Phil T

You have to wonder, just what is the point?

Maybe the “Singing Estate” and the Blackbird Leys Community Choir is the thin end of the wedge? How do you raise the profile of this type of music, how do you bring it to the masses?

I wasn’t knocking cathedral musicians; they are all highly talented people. I was trying (badly it seems) to point out that they achieve fantastic results at the drop of a hat. A friend sang “Carols with Kirri” at Coventry; he said that she spent so much time to achieve the results she got. To my ears, the choir who accompanied her were as good, but they just turned up and sang; minimum time, maximum musicality. All fantastic musicians.

Cathedral musicians aren’t necessarily the best musicians, but they achieve 97% of the results on less than 3% of the practice. I think the talent is out there, but many people don’t want a career involving the church. If these people don’t want to get involved with the church, then how do you nurture their talent?

Which is very good news. I personally think the organ at Truro is fantastic. Others on this board have said that from a player’s perspective it is flawed; yet as a non-player I only hear it as the players play it. Every time I’ve heard it the players manage to bring it alive and it’s a joy to listen to.

Wasn't that the tuba that was moved because it was too quiet?

Err....no. He’s a fine man who I’ve known since joining his then parish choir when I was 12. He taught me (and others) far more than just how to sing hymns and anthems on a Sunday. One of his protégés regularly deps (sings) at St Pauls, Westminster Abbey and St Georges Windsor, so my friend must have got something right.

There is a fine line between lyrical and plodding, but too fast just kills the music and says “Look at me, I can play fast”.

Ask Andy Lumsden, if he won't answer, just watch him at work.

A friend of mine likes to take the Vierne 1st symphony final as fast as he can, this enables him to run his foot down the pedal board in the last few bars rather playing what’s written, it’s over before you register that it’s not quite correct. As a non-player (hanging my head in shame) I like a more sedate tempo to allow the music to “breath”.

One of my favourites, which rarely get mentioned on these pages, is Chichester.

I listened to the tracks last night. I liked the sound of the Romsey organ but not the Wimborne. I don’t know if the Wimborne recording was closely miked or the acoustic of the building is dead, but it just didn’t sound ALIVE.

A non-player knowing abit about organs, surely not.

That's very good of you, there's no way I'd have done that. When I got married I told the wife (jokingly) not to be late, as I’d give her ten min then take the choir and organist (all good friends) down the pub. She turned up on time but unfortunately forgot her bouquet, so the service started 20 min late whilst it was fetched. Hmmm

Liked the pictures Am looking forward to the rest.

It's fingers, they have a life of their own, bad fingers. Any general anthem/music could be sung during the signing of the register. Ones I’ve sung include “Ave Maria” (Byrd, Elgar, Mozart), Psalm 23 (set to Crimond), “Jesu Joy” and “Holy, Holy, Holy” (Tchaikovsky). For my own wedding I had “Set me as a seal” by Walton and “Lord for thy tender mercies sake” by Farrant/Hilton. The Walton is quite tricky but the Farrant/Hilton is relatively easy.

Ouch.

Ohh, are we going to get into the old north/south divide argument?

I can’t work out if your taking the **** or not. I’m all for using technology in organ building. F 1 engines no longer use cams, points etc and all for the better. We shouldn’t be afraid of technology, only badly used technology.

I’ve never heard it (either recording or in the flesh) but surely it cant be that bad?

Well yes, but then the majority of organs discussed on the board are situated in churches and cathedrals?

Might entice the max power brigade into church. Not too sure what they’d sound like but it would remove the problem of heavy pipes causing structural problems.

I didn't know that. Every day is a learning day.

Um....No. I fail to see how any Christian can behave like that. It totally goes against the teachings of Christ. Probably a miss quote but here goes, “You should Love one another as I have loved you”.

Now, why do they do that? What's wrong with being Christs soldier? Are we still allowed to be his faithful Servant or is that classist?