OmegaConsort

I attended a Jane Parker Smith recital here a few years ago, and sat as far West as I could - it was still very loud, but also exciting.........a similar effect to halfway down the nave at Redcliffe, Bristol, and yes, those ex-Gloucester tubas certainly do make their presence known! Going back to Pearson Churches, and without checking the facts, is not St Stephen's Bournmouth one of his? If so, that must rank very highly and is, so I once heard, a scaled replica (internally) of Truro. The organ is pretty good too!

in the second verse of the hymn (first clip) someone very near the camera is humming a rather wayward alto line! Trumpets sound fabulous!

I tend to pause at the end of the first line..........dunno why........I guess it is how I did it as a boy?

Just a bit of fun really, but this morning, as I played the refrain in the last verse, I was thinking about the last chord, was nearly tempted, but did, in the end, finish on E minor! Did anyone else? Best wishes Richard

For me it would have to be Salisbury Cathedral organ. A strange choice given the wide range of repertoire that one would be listening too I suppose. Having said that, it is great for the British romantic stuff, can do French 19th/20th very well (listen to Colin Walsh's Priory recordings), and isn't too bad with Bach! Richard

What an interesting website (Bristol Org Assoc)...especially the page with links to organs in the area....Having a quick look through those, I was impressed to see just how many of these instruments have modern and very comfortable consoles. The ratio there seems much higher than the norm... Also a fine looking 4-manual manual in the United reformed church that I have never heard of before. Is it good?? Best wishes Richard

Ripon? Hereford? Both have "sprawl" in the choir aisles. Salisbury has 32' dull grey tubes and awful aperatus next to it in the North Transept. Admittedly, these are not as messy as Beverley, but the effect to the passer-by (knowledgeable or not) must be heath-robinson-esque! Best wishes Richard

I am sorry MJF - it wasn't very clear was it! Some of my comments have been cleared up on replies after yours, but what I meant was, the lights were on, there were candles on the altar, all the furnishings were still in place, and nicely polished, it was sunny, warm, a pleasant welcome and the place felt "lived in"! NPOR lists proposals that (having played it) clearly never happened, although at some point the blowing equipment has had an overhaul, and I think I read somewhere in the church that David Wells had carried out some "patching up" in the '90s. I would agree completely with Cynic's comments concerning how it sounds at the console - it blasts you completely (especially the tuba and Gt OD No 1). The pedal reed is a bit on the soft side though. I didn't hear it from the floor, but can see why it might sound weaker from down there - the entire instrument is elevated by 20 feet or so, and boxed in. Best wishes Richard

I am sure this organ has appeared before in other posts, but I thought I would tell you a short story..... I found myself in Shrewsbury last weekend, and popped into St Mary's (the church was made redundant in the '80s but is still open, and well preserved as a "living" church). I approached a charming lady guide and mentioned that I played the organ, and without hesitation, she told me to go and play! I then spent half an hour on a wonderful old 4-manual Binns - pretty much in original condition. Here is the NPOR spec for those who don't know it: http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=N04612 I can't find a website for the church, but this (http://www.stchadschurchshrewsbury.com/stmarys.html) gives some information. What a wonderful organ and a truly supurb building. The flutes and amazing choice of reeds (loud and soft) left me in raptures! I just wish I had brought my shoes(!) and some music with me. The instrument is in pretty good condition considering it's history (Pedal bottom D doesn't work) and I got the impression it was used regularly but not often. If you find yourself in the area, I do urge you to visit St Mary's and if the charming lady guide is on duty, ask if you can have a go, but do treat the old dear gently (the organ that is!) - you will not be disappointed (assuming you don't go looking for mutations). As I came down the spiral stairs from the console, I noticed a list of organists from the church - our very own "Cynic" was the last organist when the church was made redundant! Lastly, try to find a moment to take a look at the East End Window - that too is worth a visit Best wishes Richard

Do shoot me down in flames (fanned by the red hot coals!), but I thought that the very descriptive phrase referred to the sound of the full swell and not the dome tubas??

A good example Dave! Here is a link to the digital organ that is there: http://www.phoenixorgans.co.uk/installations/dore-abbey.html Yes - a lovely building indeed; I know it well. In some ways it reminds me of St Cross in Winchester - tho that old Abbey contains a fabulous old Walker organ that sounds just amazing in there - I wish someone would record it! Best wishes Richard

St Thomas' church Salisbury is the ancient parish church of the city - built before the cathedral and used as a chapel of ease for the masons whilst cementing the pile up the road(!). The story is that there is a tunnel between the chancel of the church and a 13th century ale house opposite called The Haunch of Venison which the singers used to get their drinks in after the services. I have no idea whether this is true or not, or whether anyone has ever found the tunnel. Both the Church and the pub still exist, so maybe someone could do some excavating?? Richard

1. Durham Cathedral - old case at the West End I was chatting to someone the other day connected with Durham who said there are plans to do something with the ancient case at the West End of the Cathedral....he knew no more than that, but it got me thinking......... A) a four manual digital behind the case work a two manual pipe organ behind the casework C) something connected with, and playable from the main organ in the choir.....

