Martin Cooke

It's the Queen's Hall, Langham Place. I wonder if it could be Sir Frederick Bridge and the Royal Choral Society.

The LVO was the very least that JO'D might have been awarded and in view of his long period of service and with the Royal Family in and out of the Abbey for hatch, match and dispatch quite frequently during that time, I'm disappointed it wasn't a CVO. There is no comparison with the other walks of life as Colin surmises. The other thing is that retiring senior church musicians were frequently - (pretty much, de facto) - given a DMus by Lambeth, but the present Archbishop seems to have put a stop to all that. Aberdeen gave JO'D a DMus about ten years ago, but shame on the universities around London who dole out honorary doctorates to so-called celebs but seem to forget the serious people in music who have not thought of him and others. Cambridge, his alma mater, as I understand it, has a policy of NOT awarding honorary doctorates to its alumni.

It's a great project, Robert, and I hope to visit London Bridge one day for a play. BTW... It was good to spot you putting out the programmes on the choir seats at St Paul's at Messiah whenever that was before Christmas. What a wonderful performance that was, and we were lucky enough to have been given tickets through a connection with the CLS, so were in the second row. All sorts of memories rekindled, as you can imagine - my last Messiah in St Paul's was at Christmas 1969. (My first was in 1965 and then I caught the night train from Paddington to Par as probationers went home after the performance, I think. In those days, somewhat incongruously, we sang Lo, he comes with clouds descending half way through for a collection!) I had hoped to come and re-introduce myself - (we last met in September 1965!) - but we had to nip off to catch a train back to Salisbury.

Just reflecting on the fact that I shall be off to church shortly where I'm playing six of JSB's Orgelbüchlein preludes on this New Year's Day... does anyone have any favourites emerging yet from the new volume 3, or indeed, 4? I feel we need a few more recordings or short films like this and this, and this to encourage us.., but they seem so tricky!

There's a short piece in the online Daily Mail today recalling the smog in London in December 1952 caused by a combination of what the DM calls a freak anti-cyclone over London and very cold weather that caused people to pile cheap coal on their fires to keep warm. This cheap, post-war coal was called Nutty Slack. I wasn't around in 1952, so what bell did this article start ringing for me? Well, it's to do with a reminiscence of Noel Rawsthorne's, expressed in the volume Fanfare for Francis, compiled by friends, under the auspices of the Percy Whitlock Trust and published by Banks Music Publications, to mark FJ's 90th birthday in 2007, to which Noel contributed the eponymous first item. He wrote thus: Prior to an evening recital it was always a great delight to sit up in the organ loft to listen to Francis accompanying Evensong and to hear an improvised Sortie at the end of the service. 'Fanfare for Francis' is a birthday present inspired by such occasions, with a few of his crunchy progressions and what I used to call "nutty slack" chords, plus a few Tuba tunes thrown in for good luck!

The rebuilt organ seems to be very much in use and can be heard to great effect here at 1.21.15 or so. It's the splendid Andrew Carter Toccata on 'Veni Emmanuel' so the instrument gets a good blow through and there's a climax with the chamade at the very end.

Thanks very much, Keitha. I'm bound to say that Volume 4 is not something that I keep 'handy', with many of the pieces being quite a challenge, but I love the idea of the project and I won't be able to stop myself buying Volume 3. But, it IS Christmas, afterall!

Gosh... quite a confusing story this one! So, just to be clear... not to say pedantic! ... There are two verses to this chorale prelude which is by JG Walther Verse 1 was included by CH Trevor in his volume Seasonal Chorale Preludes for manuals only, Volume 1 - published by OUP in 1962 He then included verse 2 in his Organ Music for Manuals Volume 1 - published in 1972

Again, DyGW - many thanks. That recital by John Hosking in my original link is worth listening to... as is his presentation, on the Beauty in Sound site, of the Blackburn organ.

Thanks, DyGW - is it freely available anywhere?

Is the music for this Karg Elert piece available anywhere? I can't find it!.

