S_L
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Posts posted by S_L
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7 hours ago, John Robinson said:
At the risk of posting a couple of hours in advance, happy birthday Dr Jackson! I am so pleased to hear that you've made your century, and I'm sure that's something felt by many many other people who admire you and your achievements.
Yes - apologies for that - but I'm an hour in front of you!!!
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October 2nd 2017 is Dr. Francis Jackson's 100th birthday. His contribution to the organ as a performer and composer is enormous. I have many fond memories of performances during his tenure at York and I send him my very good wishes.
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Might I also suggest that it does depend in which Rome church you are playing it! I can think of several churches in Rome where I have conducted where whatever you play will be completely lost in the far too generous acoustic.
I had a similar situation in the Cathedral at Palestrina with some Handel. The keyboard part was an orchestral reduction and we spent hours editing it to make it sound musical on the organ. It was a complete waste of time because everything my organist played was lost in the acoustic. On the other hand the Palestrina we sang in the same celebration (Missa Papae Marcelli), fitted the building superbly!
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On 21/09/2017 at 20:54, OmegaConsort said:
Other large Victorian piles........All Saint's Leamington Spa, St Matthew's Northampton, St Stephen's Bournemouth, Doncaster Minster, All Saint's Hove, etc. There must be loads!
But the difference between these and St. Alban's Teddington, and those others I listed, is that the above are still used for worship whereas St. Albans is now an Arts Centre and the others listed are in the care of the CCT and are, in effect, museums!
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6 hours ago, philipmgwright said:
Was it not shipped to Japan but is still awaiting renaissance?
philipmgwright
The NPOR gives:
1997 - in storage "somewhere in the country" the property of Carlo Curley, who bought it to save it from going for scrap;
1999 - organ appears to be in an organbuilder's workshop in Tokyo; (still there in 2009 (TGi);
2004 - believed to be destined for one of the (24) civic halls in Tokyo; (further information as to the organs current whereabouts would be appreciated -Ed.)
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Hello Paul
Welcome to the board! they're an interesting bunch here!!!
I was in Bridlington Priory last Friday during a rare visit to the UK. I hadn't been in there since the 1970's when Raymond Sunderland invited me to play. I also have, in not good condition, his Vista recording made in about 1972/3. Your pictures were fascinating and, yes, I'll bet the inside doesn't look like that now! They have a series of recitals during the summer and, one day, I'll get to hear the rebuilt Bridlington instrument. I shall look forward to that.
Sorry, though! It doesn't answer your question! Why not contact Paul Hale? I don't know him, we have met twice I think, but he has always struck me as being most approachable and, of course, very knowledgeable - and he was the consultant to the recent rebuild! (unless, of course, you re PH!!).
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Hello, and whilst it's not my job to say so, "welcome to the board"! You'll find an interesting bunch here!!
St. Alban's Teddington is a church I don't know but it has a fascinating history. Known as the 'Cathedral of the Thames Valley', it was designed to be based on Notre Dame in Paris and designed to be a good deal larger than the building there today with a massive tower. The congregation moved out in 1967 and it was deconsecrated in 1977. It's now the Landmark Arts Centre. It appears that, according to the NPOR, the organ has been 'destroyed or broken up'.
I can think of a number of churches, built to grandiose proportions, fitted with magnificent accoutrements, sometimes including organs, that have not survived the zeal of those who built them. All Souls Halifax is no longer used for worship but, is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. Holy Trinity Goodramgate in York (12th cent. but with considerable additions in the 19th cent. but with no organ ) and St Edmund's Rochdale (2 manual Hill organ with a magnificent case!) likewise.
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16 hours ago, John Robinson said:
And the occasional wrong note would probably not be noticed!
I suppose that depends on who is listening!!!!!!!
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11 hours ago, John Robinson said:
Cats are wonderful creatures, aren't they? Much better than dogs. I can't imagine a dog having the skill to play the organ, on any manual.
Or could they?
.............................. and to contemplate playing Messiaen L'Ascension - with the copy closed, on a small (?) two manual with the back to the music - cats must be wonderful creatures indeed!!!
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A friend of mine, the Vicar of an ancient Abbey, regularly took his dog to Morning and Evening Prayer. She sat quietly, next to his feet, throughout the office and rarely made a murmur. She regularly was found in church at all kinds of occasions but, surprisingly, didn't go to Mass on Sunday morning!
I was at a wedding of a friend in a rural church in Lincolnshire where the bride was processed down the aisle with the Priest in front of her and his dog, on a lead, by the side of him. This was, I'm told, a common occurrence.
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There is a long discussion on the 'Ship of Fools' website concerning the situation at St. Sep's
http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=008513
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It has been noted elsewhere that several groups that currently use the church already have confirmed bookings for next year.
When is a contract not a contract?
And, I think, St. Sep's has said that it will honour all bookings made for 2018!
