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Canon Abi Thompson "She graduated in Music at Kings College London and in Theology at Westcott House Cambridge. Abi holds both ABRSM Grade 8 Piano and ABRSM Grade 8 Singing and before ordination was a youth worker and freelance professional singer."

Is it silent? I had the impression that some of it worked - I know there is an appeal!

I like it! It reminds me of the definition of the Organist in that valuable little book 'How to bluff your way in music' "Organists are a strange race...................."

LOL - a phrase I used on a number of occasions when acting as a visiting conductor of a choir - with an en chamade tenor - not so far away from you!!!

That reminds me of the Gordon Reynolds story, I've told it here before but it's worth telling again, of the tenor, I think it was at Halifax Parish Church, who was having trouble with his line!! Some cocky organ scholar decided to help him out - on the Tuba! After the hymn, or whatever it was, the tenor leant over towards the organ and said, in a loud voice that everyone heard "If tha' does that a'gin, I'll break thi' bloody neck!!!!"

As one who has experienced serious fire, first hand (I woke, at 04h00 one morning in February to see a raging fire at my house!) I can say how traumatic it is, standing, watching the fire people pouring gallons of water all over! But it is possessions/belongings that are destroyed - and insured - and can be, largely, replaced/rebuilt etc. Loss of life can never be replaced. I was safe and I am pleased to hear that there was no loss of life at Dobson's. A firm as distinguished as Dobson's, the work they did at St. Thomas' NY was wonderful and the organ at Merton College seems highly regarded in Oxford, will rebuild and come back.

Just to muddy the waters a little! In France, apart from in April/May of last year when the churches were closed we have been allowed to sing. I find myself playing the organ for a Sung Mass, weekly, at the monastery at Echourgnac in Department 24. Up to last Sunday the congregation and the sisters were required to wear masks but, last Sunday the Sisters made a decision that, in future, they wouldn't wear masks. The congregation are required to sit on every other bench in the church and have to sanitize their hands on entry. The sign of peace has, thankfully, been 'put on hold' and communion is under one kind and received only in the hands.

One final comment from me! I'm told that the Festival surrounding the new organ at St. Lawrence's church in York was a huge success with superb attendance at all events. Did any forumites make it to York for any event?

Does anyone look after your organ? Who tunes it? Is it tuned? If so, get it in the tuning book and get it seen to on the next visit. If it makes the instrument unplayable then give them a ring, tell them the problem and get them down to look at it - or get them to send you the part! Failing that, and if the organ isn't regularly looked after, if there is a Mander Organ Van down the road I'd put a note on his window or try and cultivate a conversation with him when you are taking the dog out for a walk. Tell him what you are looking for, explain the situation and he might be able to help you out! My experience has been that organ builders are usually a friendly bunch. It might cost you a pint!! Do you involve the church authorities? That's a difficult one! One side says they might be helpful and concerned about the instrument in their care, another side says they might see it differently - and the ramifications of that are worrying!! It's annoying isn't it! I have Bb11 sticking at the moment - and am waiting for a visit!

Yes, very sad. May Roger Fisher rest in peace.

Following my comment above I had a look at some scores of Prout's music. I have to say that the writing for instruments, which is correct in the extreme as far as notation is concerned, is far better, in my opinion, that his writing for voices - which, I think, is rather dull.

The 'Prom' was called 'The Light Organ Prom' & Richard Hills programme on 26th of August 2013 was the following: Eric Coates - March 'Sound and Vision' Arthur Sullivan - Mikado memories (arr. R. Hills) John Ireland - Miniature Suite Villanella Billy Mayerl - Four Aces Suite - Ace of Hearts Edward German - Three Dances from 'Nell Gwyn' Fats Waller - A Handful of Keys The programme note said: A chance to revel in the breathtaking versatility of the ‘king of instruments’! The art of performing classical favourites on the organ has a long and distinguished history and in this Bank Holiday matinee Prom, Richard Hills brings together the traditions of the great theatre organist-entertainers and the Town Hall recitalists – with the accent on melody and virtuosity. Richard Hills also appeared in a 'Late Night Prom' 2015 entitled 'Wireless Nights Prom with Jarvis Cocker'. Also appearing were the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Maxime Tortelier. On this occasion the programme had music by: John Adams. Ronald Binge, Echo & the Bunnymen, JS Bach, Wagner, Barry Gray, Saint-Saens, Debussy, John Williams, Alan Williams, Tim Buckley and The Beatles! I remember 'Late Night Proms', I heard Stockhausen 'Carre' in 1972 and 'Kontakte' in 1985. Late night Proms were where they put programmes slightly 'different' to what might be called 'mainstream repertoire'. And I heard some jolly good music too!!!

