Christopher Allsop

The swell celeste at Trinity Cambridge (on the Metzler) is a Suavial. It makes a gentle and very beautiful sound with the Viola.

All still there - very much looking forward to hearing them again! Know what you mean about "rocket" though. I seem to remember them also being compared (not sure whether rudely or not) to a Mississippi Steamer funnel... I have to say I rather like them.

There are two cracking arrangements by an american duo of Ride of the Valkyries and the Danse Macabre published at some point by Gray I think. Leighton Martyrs is wonderful but not exactly a load of laughs. Tomkins Fancy for Two to play, Wesley, Rutter Easter Theme. Two by PDQ Bach I think as well... I'll have a look in the organ loft tomorrow and see what else I've got. I'll second the comment made about knowing your partner well. You certainly will when you've finished.

Worcester Sounds - Saturday May 29th, 7.30pm Worcester Cathedral’s past and present musicians come together to present a thrilling musical extravaganza of works specially arranged for the occasion: Bach – Toccata and Fugue in D minor Elgar – Pomp and Circumstance No.1 Handel – Zadok the Priest Karg-Elert – Nun Danket Lambert – The Rio Grande Wagner – The Ride of the Valkyries Parry – Jerusalem (with audience participation) Saint-Saëns – Finale of Symphony 3 S. Wesley – Andante from the Duet for Organ Tomkins – When David Heard Daquin – Noël X Directed by Adrian Lucas and presented by Nicholas Cleobury, this unique and exciting concert features three choirs, multiple organs and keyboard instruments, percussion and the combined talents of Christopher Allsop, George Castle, Daniel Cook, Andrew Millington, David Newsholme, Daniel Phillips, Christopher Robinson, Paul Trepte, Geoffrey Webber and Tom Winpenny. There will be multi-camera CCTV coverage of the event, so tickets will all have good sight of the performance. Tickets priced from £6.50 to £20 from Malvern Theatres website (www.malvern-theatres.co.uk) or on the door.

Glad you and family enjoyed the service! For the french double-organ masses we use the pipe organ as the Grand-Orgue and the Rodgers as the Orgue du Choeur. Although they're not really in the same geographical location as they would be in France, it works musically. Incidentally, we still use the Rodgers because, although the Tickell carries far better and with greater clarity down the Nave than the old Quire organ ever did, it doesn't do so with enough volume to lead hymn singing. Hence the intended 2-manual scheme in the great Transept case to push the sound down the building. In the Quire of course the Tickell is ideally judged dynamically, from an almost inaudible and magical pianissimo to as loud as anyone might wish to play... Blame the sandstone walls and proportions of the building apparently. Sound bounces down the building fine, but loses much of its impact and volume in the process.

Reminded me of the existence of this: http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/instructi...gels/id80091825 by David Bedford, recorded at Worcester in the 70s (by the Rolling Stones mobile studio) with Mike Oldfield on Guitar and Bedford on the organ I think. Extraordinary.

Organ Recital by Christopher Allsop (Assistant Organist, Worcester Cathedral) at Worcester Cathedral, Saturday March 13th, 6.30pm. Admission £10 on the door. Programme Darkness and Light - Music for Lent and Easter 1. Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein (BWV 641) J. S. Bach 1685-1750 2. Incantation pour un jour Saint J. Langlais 1907-1991 3. An Wasserflüssen Babylon (BWV 653) J. S. Bach 4. Aus tiefer Noth schrei' ich zu dir (BWV 686) J. S. Bach 5. Prelude (Suite, op. 5) M. Duruflé 1902-1986 6. Variations on Mein junges leben hat ein End J. P. Sweelinck 1562-1621 7. Deux Fantaisies J. Alain 1911-1940 8. O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig (BWV 618) J. S. Bach 9. Joie et clarté des Corps Glorieux O. Messiaen 1908-1992 10. Christe, du Lamm Gottes (BWV 619) J. S. Bach 11. Rosace (Esquisses Byzantines) H. Mulet 1878-1967 12. Prelude and Fugue in B major, op. 7 no. 1 M. Dupré 1886-1971 A complete listing of Saturday Evening and Tuesday Lunchtime recitals at the cathedral will shortly be available from the cathedral website at www.worcestercathedral.co.uk

Thought of another one: the Communion Service Gloria to the Eastenders Theme. Once surfaced on Songs of Praise allegedly... Oh, and While Shepherds Watched to On Ilkley Moor...

I'll be interested when the organ at St Swithun's, Worcester is re-installed following restoration. See http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi...ec_index=N03625. Last rebuilt by Nicholson in 1844 - ideal I suspect for Wesley etc. Long compass Great, small Swell. Church is redundant, but beautifully kept and regularly open and used. Superb acoustic too. Goetze and Gwynn are doing the restoration, and there's a recital series planned for later this year.

Try O Jesus I have Promised to the Muppet Show Theme ...

Adrian does it that way here at Worcester with the Choral Society. I'll ask him why! It certainly works musically.

Yes - although the case was never actually installed in the North Transept. The legend is that some sort of family row between the donors of the organ and the donors of the South Transept window caused the organ to be built deliberately obscuring the window only a year or so after the window was put in. The organ also covers up some rather wonderful norman arcading across the back wall of the south transept.

