Martin Cooke

Returning briefly to psalms... The old Contra Fagotto on the Solo organ at St Paul's was much used for special effects - '...because of the noise of the water pipes' comes to mind. The stop disappeared in 1972 - it was splendidly rude to a chorister's ear! With the 32ft Posaune back in the chancel pedal section, new possibilities must have opened up, of course!

Thanks to sjf and innate for their insight into all of this - most interesting. Martin.

I'm interested in the Chist Church Oxford instrument - I have never played it nor do I ever expect to be invited to do so, but read a comment on Paul Hale's (interesting) website where he says he advised on new console arrangement and playing aids. I think I once heard that when it was first installed, the organ had no playing aids at all. Is that true? And if roughly true, what has Paul Hale's scheme provided and who did the work? Could someone who has some knowledge of this organ tell the story? As an aside - thinking of this instrument and other long-standing eclectic ones such as Trinity Cambridge and New College Oxford... who looks after them, and have they ever been rebuilt? Do they show any signs of needing this? Martin PS - Apologies for my wrong spelling of Christ Church in the topic header - it seems that you can't edit headers when you realise you've got something wrong like this!

Happened upon this this afternoon - . It's the installation of the new Master at Trinity, Cambridge. Excellent music - a wonderful solo trumpet fanfare as he arrives at the chapel and then a great bravura performance on organ and brass of Sinfonia from Cantata 29. If you enjoy academic dress and want to do a bit of Cambridge robe-spotting you'll enjoy it too! No DMus robes in evidence, unfortunately!

I'm sure that many of us cannot bear playing the organ against bells. When I play for a wedding (as a visiting organist) nobody can understand why I want to establish a working relationship with the ringers so that we both get to do our bit before the service. However, at the school where I'm involved, there is a single chapel bell which tolls for 5 minutes before each service. This is, of course, nothing like as intrusive (against the organ) as a peal, but in view of the fact that we might want to replace the bell, I wonder if anyone has any view at all as to what note it might sound so as to 'chime' most harmonically with pre-service music. Is that a completely ridiculous question?? I suppose I'm hoping someone will say that a D crops up in more organ music than an F sharp, or something! Any thoughts? Martin.

Yes, I saw that it was on backorder or something. Worth giving RSCM a quick email - if they publish it themselves it's probably printed to order. Martin.

I saw a Mander Organs advert recently about the new organ in Kobe. It mentions that special earthquake precautions need to be incorporated both to protect the organ and anyone nearby at the time of an earthquake. If John had a spare moment, it would be really interesting to hear a but more about what measures are taken in both respects. Any chance, John?

Fête?

Does anyone have any knowledge of where I might locate a score of his Fantasie in G minor, by any chance? Would be grateful for any information. The piece was published by Hansen originally. Many thanks; Martin.

Just in case it's of any interest, I tracked down this music. It is contained in an old Schott album of Contemporary English Organ Music - a copy of this is available on Ebay in the US - price £16+ with P&P at over £20 on top - yikes! Gerben Mourik hadn't heard of the piece but I found that Andrew Canning in Uppsala has recorded it and he e-copied it to me - just two sheets - a great piece. The reason I wanted it was that Christopher Dearnley (my hero (!)) played it at his last recital at St Paul's - it is a typical Dearnley, slightly off the beaten track piece, and I am really pleased to have found it. The Choveauz piece on Lasst uns erfruen was recorded by Dearnley at St Paul's - a magnificent recording of both music and instrument. Martin.

I seem to remember that another 'early' piece to learn was the Vivaldi/Bach A minor Concerto (Book 11). Great to see Novello editions getting the thumbs up so comprehensively again! I have felt almost embarrassed to be seen using them in polite company in recent years, but I believe I'm going to get them bound properly (like David's by the sound of it) and use them proudly again!

So glad to see that BWV 545 has been mentioned - I find it a very fine, sturdy but joyful piece with plenty of impact - it peals forth very pleasingly. I've been wondering about poor old BWV 535 in Novello Book 8 - G minor. I don't think anyone has mentioned this and I don't recall ever hearing it performed either in a recital or as a voluntary. Is it worth a look?

Lots of good advice here already - I always think the F minor is not to be underestimated in terms of impact - a noble piece and pretty straightforward. Well worth learning. I know you were asking about 'great' preludes and fugues, but, as David intimates, don't forget the Giant Fugue (CP on Wir Glauben) from Novello Book 2, the Allebreve in D, and the Fantasia in G major (Pièce d'Orgue) - Novello Book 9. Have you (Philip) looked at the Toccata and Fugue in D minor (BWV 565) - admittedly, a maligned piece - and the Dorian Toccata and Fugue (Novello Book 10) - only a few slightly tricky moments? David mentions one or two other composers linked to Bach - Krebs is worth exploring and you might really enjoy a lovely little chorale prelude, 'O God hear my sighing' - published (was) by Cramer. You'll find it in IMSLP I think or similar. [sorry - this response would probably irritate me if I were Philip - he's asked about a specific, and now I've listed a whole lot of things that are not really what he was asking about!!]

