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DQB123

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Everything posted by DQB123

  1. Beautiful church and organ which I had the pleasure of playing a couple of years ago. I hear that there is some sort of re-organisation going on in Brighton, but also hear that chaos is the result. What a shame if St Peters (vast - almost like a cathedral) was to go. (Wouldn't mind being Vicar there - what a grand challenge it would be....)
  2. Hallelujah! At last a response other than "blame it on the vicar". I could not agree more, I love good music and long to have more time to devote to practice, pray regularly for a good choir (O Lord hear my prayer...), and after reading the above now feel inspired to face the day ahead. DQB
  3. St George's Kemp Town n'est ce pas? Q
  4. Surely the best place for a General Crescendo Pedal is RIGHT OUT OF THE WAY!! (fine on a cinema organ but a darned nuisance on anything else!)
  5. There is an error here, because the DVD was only released this week and my copy was among the first dispatched. The website does say that the DVD was not due for release until September, so it could well be that your copy is held up in the post. There was a mistake on the artwork which is shown on the site which refers to the "Father" Willis organ of Liverpool Cathedral, as opposed to the Willis III - but the actual title of the disk is "The Grand Organ of Liverpool Cathedral". Hopefully, in the morning, your postman will deliver you a delightful belated birthday prezzie from your wife! Q
  6. I have just received my copy of the DVD of The Grand Organ of Liverpool Cathedral from the Priory Records, featuring Ian at the console and it is a WOW!!! At £19.99 it comes together with a CD of the organ and a pretty good booklet. It's really superb and the playing, together with various other additional video tracks makes enthralling viewing. If you don't have a copy, it's well worth ordering one from the Priory website. Q
  7. I have been incredibly blessed here in Prestatyn since I have a former Cathedral Organist living just a hop, step and a jump away. He is always pleased to pop in to play for a funeral for me, and we are always assured of glorious music!!! Many families talk nowadays of the funeral being "a celebration of the life of..." so shouldn't it follow that we should have majestic music as the congregation leaves the church? How many times I have heard "I know that my redeemer lives" played softly and reverently - even at a "celebration" service - delightful, but not really celebration. But when Roger plays we have Bach "Great" Preludes or Fantasias and Fugues; on one thrilling occasion the first Movement of Rheinberger 8; on another Karg Elert's Now Thank we all our God.... to name but a few. No wonder then that I just love a funeral when he's around!
  8. Gentlemen, There is nothing like going directly to the source on a matter such as this, so I wrote to Ian to ask him if he had seen the thread. Indeed he has, and here is his response…. (to which my response is "Thanks be to God!!!" ... DQB) ==== Dear Quentin The statement to staff reads thus: "After twenty-five distinguished years service as Organist & Master of the Choristers of Liverpool Cathedral; the Cathedral Chapter and The Dean Elect have agreed to a request from Professor Ian Tracey to take up an appointment as Organist Titulaire, in order to devote more time to concerts, recitals, recording, lecturing, teaching and writing. Applications are invited for the post of ‘Director of Music’ commencing January 2008. Interviews are expected to be held in October, and the Chapter are seeking to appoint a choral specialist. The successful candidate will have responsibility for recruitment and direction of the several vocal ensembles (Boys, Girls, Lay Clerks, Cathedral Singers & Orchestra) at the seven choral services each week, at special services and concerts, and will assume overall responsibility for direction of the Cathedral’s music programme. The Organist Titulaire will retain complementary responsibility for all matters relating to the cathedral’s organs and organ recitals. It is not a pre-requisite for applicants to have formal training as cathedral organists. An appropriate salary and accommodation will be provided, together with secretarial back-up from the Cathedral Music Department Manager. It is hoped that the appointment will be confirmed in October, for commencement in early 2008. All applications and requests for further information should be addressed, before the closing date of 30th September, to:- Canon Anthony Hawley, Acting Dean, Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool L1 7AZ." .... and I approved every word of it. ======== Ian goes on to say …. It is all absolutely voluntary and amicable and it was I who asked the Chapter – I’ve been Choirmaster for 25 years and that is long enough for any choir to have the same hand on the wheel. We all need a change. I’ve picked it up and run with it, and it really is time for someone young new and exciting to do the same (as I was after my predecessor's 37 years). The new Dean (a lovely man) has been involved since the beginning of this notion and is totally approving of it all as are the entire