One thing that concerns me is the amount of emotive language being used by the press and others about this issue. Of course, it is 'silly season' and the press have nothing better to do than to make any negotiation between the church and the hiring bodies even more difficult than it probably already is!
I don't know St. Sep's but I do know that it is an off-shoot of Holy Trinity Brompton which isn't where I would choose to go to church on a Sunday. I suspect that the large numbers attending both services on a Sunday and midweek 'worship' activities make space at a premium. I might be wrong here.
I don't think it is about 'classical' music versus 'trendy' or whatever and I think that is a dangerous road to go down. What I will say is that I do think that the whole business seems to have been handled very badly - but, sadly, diplomacy isn't taught in theological college - nor, dare I say it, in music faculties either!!.
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Interesting that the church website, which seems current and up-to-date, still has a seperate page for 'Hiring'.
St. Sepulchre’s is an ideal venue for concerts or rehearsals. Conveniently located near several transport hubs, it has a large and well-equipped main space, a separate rehearsal room, modern facilities, and green rooms available on request.
and, whilst it seems that St. Sep's has become a branch of Holy Trinity Brompton, the tradition of singing Choral Evensong remains and is being funded..
Evensong is a traditional service with beautiful choral settings of scripture and prayers, set alongside readings and a short sermon from the Bible. St. Sepulchre’s has a rich choral heritage and the music is led by our superb professional choir. It is a great way to unwind and refresh at the end of a busy day.
We have been extremely fortunate to have received some very generous donations, to fund elements of our choral worship here at St. Sepulchre’s. We are particularly grateful to the following:
The Mercers’ Company – who are funding the costs associated with employing our Director of Music, Peter Asprey
The Friends of the Musicians’ Chapel – who are funding an Organ Scholarship here at St. Sepulchre’s, currently held by Ashley Wagner
The Musicians’ Company – who are funding a choral scholarship at St. Sepulchre’s, currently held by Emily Meredith
St. John’s College, Oxford – who have been our Patron at St. Sepulchre for more than 350 years, and who are funding a choral scholarship at St. Sepulchre’s, currently held by Eavan Dowse”
The website also says:
We also have a rich heritage as ‘The Musicians’ Church’, and are passionate about our ministry and mission amongst the musicians’ community and using excellence in music to the glory of God.
All of which doesn't seem to add up or sit happily with https://slippedisc.c...-its-musicians/
Very strange!!!
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That looks to be an interesting day at the 'Proms'!
Thank you for pointing it out!
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There is a Regal 16' on the Brustwerk on the GDB at York as the sole reed on that manual - and on the GDB New College Oxford organ it appears, as a Holzregal 16', again on the Positiv - but, this time, with an 8' Schalmei Krumhorn.
I remember hearing the York 16' in about 1971 sitting next to an lady organist who had been a pupil of Bairstow. "I don't care what Dr. ...... says, it's not a musical sound" was her comment about it.
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II found this, a review of a CD by Norman Harper
"The 3-manual Grant, Degens and Bradbeer organ at Fulham must have been a revelation upon its arrival in 1968, and it still sounds well today. I don't hear any of the "aggressiveness" that GDB have sometimes been accused of; on the contrary there's a bold, vibrant organo pleno & attractive warm quieter registers. Bach, Brahms, Bruhns, Kellner, Mozart and Russell effectively put the organ through its paces in Harper's substantial programme of music.
Harper's performances are excellent with an impeccable seamless flow. One might wish for stronger characterisation - more ornamentation and flexibility of tempo perhaps - but it's good that he lets the music & the organ speak for themselves. He provides an informative booklet and Christopher Town delivers a wonderfully natural recorded sound"
........... and the NPOR gives 1998, 30 years after it was built, as it being 'completely refurbished' by Michael Buttolph.
I remember the installation - it did cause quite a stir - along with St Martin's Hull, which preceded it (1966) York University (1969) and, later, New College Oxford (1975).
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2 x 12 perhaps?
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When I was a young child in the olden days, I remember many hymns designed for children which were pleasant and uplifting without the need for 'dumbing down'.
Just call me a miserable old git.
................... and some of them were incredibly beautiful, written by absolute masters of their hymn writing craft. The words might not, particularly, be suitable for 21st century life but some of the music is, just, totally excellent.
I remember quite a few hymns I sang as a child:
"I love God's tiny creatures" - set to music by Gordon Slater - (Bilsdale - one of the most beautiful tunes I know!)
"Little drops of water" - music by Martin Shaw (Camber)
"Gentle Jesus, meek and mild" - again, music by Martin Shaw (Gentle Jesus)
"Daisies are our silver" - music by K.G. Finlay (Glenfinlas)
"Jesus, friend of little children" - more Martin Shaw (Westridge)
"Glad that I live am I" - Geoffrey Shaw (Water End)
"God, who made the earth" - Evelyn Sharpe (Platt's Lane)
add to that all those tunes by those two famous composers - 'trad' and 'anon'
"Jesus, gentle shepherd - (Shipston)
"God, whose name is love" - (Haslemere)
"Sing to the Lord" (St. Hugh)
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and, later, beautifully written tunes like St. Botolph (Gordon Slater) , Kingsfold ('trad'), Dundee (Scottish Psalter) - the list is endless!