Does anyone have the score of Prelude-Improvisation (dedicated to Karg-Elert) by Nicholas Choveaux that they might be able to let me have a copy of? It is contained within an old Schott album called Contemporary English Organ Album which was edited by Alec Rowley. I'd be most grateful for any pointers - I have tried all the usual 2nd hand/digital sources - I think!! There is a copy available on ebay in the States but that seems a bit much (in all senses). Let me know if you can help at all. Many thanks. Martin.

Sorry, I did acknowledge that the photo may have been the problem - and I was only being half serious about the digital matter. Honestly, no offence intended, and let's not debate the matter if it'll cause offence.

Goodness! Follow this link and then follow the subsequent link to the Petersham organ. Excuse my being controversial but what an ungainly instrument this looks to be! It may be just the photo, but it appears to dominate the space in a extraordinarily disproportionate way. It looks, from the photos provided at any rate, like a perfect example of an instance where a lovely two manual digital instrument would have been just the ticket! Light the blue touch paper and...

You employed a tuba, pcnd??

Thanks, Tony - yes, this is the piece I referred to - I only used to play the one in this album based on Hyfrydol by Henry Coleman - (a long time ago). Mmm... I'm not really sure about the Murrill - I'm sure it's well written and all of that, but I don't feel I want to rush to play it having given it a try through yesterday. Thanks for the Willan and Best suggestions, too - I don't have these and don't want to spend money on this so I'll keep looking. Martin

Can anyone recommend a hymn tune prelude on 'Wareham', by any chance? I guess there will be one or two in the Mayhew corpus but is there anything by anyone else? I recall something in an old blue OUP album by Murrill (2 against 3 or something like that)? Does anybody play that? What else is there? I know we're not talking Stanford, Parry, et al, but Rowley? Thiman? Any thoughts gladly received! Martin.

How are we going to persuade pcnd to buy a copy, then? One thing that does surprise me is how OUP can suddenly publish music by other publishers - Parry chorale preludes, for example, but there are others in this volume like this, too. How does that work?

Pah!

A couple of Willan's pieces are available in UK in Weddings for Choir (OUP) 'Rise up, my love' and 'I beheld her, beautiful as a dove.'

I did!

No, really - I assure you that the Tambling element of it is delightful and very well worked. And, what's more, there are moments marked clearly with an asterisk saying 'If performing this work at Wimborne Minster, the party horn may be used at this point.'

My copy of this arrived yesterday, hot off the press and I think it is excellent. Mind, it has quite a number of pieces that many will already have in their repertoire, or, at least, have copies of, but there are some new gems that will prove to be very worthwhile and enjoyable, I believe. Four have caught my eye straightaway - (1) a really interesting and extended toccata on Aberystwyth by David Bednall. This is fresh and has something new to say and it is not as difficult as might be thought. I don't feel qualified to comment in depth, but I shall certainly be getting my hands round it. I will be a lone voice, I know, but I have never really appreciated Francis Jackson's organ music but I very much like (2) his Meditation: Love Unknown. My third favourite is a stunningly beautiful little prelude on Hereford by Malcolm Riley - again, fresh but a real gem and, again, not difficult at all. Finally, (4) the piece that I had been waiting for - Fanfare: Shine Jesus Shine by a good friend and wonderful composer, Christopher Tambling. I can't imagine what pcnd will think of this (!) but it's fun and will be a popular new piece for your congregations (if you have them) to enjoy. For my money, the album is worth purchasing just for these items alone - experienced and long-standing members will want to check out a lost of contents perhaps prior to making a purchase, but even if you have Parry's Martyrdom and an arrangement of 'I know that my redeemer liveth' in other publications, at least they will be in one album now - AND you will have the four pieces and others, which I am sure are equally praiseworthy. Two other new acquisitions - Martin How's second volume of Gospel Colours - worth a look definitely - (RSCM) and something very different from Roderick Elms - Two Carillons, published by Spartan Press. These need a bit of work (well, they do for me,) but they say something new - the second is based on Happy Birthday - and I really recommend them. I hope we will see a more scholarly review of all these new items in the usual journals very soon - actually the OUP album was reviewed in Organists' Review last time, I think.