Graham Powell

Dear Needy American, I think that sounds fine.

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I found this online: capitular, capitulary of or pertaining to an ecclesiastical chapter; "capitular estates"

Voice of the whale! Graham

Dear Tony, Thanks for this - I'll pass the information to the NPOR office as requested. Graham

There's an example near here, on the 2 manual Hill (1870-ish) at St James, Titsey, Surrey. The church is owned by the Titsey Foundation, and is not redundant as stated on NPOR. The organ is almost in original condition, is very rarely played, and is very unreliable these days. The console is still marked with soot, as a result of candles being used to illuminate proceedings, and the current tuning book goes back to 1936.......... A plaque on the instrument states that it was restored in 1895, and it seems likely that the Keraulophon was added at this time, as the stobknob is postioned at the top of the single column of Great stops (above the Fifteenth), not with the other 8' stops as would be expected. As I recall, the tone is similar to a very quiet Diapason. See N13934 on NPOR. Graham

I agree - it is superb. But let's not forget the rest of the Suite, especially the Prelude. I like this piece even more - it's well-written, and very atmospheric. There isn't a note out of place, AND it's easier to play than the Toccata! Graham

I've got the John Scott/St Pauls' Cathedral CD of Durufle's organ works, and the notes state (re the Toccata) ".........He revised the score and and added a new ending at a later date." Nothing more specific than that I'm afraid. Having been introduced to the Suite by listening to a (1970's?) recording by Walter Hillsman at Coventry Cathedral, I prefer the "new" ending, as played by him. Graham

I think there was - I think it mentioned Nicholas Kynaston giving the opening recital. Does that sound right?

I'm sure it is entertaining! Back to Howells, what do you mean by "... I still do not have any satisfactory Howells recording."? Is this because you don't like the instruments it's played on, or the way it's played? I've mentioned before (elsewhere on this forum) the 1990 Christopher Dearnley recording of the Psalm-Preludes and Rhapsodies. Hyperion are still issuing this, although now it's on 2 CDs with some choral music as well. Graham

If I'm not mistaken, these are now available on CD. Have a look at http://www.solstice-music.com/caddie/catal..._nbres_ppage=5& for further details. Graham

100+ CDs (including 2 complete Bach & Buxtehude), around 40 LPs (which I never listen to these days). Favourite two? Simon Preston's Reubke/Liszt (Deutsche Gramophon, Westminster Abbey 1985), closely followed by Olivier Latry's Vierne Symphonies 2 & 3 (BNL, Notre-Dame 1998). I haven't asked if the neighbours agree with me...............

I yet haven't read anything yet which will make me renew my (lapsed) subscription. Any more positives? Mind you, since I stopped reading it I've managed to decorate two rooms

Just in case you couldn't access NPOR, here it is: http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=N09975 Hope that helps! Graham

Do you mean by using a Bass Cornet, or the other method described above?

Ha Ha! Of course! Graham

Yes, I was shown this trick at Guildford Cathedral too - I think it was on a fat Hohl Flute 8'. I wouldn't have believed such an effect were possible - I was completely deceived. And I believe a large church in the south of England is soon to have a Bass Cornet reinstated. Graham

I was shown this trick once, but I can't remember the harmonics - please spill the beans! Graham

Dear Rev Newnham, I recently sent a couple of updates to the NPOR, but I haven't received any acknowledgement and wondered why this practice has been discontinued. I'm not even sure the updates have been received. Previously, at least you knew updates had arrived, even though the database took some time to update. And it was much easier to send updates via the link contained in each individual record, alas now gone. Graham

Like this one perhaps - http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=N08947 Graham

I've also found that church personnel have the ability to enliven proceedings. At my last church in South London in the early 1980's, the vicar was preaching a short sermon despite suffering from a very heavy cold. With a flourish, he pulled what he thought was a handerchief from his pocket, only to find he was about to blow his nose on a pair of ladies knickers. I never found out how they got there Graham

I've just had a response from www.fnac - they can't obtain the Latry set, and have cancelled my order Any other suggestions? Graham

I played for a funeral yesterday at a small church in Surrey. On turning up, I was shown the 2 manual electronic substitute, and was informed that I would not be required to play the funeral party out, as a CD was to be provided by the family of the deceased. "Anything nice?" I enquired. "Oh yes", came the reply, "Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli singing "Time to say goodbye". Very apt.......... The service went without a flaw, and at the appropriate moment, the priest signalled to the verger (at the back of the church by now) to press the "play" button. I sat back and waited, and then realised (along with the congregation) that there was a serious problem with the CD or the player. It kept skipping forwards every few seconds, and the resulting maelstrom bore no resemblance to what was expected. But worse was to come - the verger didn't try to stop it, which would have at least given me the chance to play something else. It was toe-curlingly embarrassing to sit through. And so it came to pass that the funeral party exited the church to a CD in meltdown. The close relatives were seen nudging each other in an effort to stifle laughter, and were heard to say that their dear departed mother/grandmother was "having the last laugh". It would be interesting to hear of other similar disasters! Graham