Jim Treloar

Hector5 - I agree with you. I'm working my way through the CDs at the moment and I'm mystified why it was necessary to include the "brutalist" material. Having said that everything else I've heard so far is very good and the recording quality excellent. The book contains very fine photographs. It might have been an idea to include some notes about the music played but that's a minor criticism and Edinburgh organists deserve praise for initiating the project which I doubt anyone else would attempt. I have to say though it's not up to the excellent standard of the recent CD/DVD issue of the organs in the Groningen area produced by the Dutch and still available from fuguestatefilms.co.uk (not meant to be an advertisment, just that I find it so very enjoyable!).

Thanks for that Muso, I was aware of Tournemire's visit to London in 1936. from questions asked of people "in the know" that appears to be the only visit he made to the UK, which also begs the question: How did he know a girl from Chester on 1903?. Bangor University has a very good music department of course, led for many years by William Mathias.

Just wondering if any member of this board can throw any light on a matter which has been discussed here in Chester recently, but with no conclusion. Apparently Tournemire's first wife, named Alice Taylor, was born in Chester, they married in 1903. The possibility being discussed is whether he ever actually came here, this has been mentioned to Roger Fisher, but he didn't know, in fact was unaware of the Chester connection. One fact which has come to light is that Tournemire's non-music library did finish up in Chester with somebody who had some sort of connection, in fact it is believed to be still here. If any one has any information I should be interested to hear it. It was coincidental that his second wife was also called Alice, as you probably know she came to St Albans up to the 1990s for the Tournemire prize at the festival.

pcnd - In fact it was very good, although he didn't explore the quieter stops at all, 'twas a bit loud. In spite of his comments about black notes, there were quite a lot of key changes. I mentioned this performance to Roger Fisher, saying it is well over 20 years since I've heard him and RF replied that he hadn't heard him for over 20 years, either. Seems a shame as he's obviously still very competent, just decided to take his retirement seriously obviously.

That's a tall order, Peter, a long programme, lasted from 0730 to about 1045 (25 min interval). Organists were I. Tracey, I. Wells, D. Bishop, Martyn Noble (latest scholar) and Nigel Ogden. Joe Riley, arts editor of the Liverpool Echo and now, I gather, news editor of Organists' Review acted as compere. Even already I can't recall who played every piece. Charpentier - Te Deum (all), PDQ Bach - Eine kleine Nacht (?) N.Ogden then played Yesterday (McC) Tomorrow (C. Strouse) and his own England's Glory. Verdi - March from Aida, Rawsthorne - Hornpipe Humoresque, J. Williams - Schindler's List. These by Bishop I think. Bossi - Scherzo (Tracey) Soler a movement for 2 organs (played on the two Wells chamber organs). Mathias - Processional (Noble), Thunderbirds are Go! - all (!!). After the interval Handel - Fireworks (Tracey), Buttall - The Lone Arr-Ranger (Bishop), another Soler movement on the chamber organs, Gossec - Tambourin, Langlais - Pasticcio (alternating on three Makins). Then Ogden again: E. Coates - At the dance, an Irving Berlin medley. John Williams - Hymn to the fallen (Bishop with a corps of drums up the aisle), Bach BWV 547 (Noble - a good performance for a 19 year old). Then N. Rawsthorne did an improvisation on Ein Feste Burg. W.S. Lloyd Weber - Romanza - Justine (Tracey). Then Walton Crown Imperial with all playing (including trompette militaire!). Finally everyone sang Jerusalem with all playing. Someone else might correct or add to the actual players for each. A good evening, I think the longest recital - or better call it a concert - that I've ever been to.

Dulciana - Raul Prieto Ramirez is indeed a very exciting player. He played one recital at Victoria Hall Hanley last year, all from memory, and everyone was "knocked out". I believe it was the only UK recital he gave; we need to see and hear him more over here.

I went to Liverpool. Fun indeed, very much a "popular" programme including Nigel Ogden, and raised lots of money for the organ appeal. Three Makins included, not my cup of tea, but added to the occasion. At the end the three Makins, cathedral organ and two chamber organs by Wells doing Crown Imperial; bring on the trompette militaire and the phrase ear shattering took on a new meaning. One very pleasant surprise was the fact that Noel Rawsthorne was there and was persuaded to play the cathedral organ, he did an improvisation on Ein Feste Burg - "Not too many black notes, I see, I don't do many of those these days". Someone will no doubt correct me but it must be the first time he's played in public for very many years, certainly I've not heard him in this area (Chester/Liverpool) for 20, maybe 30, years.

Sorry that this is after the event, not before, but last evening Dr Francis Jackson (why isn't he "Sir"?) played at St Peter's, Stoke-on-Trent. How on earth does he do it? At the end of the programme he played Naiades and Carillon de Westminster, not a note out of place using 92 year old hands and feet. Legend is an overused word but this man surely is.

