Paul Morley

Thre is a recording of Derek Cantrell playing the organ of Manchester Cathedral, from the 60s/early 70s, though I coudn't swear to the fact that it is part of the 'GCO' series (at least one copy survives - it's in my loft). This disc could be the only opportunity left to hear this instrument's Tuba Magna (the one which inspired Norman Cocker), as the rank was displaced when the chancel console wes re-errected on the screen in 1979. The enclosed Orchestral Tuba that remains is, whilst a noble sound, IMHO nowhere nearly vulgar enough!!

Surely a man of your intellect cannot fail to be fascinated by the Piano Sonata?

It's used to tremendous effect in the Boult recoring of RVW 'Sinfonia Antartica', reissued by EMI as CDM 7 64020 2.

In 2004, I was involved in a project to replace this http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=N04318 with this http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=N10819 (NB: I am absolutely not at liberty to discuss why the venture failed. As far as I am aware, the FHW remains in the building, still in a derelict state. However, board members living/working in Liverpool may know more). According to the churchwarden of St Dunstan’s, Caleb Jarvis was their organist for many years. I understand that it was/is not uncommon for Reformed synagogues to employ Christian musicians, but this could perhaps be a unique example of a Jewish organist serving a Christian congregation.

..and an acrobat...?

Very true. I think that it's highly significant that many good musicians who care little for the organ or its repertoire do nevertheless find that they enjoy the sounds of the classical instrument.

"What is not appropriate is to deny the less skilled player the equipment to accompany divine worship..." Barry, are you really saying that less skilled players want lots of gadgets? Like probably most of us, I've been asked from time to time to give help and advice to reluctant organists. The ones that I've worked with have ranged in ability/accomplishment from ABRSM II piano to performance diploma on another instrument. However, in all cases, the level of anxiety experienced by them when seated at the organ has been in direct proportion to the impressiveness of the console. Also, when dealing with the village/small church situation, it is not uncommon to be faced with the organist who is nowhere near as good as (invariably) he thinks that he is. An all-singing-all dancing console can all to easily turn this type of player from a minor nuisance into a major impediment to worship.

Fair enough, Vox - I thought that you were talking about Manchester Cathedral (which I quite like, thought it doesn't suit all tastes). Cheers, Paul.

I have been to a number of recitals given by some very good (nationally-known) players on a very large heavy-sounding Romantic four-manual built only fifty years ago... Mind you, if this is the organ that I think that you are refering to (does it have a HUGE Pedal Department and every big reed playable from every division, does it have octave coupolers on the Gt, and is the funny 'stained glass' at the west end of the building?), then it should be said in its defence that it is poorly sited in a completely rubbish acoustic.

How very true

A few years ago, I sang with a visiting choir at Salisbury Cathedral for a HC service on the evening of the Feast of the Transfiguration. The preacher was a visiting canon who made considerable mention of transfiguration spells as found in the ‘Harry Potter Books’. As is, I assume the custom at this establishment, the thurifer stood behind him throughout. As a few readers of this board may already know, the Salisbury thurible is a large, silver, lipped bowl. Now, imagine the scene… An elderly, white-haired gentlemen in long, flowing robes is talking about Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, whilst standing in front of another elderly, white-haired gentlemen in long, flowing robes, who is swinging a smoking cauldron…

...mind you, even less suitable tools have been used on organ pipes. Edited highlight of a NPOR suurvey that I completed in 2000. Cheshire, Winsford--Wharton, Christ Church [D08196] c1988 Unknown rebuilt, against DOA recommendation Department and Stop list Pedal Key action TP Stop action Me Compass-low C Compass-high f1 Keys 30 1 Bourdon 16 2 Bass Flute 8 Great Key action TP Stop action Me Compass-low C Compass-high c4 Keys 61 3 Open Diapason 8 4 Claribel Flute 8 5 Principal 4 6 Flute 4 7 Fifteenth 2 c1988, on Dulciana slide Swell Key action TP/El Stop action Me Compass-low C Compass-high c4 Keys 61 Enclosed 8 Geigen Diapason 8 9 Rohr Flute 8 10 Salicet 4 11 Fifteenth 2 c1988, TC, on Celeste slide 12 Mix II sic, c1988, actually a 12th 13 Oboe 8 14 Tremulant Accessories 2 combination pedals Great, 2 Swell balanced swell pedal Further information Organ only just playable; Pedal organ only partly functioning; The Mixture rank is in fact a 12th which has been hacksawn to length from a 15th rank. There are holes for an additional rank but these have been sealed up with blu-tac.[/

Which would be...Laphraoig...Glenmorangie port finished...Talisker...Oban? Another thread/topic perchance?

