Neil Crawford

The BBC from July will be changing the iplayer to include radio programs so playback will using flash instead of real player. a spoke person reports that playback quailty will be improved with beter playback options. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayerbeta/

or this http://www.google.com/virgle/index.html

see today's times http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/f...icle3399568.ece and comment http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/f...icle3399569.ece

see also:- http://www.orgelbau.ch/site/index.cfm?id_a...amp;vsprache=EN

Looks Wonderful but who's installing it?

Phew! I thought for a minute it also ment also CPDL website as well which is Invaluable source of choral music. we performed Last sunday Lord, Let Me Know Mine End (Maurice Greene) http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Ive always wanted to see the mander works, looking forward to coming. i'm bringing my girlfriend and children to see christmas lights etc .

Might be of interest, I video'd John pryer improvising at the end of choral evensong at St. Micheals Tenbury last Sunday. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=G162YxDiQuM

Today I played Crown Imperial - Walton at St. Augustine's edgbaston,birmingham. it seemed to be apt voluntary for christmas 1. it would have been nice if the keyboard action was more responsive!

"One church in Lancashire has such a monster which is a dreadful example of a toaster. The organist demanded the use of a DAT machine so that he could sample his favourite instruments throughout the UK. So, the results were, needless to say, awful. One hilarious example of the crass lack of knowledge was the fact that a Harrison Hohl Flute might be rubbing shoulders with a Rieger Holzgedackt (complete with action noise). The organ was also equipped with (I think) 4 x super-duper digital reverb units, expander unit, and the organist's own English translation of continental stop names" I think this is the toaster? it didn't put the url in? another try.. http://www.phoenixorgans.co.uk/installations/broughton.html

Great to have the forum back, I have had to resort to browsing on You tube the last few days. Thanks again.

what a stunning organ!, this must be saved.

"14 years teaching music & being organist at successively St Augustine's Edgbaston, " Hello Peter, iam the assistant organist at St. Augustine's. I include the our website address www.staugustines-edgbaston.org

I understand that Keble Oxford are thinking of replacing the CH organ with a pipe organ! it's showing signs of ware after twelve years of use.

It would be even better if he took the Kings job as well, the current sound of the kings choir is dredfull!

Article in this month's Organist Review regarding Hybrid organs.

"The biggest problem that occurs with digital instruments in churches in is that caused by the meglomaniac organist, or simply by bad advice given by a salesman - that of the organ that is too big for the building. Very few churches are prepared to listen to advice given by diocesan organs advisors on this subject, as the prospect of numerous 32' stops, Tubas, gadgets and widgets and choices of voicing prove too much temptation. When will people learn!" Paul I agree, and there are a few on the Pheonix website! I think that some DOA's don't give advice on a digital organs other than where you can place the speakers inside the organ case, they not interested on giving advice on specifications!

Yes the organ on the Phoenix demo CD has alot of french reeds so the sound is thin. try the Wyvern (Phoenix) demo disk which is sampled from a hill organ,bass is superb!

I understand in the past they made there own but now have Renatus to make them. I am sure Copeman Hart would tell you that they make their own consoles! However, I have heard that Renatus have made some of them.... JJK <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just for the record, Wyvern's " Wpx system" was designed by Dave Bostock when he left Makin and started Phoenix organs. The organ consoles for Custom Wyvern's/Phoenix/Copeman Hart are built by Retanus who also make consoles for pipe organs ( see http://www.renatus.co.uk/braunton.htm)

Fot those who could not download this video earlier this year I have posted it on You Tube. Improvisation do check out the other organ postings.

Unfortunately St. Georges had no choice, the organ is cyphering very badly and it was a waste of time trying to patch the organ, no way a restoration could be be done in stages .The church do not have £200,000 and noway the Lottery will give money to pipe organ restorations anymore. (this is what I gather) I agree with Ronald, Why on earth did the director of music have a 32 ft reed installed with the actions in a poor condition? ......Idiot!! I understand st. georges will have a large 4 manual pheonix to be installed before the end of the year. We at St. Augustine's (just up the road) are also facing a problem with our much loved three manual Hill / Nicholson instrument which is playable but the electrics are in a fairly bad condition. All the soundboards need replacing and some pipework are not sounding. The blower has just been inspected and its in a bad condition. we need £140,000 plus to rebuild which we do not have! So we will may go the same route.

Yes, I used to be at Lordswood School and we had evening carol service at St. George's. I was also impressed at an early age by the organ. When George Thalben Ball gave the opening recital he refused to use the new organ bench which he found too high. an old shorter organ bench was used proped up with bricks! I hope someone out there will offer to the church to buy the organ as I can see it sold off in parts as it falls further into disrepair. I gather the church may be looking at a Phoinex or Copeman hart as the replacement.

more detail please? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I copy the following from the St. George's website "The 1980s saw considerable physical and tonal reorganisation, and the addition of much second-hand pipework from St Mark's Cheatham Hill, Manchester , Erdington parish church, Christ Church, Oxford and Birmingham Town Hall, among other sources. This was done by the then organist, David Bruce-Payne, with the assistance of some knowledgeable students. In 1996-8 the electrical switch gear was replaced by a solid-state system, new manual keyboards were fitted, and a 32' Contra Trombone was added, by David Gallichan" The organ is in a mess, £200,000 to restore an organ rebuilt in 1975!