gazman

Thanks for that link! As it says at the opening of that article:- "According to most sources, the Dulcet is a Dulciana pitched an octave higher than normal [ie at 4' pitch]. It was a favorite of Samuel Green, who introduced it under the name Dulciana Principal, probably between 1780 and 1790. Wedgwood maintains that Dulcet has no fixed meaning, and while its most common usage is as described above, it may be a delicate flute or Dolce. Indeed, Locher considers it synonymous with Dolce. As early as 1910 Dulcet was used by Skinner for a two-rank stop of 8' pitch, presumably a celeste." I've never come across Osiris before but it seems to be an American website with some organ specs on it. Thanks for pointing me in that direction.

Hmm...But there are other examples of nomenclature which aren't standard in that spec. As I say, 99.9 percent of the time, a Dulcet is a 4' Dulciana! Ok, find me more than 1 percent of Dulcets listed on NPOR which aren't at 4' pitch, and I'll eat my words!

If well built and adjusted, they shouldn't be unnecessarily heavy at all. Modern organ builders who specialize in tracker instruments understand much more of the physics involved in building mechanical action than did organ builders a hundred years ago.

Yup, precisely!

Thanks for all your suggestions, folks! Having just returned from a week's holiday, I find I need to sort out the programme soon! But I've persuaded a good soprano to do some appropriate material, so will be doing some accompanying as part of the recital which will take away some of the need to provide suitable pieces on the organ.... But you've given me (and others) some excellent ideas for future concerts too. Thank you!

But neither of those have a 4' Dulciana on the same division. Had they, they would surely have called the 4' rank Dulcet and the 2' rank Dulcetina to avoid confusion. There are exceptions to every rule but, 99.9% of the time, a Dulcet will be a 4' Dulciana!

Sorry, Pierre, but that's utter twaddle! Every organist knows that a Dulcet is a 4' Dulciana. Cf Sumner 1958 p. 287. "Dulcet. An octave dulciana of quiet tone and of 4ft pitch. The stop was a favourite with the English organ-builder Greene, who liked tones of soft and refined intonation." So, what do you call a 2' Dulciana (not that I can ever recall coming across one). Dulcetina?

I'm sure that there are many more bright ideas out there on this forum of talented organists and music lovers, esteemed colleagues! We're not a po-faced bunch with few ideas of how to unashamedly delight our audiences, surely! Seriously, I'm still looking for good ideas for the concert (I now have an excellent soprano willing to contribute, BTW) and all suggestions will be welcome. Thanks!

But of course! What else? However, I find it constantly difficult to persuade the clergy not to keep interrupting organ practise with their insistence on holding silly things like services....

HonDMus is an honorary degree. DMus usually isn't, but is offered by very few establishments. The RCM and Oxbridge spring to mind, but there are probably others. Yes, I would think that virtually all universities offer a PhD in music if they have the staff with some expertise in that particular specialism which the candidate hopes to research.

Yes, I was wondering too. Mind you, it is the holiday season....

Whilst I'm sure that I will be shot down in flames by those the other side of the pond, this is my understanding too. I am informed that a North American Master's degree is regarded as roughly the equivalent to a first degree in this country, and that an American Doctorate is regarded as roughly the same standard as an MA here.

Thank you Martin. It sounds interesting! I'll send you a PM.

Most English Universities offer a PhD, but not a DMus. Although very few offer DMus in comparison to those who offer PhD, DMus is accepted as the "higher" Doctorate of the two. I wouldn't mind having either! Or both!

Good point! What, do you mean that there is any other music for the organ????

Yup!

Thank you. I've never come across it, nor the composer, and will look it up! Thanks. That was one of my ideas too! I've looked for my copy, but can't find it. I think now that I lent it to a certain former pupil of mine which, unfortunately, means that it's the other side of the planet now..... Thanks. I've borrowed that book from a friend of mine, and played through all the pieces to see what might be suitable. Hornpipe Humoresque is pretty much a cert! Unfortunately, I wasn't terribly taken with "Up she rises" by Bonighton, but it does fit the theme. I thought that "Dance with the saints" was probably the best of the rest after the Rawsthorne. The Pasticcio by Nixon was ok, and suitable if not terribly inspiring, I thought. Much of the music seemed rather contrived, and definitely sub-Rawsthorne's "Hornpipe Humoresque", but maybe I'm missing something. Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Any more for any more?

A DMus is regarded as a "higher" Doctorate. A PhD could be studied by somebody who has specialized in, say, the history of a certain composer, but might themselves have limited performance skills. It is also possible to gain a PhD in composition.

Indeed, for amateurs and professionals alike.

But are they able to do anything about it, though? The person making this claim could always say that it stood for "Fellow of Royston-Vasey College of Origami", or something similar. Indeed. A while back I came across a very talented organist using a "diploma" I'd never come across. I googled it, and it turned out to be from a tinpot "college". Further googling revealed that there are several such "colleges" out there, all staffed by people I've never heard of with "DMus","PhD" and loads of other "diplomas" of which I've never heard, but with hardly any of the more recognized diplomas. "Dodgy Doctorates" methinks. And, as you observe, they seem to be targeting the world of choirs and organs especially. I wonder why....

Well, the best of both worlds, surely! Organ music scattered throughout the usual schedule, AND programmes dedicated to the King of Instruments. Perhaps the BBC will see the light..... Or is that a herd of porcine creatures I see gliding in front of the moon?

Yes.....but you didn't know this fellow! I doubt he'd have known a major third from an Open Diapason!

Coincidentally, I was discussing an organist with a colleague of mine the other day. My colleague told me that he recently played for a funeral at a village church where the organist was unable to attend. The organist at that church would probably struggle to reach Grade VI, if that. But, my colleague tells me, he has written on all his scores which were by the console "Property of X Y, FRCO" (where X Y is his name). Wishful thinking, we think! And, several years ago, we used to have in this area a rather mediocre organist who used to call himself "Dr A B, DMus". When pressed on where he had obtained his DMus, he would always scarper - fast!

Ah, but it was the screen in front of the organ case (the one which causes the player to feel as if he's behind bars in prison) to which I was referring, not the rood screen!