What makes you think that the cleric would have sufficient musical knowledge to enable him to get the joke?

The pipe organ has gone, or at least parts of it have been incorprated into other instruments. See http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=K00050 I playedthe Keble organ for a couple of choral concerts inthe 80s. It was glorious, far more Hill than Rushworth. A friend of mine, who was organ scholar in the late '70s, tells how his fellow scholars would continually ask him for practice time on the instrument, as it was the last decent romantic organ left in the University.

One of the above is correct. Also, when I said 'sequential', I actually meant 'circle of fifths'. Close, but no cigar BTW, the swell pedal is not shut for any particular musical reason, it had jammed in that position the previous day. The decrepit state of St Paul's, Bury (VERY cold and damp, with a somewat 'crumbly' ceiling) caused the poor organ considerable suffering and it was beset by intermttent and often inexplicable faults. However, the sound...

QUOTE(MusingMuso @ Feb 15 2008, 05:54 AM) ================== I think Nigel has got it right, judging by what appear to be arpeggios on the sheet-music and the pedal B. It could, of course, be an arrangement of Tchaikovskys "Walt of the Flowers" played in the wrong key. MM I don't know this, even in the right key. Should it read "Wilt"? Very B minor then, especially the day after St Valentine's. N Interesting ideas, guys. The piece in queston has more in common wth BWV 565 toccata than Franck P,F&V, both historically and in terms of difficulty => 18C. Thin terture. Lots of figuration, some sequential, but mainly circle of fifths. Pedal points. Grade V ish. Well known composer (not JSB, though).

Edited blank - duplicate post.

Rest assured Paul, that I for one would never do any such thing. It is a glorious instrument and I consider it both great good fortune and a wonderful privilege to have had several opportunities to play it over the last few years.

Generally speaking, the greatest ammount of customer resistance that I encounter when teaching GCSE is when we're doing the 'Popular Song' unit. Britpop and club dance are considered rather passe (to put it politely) by the students - especially by the rockers (who in my GCSE groups generally outnumber the classical musicians by a factor of c.2:1). Which makes me wonder what their attitude to jazz would be. Perhaps they would love it - I really don't know - but I rather associate it with the tastes of my generation. Vox, as regards jazz, or any other 'not with it' music, my experience is that most young musicians (whatever their musical background/discipline or personal taste) are quite willing to explore the unfamiliar. The objection from some of them to studying Britpop was because they believed that its inclusion on the syllabus was a patronizing attempt by somebody on high to be trendy and give 'the kids' what (s)he believed that they would like. I am in full agreement with them on this point. As one of my present Yr 11 said, 'Sir, why can't we do the real Beatles instead of the plastic Beatles?' (i.e. Oasis). Why not, indeed? I suspect that a parallel may be drawn between the attitude of some towards music exam specifications and that of some others towards church music/liturgy...

An excellent reason for liking any art form. Bring it on. Regards, Paul (ageing punk)

As regards nicest, I think that early 20C consoles of Hill take some beating. Threre's just a classiness about them that, for me at any rate, even Willis and Harison didn't quite manage. Here are a few NPOR links for fellow anoraks: http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/PSearch...N01512&no=2 http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/PSearch...N01938&no=1 http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/PSearch...N11754&no=2 Sadly, of the three organs pictured above, only the third is in use. The first was destroyed in an arson attack on the (redundant) building. The second is out of commission 'pending restoration'. A plug-in device accompanies the services and has done, as far as I am aware, for many years. BTW, would anyone like to try and work what my younger, thinner and less grey self (picture taken Christmas 1986) is playing in the first link? Winner gets a pint at the first Board get-together that I'm able to attend

I'm not so sure, MM. On the occasions that I've accompanied evensong at Chester, I've been able to use reasonably forthright registrations where appropriate. Of course, the distance between the organ gallery and the quire stalls is a factor. The last time I heard the organ was at an ordination service that I attended last spring. The cathedral was about 3/4 full, and the default registration for most verses of hymns was melody on Tuba accompanied by full organ. It was a fine sound, but by no means overwhelming.

Generally speaking, the greatest ammount of customer resistance that I encounter when teaching GCSE is when we're doing the 'Popular Song' unit. Britpop and club dance are considered rather passe (to put it politely) by the students - especially by the rockers (who in my GCSE groups generally outnumber the classical musicians by a factor of c.2:1). As for the new A level specs..don't get me started, I'm likely to go postal.

'Variations on an Easter Theme' is available on CD. It's a filler on the Clare College, Cambridge rectoding of Requiem (NAXOS 8.557130). Don't know if it's in print, though. The theme iin question is 'O Filii et Filiae' Cheers, Paul.