Peter Allison
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Posts posted by Peter Allison
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what? there is a wedding, what wedding? lmao. well some of us have to work, its just another day. Will not record it either
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Regarding organs and steam trains - John Dykes Bower was one such and I remember many conversations between him, 13 year old James Lancelot and Paul Edwards on the subject before morning choir practice.
James has a name plate hanging in his hallway "Sir Lancelot", and has a massive layout in one of his rooms, or did have last time I was in there. As well as a nice 3 man H & H organ in the lounge
Peter
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I would certainly class the Nevilles Cross instrument as 'Historic' - perhaps unfashionable to some but unmolested, built to the highest standards and no doubt (like all AH organs) voiced to the building.
As an undergraduate at Durham I was allowed to practice on the old organ at St Oswalds. It sounded far bigger than it was, a feature of many of AH's small instruments. It was later given a cut-price rebuild as a 3 manual and finally destroyed by fire (perhaps mercifully) not long afterwards.
And remember the fire, A very close family friend was Dof M there, and remember when the artics rolled up, and helped Peter Collins off load the new one. And there was one elderly american lady who saw the organ case and said it looked as good as new (which it was) and was prob years old
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The cathedral at Durham, as I have said a few times, both here and on Facebook, is imho, the probably the best one, but am a tad biased, as I have heard it, and recorded it many times over the years,,,,, and lived overlooking the great building. The french horn is as they say "to die for"
Peter
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The organ at Nevilles Cross, along with St. Margrets down the road are really nice instruments. And on a couple of "organ crawls with the local association many years ago, we ame across some equally quality small organs, found by Richard Hird, who is/was a BIOS adviser, and co writer of the book on the cathedral organ along with JBL, the director of music.
One of Richards favourite was a small willis that was housed in the chapel of Sherburn Hospital, and later re housed at the church at Brancepeth http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi...ec_index=R01230
Peter
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I've seen people smoking in churches in Holland, but I wasn't aware that people drank beer in Belgian churches.
I'm just eating a very nice Belgian chocloate-liquor, but it's far too good to start experimenting with.
MM
I remember back in 1988, having a holiday in Germany, where we came across a nice organ, and was being played by its organist. He was sat at the floor level console, smoking a cigar, and when asked about it, just replied" I am smoking in my workplace". And on an occasion of visiting London, was shown the console of All Hallows by the Tower, and the organist, (bless him) had a small ashtray with a cigar in it .still have the recital programme somewhere
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I suppose I will just "chip in" with my tuppence worth.
As a mason, and knowing 3 "grand organists" personally, all I can say is about the fundraising bit. My dad organises a recital in Durham cathedral once a year, and raises about £ 5 - 600 for his chosen charity, and this year will be his last, as his health is failing now, and I asked him if one of the board members could give said recital. And that has now been put down in the diaries for October.
There has been a couple of programmes recently, that looked at the building of places of worship, and the strong masonic presense. And as far as organs been built there, well, I can only echo what has been said, people buy from people they know, and whose work is respected
Peter
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Sorry if I have given offence, it was wry attempt at humour, but it is also quite possibly the truth.
As far as The Masons are concerned, I know several, like several but am not inclined myself. I'm not the sort of stable character they'd like anyway. I'm a maverick and only partly house-trained.
As for the recital in Durham, quote: 'the truth? You can't handle the truth!'
Ah well, (100% honestly) how else was I to get onto that fabulous organ? I've been trying for years without so much as a sniff of the console. I'll never forget when I went up there with The Organ Club; we were based in Newcastle for a few days and visited and (with that one exception) played all the organs of consequence that lie between Gateshead and Carlisle. We paid for the privilege of a recital for the Club at Durham from the Organist and Master of The Choristers. It was impeccably played, lasted 25 minutes and contained nothing from these shores. And no, we weren't allowed to see the console, not a single one of us. Oh, and the public got in free, of course.
as Cynic knows, my father is organising it, and its going to be such a pleasure hearing him play
what IMHO is one of the finest instruments in the UK at the moment, and that it will be greeted with great respect from the local masonic fraternity and non masons alike, as a special occasion
Peter
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And Rick Wakeman did make an album in the recent last few years at Lincoln, for solo organ, including a DTS encoded track to be played back on a 5.1 system
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Just a reminder, that on saturday, 2nd Oct, a friend of mine, is playing a recital in Durham Cathedral, as part of my fathers masonic fundraising endeavours here
Peter
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Ah yes! I know that word, and hear it all the time.
Who is your...erm..."friend?"
As Dame Edna said, "Why can't they call him what he really is? His flatmate!"
