DQB123

So sad to think that people would rather listen to organ music than a good sermon.... Tee Hee

I find that the whole St Paul's Cathedral thing is a rather cynical money-making exercise. There was that documentary on TV a few years back which seemed to reveal the place for what it is. £2000 to play the organ there is quite frankly rather disgusting, and I hope they get no takers. :angry: But then, as the saying goes, there's one born every day! (With huge respect to our hosts, I wouldn't mind having a go for free!)

No local Organists' Association huh? Perhaps with the new organ going in, now would be the time to get one going and then you could get the OR at a discount! :angry:

Interestingly Christ Church, Port Sunlight is not the Parish Church - even though it appears to be the main church in the town. The Lever family who built it were English Congregationalists so it is actually a United Reformed Church. It's a super-duper organ for a URC! Lucky them!

Looking again at the Cameron Carpenter video recordings, would that I could play 1000th as well as he does. That instrument, (though I recognise that it is not without controversy) is staggering - wish we had one here. One wonders whether criticisms of it (and its player) are from the same green eyed monster that Carlo Curley once spoke of.... Q

PS Back on topic Bangor is on the NPOR in its new form - the re arranged Choir and Solo divisions seem quite dainty on paper at least. When I played the Bangor organ about 20 years ago, I remember seeing pipework in the cathedral which was pretty badly corroded. I am sure that those pipes in the third NPOR picture are the same ones - and they still appear to be corroded. So are we to assume that this has not been addressed - or would that be considered cosmetic and un-necessary? Since no-body answered in the affirmative, I guess that no-one attended CC's recital?

I understand that Carlo Curley performed the re-opening recital on Bangor Cathedral organ yesterday. I didn't get there. Did anyone else? Q

Go Virgil!!!!

Interesting thread this. From what I have read, (and heard), something similar has been done before. I have a CD of Heavy Organ, and if I am correct, it didn't do that particular organist any harm at all.... What was the phrase..... (?) GO VIRGIL!!!!

'soiled' or 'defecated' it will be....

I guess that we all know that the EIG insurance policies are issued ON THE UNDERSTANDING that a church building is left open. After all it is cheaper for EIG to replace your brass candlesticks which have been nicked by someone walking into the building rather than climbing through a hole where a stained glass window was. Thus, in the centre of Prestatyn the parish church has been left open almost completely unguarded every day for the past three years or so. I was advised by a very pleasant person from the Lloyd Webber Trust that the biggest deterrant for the would-be opportunist thief is a big notice outside the Church saying THIS CHURCH IS OPEN. Far more effective than CCTV cameras and the likes, because it is thought that there's no use wandering in if people are around. (I admit that some thieves and vandals are more brazen than that, but thus far so good). So that is what we have done. The only trouble we ever had was about 18 months ago. The pedal organ started a note cipher. Called in the tuner and he announced that we had a cat in church. There are one or two feral cats about. Said cat (who also pooped on the aisle carpet), walked into church through the open door, climbed inside the console via the swell pedal opening, had a look round, turned around, bending a contact in the act, and then found a safe hidey hole under the Lady Chapel altar. It took the organ builder a few moments to fix the fault, and forty five minutes to get the cat out of church!

One thing that does strike me is that we have a tremendous ambassador for the organ in the person of Huw Edwards. After all, when did you ever hear of a senior newscaster enthusing about the pipe organ and admitting to having learned how to play in the chapel in South Wales? On his programme "The Welsh in London" there is a feature of him striking a chord at the console of St Paul's Cathedral and he talks of this being the fulfilment of a lifetime's ambition - he's an organ nut - and that is terrific!! I have not the slightest problem with Huw Edwards presenting that programme - possibly it was the best thing about it. Next to Archer's smirk..... Another pro-organ newscaster is Boggy Marsh on Wogan's prog - but I don't listen to that since I discovered that Radio 4 is much better to lull one back to sleep..... Actually we've a lot to be thankful for - and I shall not look at another Lieblich Gedeckt (as spelt on my Wyvern Toaster) without having lovely thoughts....

I thought it was OK! Hated the Bach goes to Blackpool though - thought it was trash! The organist who plays at St Sepulchre's (two manual jobbie) needs a hankie and some spit - those keys are positively disgusting! Fancy not cleaning the keys when the telly cameras are there.....

Ermmmm..... What was the question? Think it started somewhere along the lines of "does anyone know what the latest is on the organ of the Royal Festival Hall? Is it all going back or not? And if so does anyone know when?" But now we find ourselves with an Bishop organ in Tokyo? Huh???? Q

So here's another RCO question... What is the average age of those gaining RCO diplomas - are they all in their teens and twenties or are there any "oldies" among them these days?? Q

Harumph....

Ermmm would these be in RCO colours?

Well.... did you all renew your subs????

So ermmm.... you haven't read The Compton List? I guess that if you did you may find it quite a bit more than a train-spotting exercise

I was browsing through "past" topics and noticed this one on Compton. I notice that nobody has referred to Ivor Buckingham's research into this subject. His website is The Compton List To a large extent there is everything you would wish to know (and more) about Compton - and especially the cinema work. He has produced a book called The Compton List which details information of almost every cinema organ the firm ever built. Also details of Electrostatic work, solo strings and the likes.... Well worth a look. Q

I haven't had chance to get over to Liverpool just recently, but has anyone heard the new nave section of the organ?

Shame that musicians of his calibre (GTB also) have to wait until they're in their 90s to get it though!

I guess this issue is that, whether good, bad, or ugly, it would be all too easy to lose the organ to the RFH, and I guess that we don't really want that to happen.... So it seemeth to me that there should be constant reminders of it in the press and elsewhere. As someone else said - plenty of money being spent on the Olympics (which is supposed to be money for GOOD CAUSES - which IMNSHO is not!)