In theory it could be to some degree, given that the Tickell has MIDI out. But without some sort of complex go-between system controlling stops or swell pedals its not terribly practical. You've also got to work out just how to route the very very long MIDI cable (over twice as long as they are supposed to be...). We haven't fully decided what to do at Christmas yet... In the past we've always used two players keeping as closely synchronized as possible!

That's right - the Rodgers has speakers at the east and west ends of the nave and the console is on a movable platform. The reinstatement of the Hill Transept case, its existing pedal pipes, and new Great, Swell and Pedal stops is on the agenda when a donor or two comes forward/is located (the stop-knobs of which are already present on the Quire console). The 3-manual Nave pipe-organ is rather more on the back-burner at the moment while the cathedral fund-raises for other things. Christopher

Will do - thanks Simon!

I've tried for many years to get hold of a copy of this... The other month I made contact with Lemoine, who published it, to attempt to get a copy printed from their archive, but they were unable to help or to offer any suggestions. Just wondering whether anyone out there has a copy (or a spare one) that they might be willing to lend or sell? The only lead I've found so far is a copy in the French National library. Best wishes, Christopher Allsop

Just to confirm - its Andrew at St Alban's and Adrian here at Worcester!

Quite a few if you search around on facebook too! Anyone free for the pub afterwards...? David's rehearsing this morning sounds completely wonderful.

We haven't held organ concerts at Worcester for many many years, and so various aspects of this first series have been, to a degree, an experiment. We set the main ticket prices after a good deal of spade work looking at what was around both in our local cathedrals and Birmingham, and we're basically happy with how the budgeting has worked. We didn't advertise concessions (though that's one of the things we'll be discussing before publicizing next year's concerts) but its worth saying (as Ian suggested) that we've allowed a fair degree of discretionary concessions on the door when admitting children and/or families. Speaking purely personally, rarely with organ recitals (and indeed any concert) does the combination of performer, repertoire and venue make me jump with excitement. But when it does, I don't object to paying for the experience. Encouraging interest in the organ amongst all ages, and making our instrument readily accessible is part of our regular work in the music department. I look forward to welcoming Colin here at some point (assuming he hasn't been already) perhaps to one of the many free opportunities to hear the instrument before, during and after daily services or to one of our forthcoming series of lunchtime recitals soon to be announced, or to one of the many visits made by organ clubs and societies as well as individuals to play the instrument. We're only a phone-call or email away. Hope that provides a bit of helpful background, Best wishes on a grey Wednesday, Christopher

David Briggs, Worcester Cathedral Saturday 3rd October, 6.30pm Dedication of Organ 1st Anniversary Recital, £15 on the door Programme: JS Bach, trans. Briggs 2009: Orchestra Suite No 3 in D major (i Overture. ii Air. iii Gavotte. iv Bouree. v Gigue) Dukas, trans. Briggs 1996: The Sorcerer's Apprentice Elgar, trans. Briggs 2009: Symphony No 1 in A flat, Opus 55 (i Andante, Nobilmente e semplice. ii Allegro molto. iii Adagio. iv Lento - Allegro.) See you all there - large-screen projection (with pedal-cam) as usual!

Just seen a draft of this Sunday's pew leaflet, listing Sunday evening's anthem as How lovely are thy swellings fair...

I'm after a current email address for David Glover, the chap behind the excellent Organassist software for MIDI control of organs. The address through his website doesn't seem to work. Does anyone know him, or indeed, perhaps he reads these messages and could get in touch? I'm hoping for a quick bit of advice in setting up the software to work with our swell boxes! Many thanks, Christopher Allsop

Next Saturday (5th September) at Worcester Cathedral: Roy Massey, 6.30pm, £10 You might have read elsewhere on these pages that Barry Jordan is unable to travel to the UK in time to play next Saturday, but we're delighted that Roy Massey has agreed to take his place. Programme: Guilmant - March on a theme of Handel Haydn, Handel and Beethoven - Three pieces for musical clocks Bach - Prelude and Fugue in D Franck - Prelude, Fugue and Variation Handel - Concerto in D minor (2nd Set) Elgar - Minuet (Severn Suite) Guilmant - Sonata no. 5 in C minor See you all there! The concert starts at 6.30pm after evensong (which is at 5.30pm). Best Bank Holiday wishes to you all, Christopher Allsop Assistant Organist, Worcester Cathedral

Just wondering whether anyone's done/got a pdf or sibelius file of the Widor double-organ mass arranged for one organ? I'm playing it (on one organ ...) in a couple of weeks time. I've a copy of the published 'transcription' by ronald huntington, but it doesn't give me what I need (its transposed down a semitone with a hugely simplified organ part). Best wishes as ever to you all, Christopher Allsop

In case anyone's interested, we're currently selling the 2-manual Bradford Computing Organ from the Choir School at Worcester Cathedral. It would make a perfectly useful budget practice organ as it stands, or perhaps be suitable for upgrading using Hauptwerk or other current technology. The console is remarkably solid, and considerably better than that supplied these days with the cheaper electronic organs. See Ebay item number 150354329350 for full information. Regards to you all, Christopher Allsop