bombarde32

Barry has hit the nail on the head with this one. If there was one statement which underlined the situation in churches today it is this! I have just literally 'given up' (with) the position I have held in the Catholic church for the last 13 or so years. Due to a so-called Gospel Choir, MIND NUMBINGLY BORING MUSIC, an organ literally falling apart, the stupidest priest I have ever encountered, and a completely ineffective Diocesan Director of music, I now play for a charming little Church of England country church which has none of these things. It does, however have: A keen robed choir, of limited ability A supportive priest A keen desire to improve the music and encourage all round. A organ which, although so much smaller than the one I was used to, at least doesn't break down every time the heating comes on. I'm happier than I have been for years!

It is so nice to hear Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford mentioned in these pages. It has a particular interest for me as my dear son has just been accepted into the cathedral choir, starting in September 2008. It would seem that he is about to embark on a musical career (did he but know it) sharing the history of some of the country's finest musicians. I am just about the proudest dad in the world, at the moment!!

It is good of David Wyld to set the record straight, amongst the flames of what are obviously past disagreements. I applaude him and the firm because ANYONE running an organ building business in this country deserves all our support and grateful thanks for continuing a trade which is so interesting and fulfilling to all of us here! Ten years down the line or 110 years, it doesn't matter - WELL DONE, I say!

As nobody else has actually answered the orginal question, that is to say how much people actually charge rather than blithering on about what the RSCM/ISM rates are or are not, I will jump into the fray and give my charges accordingly. Weddings: Standard wedding services no special music and no consultation = £75.00 Catholic Nuptial Masses = £90.00 Weddings where there is more complicated music and a short consultation = £110.00 Weddings where there is a significant amount of music and rehearsal etc = £250.00 Weddings where a chamber type instrument has to be supplied = as above, but add £75.00 Weddings in places where an organ has to be supplied (3 man Wyvern) as above but add £400.00 I do not charge seperately for video cameras as it is pretty near unworkable retrospectively, and generally really causes offence. I have given up explaining the performing rights rubbish to people who don't want to hear. A discount could be arranged if there are no video cameras in sight (never actually happens, EVER) Funerals Cremation Service £45.00 (more or less decided upon by a quorum of organists, in consultation with funeral directors) Church Funeral £50.00 Extensive funeral with special music/soloists £80+ Funerals where instruments have to be supplied = as per weddings. Choirs I would not expect any choir member (adult) to receive less than £35.00 for turning up to sing at a wedding. Child choir members should receive at least £15.00 I hope that is a help to the poster of the original question.

Oh for goodness' sake! This is getting sillier by the minute!

The UHT keyboards are very good and a considerable quality improvement over the standard middle of the range keyboards by Fatar (of Italy) which themselves are not too bad! I have played many examples of both!

Pierre, how does the French Kéraulophone compare then to say, a Gambe?

I don't see why not - why not have a go!

I agree - piccolos are almost always vile and don't blend with anything.

This may have nothing to do with organs, but I am a great F1 fan!

You could always make an attempt to have it repaired, after all most faults on these Wyvern organs are eminently fixable, and the parts are usually in stock............

TONGUE IN CHEEK ALERT - OIL ON TROUBLED WATER ALERT My experience with Vox Humanas is that they (being entirely compromised with their lack of resonator) are apt to 'fly off' and make the odd nasty noise, for which they can generally be forgiven...... surely..... Maybe his resonator just needs capping, slightly!

I always thought that it was a Keraulophon not a Kérlaulophone. Gadzooks - even the Queen's Hall London had one!

My Toaster is a customised Wyvern Toccata III organ with external amps and speakers. I also have charge of a Custom built Wyvern Phonenix and Wyvern Sonata at the two chapels in our local crematorium. You would go a long way to beat a Wyvern Sonata for a general purpose practice organ, in my humble opinion.

............Oooooooooh I can't wait until the next Royal Wedding when Wills or Harry want "take me up the ******* and Badger me by Fartwangler and the Bucketheads" ....a well-known rappin' piece, don't ya know! Let's see how far Canon B20 gets with this one.....

Don't knock the Auto Pedal control as I did. Then I had a skiing accident. It enabled me to carry on working and earning a living whilst my right leg was in plaster. Bet you didn't think of that excuse did you!

As I've said before, I charge for a video at every wedding I do, but make it clear that I will return the video portion of the fee if there is no video recording device present. I think that I have returned money on two occasions in thirty years!!!

.........photographers and video recording persons wandering around willy-nilly during weddings (and occasionally funerals!)

I have a Wyvern Toccata III organ with 16 external speaker channels for practice, which lives in a local church. They are very happy to house it (they have no other instrument) and I am very happy for them to look after it. It presents a far more inspiring place to practice in than your front room! As a professional organist, the last thing I want to see in my front room is a bloody organ!

I remember playing this tiny instrument as a boy. It had a 16' buzzy pedal stop, I recall! ...I had never heard anything quite like it........

On our Walker at church, (1874) the bottom 12 notes are stopped wood, the next 7 pipes (to tenor f#) are OPEN wood and the remainder are harmonic metal.

One of the very few truly stunning pieces for organ and orchestra which really works, in my opinion.

Yes, after the post-recital 'paaaaaarty' and the 3rd bottle of wine. .........or was that the following morning - duh, I forget......

.......depends if it is triple harmonic or not........ ....we don't want to frighten the horses..

Unlesss the winding is very short, doesn't a reed only use 1/3 amount of wind than a flue stop? I wouldn't have thought that a low pressure Gt. Trumpet and Ped. Trombone would have a drastic effect, and certainly not enough to need a new blower, surely?