Thanks for that VH. I take back what I said! Interestingly, in listening to the Prout several other works were recommended by YouTube - none of which I knew. by three Americans Howard Hanson - Concerto for organ Harp and strings Howard Hanson (1896-1981): Concerto for Organ,Harp and Strings HQ - YouTube Leo Sowerby - Classica Concerto for Organ and Strings (1944) Leo Sowerby: Classic Concerto for Organ and String Orchestra (1944) - YouTube Horatio Parker Organ Concerto (1902) Horatio Parker - Organ Concerto (1902) - YouTube I have to say that I have always thought of Prout as a rather dull Victorian Academic - a view, possibly, from my student days. But there are four symphonies (No 4 is on YouTube), Two organ Concerti, Two Piano Quartets, Two String Quartets and a Piano Quintet as well as a sizeable number of Vocal works. Looking at the scores I have of his music, it is very much of its time but history hasn't been kind to Ebenezer Prout - but there is a lot worse music out there!! Perhaps time for a little rethink on Prout!!! And, just in case an forumites feel the need to refresh Prout's thoughts on Fugue from their student days! It's all here: Fugue (Prout) - Wikisource, the free online library

Ebenezer Prout Organ Concerto - I'm not sure it bares too much thinking about!! Having said that I do have score of his string quartets and they are well written!!!

I once said, on here, that I thought Benjamin Britten to be a composer of beautifully crafted music - as if he played the instrument he was writing for. I was even brave enough to suggest, and was, very slightly, shot down for it, that there was no bad Britten!! I have always thought that Hindemith, like Britten, was an absolute craftsman. There are sonatas for Alto Saxophone, Bassoon, Trumpet, Bass Tuba, Clarinet, 'cello, English Horn, Oboe, Flute, Horn, Trombone, Violin, Viola (of which, of course, he was a great player) and organ. And there are concerti for Clarinet, Horn, Organ, Piano, Trumpet, Bassoon & strings, Violin, Viola and 'cello. All of the music beautifully written for the instrument as if he was a player of that instrument, which, contrary to popular belief, he wasn't!! And then there is piano, vocal and choral music, again, beautifully written. I'm prepared to repeat my comment - there is no bad Hindemith!! And, when they finally put me in my box and take me to church I have asked that the clergy don't preach but, instead the assembled company, if there is anyone there, listen to the Trauermusik by Hindemith. It exists in three versions, the original is for viola but there is also a version for violin and one for 'cello. Beautifully written music, beautifully crafted!! The harmonisation of 'Fur deinen Thron tret ich hiermit', the last movement, is simply wonderful and moves me to tears every time I hear it.

You may, very well be right. I don't know but I do know that Volumina was performed in the RAH on 10th of September 1978. It was the first (and last!) time the work had been performed at the 'Proms' It was the first work in the programme - followed by Stockhausen's Stimmung and some traditional Raga. The organist was Karl-Erik Welin

