DQB123

Nobody's told me either.... Q

Non-organically, QB is now Area Dean of St Asaph!

Whilst not strictly 100% on topic, is fun!

Funny thing is that just lately none of the links on this site (including the Youtube links) seem to work on my computer and I can't for the life of me work out why...

I don't usually do Saturday evening gigs but this is VERY tempting - should be a sonic blast!

I notice that there has been no mention of the upcoming "The Organists Entertain at Liverpool Cathedral" which is to take place this Saturday 26th June 2010 19:30 - 21:30 On this very special night, in aid of the Cathedral Organ Appeal, five celebrated organists including Nigel Ogden, Professor Ian Tracey, Daniel Bishop, Ian Wells & Martyn Noble will be playing on six different instruments This gala concert will be performed in the magnificent setting of the Cathedral, using six different instruments including the Cathedral Grand organ, three Makin digital instruments and two small pipe organs from David Wells. This is a night not to be missed for variety, virtuosity, decibels and sheer entertainment and is held in aid of the Cathedral Organ Appeal. Admission is £10 per person on the door Further information from Daniel Bishop (Associate Organist, Liverpool Cathedral) at daniel.bishop@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk Sounds like fun?? QB

Why is it illegal I wonder. (??)

I heard the hymn Hail Thee Festival Day for the first time in St Mark's, Berkeley USA a number of years back and was very thrilled by it. The wonderful David Higgs was the organist at that time and had (iirc) a Flentrop organ to play. But it's a complicated hymn. Do any of our organists/choir people etc have any suggestions as to how one would introduce this to a congregation where there isn't a strong choir? I once tried it in my last parish and ermmm.... they swiftly gave up!

Maybe it's not the old tyme religion that needs to collapse.....

Hey Justin Thnaks for the best laugh I've had in ages! DQB

Do you think he went to Heaven or to the other place when he fell off his perch? I could not say whether the former or the latter, but wherever he is, one hopes that the organ pipes will fire cannon-balls at him for all eternity!

Whilst we are talking of late brides, my latest trick is to tell the bride that if the wedding starts at 1.00pm then the bells stop at 1.00pm and not a minute later. Since the bellringers have already rung half an hour before the start of the service then it doesn't really seem appropriate to make them go on ringing. Same principle for the organist! It is amazing how when the bells do stop ringing there is an absolute screaming silence! All this said, there are stupid brides, but there are some for whom the lateness is beyond their control. Like the driver who got lost taking a short-cut through the maze that is Prestatyn!

St David's Metropolitan Cathedral in Cardiff (1950s Compton - drawstop console) has it - only on the 8 foot stops though. I believe that the organ isn't in a very good state now... Q

Following on in the tradition, Richard was organ scholar at Westminster Abbey, but I wonder if he ever got to play Tiger Rag there?

I noticed in the recording of Richard Hills that the "second touch" facility is in use. Does anyone know if second touch features in any classical organ?

Here's a little something to uplift you all and gladden your hearts..... Richard Hills FRCO plays 'Tiger Rag' on the Wurlitzer organ in the Assembly Hall, Worthing, UK. The video was taken by David Reed and the audio by John Leeming. The occasion was the Worthing Theatres' 'Open House' day when members of the public wandered in and out of various parts of the building over a period of about four hours. ...

I mean no discourtesy, but one thread discussing digital electronics among so many pertaining to the pipe organ (and many other things!) will surely not bring the mighty Mander empire crashing down will it?

I see also from the Wyvern Organs website that Arthur Lord has died this week. The site advises that Arthur was an accomplished musician and a much respected theatre organist. Though I never met him I do remember seeing a photograph of him (in the Arthur Lord Studios at Chobham) at the console of the organ in the Odeon, Leicester Square. My sympathies to Graham Lord and the family....

Looks good to me....

Forgive me for saying it, but I am getting sick to death of SofP because they keep on singing the same hymns over and over and over again. It would be really interesting to run a count of the hymns over a twelve month period. Last Sunday at BTH I couldn't help thinking that those hymns were all played far too fast - in fact they were played at such a breakneck speed that it is surprising that there wasn't time for the whole of the Widor 5th Symphony!!!! It seemed to me that certain of the hymns lost far more than they gained by being rushed through; and I've never heard "What a friend we have in Jesus" described as "the ever-popular foot-stomper". Dare I say it, but I thought that the item by the Swingle Singers was far and away the best thing on the programme!

It's curious how a question can be answered. A few months ago I was wondering what would be the future of the four manual Willis organ at St Peter's. Little did I know at the time was the fact that my brother Stuart and his wife and family had decided to uproot from their home in Littlehampton to live in Brighton in order to become a part of the HTB church plant at St Peter's. The church plant commenced in November, and I believe it's a case of so far, so good! My very good friend Father Andrew Manson Brailsford, who is the Vicar of Kemp Town and newly appointed Area Dean of Brighton was the induction service of Rev'd Archie Coates who is Vicar of St Peter's and he was welcomed to the church, by none other than Stuart! I had meant to ask what was to happen to the organ, but unfortunately did not get a chance, as Stuart died very suddenly on 7 January this year. So last week I had to journey down to Brighton for the funeral which was at St Peter's. Shortly before travelling down, I was told (!) that I would be playing the organ. On the day of the funeral (Friday 22/01/10) I went to the church to have a quick run-through. The nave of St Peter's is curtained off from the chancel area because of falling masonry. It is unbelievable how such a grand church could have gotten into this state! Worship takes place in the chancel area which is a very large space and there was seating for about 250. I gather that the church is drawing congregations of around 200 people at the main service on a Sunday. There is a large screen for OHP (not a hymn book to be seen!) and an ominous looking drum kit! Anyway the organ was well in tune and every thing (I think) works. The Vicar, Rev'd Archie Coates is a young man with curly blonde hair and very dynamic and I found him to be a delightful and humble personality. He asked me about the organ, whether it was good, that they had just had it tuned, and would it need a lot of work in the future. I had taken a look at the tuner's book and it seems that leather is perishing so was able to share that with him. He seemed pleased when I described the organ as a Rolls-Royce among instruments, and I get the impression that whilst it may not get as much use as it did in former days, it will nevertheless be well cared for and respected. Stuart's funeral was quite the event. There was a congregation of around 250-300 persons present, good singing (the organ had a good blast at them!) and very caring, sensitive and inspiring ministry was much in evidence. I certainly wish them well - and look forward to renewing the acquaintance with the Willis, though perhaps on a happier occasion.

So what's the state of the Notre Dame cathedral organ these days?

TEE HEE

Harumphhh dear Father..... Rather than turning the punters away, it would be good to remind them that there was no heating in the stable either.....

Of course there's the piporg-l list which keeps us informed of a lot of the organ goings-on in the US. It seems to me however that piporg-l is a much less friendly place than it once was... The ongoing work on the Midmer Losh organ at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City is being kept fairly well under wraps and the ACCHOS website advises that up-to-date news of the restoration is being restricted to ACCHOS members. Which is sad.