te Deum (whichever one of the two it is) with the quiet start and pedal quavers the RP flues were always coupled down onto the Pedal. This because the Pedal stops all spoke either slowly or at different times (most of them were in different places!) so in order to get any sort of rhythmic accuracy for the Choir to link up with there had to be something close by playing in time - hence the RP. Necessity being the mother of invention etc.

     

    AJJ

    Royal Albert Hall

    in General discussion

    Posted

    Not that, but I've got Francis Grier's LPs from ASV of Messiaen and Franck at Christ Church Oxford in 1982/4 (Franck Chorales I, I, II, Messiaen L'Ascension and Messe de la Pentecote) and still enjoy them.

     

    Paul

     

    Off point - sorry - but the best Messaien I have ever heard on this side of the 'Manche' was Jennifer Bate playing Nativite at Lincoln Cathedral - she really made the Willis sound like a CC - and did a fab. job with 'us down stairs' in the Durufle Requiem after.

     

    AJJ

    The Time Lag

    in The Organ

    Posted

    To return to the original topic:

     

    "I can think of so many places where the fact that one cannot hear the instrument properly makes for difficult registering. In the case of my recital work, I invariably take someone I trust with me to help decide balances."

     

    Thank you Paul for coming back to base! I find it wonderful to see the extent that people manage to drift away from the original line of thought. To be doing the same thing - it found it amazing to have come across so many organists who had never heard how their instruments sound at the back of the church.

     

    I have always felt that every organist should attempt to at least once to get someone else to play a service for them and listen to what their congregation hear (or in some cases have to put up with). For a visiting recitalist a `listener' is essential but it takes guts to go up to a visiting eminent recitalist, coming alone, and point out that what they are doing does not work for the audience.

     

    FF

     

    Some years ago I assisted my former teacher when he did a series of recitals in Denmark. One was in the chapel at Fredericksborg Castle - not on the Compenius but on the 3man 1970s tracker by P.G.Andersen in the upper (I think) of two west galleries. The gallery is very low so the older and ellaborate organ case takes up its whole height - rather like a giant 'Chair' case. The console is attached to the rear and the stoplist rather as one would expect except that the Swell and Positive are both enclosed in the same box. The whole thing of course speaks east into the chapel and in consequence the console might as well be in a different building. The only way that any balance etc. could be worked out was via headphones and a microphone suspended in front of the case (which were needed whenever anyone played anything there) and/or by sending someone downstairs to listen - my job. One wonders quite whether this was an inevitable fact that had to be kept in mind during the planning of the instrument, whether they discovered the problem later or what!!

     

    AJJ

    Royal Albert Hall

    in General discussion

    Posted

    I have just re discovered a CD of the RAH organ played by Francis Grier and Timothy Bond (BBC Radio Classics 15656 91602 - from the Sound Archives) recorded at proms during the early 80s but issued in the mid 90s. Messaien's Nativite and L'Ascension - incredible sounds but somewhat starved of wind in the 'big' bits!! Anyone else heard this?

     

    AJJ

    Exeter Cathedral Organ

    in General discussion

    Posted

    Am I right in thinking that the Solo Organ speaks towards the nave? It certainly sounded like it and would explain why the Clarinet was added to the Choir Organ.

     

    You are correct - the Solo is behind the 'Choir' case in the Nave - Great & Swell speak across the building (which could account for the somewhat 'less than directional' feel to these - away from the console at least) with the Choir speaking into the Choir - as one might guess.

     

    AJJ

    Searching For An Out-of-print Score

    in The Organ

    Posted

    The Scherzo (nicknamed 'La Chasse') that used to be part of Widor's First Symphony and was later removed to make way for the Marche Pontificale.

    Anyone able to help?

     

    My memory might be wrong on this - the CD is packed away during building work - but didn't John Scott Whitely record his for Priory on one of those Great European Organ Discs from York? - maybe he can supply.