Singing these hymns/tunes in assemblies as a small child, I remember thinking, even then, how beautiful they were. I remember looking at the hymn board before assembly and looking forward to singing one of the above. I'm sure that they had something to do with me becoming a musician and I'm not sure that some of the music that is put before children today would have had the same effect.
................................. but, perhaps, I'm just a miserable old git!!
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Whitlock - Organ Symphony in G min - Francis Jackson - Amphion label - recorded in York Minster 1999
Basil Harwood - Organ Concerto in D - Adrian Partington is recording the entire Organ works of Harwood - Vol. 1 at Bristol Cathedral, Vol 2 at Birmingham Oratory, Vol. 3 at Clifton College - on the Priory label - however the Organ Concerto seems not to have been recorded yet!
CH Lloyd Organ Concerto - I can find no reference to a recording of this work anywhere. Sorry!
Hope that's a bit of help!
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And from 57.30, Abide With Me. I thought this was only an English hymn.
Clearly between Monk writing the tune, in 1847, it had time to travel to Germany where it appears in the Koln Gesangbuch - and in a couple of other North German books I have in my possession. A number of hymn tunes do - and, of course, our hymn books are full of tunes 'borrowed' from the German Lutheran and Catholic traditions.
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Absolutely no idea - but have you thought that it could it be an improvisation?
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Once again, many thanks. I had never heard of Reuschel - (no IMSLP bits) or Saint Martin.
There is a wonderful Mass setting by Leonce de Saint Martin - for 4 part choir and two organs. (It also has ad lib parts for three trumpets and three trombones) If you've done the Vierne Missa Solennelle and want something else for the same forces it is well worth doing!
........................... but that doesn't answer your question - sorry!!
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I suspect that all of us, at some point, have found ourselves in a disastrous situation that was not of our making and that we couldn't control. I'm not being flippant when I say that, if it took you 40 years to get to that situation dealing with amateur singers then you have done pretty well!
I think the way to move forward is to cope with it and learn from it. 'These things happen' is a phrase oft used - and there is an element of truth about it - especially when dealing with amateur singers. I learnt, the hard way, when one Sunday morning my, very able, choir sang the simple Tye anthem Give almes of thy goods. It was my fault - it fell apart by the time the top-line entry came in - and I started it again. It did the same thing again and, again, I started again. Third time lucky and we made it, rather well, to the end. There was tension on the sanctuary - you could cut it with a knife! The choir procession made it's way out of church to the choir room and I growled to my wife who was sitting by the organ "you play something!" I made it to the choir room before they had a chance to escape, I apologised to the choir and told them that, if we didn't sing it again now, we would always have a problem with it! We sang the opening again - perfectly - and the matter was forgotten!! It became the stuff of legend - it proved 'thunderguts' was human - and I made sure it never happened again!
You can blame the Priest but it isn't worth the argument. You can blame the choir - or yourself - the acoustics - the weather - but 'these things happen'!!!
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For my sins I've spent several hours over recent days in central Birmingham doing my Christmas shopping
It struck me a few years ago how musically illiterate our children are growing up to be, when I set up a miniature orchestra for our church's talented young string, brass and woodwind players to accompany the Nine Lessons and Carols service. They complained could I give them something easier to play as they didn't know "songs" like O little town of Bethlehem. On reflection, I shouldn't be surprised - if our carol heritage is no longer heard anywhere at Christmas, except perhaps in church on Christmas morning, why should we expect future generations to recognise them? And is it only Birmingham where Christmas is a totally carol free zone, or is this complete absence of festive music noted elsewhere too?
My sympathy on spending hours shopping in Birmingham. I, likewise, was there last week and, despite having lived a good many years outside our second city, found the centre of it rather frightening but, hey, I live in a tiny little village in the South of the Charente!!
On the second point, I'm not sure that our children are growing up musically illiterate. In fact I would go so far as to say that I think youngsters today are, possibly, more musically literate than they have ever been! I also don't think that knowing or not knowing 'O little town of Bethlehem' is necessarily a sign of musical literacy or lack of it and, like Andrew Butler, I am surprised that your most talented young string, brass and woodwind players were not able to negotiate the parts you had written for them.
I am also of the opinion, and I suspect this may be extremely contentious, that the Church is preparing for the coming of the Christ-child - and that we have ample time for singing Christmas carols after celebrating the birth of Christ i.e. between December 25th and the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord - when Christmas finishes and 'Ordinary time' begins!
Early Metronomes
in General discussion
Posted
As usual a thorough and informative response from the good Dr. Pykett.
I'm sorry, Colin, but I didn't understand a word of it!!! Physics and me didn't get on at school!