Jump to content
Mander Organ Builders Forum

Choir Man

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    252

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Choir Man

    Twelfth-century Pipe Organ Discovered

    in Nuts and bolts

    Posted

    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.

    Dobson organ builder's factory destoyed

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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.

    Honours

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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
     

    Congregational singing.

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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.

    Good music................

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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.

    Good music................

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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.

    Online Recitals And Cameras In the Organ Loft

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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

    Youtube

    in General discussion

    Posted

    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.

     

×
×
  • Create New...