MM
She is a lady who I have known for a while now, and she is very straight forward and knows what she likes, music wise, and is coming with me, because I asked her too. The only organ music she has heard before, was in a "wedding" situation, and was not very impressed. And Keiths proggrame is very "light". and there is my favourite Bach, BWV542, so will be an entertaining evening, even had my dad invite himself down from Durham, but he can pay for the stop over himself
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Let's get this right. You're taking a lady friend to Bridlington, wining & dining with her, staying in a hotel and she is going to lose her virginity while watching a video.
This is how rumours begin.
MM
an "organ recital virgin", even her twin sons were gobsmacked when said she was going, but thats what "friends" do??, no doubt she will get her own back make me go shopping in Foster Square, on sunday, now THATS a fate worse than hearing/feeling a 32@ Contra Tuba -
Just like to mention, the talented young organ ambassador, Keith Hearnshaw, will be delighting those attend Bridlington Priory series, a week on Sat.
And I have even managed to take a friend, albeit kicking and screaming, and who is prefering the "sticking of needles in her eye", (she is an organ recital virgin
and although its costing me dinner and a night stay over, and the stick of "Brid rock, I am sure she will enjoy it, watching the large video screenPeter
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Just had this shown to me, its one of my favourite Bach fugues. What do the more disscerning amonst you think??
Peter
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My mother left the same church twice to the Toccata from Widor's Fifth Sympathy - once for her wedding, the second time for her funeral.
Contrabombarde
this is what my dad has requested too,
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Just thought I would mention what an enjoyable evening was had, at St Giles, in Pontefract last night. ( enjoyable and Pontefract in the same sentence too
) A staggering performance was given by a local ex Wakefield lad, by the name of John Scott, riveting stuff indeedPeter
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Peter,
I would like to go to this, but then I saw what was on at Evensong at York and had a fuel/time/musical debate with myself!
D'Arcy and his mother are both wonderful characters. His programme looks excellent - enjoy!
Best Wishes.
It was a spledid recital, but was spoilt slightly by a cypher half way through a piece, but was duly stopped, as was a bad one, and Micael Smith, the organist, and Paul Derret, got it sorted in quick time, hats off to all concerned. "Play continued" with out further hitch. Met them both a few times now, and his mum is certainly a great lady.
For something that will make a change, Keith Hearnshaw is there on aug 31st, and will certainly be different, recomended
Peter
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Are there any board members attending the Bridlington Priory recital, give by D'Arcy Trinkwon tomorrow evening, 26th
Peter
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I have been asking about these for a while now, so will order them asap
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NPOR doesn't give anything - but I don't, in truth, always find that terribly helpful or, indeed, up to date.
Are you talking about the Crem on Chanterlands Avenue - near to the University? I went to a funeral there, now fifteen years ago, and don't remember seeing an organ in the chapel - possibly that points to a toaster of some kind!
Wish I could be of more help.
Hope it goes as well as can be expected.
and think the "newer" one at Castle Hill, may be an Allen toaster, only been there once
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This is sad news indeed, I was having a talk with him the other week at Carlo Curley's concert, in Bradford Cathedral. He will be sadly missed. RIP Ron
Peter
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I think Simon Lindley recorded an album at LPC (St. Peters) many years ago, featuring SS.W. I have it somewhere
Peter
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whilst slightly bored this afternoon, I came upon this clip
Its been said that the original composer, who I am a big fan of, wrote this piece in about 1972, for a "concept album". It was recorded originally on the organ in St. Giles, Cripplegate, then had a drum and minimoog synth part added to it in the studio. The chap who is playing it, has made a CD or 2, of some of the "prog rock" of that era, played on a pipe organ (not a toaster) and also a piano
some will like it, and some will be mortified no doubt.
Peter
an "organ recital virgin", even her twin sons were gobsmacked when said she was going, but thats what "friends" do??, no doubt she will get her own back 
and although its costing me dinner and a night stay over, and the stick of "Brid rock, I am sure she will enjoy it, watching the large video screen
The recitalist speaks
in General discussion
Posted
likewise, mr SG lindley, marvellous after dinner speaker, and wether its his "home ground" of LPC or the town hall, he is always witty and good at talking about what it is he is going to play and drawing attention to any particular registration. I like to think that quite a few organists are like him. Then there is a friend of mine, when playing his recital in Durham Cathedral, was sweating and visibly shaking, but "5 quiet minutes" at the console, during JBL's introduction (with a payer), he was calm and had collected his thoughts, before giving his small talk to the gathered masses (exagerating a bit, maybe 200)
Peter