Probably a bit negative but I don't think you'll ever convert British audiences. In France and Germany, as mentioned above, the audiences are there, they are appreciative of good music. I recall my first visit to Germany and being totally taken aback at St Cosmae, Stade, when a church full of people remained totally silent when a Lubeck Praeludium was played before a service and obviously appreciated it. More recent visits confirm that this is still the norm. As one who couldn't sit through five minutes of Wagner, let alone four hours I must be a continental.

I was also supposed to be on that tour (also a friend here in Chester). Flight cancelled but fortunately a full refund promised on that. I feel sorry for someone from Australia who was coming - got as far as Singapore and had to go home again. Johan tells me he hopes to reorganise it for us later this year or early next.

At least the BBC is marking it. Evensong next Wedenesday from Peterborough with his music to the fore. I see Aled Jones will be mentioning it on tomorrow's choir programme as well.

I am not an organist, merely an attender of recitals. Two people aroused my interest; living in Chester one was inevitably Roger Fisher but the other was Dr Wicks. One of the first recitals I attended outside Chester was at Liverpool Metropolitan where he played a mixture of old and modern, I was amazed by his virtuosity and his good humour. Nearly 40 years later it's a recital that still sticks in the memory. Indeed a great man.

handsoff - indeed, Tuesday. Put it down to a beer at lunchtime.

Jonathan - agreed, but that's true of all his recordings IMHO. Should anyone not know, he appears at Birmingham Symphony Hall tomorrow evening, annoyed with myself that I can't make it.

There's been no mention of a set I have here (the complete Franck) by Dame Gillian at Aarhus cathedral. recorded 1997. I confess it's a long time since I've listened to it but I seem to recall that, for me, it was ideal. I'd be interested to hear whether anyone else has any comments on it.

Philip Carter has organised two overseas tours a year for many years, now very popular. I'm sure he won't mind me saying that he's now getting on in years so we don't know how long he can continue with the very heavy work load involved. I don't know if he's doing any in 2010, or if so where, (he did 2 this year) but contact him at pl.carter at btopenworld dot com (you know what "at" and "dot" means (just in case spammers pick this up).

Probably find DH was paid more. For completeness, the latest Priory newsletter states that as well as a DVD for St Pauls, there's also one on Canterbury in the pipeline.

The Vierne book mentiond by Vox - a must. Another I found a good read was Jean Langlais , The Man and his Music by Ann Labounsky. I obtained it from Amazon, probably still available.

In my experience, Wayne Marshall always plays fast pieces at break neck speed. I'm afraid if he's on radio or TV I give it a miss, the music loses all feeling. A name to look for, by the way, is Raul Prieto Ramirez, organist at the Madrid Concert Hall, he played a recital at Victoria Hall, Hanley last Saturday and everyone was blown away. It was his first and only recital here but I'm sure we'll see him again. He played his whole programme from memory which included his own arrangemts of some apparently technically difficult Liszt pieces. It was extremely musical and enjoyable. Enter his name on Youtube and you'll see him playing a few pieces including some Liszt.

Since we are members of the EU I'm afraid in this sort of situation British builders have no priorities. In fact one is legally obliged to advertise a contract in Europe, not just GB. As I once heard an immigration officer say at an airport when someone grumbled about his passport not being British - "We are all Europeans now, sir", only partially seriously I felt.

innate - Chirk Castle is run by the National Trust - well worth a visit if you're in the area, lots to see and very good gardens. Jim T.

John Scott recorded the "complete" Matthias at St Pauls many years ago, I think there's been another recording by someone else since. As a listener, rather than a player, I've always been a bit worried by comments that some don't like the music as with repeated playing of the CD I find the music quite attractive; pleased to see that this latest thread indicates I'm not alone.

Tony at 0947 - Chester, I wouldn't like to speak on behalf of the staff there, but I believe that the admin staff don't like the organ being played more than necessary during the day because of the large number of visitors wandering around, even the music staff often practice silently or with maybe a flute. In fact if it was left to the MD and AMD (please don't quote me, I'm only guessing, knowing how friendly they are!) I think they'd be delighted. I recall many years ago asking Roger Fisher if a friend of mine could play one evening and he said pick the key up from the assistant and stay as long as you like, this was an evening after the place was closed, of course.

I cannot add anything to what has already been said but you may be interested in an experience I had a long time ago (1982). I was at St Sulpice only a short time before Grunenwald's death and had arranged to visit the tribune, where I found two or three other English visitors. M. Grunenwald was the most charming man and a young teenage organist sat beside him in awe. At the end of the mass he turned to the youngster and said "now you play the Sortie", the expression on the lad's face was a picture. But he did it, very well as I recall, with help with the registration. This is just to illustrate how helpful the organists are. Grunenwald was obviously not well that day although he still played brilliantly, and he was dead within the month. I was very glad to be there that day. A treasured memory.

A magnificent wedding at Chester Cathedral yesterday, Ian Roberts, the assistant DOM, the full nuptial mass, the works. Musically magic. At communion the Dean announced that it was bread only, no wine. A free churchman beside me said why not use their little cups. Maybe something C of E should consider permanently.