DQB123
-
Posts
387 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by DQB123
-
-
Perhaps they will also be used to control this ... (see 2007 entry at the top of the page and spec below). Anyone have any further info?
http://www.die-orgelseite.de/disp/GB_Liver...nCathedral1.htm
We might have...
-
On the other hand there is St. Peter's which has a traditional boys/men set up with a 4 manual Willis, but that is being closed down because the congregational numbers are too small to be able to sustain a large building.
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....)
-
I’m a clergyman with an FRCO officiating partly in a group of villages. ... How do all you organists suggest we go about dealing with the conflict between mission issues (an organist can repel worshippers) and pastoral issues (the organist is doing the best s/h.
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
-
"fine on a cinema organ but a darned nuisance on anything else!"
(Quote)
Really ?
Then we just have to scrap Riga, Essen-Werden, etc...
Pierre
-
PS There are at least two churches in Brighton maintaining traditional music: St Bartholomew's and The Good Shepherd.
St George's Kemp Town n'est ce pas?
Q
-
I recently played for a funeral at a church not far from me and was highly amused by a white plastic labelon the left hand side of the music desk stating;
BEWARE CRESCENDO PEDAL.
Whatever next?
DO NOT FEED THE ORGANIST
The list could go on.
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!)
-
I envy you. My wife sent for one for my birthday (3rd August) and I am still waiting for it.
When she telephoned them, Priory said something about having to send stock back to the suppliers (?) because of faulty packaging.
John
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
-
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
-
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!
-
Why don't you ask him?
-
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
-
-
I fear that the arrangement you seek to make could be regarded quite differently in law. The reality is that a 'contract' that made an appointed organist with the implicit rights to pay at all weddings and funerals, 'self-employed' for just weddings and funerals, would be construed by any court as being an artificial arrangment. It has been tried before and failed!
There are vast differences between the cake maker and the organist. For example, the cake maker has financial risk and is not part and parcel of the church organisation, as an organist is. The cake maker is not appointed by the minister with the agreement of the PCC, etc. There are about twenty or so tests other tests that are used to arrive at a view as to whether a worker is self-employed or an employee. Needless to say, there is a great deal of complex case law on this.
The organist would still not get tax relief for the travelling expenses and the minister would still have the right to decide who should play and what music should or should not be played, under all circumstances.
As I indicated above, Robert Leach and I are working on a form of agreement that we hope will do most of what is required.
Barry Williams
I guess that a lot of this would depend on whether or not one was an organist friendly priest.
-
Robert Leach and I have discussed the issue of organists' 'self employment' many times. We are of the view that the effect of Canon B 20 is to make the organist an employee of the minister, irrespective of the wording of any agreement, though the usual ISM/GCM/RCO/RSCM agreement brings the PCC in as the paying party.
Two points arise on self employment: firstly, one loses the protection of the Employment Rights Act 1996 against unfair dismissal , so it is no longer possible to take a minister to an Employment Tribunal on summary termination of the post. (The PCC would invariably be joined as a party in any such action in an Employment Tribunal.) The second point is that there is little advantage for tax purposes in being self employed because the cost of travelling from home to church and back is never admissable under Section 74 Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.
In respect of videos, there is, of course, a world of difference between the paid video recording and a friend or family member. I have dealt with this and the problems of 'policing' videos recordings earlier on the Board Discussion.
Barry Williams
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that a digital instrument at home will be the preferred way of securing regular practice (ie every day, ideally). I am lucky enough to have unrestricted access to a "real" instrument, which I shall (of course) continue to use, but with the best will in the world it is difficult to get there as regularly as I would like to. I have not had the opportunity to play all that many digital instruments, and I'm not aware of any showrooms in my immediate vicinity where I could try out any instruments. I don't desire a lavish five manual cathedral reproduction; I would be quite happy with a modest 2 (maybe 3) manual affair, with the emphasis on quality rather than quantity. However, in a nod to ever so slight self-indulgence, I would prefer a French romantic specification, since this is the music I particularly enjoy, and as I'm paying and it is my hobby, I think I deserve a little self-indulgence. However, the instrument should be capable of allowing decent practice of a range of styles. I have done some internet research and generally have a 'feel' at, least in theory, of what the relevant companies are offering. I'm sure many of you have such instruments at home, so any first-hand advice or recommendations you have would be gratefully received. I don't want to ignite any (further) pipe vs digital debates. (My teacher is of no real help here as he has never had such an instrument and his only advice is to get a small 3 to 4 stop pipe organ. Well, as I'm not made of money and my (soon to be) wife would relish the prospect of headphones being used, this is not an option.) I hope this topic is not entirely outwith the remit of this forum.
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....
-
In the past year I have had three lessons from three teachers, all of whom are regarded as top organists. One of them teaches through the St Giles School.
Their rates were between £40 - £50 per hour.
Not an hour of the minute was wasted - they were really committed to teaching from first to last.
I regard these rates as entirely reasonable and would be surprised to learn of anyone decent charging much less than this.
M
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
-
Well I was just asked by a bride whether Abide with me would be suitable for her wedding.....
Q
-
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.
-
Yes!
Every Blessing
Tony
HEE HEE HEE
(Ever dealt with any nightmare organists????)
-
Nightmare Parishes....
Have you ever ministered to one??
Q
-
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
-
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.....
Liverpool Cathedral / Ian Tracey
in General discussion
Posted
Why not???
Does anyone have a quote from the Liverpool Cathedral newsletter?