Peter Allison
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Posts posted by Peter Allison
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20 hours ago, Barry Oakley said:
I'm most impressed by the young Ukrainian lady organist, Dariia Lytvishko who has been giving some lovely recitals here in the UK and elsewhere in the world for the people in her war-torn country.
Barry, was she the lady who performed for Richard McVeigh on BIS?
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All this talk about sample sets and a Hauptwerk organ, yes, its obvious that pipes are the best and always will be, but for major churches and/or cathedrals to actually use one, for whatever reason, its a major decision to use them. We are now in 2024, and they will only become more popular, so they need to be talked about objectively, I reckon. Its like the great debate that is going on with EV cars verses internal combustion engines, they have their place and are not going away anytime soon.
Salisbury is a very good example. Who may be next in the future? Durham Cathedral😁
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Welcome to this forum Jaco, its not used as much as it used to be, but there are good people here😁
Peter
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20 hours ago, S_L said:
I, so, wish they hadn't published the proposals!! It would save so much speculation by well intentioned amateur, 'back of fag packet' organ designers.
I do understand the reasons behind publishing but I fear that this thread will go on and on until it has been thrashed to death!!!
Why can't people just wait until the scheme is realised?
This is the best answer on the subject and the tread will prob turn out to be one of the longest on this forum😁
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Probably York was cheaper, wonder if the crew had to pay the admittance charge?😁 on a different note, the TV series "Vera" showed then using a side entrance, that I have never heard of being used... The opposite side of the building to the regular one that is used. Was told it was artistic licence
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So sorry to hear of this sad news. RIP Tony
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7 hours ago, pwhodges said:
Or use a proper audio interface on Windows.
Paul
I use a Matrix Audio SPDIF. It takes the signal from PC (NUC) via an expensive silver USB, to the SPDIF, where it converts the signal to i2S and takes it to the Dac>power amps) speakers and twin subs, where it plays in either the original PCM or DSD recorded track. So in essence it bypasses the windows sounds app 100%
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Forgive me Father, for I have sinned... I have not learnt to play the organ, despite my father taking me to his organ practiced since I was a toddler. I got the interest from him at a tender age, sang in the local PC choir he was in charge of etc . Went to my 1st recital when 16, when Simon Preston played our humble village church organ when he came up for a few days holiday and going to St Michaels, Far Headingley as a 17 year old butchery student at a Leeds College. Always had an interest, but being a typical teenage boy, with a rebellious streak, I never wanted to take lessons from a parent, there were far more interesting things to do
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15 hours ago, Rowland Wateridge said:
Fortunately today the BBC has made amends with this tribute to Anna Lapwood:
I just see it as professional jealousy, plain and simple. Yes any person could do what she does, but it just happens to be her. She is young, vibrant etc and has the social media contacts. Hope others can do what she is doing, the Scott bros and Richard McVeigh (100K followers) are also getting the recognition they deserve, where talented ivory tower types are just not "getting it" are are to hung up in their own little worlds
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15 hours ago, davidh said:
Recently many videos have appeared by Paul Fey. He is a 25 year old German organist who speaks excellent English. He travels widely, has access to many important instruments and fills some gaps using Hauptwerk. Most of the videos are demos of stops and registrations. He seems to have a good understanding of the possibilities of each instrument and knows exactly what he wants next and how to find it.
Been following him for a while, he is very talented, both as a player (on real organs as well as Hauptwerk) and as a composer
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no organist could afford those bloody breakfast or lunch menus🤣
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21 hours ago, Adnosad said:
In tandem with the thread issued by H& H the timing of this is interesting.
Yes, CJR has done magnificent work over the years in attempting to keep this instrument going . It all comes down to those nasty economics again. Warrington Council are very limited in what financial provisions they can make to " keep it going " they have to balance the books and their are other more important considerations at stake within the Warrington region.
The Council have a double edged problem with the instrument; they obviously cannot afford the running costs and neither can they afford the costs involved with scrapping either.
The ideal relocation for this instrument if it were possible at all, would be at Gorton just down the road- but the cost!!!
I think we need to remove our rose tinted specs and dreamy romantic visions re` heritage generally. We bang on endlessly about " preserving our heritage". and " national treasures " whilst in reality we are spending loads of money on future nightmares for a generation to inherit, which in all honesty couldn`t really care less. Why should they care? It is all " old stuff " to them.
The only way forward is, like it or not, digital. I am glad that the sound of this magnificent instrument is being preserved for the future in this format. One only has to look on the Johanus site and to see the fantastic recreation they have made of the instrument in the Oude Kirke, complete with replica consul.
In Liverpool a magnificent state of the art auditorium has been opened on The University campus. I believe that plans are currently being mooted for the installation of an organ . Space will be limited so an equally state of the art instrument should be installed.
I will depart before " The toaster " brigade start whinging.
