philipmgwright
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Posts posted by philipmgwright
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Any reason why the NPOR stoplist does not exactly tally with the Aubertin labelling?
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Hautbois d'Amour
Paisley Abbey Swell HN&B 1928 from original CC but under different name
Renamed by JWW in Ralph Downes 1968
philipmgwright
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I am disappointed my plea for some first hand memories of HW III has up to now , not been fulfilled.
I had been hoping perhaps the last pupil-apprentice of HW ,or an organ builder involved with the 1959 Liverpool Cathedral works or colleagues of Noel Rawshorne might be prevailed upon to add a human dimension to this " great character"
David Drinkell highlighted something I had not noticed...the big proportion of HW's work was rebuilding rather than new.
Plumley in his book on St Pauls also detected a weariness in HW at having to repeat his work several times during the Dome works etc1925/1930/1960
Like David , I too visited the Willis works in Marlborough Grove in 1963 and was welcomed by Peter Hamblen who found the time to show a university student around the factory with its pipe making,voicing shops and most memorably the console shop with the Truro 4 manual console amongst several being completed.
I left with several brochures and typed specification sheets and an invitation to visit Ian Frost in the Edinburgh branch when I got back to Scotland. But I did not meet HW
The sources mentioned by David Drinkell - Rotunda,The Organ,and Callaghan's book are excellent and worth reading...perhaps I am just a little too late in asking for first hand recollections of HW III
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Colin Pyett mentions in his latest post that he never met HW III...might it not be timely to hear from those who have had personal contact with him rather than the often rolled out anecdotes which may have expanded over the many tellings?
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Radley School Chapel also had a 5 manual,I believe.
I recall an illustration in The Organ showing a flamboyant organist playing this console.
NPOR states it only comprised 55 stops though.
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St Georges Stockport and Cluny Parish Edinburgh
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The Fort Augustus 4 manual console known to organists in Scotland mentioned by David Drinkell was from 1938 and the work of EH Lawton the Aberdeen organ builder. A photograph exists showing stopkeys in simple rows on either side.
On its reduction to a 3 manual in 1980 by R&D the 32' reed went to Stockport and the Tuba went to Edinburgh.
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The retention of the Echo Organ in the triforium even unconnected was a device to avoid VAT as the Phelps was seen as an additional organ to the Abbey.
This was a legimate interpretation of the rules over organs attracting VAT at this time.
I feel certain there will be other examples
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Many thanks for the link to these fascinating photographs.
Compton built several organs for the BBC I believe ..one at Maida Vale ..one at St Georges Hall in Langham Place or is this the same as the photographs. I recall comments that the instrument there is housed in a tall chimney style ventilation shaft that only such an ingenious organ builder as JC could be be successful.
May one speculate what condition it is in presently?
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Dennis
Does a set of Rotunda .... Willis III house magazine 1924/34..bound or loose feature in your disposal list?
Thanks
Philip M G Wright
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A Great on Choir was inserted by Noel Rawsthorne at Liverpool Cathedral to provide a substantial second chorus against a coupled Great. This was copied by Richard Galloway at Church of the Holy Rude ,Stirling as a Great to Choir.
Also organs designed by Dr Alfred Hollins often had a Choir to Swell coupler eg Caird Hall Dundee and several instruments in Edinburgh
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In the obituary in The Times mention was made of the collaboration between Gustav Leonhardt and Paul Badura- Skoda in the 1950's...by sheer coincidence Badura-Skoda was giving a rare recital in Kings Place on Wednesday18 Jan in memoriam and honorem Dinu Lipatti.
An incredible artist ( now 84) in a glorious new concert hall - a privilege to be present .
At least we have many recordings to remind us of Leonhardt's skill and vision connecting us to a past glorious age .
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I was listening to Radio 4 Sunday afternnon, (as you do), and I had to burst out laughing at one point, which described what happened on the streets of Liverpool during a Police strike in 1911.
Apparently, the peasants took to the streets and smashed all the shop windows; helping themselves to the most expensive things they could find, such as suits, dresses and anything which could easily be removed. They even stripped the dummines of clothes and tried on the items in the window, in full view of everyone.
However, it seems that one of the targets was the Rushworth & Dreaper shop, and somehow, they managed to manhandle grand-pianos into the street, and then sat there playing them.
I suspect that they didn't make off with any organs or reed-organs, but from memory, I would suggest that they would have had them, because I recall the old shop and some of the expensive items in there, including a fine music collection. Indeed, I am extremely grateful that a long out of print Giga by Enrico Bossi, just happened to be among the retail organ-music, and it caught my fancy. It's still one of my favourite little "jolly" pieces, but tricky to play.
MM
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The "Options" button to the right at the top of the post area allows you to select from three layout options.
Paul
Very many thanks for highlighting the options button,Paul
I appreciate your speedy reponse
Philip
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Am I alone in disliking this condensed format for posts in this topic.?
My pleasure in reading the posts is reduced via this set up.
Or am I missing something??
