DHM

Guilty as charged. But my comment was more about the tone-colours and the overall effect than about sheer volume. I'm sure we could both name cathedrals where, on the one hand, the organ was ideal for accompanying the daily liturgy in the Quire (e.g. full organ with Great reeds at the end of Howells' "Coll Reg" wouldn't drown the choir), but underpowered in the Nave, and on the other hand, where it is fine for large Nave congregations, but overpowering in the Quire before you get anywhere near the last pistons.

I can't speak from personal experience of the Parr Hall organ, never having heard it, but if it sounds anything like the 1903 Mutin-Cavaillé-Coll at Notre-Dame de Metz (which has a very similar specification to the Parr Hall C-C), I certainly would like to hear Anglican Chant, Stanford, Howells, etc, played on it. Metz has all the necessary ingredients including a large Open Wood (though obviously called something different) and a fine "full swell" with 16-8-4 reeds and mixture. It suited Howells "Master Tallis" remarkably well.

Not long to wait. According to the website linked to John's post this morning, the dedication (Einweihung) is only a fortnight away.

Is anyone aware of an organ arrangement/transcription of Bliss' fanfare "Dignified Occasion" for 6-part military brass? Thanks in advance. Douglas.

Ahh, now there's a song to remember! They don't write 'em like that anymore (more's the pity!).

Indeed. As are also Aix and Caen. The only thing that would stop you installing it is insufficient RAM. The "unison" couplers default to ON when the blower starts.

I had a similar experience while getting acquainted with the Mutin-Cavaillé-Coll organ of Metz Cathedral recently. The Grand Orgue and Récit both have "Unison ON" couplers (foot pedals) which have to be activated before anything will play on those manuals. You have to re-activate them after using the General Cancel. Most disconcerting! Is this normal in France? The Ducroquet-C-C at Aix-en-Provence (the only other French organ I know well) doesn't have them.

No, that would be a Civil Partnership March!

Rutter's B flat Jubilate needs a top (manual) B flat at the end.

Ah, so which do you prefer? There isn't an easy answer to that. If both are available, I tend to use the former more for earlier repertoire and the latter for later stuff. But sometimes it's also just a question of mood. And the former console has better keyboards than the latter. Surprise indeed! Forgive me if I've misunderstood something, but aren't flat and concave mutually exclusive?

Duruflé’s Veni Creator variations need an F#.

I have had a straight/flat for over 3 years and was quite surprised at how little time it took me to adapt. I also have a radiating/concave one, and don't find any particular problems in switching between the two.

Indeed. One only has to look at the number of redundant English organs being transplanted to Germany, the number of German churches introducing a service called "Choral Evensong", and the rave reviews (from German critics) with which the release of this was greeted: www.lavenderaudio.co.uk/oic.

Since when? Our cathedral choirs have toured the USA several times in the last 13 years, and this is news to me.

Please forgive a brief moment of pedantry. The regisTRY office is part of the County Court, where you get your divorce papers. The RegisTER Office is where you register births, deaths, marriages and other PC things that hadn't been invented when I worked in one many moons ago.

Interesting - so I hadn't imagined it. But I hadn't remembered that the handwriting was different. I wonder whose? If I could get another look, I might recognise it. We must do it sometime. Perhaps for Bobby's centenary in 2 years' time, if not before?

And not only Howells. What about Stanford, with all his Symphonies, Concertos, Irish Rhapsodies, etc? And Parry, Wood, Ireland and no doubt many more.

I have passed this question on to others who may have been more closely involved in the removal of various boxes from the cellars of 7MCR. But as regards RJA's music, I spent some time browsing in his library (not at 7MCR) after his 90th birthday tea-party. I'm almost 100% sure I saw an orchestral score and parts of The Fair Chivalry, but I haven't been able to confirm this more recently. Now that would be something! [if Paul Hale reads this, might he know more?]

Please forgive the slightly off-topic posting, but I would be most grateful if board members would be kind enough to pass on to any friends/colleagues with Rochester connections this information about our upcoming celebration of Rochester musicians on 25-26 July (Bobby Ashfield would have been 98 on the 28th). Music list here: http://www.gundulf.org.uk/html/summer_2009.html Programme notes here: http://www.gundulf.org.uk/html/rochester_musicians.html Thanks & best wishes, Douglas.

Ditto the Choir 8' Dolce on the 1901 Binns at The Old Independent Church, Haverhill (Suffolk). Virtually inaudible with the box shut.

I once saw a stop labelled "Tuba Memphis (Tenor C)". Can't remember where.

There was an extensive article on the Blenheim Palace organs in the February 2008 edition of Organists' Review by Stephen Duckett, whose e-mail signature describes him as "Under Butler to His Grace the Duke of Marlborough", though he seems to be an organist as well. Hope this might be helpful. Douglas.

Is this not a sign that pipeless instruments are getting more and more realistic? Another instrument which I recently acquired accurately recreates the time-lag caused by the pneumatic action (varying between the manuals, depending on pipe distance from the console) on the organ of which it is a copy.

I went to a service there a few weeks ago and the pipe organ appeared to be out of use. A large 2-manual M**** was in place, and obviously in regular use. To keep this "on-topic", my favourite full-length 32ft is the Exeter Violone.

Hear, hear! Would that it were still so in other places as well.