john carter

I suspect that there are others who understand it better than me, but from what I can tell it depends on whether your IP address has changed between visits. Since I changed to a router that is "always on", I don't have to log in each time. JC

Then you weren't at the recitals at the RFH just before it was ripped apart. Excellent evenings with the likes of Marie-Claire Alain, Thomas Trotter, Olivier Latry, David Sanger. All were well attended, but it's interesting to note that it was a predominantly male audience. In a good venue, with excellent artistes there is no need of razzmatazz, people will and do come. JC

I'm sorry, you've hit my grumpy piston again! Who cares whether he bowed embarrassedly with little panache? Not everyone can be as "in your face" as you seem to want them to be; not everyone can be like you. If it was great music, then the performer will have given something special to that small audience and for me that is quite good enough. As good as going to a tiny restaurant and enjoying wonderful food, personally cooked with a quality that would be lost if it was served to a hundred. Sometimes, small is beautiful and sometimes it is quiet people who achieve the most. JC

From what I remember of my encounter with Archie Camden in the early 1950s, it is perfectly possible to enthuse young people about the Bassoon, when you get a charismatic player to promote it in schools. That experience should show us that it is the personality of the person who promotes the organ, and their understanding of children, that is the key to success. JC

Perhaps with Barbara Dennerlein as the "star in the reasonably priced car"? JC

http://orgue.free.fr/a6o2.html appears to have a récit similar to the early Ste Clotilde. So if Olivier Glandaz is correct in saying that it is totally original ACC voicing, perhaps it is a good source of reference for the sound of Franck's organ. JC

It looks like a great deal of effort to achieve something much better done by an orchestra. I'm sorry, Not my cup of tea. JC

I disagree. You have described and linked to performances from Haarlem in the past that show quite stunning artistry. Alain at St. Bavo comes to mind. I don't dislike Barbara Dennerlein, in fact I think she's great, but not in the class of some of those performers you have introduced us to in the past. JC

Thanks Paul, I hadn't realised that Ellis Scothon's work had included such a major change. It would be interesting to know how much it was necessary to change the voicing in consequence. JC

Nice one, Vox. An organ with a Dulciana chorus and Tubas - it must be Pierre's birthday! It's also interesting in having an enclosed GO, like the organ I grew up with. A very flexible arrangement. JC

I don't want to drone on either. I agree Barbara Dennerlein is entertaining and attractive, but hardly unique. I admire her skill, but I think to describe it as art is going a step too far. JC

You might describe a Duvel beer as "Sapid", that is having a strong, pleasant taste. "Insipid" is the opposite. In my view, the Dulciana has a gentle, pleasant taste. My own Dulciana Celeste is so gentle it can almost disappear when the swell box is closed at moments such as the end of Le Banquet Celeste, which I played after the inspiration of heva's Messiaen link yesterday. JC

Dear David, I'm sure we don't want you to go away, just draw the Bourdon Doux rather than the Ophicleide occasionally. We have received and understood your message. Returning to the topic, you seem to overlook the fact that there are some very fine, young, home-grown performers who contribute to this board. To suggest that Arts Council funding should be used to finance entertainers from overseas does offend me, particularly with the current pressure on arts budgets. JC

And, rather inappropriately amusing, last Good Friday when it transpired during the first hymn that one of the visiting choirs was singing from a different hymn book, containing an additional verse. Both choirmasters blamed the clergyman, who then went totally to pieces and muddled up the order of service. With a major failure of the pedal division half an hour before the start, it was what you might call "one of those days". Nevertheless, the combined will of everyone concerned made sure the service was a memorable occasion for all the right reasons. JC

I'm afraid the way in which threads develop in this forum is down to the contributors, not your personal preference. It is part of the charm of the site. I get the impression with your many zealous postings that you wish to dominate this forum with your ideas. I know that I and some other regular contributors are beginning to find it a bit tiresome. John Carter (one of the stuffy generation)

You are welcome to Barbara Dennerlein; to me this demonstrates what the organ is really about. I could listen to it all night. Thank you Hennie! John C

Hear, hear! A very smooth transition to the new server as well. Many thanks. JC

In the words of a well known tennis professional, "You can't be serious, man!" JC

Because of distractions, I have taken some time to write this reply, so my apologies if I am repeating comments already made by others... Reading your posts, I wonder if you are embarking on an event that is YOUR idea of fun rather than theirs. I required no persuasion or attractive events to stimulate my life long interest in the organ, I found it for myself and through performers I considered "cool". Young people similarly will find their own musical interests, we can't do it for them. I wish I could be more positive, but the organ is seen in the same light as the brass band and the tea dance and I don't think there is anything we can do about it, even with pyrotechnic support. Unless the Kaiser Chiefs or the Arctic Monkeys raise a storm on the RAH organ, I'm afraid it will remain an instrument that belongs to an earlier generation. What we must do, however, is to give every encouragement to those kids who do take an interest and accept the risk that they might do things with the instrument that we don't like, while they are on the road to enlightenment. JC

Only four parts eh! Perhaps a special BBC cheap version? I agree, an excellent programme that I also caught by chance rather than intention. JC

Wow! You must have a very sophisticated congregation if you believe they would appreciate those pieces as voluntaries. I agree they are superb but, without having seen the score, I suspect they are quite difficult. Of all the performances on this disc though, the Alain 2ème Fantaisie is the one that moves me most. Absolutely heart-rending. JC

Watch out! Mr. Balls might read this and add ironing as well as cooking to the National Curriculum. I wonder which subjects will lose out as a result of this latest initiative? JC

Although I favour the Belfort recordings in many ways, I think Madame Alain's later recording of the Suite at Saint-Ferjeux, Besançon reveals the structure of the work more clearly. I wouldn't agree that Suite is better than the Trois danses, which never fail to send shivers down my spine. JC

I eventually returned mine to its home (NW4) but often wish I still had it my possession. JC

There is information that fills some of the gaps on the Derby and District Organists'Association website: http://www.derbyorganists.co.uk/month.html JC