philipmgwright

A well travelled Kingsgate Davidson https://www.npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=P00538 built for London Residence 1960s moved to St Leonard’s In the Field Perth moved to Simon Langton School Canterbury moved to Petts Wood

Ralph Downes Baroque Tricks refers warmly to Reginald W Davidson “ my ever faithful friend” in connection with Oratory p58-64 assisting RD “to attain his tonal ideals”. Kingsgate Davidson took over the maintenance of the Oratory organ from 1944

“bravado of the bumptious upstart” ..what a delightful phrase which paints such a vivid picture! I am led to believe the author is the last pupil apprentice of HW III May I persuade him to share first hand some personal experiences of HW III before the sands of time obliterate the fine detail and we rely on anecdote alone?

Looking at the year 1961/62 and it saying Compton , Liverpool,is it not more likely to be an item from Rushworth & Dreaper that arrived in this Chapel in America rather than a Compton export?

The Organ October 1947 Boosey & Hawkes ad The Hammond Organ - a typical setting for the War Memorial that LIVES ” the control of volume is as effective as its softest as in the majesty of its heavier tonal possibilities when used to fill a larger building such as Canterbury Cathedral - as indeed it does”

At a glance through the British Newspaper Archive a small model Positive Organ would include - 44 note compass 1 Open Diapason tenorF grooved to 3 spotted metal 8 2 Salicional tenor F grooved to 3 spotted metal 8 3 Gedeckt Bass and Gedeckt Treble. wood. 8 4 Dulcet Bass and Dulcet Treble. spotted metal 4 5 Double Bass. Patent wood. 16 6 Melodic Diapason Transposer Combination lever throwing on and off loud stops Spotted metal front in pyramid form casework -prepared for These instruments launched in 1896 were advertised extensively in local press by selling dealers with over 400 being sold within a few years Catalogues , designs and new models are regular features in these ads.

P Larg & Co 199 Union St Aberdeen advertised in 1899 The New “Positive “ Real Pipe Organ for Churches and Chapels Prices from £75 to £250 designs and full particulars of specifications post free from Sole Agents P LARG & CO Largs were a successful music retailer across Scotland Glasgow ,Dundee and Aberdeen who supplied many organs of this genre

Compton provided a 8 rank for Aberdeen Astoria Cinema opened December 8 ,1934 - first illuminated console in Scotland-positioned on stage railway cost £2300

Hardly a grill surely..but an Architectural indication of a free standing instrument with mechanical action console below ( electrical one hopefully in orchestral area) With Organs Philharmonie in Paris and Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg now realities by Rieger and Klais and Gothenburg in pipeline, Barbican architects have clear pointers to new concert hall instruments. The Hall visual is stunning- lets hope the organ becomes the jewel in this new musical crown!

21 years of Organ Building by Maurice Forsyth-Grant Positif Press 1987 Covers Degens& Rippen Ltd,Grant Degens&Rippen Ltd and Grant Degens & Bradbeer Ltd Foreward by Peter Hurford and a lively read which reflects MFG colourful organbuilding attitude enjoy!

Organist at St Mary le Boltons was David Lang Article describing the new organ - The Organ no 157 July 1960 makes interesting reading about Lang’s thinking moulded by Flor Peeters and the details he suggested to the builders .

Sei Gregrusset variations BWV 768 with Peter Hurford at the Beckerath in St Andreas Kirche Hildesheim The penultimate and scorching final variation expresses to my mind an unique fusion of Bach’s towering harmony,coupled with clarity of Beckerath delivered by that Master interpreter Hurford https://youtu.be/A8RvZDeVvNm

I met Peter Hurford when he opened the Nigel Church organ at Winlaton,Newcastle upon Tyne. His enthusiastic vivacious playing there has long been a happy memory which encouraged me to seek out his many recordings. In 2019 we are losing too many of organ “giants” - Guillou,Rawsthorne now Hurford

Minor point It was George Blackmore FRCO! I am enjoying the enlivened activitity in reponse to the request to try harder. philipmgwright

I first met Noel in 1969 when page turning for him in St Andrew’s Cathedral Aberdeen. My personal memories over the following 50 years abound with his fabulous musicmaking,sparkling humour and practical administrative efficiency. Memorable recitals from the Festival Hall to the tiniest village in remotest Scotland received the same detailed preparation - his cathedral service musical dimension matching the edifice perfectly. Post recital entertaining to the faithful with “famous organist anecdotes” or “playing the matches” which he always won! Skill displayed whether in his host’s kitchen or in his own garden or improving the running of his beloved cathedral. A warm endearing person to meet. A world class artist!

Many thanks for putting up this link so quickly. It made me feel a part of this celebration.The Dobson sounded exceptional in the Wagner and Daniel Hyde deserved the audience accolade. Also nice touch to include a reference to Gerre Hancock in form of one of his improvisations ...further Daniel’s modest comments that improvisations were not yet in his music galaxy. Busy now downloading the Celebratory Brochure! philipmgwright

I am surprised to learn of the nameplate on the Willis at Stony Stratford since... The St George’s Charlotte Square Edinburgh organ was a 1882 Willis 2/21 r 1897 Willis 3/28 o 1914 Willis r 1932 r/38 removed when building became West Register House.r 1967-1969 Starmer Shaw no recorded activity during the willis/lewis period There are several acknowledged Willis and Lewis organs in Scotland (as noted in Alan Buchan and David Stewart excellent newly published Organs in Scotland - a revised list) but not this Willis Perhaps someone may enlighten me? philipmgwright

Thanks David for including St Judes Thorton Heath’s final console and west end case...all I had seen previously were the photos in Rotunda Vol 3 no 3 showing organ under construction at west end and console at opening without infinite speed and gradation dials which must have been added later. Reading Willis III ‘s article and specification shows what an amount of planning went into this fully enclosed organ and its control from the console . philipmgwright

I believe Willis 4 shared some reminiscences with John-Paul Buzard in The Diapason over two months in 1997 Has anyone on this forum read these? philipmgwright

I agree - Colin is quite right in a need for a re-assessment of Willis’ 4 work. Further as I have mentioned on this forum before,perhaps it is time to include Willis III in this revisit while the living can counter some of the colourful anecdotal activity by introducing a more balanced understanding of both Willis’ work. philipmgwright

Aberdeen East St Nicholas 1936 Compton with luminous stopheads - console removed to Organbuilders workshop for safe keeping I believe during archaeological investigations which removed church floor Organ remains in West Gallery and as totally enclosed presumably safe for immediate future philipmgwright

Thanks for your further confirmation. I have now succeeded in contacting Robert and confirmed my order. Hopefull many others will do likewise. philipmgwright

Sorry undeliverable again just now! lookingforward to new contact details thanks philipmgwright

As one of the original supporters of Brindley,I emailed address and phoned the last number just now.. but to no avail...may I suggest new contact details be issued which can respond ..this will encourage many to subscribe. a worthwhile venture plagued by a horrendous birth! philipmgwright

Was it not shipped to Japan but is still awaiting renaissance? philipmgwright