Yes, digital is the only way forward as you say, its a shame, but in the financial straits of 2023 etc..., lets face it, only a handful of people seem to be talk about preserving what we have now, and walk the walk, and when we are dead, who is going to really give a hoot😏
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On 19/03/2023 at 08:02, John Furse said:
Being a Bear of Little Brain, there are several aspects of this sorry state of affairs I find puzzling. (I have not scrolled through any previous threads.)
This is an historic and, presumably, fine-sounding (if not much, much better) instrument. I can find no recordings to which to listen online. If I have missed any, please point me in their direction.
Attempts to restore the organ in situ (the most desirable solution in many ways), or move it into a nearby location, seem to have failed. Have serious efforts been made, therefore, to sell it to a worthy buyer, who would treasure it ? If they want rid of it, do the local authorities not wish for the funds this would provide for the benefit of their council tax-payers ?
If it is not wanted locally, its preservation and restoration is of the utmost importance. Has no other venue (sacred or secular) expressed an interest ? With the sale of (possibly) much less historic organs overseas, this seems incredible.
John, from what I have gleaned from the Warrington CC situation, there are some people (organists/pro builders and non professionals alike) that there is a concerted effort been made to do something positive, but sadly (from the Facebook page) its falling on deaf ears of the halls owners ( WBC) If anyone wanted to purchase it, they would have to find an extreme amount of money (North of a million £, so am told) then restore it. As for any concerts on it, think I went to the last one a few years ago
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13 hours ago, Nic DAVIDSON PORTER said:
Thank you both very much for replies/info/links.
I DO hope most fervently that the authorities don't see the "Hauptwerk ing" of this glorious instrument as an opportunity to... ahem... wash their hands...
Too late I reckon. After the late lamented Sheffield comings and goings, am sure they just want rid, and to hell with any public outcry from a few. I would have thought that quite a high percentage of the general public in that area don't really care, especially at this time of high personal bills etc.
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about b***** time. People like Christine Jose Rigby have been trying to keep the CC organ at the forefront, but greatly let down by the Warrington Borough Council, who just want it to rot, then can bin it (imho)
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Will just say, four figures... Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the wee donkey, it makes mockery of the 2 X 2 hours myself and a late friend, of just been given the 2 blower keys to the 3rd or fourth largest organ in the UK, all for the princely sum of NOTHING, free, gratis. This was in the mid to late 90's (and have the recorded evidence😁)
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underrated was prob the wrong turn of phrase ( I knew what I meant😁)
Both him and Sylvia were very good friends with my late father, and shared meals at each others houses many times. ( I remember giving him my speakers when I upgraded them)
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On 16/01/2023 at 14:55, Choir Man said:
For those that haven't heard the news already, the organ is back and working again. James Lancelot is to give a gala recital this coming Saturday.
JBL is one of the UK's most underrated organists, if he had not been in various church/cathedral DOM posts, he would (in my opinion) have been one of the UK's finest freelance organists
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15 hours ago, Choir Man said:
Scanning through the full honours list I found 28 other ciations for music, but I don't think any went to organists.
And that's surprising?... not to many, as its the same every year
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2 hours ago, S_L said:
Absolutely right! And me too!
Although I can think of some that will be horrified!!
Anna is a great ambassador for the Organ, and so what if it horrifies a few old fuddy duddies, and god forbid if they see her play a concert for Richard McVeigh's BIS channel🤣
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I just renewed my subscription (and got my 1st copy last week) after many years mid( 1990's) when I was in the Darlington Organist Ass. Its glossy look intrigued me, its moved with the times.... Will I renew it again?... Will see
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14 hours ago, S_L said:
But Hull Minster isn't a cold, underused building. It is, now, a vibrant, much used, building. As well as it's role as the Civic Church with all that entails, there is a thriving choral programme, concerts, exhibitions and all that one would associate with a busy city church. It also, like the Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool, hosted a Beer Festival - last week!
Thats good, but I meant many of the "Lesser" churches. Am all for diversification, like a marquee for various events held on Palace Green at Durham (I can remember the many signs saying "Keep Off The Grass" from when I was younger))
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3 hours ago, S_L said:
It will be done eventually - but whether you and I live to see it is another matter!!!!
don't want to put a dampener on it, BUT the way things are going, what with money been sought after from many many places, large organs in cold underused buildings will find it harder and harder, until places just shut down , especially the churches (that have been in decline for years now) imho
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reverb added, whether the best (imho) in that Briscati or the many cheaper ones, is just one of those "modern" things that is expected. I know all the 100's of "very amateur" organ solo recordings I have done, have purely relied on finding the "sweet spot" and putting a stereo pair in that spot, and making sure they are omni directional if using multi pattern mics(AKG 414) and hit the record button
Winchester Cathedral Organ Festival
in The Organ
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Am sure it will be on the builder/restorers web site?