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Heaven forfend.
It would be really nice if there were a CD available, perhaps called The Organ of Wimborne Minster, as an example of a 1960s Walker.
Walkers issued in 1965 as a Christmas offering a LP side1 featuring Wimborne Minster played by David Blott.
Recorded by Michael Smythe it covers Lidon Sonata De Primo Tono showcasing the en chamade reed, JSB Toccata in F and Pachelbel Aria Prima from Hexachordum Apollinis
The effect of the reed in the Lidon on this LP is still memorable after 47 years
Perhaps the master copy's whereabouts may be known to a distinguished member of this forum.
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Hi
I did hear that the Echo division of the previous organ (pre-Phelps) in Hexham Abbey still remains in the triforium, albeit unplayable. See http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi...ec_index=N04089
Every Blessing
Tony
The retention of the unconnected Hexham Echo Organ, I seem to recall was a device to limit VAT liabilities by conforming to then current guidelines as the Phelps would be seen to be an additional organ rather than a replacement instrument.
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Thanks to everyone for the comments. I am very pleased to learn that “The Organ” still exists, and of course, “The Organist’s Review” etc. It makes my idea much less urgent but no less apt, because of all styles of publishing, the electronic format would be especially suited to the organ, and I’m surprised that no-one has seen the obvious in the UK; we being a very computer-literate lot.
Writing about music is a bit like tasting oil-paintings I would have thought, and the electronic format can combine visual, written and audio technology at a fraction of the cost, (and time), of print-runs and conventional distribution methods.
I just wonder how marvellous it would have been, when I was still easing myself out of the pod, to have had lots of photographs, lots of words AND sound samples to hear......the worlds of Schnitger, Cavaille-Coll, Silbermann, Aeolian-Skinner (et al), at the touch of a button. Instead, it was a case of reading, running out to the record shop, browsing very inefficiently, ordering records (when they weren’t in stock), going back the next week, going home and then listening.
The internet has made it all a bit easier, but still the technology of the written word remains aloof from the technology of digital music, when they could so usefully be combined with very little additional effort.
I mean, how DO you describe a Schulze Diapason or a “Father” Willis Orchestral Oboe merely in words?
It’s impossible!
Anyway, I shall now place this in the jar marked “Great ideas to dwell upon,” and perhaps return to it in due course, safe in the knowledge that, even if many organists cannot play the organ convincingly, they’re terribly well-read.
MM
I would hesitate to place it in your jar "great ideas to dwell upon" since I believe you have suggested an exciting and viable development for this excellent discussion board or a parallel one.
At the time of Organist's Review's change following Paul Hale's departure I firmly believed the time was right to maintain
the excellent work his team achieved but in an electronic format.
As a reader who started in 1960's with Stainton de b Taylor 's editorship I thought the Organist's Review in its format before the latest change was excellent. With OR's elected change of direction, the electronic option is a way to keep faith with all previous editors and could deliver what organists desire.
The opportunity to be as up to date as this discussion forum showing new builds , sensitive restorations, recital and DVD/CD
reviews and lively discussion is an opportunity made possible by the internet .
Illustrated interviews (sound and vision)with recitalists,organ builders, tuners are ideas.
Organ builder leaflets current and historic could a fascinating information vehicle
Many talk about house journals Rotunda , Stop Open & Reed but how many have seen or read them?
Historical online articles from them would be highly prized.
Think outside the box ...we might surprise ourselves
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There is an error in Enid Bird's book 20th Century English Cathedral Organists. It was indeed 1968.
As Dr Jackson was an OBE, the CBE is regarded as promotion within the Order. Neither of us should lose any sleep over it though.
Herrick Bunney, Organist & Master of Music, St Giles Cathedral Edinburgh was made MVO 1964, LVO 1984 and CVO 1996 before dying December 1998
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Edinburgh throws up a couple of good points here.
1. The recitals in the Usher Hall are well supported since the organ came back in, though sadly they have had to decamp to St Cuthberts while the hall is now under repair.
2. I hear on the grapevine that Mr Kwik-Fit has provided a substantial amount of the money for the new Copley instrument in the Ctholic Cathedral. Perhaps our fellow forum member Simon N could confirm how large his involvment was?
Did I not read somewhere the basis of the new Copley organ in St Mary's Catholic Cathedral Edinburgh came from the Wilkinson organ formerly in Preston Town Hall?
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Re issuing Rotunda would be most welcome... and certainly is overdue. Stop Open and Reed which reprinted the Skinner Magazine on which HW III modelled Rotunda on has been in circulation via OHS for some time but Rotunda as a statement of the times is vastly superior.
Although I am lucky to possess a set of Rotundas, I would support a facsimile edition and think this would be of substantial interest to many of your correspondents and their colleagues
Canterbury Cathedral & Manchester Cathedral, New organs
in General discussion
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When Bill Minay had St Cuthbert's Edinburgh rebuilt by Walkers in the 50's , he set French Horn on Swell 1 - he never tired of using it he said