     

    AJJ

    40 Stop, 3 Manual Organ

    in Nuts and bolts

    Posted

    I have just spoken with the chap who held keys for Phil Burbeck when he re-balanced the York Tuba Mirabilis some years ago. He has also seen it and says that it is definitely not en chamade! He said that it is mitred and some pipes are hooded - but not horizontal.

    :P

     

    In the mid 70s I had a demo of the organ by the then Assistant, Geoffrey Coffin - he was improvising on the screen console at a polite mezzo forte and he suggested I pop round to the south side of the screen for a minute. As soon as I got there the improvisation revved up considerably and I found myself next to the tubes of the Tuba Mirablis - as PCND says - mitred over the edge of the screen in quite a tortuous manner. Close up the sound was pretty tortouos too!!

     

    AJJ

    That Toccata ...

    in The Organ

    Posted

    'Have just listened to Widor V and VI complete played by Ben Van Oosten at St Ouen Rouen on a CD I had forgotten I had. He makes the Toccata sound like a proper piece of music and the rest is just amazing. I really must try and get there to hear the CC in the flesh!! (And maybe Toulouse too!)

     

    AJJ

    Osmond, Taunton

    in General discussion

    Posted

    The Final Days of George Osmond & Co of Taunton

     

    George Osmond was taken over sometime in the 80's by HNB / Christys

     

    In Jan 1990 the first set of reduncancys was announced, this left only a handfull of staff remaining, but these were also all gone within the next 7 months.

     

    In 1989 George Osmond had 2 large jobs in Progress.

    1. The rebuild of the organ at Chittlehampton Parish Church

    2. The Rebuild of the 3 manual organ in the chappel at Blundels School, Tiverton.

     

    So What happened to them after?

     

    Ivor Stevens - Retired

    Vernon Clarke (metal shop) - Retired

    Derek Simmonds (part time) - Retired

    Donald Irish (ill at the time of the redundancys) - Unknown

    Brian Rodgers - Suspect moved to the Dean

    Phil - Went back to work for the council

    Vernon Higgins (apprentise) - Unknown

    Matthew Brown - Moved to Northampton working in the AE Davies / GDB works

    Stanley Baker (Manager) - Unknown, but suspect he set up on his own as a tuner and voicer.

    Val (sectrety) - Unknown, but suspect she retired

     

    Matthew

     

    Philip S Baker does a lot of work in the Frome area - tuning etc. I had always understood he was ex Osmond too.

     

    AJJ

    One Manual And Pedal

    in Nuts and bolts

    Posted

    My regular 'playing machine' is a one man. village organ dating from the end of the 19th Century - it is enclosed with the exception of the 8' Open and Pedal 16'. None of the stops are divided as such although a stopped bass is provided for the TC 8' stops, there is a nice chorus up to 2' and a little 8' Oboe. Surprisingly quite a lot can be played on it despite its limitations.

    A 12 year old instrument built in the 'Brit.' style by a Swedish organbuilder set me thinking - the stoplist is below but what would other contributors do in a typical village situation (small choir but nothing complex - repertoire wise) with a maximum of say 12 stops on one manual and pedal? Any style, all, no or partial enclosure is allowed as are divided stops, 'suboctave' derivations to pedal or other such things could be ued but on mechanical action.

     

    St Peter & St Sigfrid, Stockholm (Fondell)

    Manual: Dble Diap Bass 16 (TC), Dble Diap Treble 16, OD 8, StD 8, Salic.8, Princ. 4, Ch Fl 4, 15th 2, Mixt III, Cornet Treble III, Trumpet Bass 8, Trumpet Treble 8,

    Pedal: Subbass 16, Trombone 16.

    Manual-Pedal coupler

    Divided stops B/Mid C

    No enclosed stops

     

    I've not heard this but looking at what is there it seems to be quite flexible. I think the 16' based chorus and Trombone will no doubt pack quite a punch but there are seemingly endless permutations with the quieter flues and string along with the Treble Cornet and divided reed. (If I could do anything else I would probably enclose at least part and add a Celeste to pair with the Salicional.)