Chapter - they would rather I did what I am doing than go completely, as would I - I did offer them that alternative if they didn’t wish to proceed and they knocked it back immediately. So I AM VERY MUCH STAYING, as para 1 states - the above is what was sent to the Lay Clerks, so quite where the notion that I am going came from, I'm not sure. I have NO problems with the clergy at all - who are lovely and it has been my high privilege to serve them, especially the current Acting Dean. I sometimes get over there at 4.00pm after a day of Admin and wonder whether I have anything left to give in what should be my proper role...not a good thing! Many cathedral organists find this to be the case! I am migrating up to the loft to do the thing God intended me to do, without all the hassle (and the thing I was appointed to do in 1980 actually and Noel before me in 1955). I’ve done my stint to put the choir on the map and the music on a proper footing. I’ll hopefully do more freelance work outside as I will not be tied six days per week and 38 weeks per year. I am still playing at big services here, and all the recitals recordings concerts et all. So far as Ian Wells is concerned, he has done 25 years as Assistant now in his 26th (a sterling stint perhaps a record). When I finally agreed my new status with Chapter and went public, he thought for a few days and did the same.... no subterfuge, no enmity, no scandal, no nothing (contrary to all the stories from those people who just play on the net all the time gossiping away and inventing things). I’m very excited about it as there is an organ appeal to launch and much to do in 2008, and for me, lots of playing in the Cathedral, which has been my main employment in one capacity or another for the past 37 years and my spiritual home before that. Ian Wells will stay as an Honorary Deputy and still be heard - so in fact, we will both be fulfilling our obligations as on the music schemes and various advertising - just with new titles! Many thanks for your support. Aye, IAN Professor Dr. Ian Tracey, Professor, Fellow & Organist, Liverpool John Moores University, Chorusmaster, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society, Organist & Master of the Choristers, Liverpool Cathedral, Organ Consultant, The Diocese of Liverpool, Organist, The City of Liverpool. Mornington House, Mornington Terrace, Upper Duke Street, Liverpool L1 9DY. Tel/fax: 0151-708-8471
  9. I guess that a lot of this would depend on whether or not one was an organist friendly priest.
  10. But if the organist's "self employment" pertains only to weddings and funerals (as opposed to regular Sunday duties) then surely that would be a better arrangement all around. It would give the organist/choirmaster etc freedom to charge an appropriate professional fee in much the same way as a limousine drivers/wedding cake makers/dressmakers/undertakers etc charge their fees independently of the church. After all, we don't tell the cake-maker how much to charge for making a wedding cake, so why should we tell the organist how much s/he's worth at a wedding or a funeral? Surely that is their own business and not that of the Church. I would have thought that legal minds could draw up for the parishes a suitable working contract protecting the rights of all concerned. QB
  11. Just lately I've been wondering if it would be appropriate to let the organist/choir/bellringers go "self employed" and only charge the church/verger fees. That way the organist of the parish can command his/her own fees, and thrash out matters pertaining to videos, music, choir etc. I've shared this idea with some of my colleagues who think that it may be quite a good idea. I can't help wondering if there should be a difference between a professional videographer recording the service, and dear old Aunty Mary (or some other guest) bringing the camcorder along to catch a few moments of the service and for the most part capturing usually a good view of the back of the bride and groom. What with the advances in digital photography and cameras which can take short video clips I would have thought that it is almost impossible to police without creating a scene.
  12. My toaster is also a customised Wyvern Toccata III complete with extra midi voices (which waste far too much time!) For some reason best known to themselves Wyvern's standard spec includes an 8 foot Clarinet on the Great but no 4 foot Clarion with which to make a 16-8-4 reed chorus. I requested the said clarion and shifted the clarinet to the positive manual in place of a 1' stop which I could happily do without. The staff at Wyvern organs are wonderfully accommodating and essentially if a spec change was requested early enough (and organs are made to order in the Content factory in Holland) then it could be done without significant extra charge. I have had so much pleasure with the Toccata III and it does all that I want of it, (except make the tea). It looks quite impressive in my study as well.
  13. I would say that you would go an awfully long way to beat a Wyvern Koralia - three manuals and at around £6500 it represents superb value for money. I had one and was so delighted with the results that I upgraded to a larger Wyvern Toccata III - which is just marvellous....
