Jim Treloar

Someone may well correct me, but I seem to recall hearing somewhere that the BBC sound engineers don't like the organ being played as we would like to hear it as it is very difficult to balance for broadcasting.

Margaret Phillips recorded a CD in 1995 at Oakham School called Alla Danza, Dance Music for Organ, which sounds the sort of thing you're looking for. It includes Fuga alla giga, BWV577, Tanz Toccata by Anton Heiller, the Planyavsky and Litaize already mentioned plus a few others. To save me listing them all, have a look at the Regent records website, I think the disc is still available.

Am I the only one to notice that in that clip of John Scott playing 543 he shows a remarkable physical resemblance to Elton John? OK, I'll get my coat.

I understand he played a recital in Bridgnorth two weeks ago. Sorry, no further details.

I received this CD last week, I thought the David Briggs track the best. A tip - go to www.hmv.com, enter music and Cochereau in the search at the top of the page, then at the foot of the second page of recordings you will find this new CD at a bargain price, post free as well.

OmegaConsort - you are right, well almost. Warrington want it out and Sheffield Cathedral have expressed an interest but I think you'll find that's as far as it goes at present. There is a move afoot by certain locals to keep it where it is, which in my view would be disastrous as it would not be looked after.

Coincidentally it was played by Ian Roberts (ADOM) at a lunchtime recital at Chester today. Lovely piece.

or this: http://pipeorgans.flavam.com

I have to agree with DouglasCorr regarding arrangements, Whether you like them or not, what is the point? I'm afraid that it looks to me like the usual Radio 3 anti-organ stance. I give an honourable exception to Rob Cowan who slips in the occasional track and I understand genuinely likes organ music. As well as orchestral arrangements one occasionally hears piano arrangements of organ music, which always strikes me, not being a fan of the piano, as even worse.

I think it only fair to add that the footage of Nigel Allcoat taken in Denmark is from a video which was compiled by the late and sadly missed Colin Goulden on that Organ Club tour of 1999.

Thanks classic car man, should have kept my mouth shut, not having been there since October.

They're still there unless anyone knows to the contrary. They are not easily visible from the floor.

I wonder if anyone else here was at Robert Gower's recital on Monday lunchtime. Apologies to Robert if he reads this blog, but the first part of the programme consisted of his own arrangements of music by Bliss. I have to say I was disappointed, I didn't know the music in the first place and, to me, it didn't suit the organ as an instrument. I would be interested to hear any views of people more knowledgeable than I am.

CT - Regarding your comment on the organ's ability to deal with French repertoire, I can recommend the latest CD by Ben van Oosten, Volume 10 of the complete Dupre, which he has chosen to play at Birmingham. At times I have to listen very carefully to convince myself it's not a French organ.

Echo Gamba - I'm pleased someone else has mentioned the "here" link, as I didn't like to show my ignorance by admitting that I couldn't do it. Please can someone who knows please tell us, assuming it's not too complicated that is and doesn't take up too much space on the board. Many thanks.

What a marvellous service it must have been. In contrast to the racket on Radio 4 this morning, I hadn't heard it but after the comments on the other thread I tuned into the IPlayer, I lasted about 30 seconds.

Thank you for that, Guilmant. I agree with your personal opinion. Having bought the CD myself, and enjoyed it, I think one should treat him as a one off and approach his playing from a different angle than one would with other organists. It's like comparing theatre or cinema concerts with organ recitals as we are used to them. I'm certainly looking forward to hearing him pay later this year.

Guilmant - I heard there was one, but being mean I haven't bought a copy, can you give a brief resume please.

The lack of organ music on the BBC is a long running problem and there have been a number of occasions when it has been put to them. I recall mention of it in Organists' Review a few years ago but it has all been to no avail. I expect some will remember a whole evening devoted to the organ a couple of years back when I think they hoped it would shut us up. Imagine a whole evening devoted to, say, piano music, with no more for months on end (how I wish!). Indeed Rob Cowan is one sympathetic presenter and often slips something in. Last week Alistair Appleton even said something along the lines of not much organ music is played on the Sunday breakfast show as it might be a bit loud at that time of the morning but said he would play Gigout's Scherzo for a change. Pity we don't swear on this board. I agree with handsoff, my CD collection gives me great satisfaction and I've given up on the BBC.

I have yet to learn how to post a link, I'm afraid, but if you are prepared to enter the following from an aviation group it is from someone in the know, and it sounds as if all will be OK in the end: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tas_manchester/message/50287

I have the Feike Asma set in an LP box set but confess I haven't played them for a long time, I shall have to get them out again; they were recorded at the Grote Kerk in Maasluis, an instrument by Gerrels (1773) but with much work over the years. The notes are all in Dutch, a language of which I know nothing. There are also a couple of single LPs containing other Guilmant works. As I recall all the performances are extremely good but I suspect that the van Oosten would be more to your taste. Christopher Herrick also recorded them for the BBC on the Van den Heuvel at Katwijk aan Zee, but I can't recall whether they were issued commercially.

It is said that most of music by Dupre was written for his US tours. Recordings are of course available. Only this morning I was reading in Organists' Review for November 2003 Paul Hale's review of the first four volumes of Ben van Oosten's complete Dupre, which appear to be coming out very slowly, but a new volume is always welcomed. To quote Paul Hale " (he) clearly revels in this music and plays it with the utmost conviction...not something I'd now wish to be without." The end of the story is that Volume 10 is being issued this very week, and it includes Cortege et Litanie; recorded at Birmingham Town Hall which is an unusual choice of instrument for van Oosten. My copy is already ordered and I hope on the way soon.

In the Meissen museum in Germany there is a small chamber organ with a rank of pipes made from Meissen porcelain; without the notes in front of me I can't remember how long it took to make but it was a very long time. The sound is very sweet, and there is a CD of it.

Yes, another one on the trip here. Malcolm - unfortunately I think that you will find that the list is already full, as I understand it there were about 50 places and 100 expressed an interest, so I suspect there's a waiting list in case anyone drops out. 2 deposits have already been paid and I think only one payment left, sometime in December.

According to the Telegraph he was an organ scholar at Queens' Cambridge. Given his age this would have been in about the mid 60s I suppose.