Ooohh - another comes to mind - there is an empty, and beautiful Comper (I think) case in St Mary's Wellingborough in Northamptonshire.....

Good point - cases containing digital organ speakers - I guess that would add a lot more to the list...not just digitals but hybrids too (are the speakers for the digital ranks at Southwell Minster in the case or outside?). Mind you - I don't think this type of situation could be considered an "empty" case (apart from empty of soul perhaps There is also the Wren Chapel at the Royal Hospital Chelsea which has digital ranks - but I think the speakers for those are outside the case... Richard

I took my kids to see Wicked at The Apollo in Victoria last week. Above the auditorium there is a very impressive facade of organ pipes, but on closer inspection, I noticed they had no mouths. I assume this is just a fake organ facade (NPOR doesn't bring anything up)? This got me thinking; I wonder how many fake facades there are (including empty cases) dotted around. The only two that come to mind are: 1. Durham Cathedral - old case at the West End 2. St Mary's Warwick - one of the chancel cases is completely empty - I think.. Best wishes Richard

Took the words right out of my mouth! I have to say my wife thought it was wonderful - tho' I believe she was thinking more about Wayne the man rather than Wayne the organist!!!

Perhaps we should also say that Germany and France do not have our choral heritage? I'd much rather have, as Mark says, some dreadfully bad, dull and completely confused organs (tho I would call the likes of Salisbury, Lincoln, Durham and many others quite the opposite) alongside our tradition of choral evensong and eucharists, than some wonderful recital instruments in our Cathedrals with woeful liturgy and congregational services! Speaking generally, surely most of our Cathedral organs are very able to perform the dual role reasonably effectively? There aren't many that make a hash of one or the other (I do agree that Gloucester poses problems for evensong accompaniment, Llandaff was a disaster, and Christ Church Oxford is a touch limited), so overall, I'd rather have what we have than what Mark alludes to. Richard

Couldn't agree more - I visit daily too, but seldom visit the organrecitals site, so from my perspective, I am more likely to attend a recital having heard about it here than anywhere else. Furthermore, I too have no problem with Henry Willis advertising recitals on organs that he is proud of either by association or otherwise. Happy days now on this thread or is it "here we go again"??? I'm sure if Mr Mander disagreed he would lock the thread!!!!! Best wishes Richard

Deathly dull title - sorry! A thought occurred to me just now.........I am forever clicking on the three different boards / threads (whatever they are called) - namely General discussion, The Organ and Music and Nuts and bolts, and wonder whether they could all be amalgamated into just one? It would certainly make it more efficient for me if this were the case. Having said that, if it meant a huge amount of work for our hosts, or other members prefer it as it is, then I am happy too! Just a thought! Richard

Ah - has the organ at Melton Mowbray Parish Church still got a 32ft. stop on the G.O.? According to the following, it has, but I do not recall it having one when I played it: Back in the mid-80s I used to assist at Melton - it was there then, and worked (tho I never used it!). And yes, as NPOR says, it is TC. I remember marvelling even then (20 years ago) what good condition the instrument was in given that nothing had been done since the major Walker rebuild. I assume it is still the case..? I have two strong memories of my 3 years there (1) the useless choir organ based on a dulciana extension unit and (2) turning pages for the DoM one sunday morning when the organ gasped to death halfway through the voluntary - turned out one of the wardens turned it off at the mains because he got fed up trying to make himself heard over coffee in the transept!

This is one of the things I love so much about this discussion board..........click on a post about Songs of Praise, and pick up loads of information about media streaming devices! Long may it continue.... One station I listen to through my Pinnacle streamer is OrganLive. Excellent....wall-to-wall organ music with links to buy the CD or download the track too. Richard

............Jamie McVinnie. For those who might not know him, was from Tunbridge Wells, went to Clare Camb (I think .....yes it was) and currently at St Pauls as organ scholar. Really pleased to hear this - fab player and very very nice chap!

Paul is, I am sure, a poster on this board - I am convinced I have seen him respond to at least one topic over the last twelve months or so; it would therefore be possible he might be alerted to this "calling"??? Richard

If my memory serves me correctly, there used to be a 4 manual organ in Glastonbury PC (Somerset) - it is now 2 manuals, so that could be added to the list as well....perhaps a new thread on this? richard