Thanks very much for all these pointers. I am in the process of checking them out. Actually, the Krebs is there on IMSLP under the other tab, arranged for organ only, with the chorale melody in the feet - a neat solution. There are two preludes on Wachet Auf in the OUP Christmas Organ Music for Manuals (2017). One is by JF Greiss, 1720-1768, and the other is an arrangement by Robert Gower of BWV Anh. 66. I have not come across either before. [The 'must have' in this volume is Matthew Owens' Toccata on Good King Wenceslas].

Can anyone please suggest any Chorale Preludes on Wachet Auf other than: The Bach Schubler prelude Flor Peeters JG Walther (in OUP Seasonal Chorale Preludes for Manual Vol 1) Richard Syner* The one in the OUP Advent & Christmas volume in the Hymn Settings for Organists series Karg Elert's noisy C major one I'd be particularly interested in any that exist that are pre-Bach or by folk like Krebs and other students or sons of JSB. * I may not mean Richard Syner - maybe I meant Paul Fey, but that may still be incorrect.

I am writing this is a bit of a rush but want to get it 'out there' before I have to go out for a few hours - apologies if some dots need joining up. So, Chorale Preludes by Pachelbel... what's a good edition? I know they are ?all available on IMSLP, but I am much taken with one or two, eg Vom himmel hoch in the OUP Christmas Organ Music which I assume is arranged over three staves by Robert Gower, and Ein feste burg - on IMSLP arranged, again, I presume, over three staves by the excellent Pierre Gouin. Most of the IMSLP entries are on two staves and also very small. Is there a good edition in existence where many of these preludes are laid out on three staves? And if there is, and there are several volumes of P's organ works, please can you nod me towards the volume(s) that contain chorale preludes rather than P's other organ works? Sorry if I am laying bare endless amounts of ignorance about Johann Pachelbel! Please try to ignore!

A few summers ago, we found ourselves in Porthscatho (south Cornwall) where there is a little United Church at the far end of the walk down the hill in the village. There is a very small instrument which I didn't attempt to play but couldn't help looking through the tuner's book provided by an old friend, Lance Foy. Clearly he and his wife, Julie (known at 'Mother') had been to tune and found some damaged pipework. They left a most amusing note in the book to the effect that they had been to tune but please could the cat be encouraged not to have a go first!! I think Lance has a penchant for leaving amusing notes in tuning books. At Breage, (between Helston & Penzance) where there is a Willis house organ in the church, they had had to remove the heavy blower and take elsewhere for repair. Having duly noted in the book what had been accomplished, he wrote, 'What a job!' You could hear Lance saying it! St Breaca's church in Breage is an excellent church to visit - not only a (altered) Willis organ, but excellent stained glass and most significantly, five mediaeval wall paintings - all in a beautiful and very convenient part of Cornwall for a holiday!

We have all been slow to respond to this. I think you hit a nail on the head, and the recent review in Organists' Review, which is generally rather negative about the volume, picks up on it too... are the individual pieces worth investing in? For me, in all honesty, a number of them don't seem to be. Several are really quite tricky and though I know that if I heard more of them in the flesh, I might feel spurred on, I shall await that day. Actually, I have heard Anna Lapwood play Star Fantasy and I did come home and have another look at it, but then the time/worthwhile factor kicked in and I have left it for now. Meanwhile, I shall 'work up' one or two of the straightforward and more useable/rewarding pieces as time allows. I can see myself including Melissa Dunphy's Rorate Caeli during Advent. This and Amy Summers' O Lux Beata Trinitas are amongst the most approachable items in the volume for both performer and listener, and there are others such as Ghislaine Reece-Trapp's In Paradisum and Grace-Evangeline Mason's piece for Candlemas that await a more spacious age and look as though they will repay more effort. Star Fantasy and In Paradisum are included in this online recital by Anna Lapwood - worth a listen. And, for the nonce, here is a new carol by GR-T from the RSCM website. And... this is worth a listen, too! It's her piece based on 'Sumer is a-comin in'.

