john carter

Nigel, you have a wonderful way with words as well as music! You have gone right to the heart of the issue. John C

I too found some strange anomalies in the Dover volumes, but there is an equally inexpensive version published by Warner Brothers that appears more up-to-date. JC

Having received my copy today, I have to agree with Barry and Peter, it's an hour and a quarter of absolute delight! Agreed the organ is not in the best of health, but its distinctive sound can still send a tingle down your spine. Programme and performer are faultless as ever. For those who mourn W****r, the HTH organ is a sufficiently unspoiled representative of its era to make it well worth saving. JC

So am I. I'm sure I will have heard worse.

Vox, I'm sure it is unintentional, but these remarks appear distinctly snobbish. Though you may look down on people who don't share your musical taste, his success suggests he does have considerable talent - albeit different from that which you consider worthy. As for Lee's comment about keeping such people away from Cathedral organs - it reminds me of my unenlightened headmaster of fifty years ago who would not allow jazz to be played on the Bechstein for fear it would be damaged! Music that brings pleasure to others is always worthwhile, whatever its pedigree. JC

Aha, it sounds like a trapped contact wire - as referred to in my earlier post. This is something the tuner should be able to sort out in a few minutes. JC

I have struggled many times with the Compton system where, if you take your foot off the setter piston too quickly, the wires get trapped in the notches. This means you may pass through some surprising, even innovative, combinations on your way to the next setup. I do favour the idea of being able to set up a new combination "blind" on the drawstops - or stop keys - and then call it up on a single "go" piston, especially where there is a registration assistant. I grew up with second touch cancelling, which is a real help once you have mastered it. This skill is readily achieved by cancelling everything, except the 5 rank Cymbale, at the critical moment - for the second time! JC

I'm glad I'm not the only one to find this a bit obscure! JC

Aha, I see M. pcnd would like custard, cream and ice cream with his apple pie (or should that be tarte aux pommes?)! On paper, the menu looks very tempting, though I too am a little surprised that there is no double reed on the GO. However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. JC

May I add my thanks to Adrian for his patience in spite of some provocative comment. The information has been very helpful. The loss of something familiar and comfortable is always sad, but it doesn't mean that what replaces it is necessarily worse. I think it is only sensible that we should wait to hear the new instruments rather than pre-judge them. JC

Fascinating pictures Adrian. Thank you for posting them. JC

One thing that really annoys me is the tiresome bickering between two contributors to this board about the Alexandra Palace organ. I have no doubt they both feel passionately about this instrument, but I wish they would put their toys back in the pram and join us in more productive and interesting discussions about the organ and its music. JC

I agree, a most interesting question. I would have thought the early recordings by Helmut Walcha, starting in 1947, were the strongest influence. I remember how inspired I was at the freshness and clarity of the Schnitger organs in Cappel and Lübeck, that seemed to bring out so much more from the music than the recordings we had previously heard. On a more trivial point, it was also much easier to travel from England to the towns of Northern Germany and the Netherlands than some other regions at that time. JC

This corner of cyberspace certainly respects David's words. Indeed, I greatly value his open and forthright contributions. I hope, Michael, you are not implying that he is not being honest in this claim? I had resolved to stay out of this discussion as I don't want to appear opposed in principle to Hauptwerk, indeed I think it produces excellent results. But, in my previous contributions on this subject I have tried to imply, without being too direct, that I feel the "sales pitch" is inappropriate for our host's site. This is no longer software for the amateur computer user, it is a professional product that must stand on its own merits. As for the bells and whistles - they are certainly nothing to do with music. JC

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Quite so, Douglas. It was Germani who first fired my interest in Franck Choral No 1 - in my case at Langham Place. Still remembering it after almost fifty years, it must have made quite an impression at the time and it introduced me to a composer whose works have given me great pleasure ever since. JC

If the speed of sound is 1100 feet per second, I think five seconds is a bit of an exaggeration, though I accept the point you are making. Why not install a microphone in the antiphonal division to feed a near field monitor speaker at the console to assist the organist? Provided it is closely positioned, it need not disturb anyone else. QUOTE(Nigel ALLCOAT @ Feb 3 2007, 11:57 AM) If an instrument cannot be considered to be built mechanically then I believe we are allowing make-believe and dreaming to become a nightmare. And more so for the next generation who will have the task of funding it. If a congregation (for about 5 hymns in a service) require such an instrument, we have got most things out of proportion, I think. Just relay the music as best you can through the speakers (PA system). They will join in - or arrive earlier the next time to get a seat nearer the action. Sorry to disagree with Nigel, but the congregation are the paying customers. If the problem lies at the console then that's where to solve it rather than adopting the organist's ideal solution at the expense of others. JC

Thomas Daniel Schlee, rehearsing for a concert in Zürich Fraumünster, unaware that my late sister and I were present and believing that the titulaire, Alex Hug, was his only listener. Without the pressure of it being a public performance, he played through the 20th Century French programme with inspiration and passion - simply stunning. We just slipped quietly away at the end. Known more as a composer and director of various music festivals in Austria, Schlee is an outstanding organist. A pupil of Langlais and, I believe, Messaien. Nice organ too - 4P/92 with a separate 2P choir organ driveable from the main console. Currently being refurbished during the restoration of the church interior, which has wonderful stained glass by Chagall and Giacometti. JC

I don't think "dolce" exactly describes that part of the score. Good on him! I'd do the same. JC

Dear JJK, I think the choice depends on what you feel is lacking in those performances of Prière. For me, they are too calm, almost to the point where they become ponderous. Having recently gone through a period where my prayers were filled with despair and grief, my own interpretation is much more turbulent and emotional and the recent Pierre Pincemaille recording comes closest to my ideal. Some may feel it is a little rushed in places but towards the end of the piece I find it almost unbearably poignant. PP does not follow the clearly marked registrations, but St. Sernin 2006 is not Ste.Clotilde 1860, and in this case I believe the lighter textures are beneficial. It may not suit the purist, but I believe it is well worth hearing, preferably more than once, to appreciate its qualities. John

Sorry Neil, partly my fault. But it has been a useful conversation. JC

You also have to have the application loaded from the Windows CD in the first place - which I didn't. I have these occasional "tidying-up" sessions where I get rid of things I'm not using and I must have inadvertently removed the character map at the same time. As a wise computer professional once told me, "Do you prefer a tidy computer - or one that works?" It rather reminds me of the thread about tidy organ lofts! John C

Thank you Vox, I've found it and all's well. I can now get rid of the scrappy bit of paper on my desk! John C

Paul, I too usually use the ASCII codes; the character map would be more helpful but I can't find it where you have suggested, nor does a search on "character map" produce anything. Any ideas? Nothing unusual on my system: XP Home, MS Office and IE7. John C

Come now, surely you could have managed a mince pie in bar 63? It would need to be offered from the right hand side though! JC