     

    AJJ

    The Greatest Organ-work That Isn't By Bach?

    in The Organ

    Posted

    Did you mean Eduardo Torres? If so, you can purchase some of his organ works here:

     

    Boileau

     

     

     

    The Saetas by Torres are also available in this rather good anthology (sorry - a bit off topic for this strand - not the greatest music but some very good stuff for services etc.):

     

    A Treasury of Organ Music for Manuals Only: 46 Works by Bach, Mozart, Franck, Saint-Saëns and Others

    Ed. Rollin Smith

    ISBN: 0486435822

    Dover Publications

     

    I got it via Allegro Music in Birmingham but you can buy direct from the Dover website.

     

    AJJ

    Great Reed Of Choice:

    in Nuts and bolts

    Posted

    Greetings,

     

           This is something that interests me very much.  Although I appreciate highly imitative orchestral-styled instruments, my eyes were really opened by listening to the dedication of an 1874 Hook instrument.  The reeds were not at all imitative, yet they were very refined and beautiful to hear - truly what one would consider "organ tone".

     

           It was through this experience that I gained interest in the English style of organ building.  (Although the hauntingly beautiful consoles and cases played a large part as well!)

     

            - Nathan

     

    The whole Great chorus of the 1875 Hook & Hastings at The Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston is an amazing sound. Right from 16 Double, Quint 5-1/3 and the rest up to Mixture IV (with tierce I think), Cymbale VII (best used to top a 'contrapuntal' effect) and Acuta VII (with flat 21st and tierce - maybe best with the reeds) AND 16, 8 and 4 reeds (the latter two made by Zimmerman in Paris). The reeds are big but just as described by TP above. The whole lot together is quite splendid!! This organ was not in good shape when the recordings I have were made (by Thomas Murray) - the earlier (1863) and smaller E & GG Hook at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Boston is in better shape - the overall effect is similar though.

    Funnily enough the Great reeds on the latter sound to me (on CD at any rate) just like the Hill (?) trio on the Great at Bath Abbey before the Klais rebuild.

     

    AJJ

    Music To Avoid Treading In

    in The Organ

    Posted

    Thanks, I don't know these pieces at all. Any idea who publishes them?

     

    Langlais - Vingt-Quatre Pieces pour Orgue ou Harmonium (2 Vols) - Editions Combre (24 Boulevarde Poissonniere, 75009, Paris) - I got them via Allegro Music. There is also a set by Andre Fleury which are good too - I try all these sorts of things for a bit of variety on my little one manual Vowles. Too much C H Trevor can go a long way!

     

    AJJ

    Music To Avoid Treading In

    in The Organ

    Posted

    No offence - just a difference of taste, which is what this thread is all about. But there are some gems I think - what about the 4th movement (Communion) of the Suite Medieval, or No.1 of Huit Pieces Modales? Both are beautifully crafted miniatures.

     

    Some of the bigger stuff is a bit angular, but I do love the Te Deum..............

     

    The two books of 'Orgue de Choeur' type pieces on two staves have some nice miniatures - Priere and Prelude Modale especially.

     

    AJJ

    Carpet Chancels And Bedrooms!

    in General discussion

    Posted

    I speak as one who originally hated the change to the BIOS site, but suspect that the inadequacies (as usual) were mine.   Technology often frustrates this humble peasant!

     

    My main error (I now realise) is that I did not know that the magic letters on the left hand side near the top 'NPOR' are not a description of the whole page/site but are actually a quasi-button (a disguised, and to me, very unclear icon) which opens the hidden archive.

     

    Once you have clicked this, usually the best is search by address - click on this.

    Then, only write the vaguest details in the search box.  I find a large town or even just a county name is sufficiently specific to bring up a range of choices.  You then choose and click on the entry you want more details of.

     

    [Hope I've got this right - I'm sure that Tony or Alastair will post immediately any necessary correction to this!]

     

    That's it - hours of fun!

     

    AJJ

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