1. I don't play very much by Flor Peeters - (though I once heard him play a recital on the 'old organ' in Bath Abbey in the 70s) - but I always wonder about him and his chorale preludes for pre-service Christmas music. Does anyone have unmissable favourites? I want to tackle the 'How brightly shines' one this year for Epiphany, but what about Christmas? 2. How much do you think congregations might appreciate/enjoy any of Robin Milford's Christmas organ music? I have an old Novello volume entitled 'Seven Seasonal Sketches based on Carol tunes' They're not difficult - his piece on the Sussex Carol is considerably more demanding than any of them. Is it worth playing them? I always try to think that at any servcie there may be, in the congregation, a retired organist, or an organist on holiday, or another interested party who will appreciate a few bits from the less obvious highways and byways of repertoire before carol services etc. 3. And speaking of 'etcetera'... any other good tips for Christmas organ music this year? What do other forumites regard as unmissable/essential pre-carol service music to set the scene and the atmosphere? (I can't manage Messiaen!)

Thanks very much everyone, especially Colin for going to such trouble. I will read, mark and inwardly digest and hope my son will buy me one for Christmas!

I don't do enough arranging or composing to justify buying professional score-writing software but happily use Musescore which is freely available. I have always inputted 'stuff' using an Apple keyboard and mouse, but wonder if I should be graduating to an music keyboard of some sort. Can anyone tell me what I need, please? I'm hoping there is a small/mini keyboard out there and I don't have any sort of electric keyboard at the moment except my three-manual Viscount Ouverture. I know, I know... you'll all think I've been in a cave - but, actually, in the past, I was 'all over' keyboards of all shapes and sizes - (remember the Yamaha DX7? Gosh! I made some wonderful organ sounds on that - well, I thought so at the time!) - but I'm out of date with them now. I'm after something relatively simple. Thank you!

A great appointment. The choir and the whole music scene at Truro is wonderful and he will be a great loss to the cathedral.

It's great to read elsewhere that the Worcester cathedral pipe organ is very nearly ready for action again. I've added it to my list above.

I have updated the list now and added St Bartholomew, Smithfield and Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks.

Thanks for the update, Dave. Meanwhile, Bath Abbey has announced an overhaul with some tonal modifications by Klais in January 2023 at a cost of £230,000. For those not aware, Bath Abbey itself has undergone vast building works over the last n years so it is hardly surprising that the organ now needs a clean and overhaul.

I am taking the liberty of posting a revised version of this with a few 'notes in the margin', as it were, and a couple of additions. Not quite sure how to keep this up to date but very happy to try from time to time! Do contribute! I was hoping to keep this to 'well known places' but realise that that may defy definition! Projects underway: Norwich Cathedral - well underway by H&H Magdalen College, Oxford - Eule instrument is in advanced stage of installation - on a recent visit to Oxford, chapel entry was not possible because of organ works. Photos and specification have emerged via British Pipe Organs facebook site - but are available here. Brasenose College, Oxford - new instrument by Orgues de facto in advanced state of installation Known imminent/future projects but no/sparse/basic details known: Bristol Cathedral - nothing new to report as at 25.10.22. Three manual viscount has been installed on a 'stand by' basis in case of breakdown. It is thought that Harrison and Harrison has been appointed. Wells Cathedral - nothing new to report Winchester Cathedral - (scheme is published - rebuild etc with Vox Humana to be added) Charterhouse School - nothing new - Nicholsons have announced new organ to replace H&H using minimal pipework from this instrument, but no actual scheme announced Gloucester Cathedral - things HAVE moved on. Organ has broken down and is out of use until Nicholsons can refurbish and renew. Bath Abbey - overhaul with tonal adjustments by Klais scheduled for start in January 2023 Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks - digital organ installed - awaiting details of new pipe organ. Not sure if there are any details out there St Bartholomew, Smithfield, London - extant pipe organ declared no longer usable and installation of Viscount digital on temporary basis some time ago. Plans to install Schoenstein pipe organ Imminent conclusions of schemes: Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral - H&H work ongoing Bristol Beacon - H&H work ongoing Leeds Town Hall - Nicholson work ongoing Manchester Town Hall - combined project by Nicholsons and Flentrop - ongoing Worcester Cathedral - not a 'scheme' as such, but repairs, cleaning and recommissioning following storm damage and several years of 'issues' - Nicholsons Projects (mostly) from original post now complete: St Mary, Portsea - now complete (Nicholsons) Wimborne Minster - now complete (Manders) - has anyone seen photos or comments about this? Postscript - there are now photos of the completed project on the Mander Facebook site. Shrewsbury Abbey - now complete (GO Organs)