  14. I guess that it just depends what your motive for teaching is... making a living or something else. My organ teacher was superb and at least two of his pupils went on to be university lecturers in music - one in Bristol, the other in Cardiff. He had suffered a huge nervous breakdown in the 1960s and had to retire from teaching in a primary school. Following a lengthy spell in hospital with ECT and the horrors of that treatment, he was totally shattered and subject to hideous bouts of depression which could last for days or even weeks. When I started to learn the organ with him (1977), his fee was £1 a week. A lesson would start at 7.30pm (after homework was done) and I may get home by around 10-ish. This was not all however, because I could be "required" to show up for lessons several times a week - so the tuition was extremely intense. A day-off from a lesson was considered practice time. He would flatly refuse any more payment than the £1 per week - but his authority was absolute, and the teaching was as good as one could get. Until I started lessons with him I had no thoughts of going to university, no interest in schooling - if my school report was not good, I would have to face my parents - but worse still was accounting for myself in front of my organ teacher! I may have studied with good teachers since, but none were better. Why did he do this? Love of teaching, desire to share his knowledge, delight in the success of pupils, no need for money, lonely and enjoying the company ... there could be all sorts of reasons. But I would say that there is a lot more to it than the money. I reckon that the gift he gave to me was priceless, and I really don't know if I shall see his likes again. So M, you will forgive me if I take exception to your last sentence. Q
  15. Well I was just asked by a bride whether Abide with me would be suitable for her wedding..... Q
  16. I see from the BBC Welsh News is announcing (with video clip) that Llandaff Cathedral is to have a new £1.4 million organ by Nicholson.
  17. HEE HEE HEE (Ever dealt with any nightmare organists????)
  18. Nightmare Parishes.... Have you ever ministered to one?? Q
  19. Interestingly enough I have heard a couple of items on Radio 4 this week about the RFH and all the work done. Not a mention of the organ though... a couple of mentions that whilst it was always a privilege to play the RFH it was not always a pleasure Hope the organ is not going to be a victim.... (Carnigie Hall, Lincoln Center and I guess others - they all seem to claim to cope OK without a pipe organ) Q
  20. All this talk of adjustable benches and pedal boards reminds me of one of my trips "out of organ retirement" to give an organ recital at the old Peter Conachar organ in The Parish Church of St John in Old Colwyn on the North Wales Coast.The recital was part of a Lenten concert and the piece which sticks out in my memory is the First Movement of Mendelssohn Sonata #1 in F Minor. When my wife and I got to the Church, there was only time for a brief run through of the pieces, and during this I became conscious that the bench was set too low for me to reach the swell keys of this three manual heap. Further, the bench was so low that the pedal board was uncomfortably close! We noticed following the rehearsal that the bench had a couple of hinged blocks attached to its base, so on putting it on the blocks, the bench was raised up by about 2 and a half inches. I tried it for size, and it was a bit high for me and the pedals seemed much further away. There I was towering over the keys of the swell organ with music inches away from my nose. A brief debate then followed as to whether or not I would prefer the higher position to the lower, and I opted for the blocks ON. What I did not realise was that the bench was indeed higher, but it was now also inclined forward. The recital swiftly turned in to the RECITAL FROM HELL as I found myself slipping forward. Even a simple Karg Elert Chorale Improvisation turned into a battle with the bench as one's posterior failed to grip the polish. Wrong notes abounded, and the sweat began to pour as the Mendelssohn came ever more perilously close. My wife was up in the pulpit singing solos - blissfully unaware of the crisis which was looming. None of the pieces I had selected would allow me to rest a foot on that ever faithful balancing mechanism, the swell pedal. Then it finally came . . . the dreaded Mendelssohn - not a moment's rest in the pedal to lift my foot on to the swell - pedal. My wife came to turn the pages of the ever-faithful Novello edition. The bench was if anything getting slippier and slippier by the moment. "Forget the pages", I commanded . . ."and just grab me round the waist!" All of this was in the clear view of the utterly unsuspecting audience. To carry out this last instruction would have been too much for my wife who has had a strict LUTHERAN upbringing. So instead she firmly placed her hand in the back of my trousers and began to pull like fury. In itself this was a major distraction as you will imagine. Still the bench had the same grip on my behind as a banana skin has on the ground - but somehow . . . we got to the last solemn chords, pedal passages 'n all without falling in as ruinous an heap as the Walls of Jericho. The moral of the story is - get a catalogue from one of the organ-builder types on this list and order an adjustable bench complete with brass winder - doesn't matter whether it's gothic in design or not - just make sure that it passes the spirit level test! Yours, still suffering Mendelssohnian nightmares from time to time.....
  21. Maybe it's just felt that the church is a soft touch.... I can never understand why, if you want work doing on an organ, so many builders expect to get the tuning contract. I'm not sure that if you took your car for an MOT you would have to enter into an agreement with the garage that they would have the ongoing care of the car. Time that was shot out of the water too....
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