No way an 'honourable' member but I'm told I have a fairly wide knowledge of repertoire though my knowledge of organ repertoire is a little limited!!!! I'd like to hear a live performance of Ligeti's Volumina but I understand that on one occasion it was performed at the RAH the organ couldn't cope with it! Was that the 'Proms' performance in 1978 that also included Stockhausen Stimmung? If you're 'into' French music there is a Concerto by Marcel Dupre, three Concerti by Langlais and seven by Jean Guillou although No.5 is only for organ & Str. Quintet! Hindemith is, seemingly, deeply out of fashion at the moment, but Kammermusik 7 is for organ and wind band and there is a Organ Concerto as well, written in the final year of his life and, like most Hindemith, beautifully crafted. Arthur Butterworth, a much under-rated composer, in my opinion, wrote a splendid Organ Concerto (1973) for, I think, Gillian Weir and Malcolm Arnold's Concerto written in 1954, is in true Malcolm Arnold style!!! There is a Concerto, heard at the Proms in 1984, and, again I think, written for Gillian Weir, by William Mathias and Kenneth Leighton wrote a Concerto for Organ, Timpani and Strings, seemingly a favourite combination of instruments!! I don't know Andrew Carter's Concerto, he taught my late wife at school, and his music is always well crafted.

Absolutely - but, without those 'Mystery Proms', there is still an increase in exposure to the AH organ with an Organ Concerto, two Organ Recitals and the Saint-Saens Symphony. And will the organ be used on the 'Last Night' for 52 bars of the Elgar P & C and the Parry arr. Elgar?

The new 'Proms' programme is announced and, whilst not as imaginative as I had hoped, it does include more music for organ than in previous years. The 'first night' includes a performance of the Poulenc Concerto with Daniel Hyde as the soloist, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Dalia Stasevska conducting. Oliver Latry gives a Recital on Sunday 1st of August - (11h45) - including three Latry improvisations preceded by three Bach Preludes & Fugues (BWV 552, 572, 582). Thomas Trotter gives a Recital on Saturday 4th of September (11h45) - playing Bach, Widor, Saint-Saens & Liszt (Ad Nos) There is a performance of Saint-Saens 'Organ' Symphony on Tuesday 7th of September with Anna Lapwood playing the organ. The full programme is here: BBC Proms Calendar - By Year - BBC

I quickly read the application pack too and thought it was bold, imaginative and exciting. There was lots there for a person of considerable musicianship but also of vision and commitment to a wider brief as well as, as you say, to maintaining the high standard of music within the liturgies of the Cathedral. If I had been 30 years younger I might have read the application pack a good deal more carefully!!!!!

'Director of Music' - I'm pleased to see that 'it is not a requirement also to be an organist'!

I don't know whether anyone still does it - I haven't seen it on a Music List for quite some time. I know David Drinkell, after seeing my copy, bought a set of copies and I remember him saying that his choir, I think at St. john's, Newfoundland, enjoyed singing it. We used to sing it regularly during Lent or Advent because, of course, Seiber didn't set the Gloria. If I remember rightly, and I can't find my copy now, the tessitura was quite high, the ST parts were sent up to top A on a number of occasions and I remember something about the barring too which could be a little confusing. But it was a good piece, made a change. as Vox says, and was an enjoyable sing. If I can find my copy I'll comment further! Postscript: I can't find my copy anywhere but I looked Matyas Seiber up and was interested to see that the Missa Brevis was written in 1924 and revised in 1950. It was published by Curwen. There is a wealth of music by Seiber including chamber music - three String Quartets and two comic operas as well as orchestral music, instrumental music and a number of songs. He even made it into the Top Twenty, in 1956, with his 'By the Fountains of Rome' which won him an Ivor Novello award! He started his life as a 'cellist!!

A really good little piece! I remember sending David Drinkell one of my copies as he wanted to do it with his choir, I think, at St. John's Newfoundland.

The 1st E flat Service was, it appears, published, I think, in 1918 by Novello, Ewer & Co. The 2nd E flat Service was published posthumously, sixteen years later and eight years after Wood's death, originally by Sternhold & Hopkins although I have just found a copy which gives a copyright date of 1927.. It looks as if Robert Bowles is right - they are a nightmare - but the setting on the broadcast was the setting published posthumously. Incidentally Wood wrote, as far as I'm aware, seven string quartets with an eighth incomplete. I had a score of No.4 - the 'Harrogate' (also in E flat!) but I can't find it. They were published by OUP. I'll now wait to be corrected!!!

Sorry Martin - but, in the spirit of the board, always willing to correct - it was Wood in E flat No. 2!!! I've been hugely impressed with some of the broadcasts from York Minster. Beautiful, sensitive singing and splendid organ playing.