Choir Man

Salamanca Cathedral: https://goo.gl/maps/1jXTv2sZLjNvwP7t8

Huw Edwards, the well known News Reader (and less well known organist) has written an article in today's times calling for the protection of organs: https://epaper.thetimes.co.uk/the-times/20210731/281809991936661

The 1519 contract with Anthony Duddyngton for an organ at All Hallows by the Tower mentions 'stoppes'. Drawings of earlier organs (where the actual organ is no longer exists) also show stops (whether knobs or levers), but whether they were called stops or not is difficult to say.

The same website has some interesting info on the concert hall organ: http://www.orbem.co.uk/bh32/bh32_lg.htm and http://www.orbem.co.uk/bh32/bh32_organ.htm

Fans singing in pictures here were definitely not outdoors. Yet this is considered acceptable?

Very sad news, and I share S_L's sentiment that they will bounce back. However there are some things that insurance can't replace such as plans and drawings and unique hand-made tools that may have been passed down from one builder to the next. I also feel for any church or venue that may have had an organ in their workshop as they will have lost their instrument.

Although logical, I still don't get how a well organised choir taking precautionary measures is to be avoided. Yet you can freely congregate in larger numbers and sing to support your football team?

I have on one occasion improvised with a piece of cork cut from a wine bottle cork. This did the job until the next tuner visit after which he left me a few spares.

Also on the list are: Rick Wakeman who, amongst all his other musical achievements, is also an organist Samuel Thompson - For services to Gaelic Choral Music Robert Yarr - For services to Church Choral Music in Ballinderry Parish Church

The application pack ( https://cvminder.com/cvmdata/documents/35/4079/Director of Music 18May2021 FINAL.pdf ) has much more detail and I am particularly excited by the cathedral's vision statement. It is bold and forward looking as well as maintaining the traditions of the choral liturgy.

Although the limit to 6 singers is guidance, legally any organiser is required to have "taken all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of coronavirus, taking into account ... any guidance issued by the government which is relevant to the gathering." So although not a 'must', you could still get into trouble for not following it if you were not taking other control measures to mitigate the risk. Cathedrals and other places with acres of space can have more than 6 people so long as they follow other distancing precautions. For churches like mine, where space is at a premium, the rule of 6 remains a significant blocker to the resumption of the full choir.

Here's an older version from the same instrument: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnwvAA9tO5I

It was William Lovelady's setting of Psalm 104 that was commissioned for the Duke's 75th Birthday. This was originally a cantata in three movements for larger forces and was abridged and arranged for the funeral by James Vivian. The Britten Jubilate was first published in 1961 when the duke was still in his 30's.

I agree, a very dignified send-off with great choice of music, expertly performed by the small ensemble. It would be nice to hear a recording of all the music played before and after, however it's not unexpected that the TV cameras and commentators followed the 'action' elsewhere. I do hope this arrangement of William Lovelady's setting of Psalm 104 gets published sometime soon.

From the floor plan and photos on RightMove it looks like most of the pipework is in bedroom 2 on the top floor. Also seems that most of it is enclosed - see shutters in the right of the attached photo:

An organist wrestling with a reluctant instrument. I'm sure other members have had similar experiences.

I believe it's taken from Fugue State Films boxed set "A Legend Reborn: The Voice of King’s". I doubt if we'll see any more of the set on YouTube, but you can buy it from their website: https://fuguestatefilms.co.uk/product/the-voice-of-kings-a-legend-reborn/

Interesting film about the KCC organ and it's restoration by Fugue State Films published for the London Organ Day:

The organ is being rededicated at the 11am Eucharist this Sunday. This will be live-streamed on YouTube. The minster has also posted a video reviewing the project:

H&H have added Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral to their extensive worklist. http://www.harrisonorgans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Liverpool-Metropolitan-Cathedral-Press-release-for-renovation-of-the-organ.-2021-02-19.pdf

Also a video posted by the church about the restoration:

pcnd5584 has posted a YouTube video of him improvising on the final evening before the organ was dismantled: I hope he returns to this site and can tell us more about the restoration

A quick search on YouTube for 'Organ Recital' with results limited to last week throws up 20 results from UK pipe organs. I have excluded many fine performances from overseas organs and from notable organists playing toasters. The search hasn't included music played in services or anything not labelled as a recital. The list includes cathedrals, larger and smaller parish churches, other churches and colleges. Of course performances my exist on other platforms as well. My point is, that as a result of lockdown, many UK organists are now bringing cameras into their organ lofts and sharing the experience of playing. In my opinion this makes the world a better place and I hope that this trend will continue as churches reopen and choirs are allowed to sing again. I have commented before that I think many organists are often too shy and that many people are unaware of the skills required to make great music on the king of instruments. I have always maintained that if organs and organists are to thrive in the future, we need to ensure that we are as accessible as possible whilst also being inspiring. Technology forced upon us in lockdown helps reach the internet generation of young people and I hope that what has been started will continue to be built upon, and not put back in the cupboard when we get the hymn books out for the choir again. Just for the record, here is the list of organ recitals that my basic search returned: Bradford Cathedral Norwich Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral Winchester Cathedral St Chad's Cathedral Birmingham Bridlington Priory Leeds Minster The Temple Church, London St Andrew, Holt St Mary, Warwick St Mary, Petworth St Mary, Portsea St Mary, Welwyn St Mary, Kidlington St Bees Priory Fernhill Heath Baptist Church Old St Paul's, Edinburgh Jesmond United Reformed Church New College, Oxford Merton College Oxford

On the lighter side, here's a 10-year old giving a tour of an organ. Listen out for his description of the trumpet stop and also (at 2:34) a clear shot of a ratchet swell and horseshoe coupler.

The Architect's Journal have published an interesting article about the design and construction of the new organ loft: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/design-study-caruso-st-john-organ-loft-at-canterbury-cathedral