S_L

Looks like you will have to pay a bit more now - £560 - with 15 bids and still 6 days to go!!

The point I was making, probably not very well, was that the edition I have uses the Latin translation of the hymn made by Pope Urban and not the original and that, in my opinion, the Latin fits really rather well. VH said that he thought, in the edition he was looking at, the Latin was 'a poor fit' - which was why I suggested that we were looking at different editions.. I would, certainly, agree that the translation quoted is not by Neale and I suspect that you are right in that it is a tailor made translation.

I wonder which edition you are looking at? The version I have, words in Latin, uses the translation of Te Lucis ante terminum by Pope Urban VIII and, seemingly in my opinion, the music and words fit together well. The English translation, I suspect you have there and I suspect, by the great J. M. Neale might be translation of the original Latin text. I don't know whether Latin was acceptable in the Church of England in 1908 (was it written whilst he was teaching at Winchester? - in which case it may, very well, have been acceptable in a college chapel) but Balfour Gardiner would have known the Urban VII translation rather than the version more normally used to today, the original, re-adopted in the Paul VI Breviary in the 1970's.. My version gives phantasmata with the same music ( + the up-beat) as somnia (dreams) - et noctium phantasmata - phantoms (night phantoms). It's not a piece I know - I think I have only heard it performed once and, despite being told that it is a classic piece of the English choral repertoire, I'm not totally convinced - only my opinion, of course. Does that help? I suspect not - but it's a thought!

Yes I did! I advertised on this board and on 'Organs Matter' and, from there I had a couple of suggestions! A couple of people were very helpful and we have found a nice 16' reed, of the right scale and volume, to go on my house organ. This was only resolved on Thursday of last week and I have only just arrived home in France. Thank you basdav for prompting me to remember my manners - and many thanks to all those who replied. SL

Chartres is just a little to far for me to drive on a regular basis - which is a great shame because the series of recitals always looks enjoyable! .................... but, perhaps, next year I might make a greater effort! Many thanks for that flute harmonique

Advertised in the Church Times today: St Matthew's, Northampton seek to appoint an Organist & Director of Music from January 2017 following the appointment of Stephen Moore as Organist and Master of the Choristers at Llandaff Cathedral. Closing date for applications: Wednesday 21 September 2016

My knowledge of Monteverdi 'Orfeo' is somewhat limited. There are a huge number of continuo instruments, among them he asked for an 'organo di legno' which was a gently sounding organ with pipes only made of wood. It provided a background for the harp, lute or the chitarrone and, in the tutti welded the entire sound without obtruding. The Regal, with its rasping tone, on the other hand, was used for the underworld and for those scenes that gave the greatest contrast to the pastoral music. This may be informative as to the 'Organo di Legno' http://www.denzilwraight.com/organo.htm - an example found in the Museo Correr in Venice and dating from 1494. There are quite a few examples 'on line', and some pictures, if you google 'Organo di Legno' Hope that helps.

Very odd - but a stunning case!

And here are some, very brief, details of the digital organ that has replaced it, temporarily, which will then be incorporated into a new hybrid instrument. http://osclub.sedberghschool.org/blog/new-chapel-organ-progress-report/ The Nigel Church Organ going to Lincoln appears to be this one. http://www.cumbrianorganists.org.uk/organs/sedbergh.html I bet they are highly delighted in Lincoln!!!

Posted by mistake - sorry!

Google SS Peter and Paul in Lincoln and you will find that AJJ and the dedication are both correct - and, if you look at the Church website, you will find that, according to the last week's Parish Bulletin, they had a concert in aid of the Organ Fund. ................................. but to answer the original question!................ no joy anywhere - sorry A!

I'm looking for a 16' Contra Fagotto - especially the bottom octave! if anyone knows of one, or hears of one, for sale I would be so grateful if they would point me in the right direction. Many thanks SL

I, too, find it slightly bewildering, informative and utterly fascinating. .................... and I think it is in topics such as this that the board is at its best - rather than the tittle-tattle of gossip and speculation etc.

I read through, albeit briefly, and found no reference at all to organs or to the players of them which was a shame. The expenses for the 'Care of the Church and cost of Services' include a payment to the sub-sacrist for his work in the church and care of the clock. There is a payment for Vestments - laundry, mending and renewals, for Cleaning the church, care of the bells etc. and for Masses, lighting and bellringing - but no mention of organs or a player of them - and the accounts are quite detailed - 4p for the Repairs to the door lock of the latrine! An interesting read all the same!

The website has some old information on it but it does, also, have some update too! They have an appeal going and a concert, tonight, in aid of the organ fund. In another place on the website there is mention of commissioning the late Kenneth Tickell to build an instrument but, in a different place, there is also this: Holy Trinity Coventry, Organ Appeal This great medieval parish church of Coventry with its lofty spire stands alongside the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey, reduced to rubble with remarkable haste during Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. Although Holy Trinity belonged to the Prior, it was left intact and was not engulfed in the adjacent destruction. The neighbouring Cathedral Church of St Michael was destroyed by incendiary bombs during the Blitz of 1940. As the conflagration raged, Canon Clitheroe, Vicar of Holy Trinity, and his faithful church members, toiled through the night, battling to prevent Holy Trinity from succumbing to the same fate. We give God thanks for the survival of our beautiful church in the heart of Coventry. It lives on to serve the city and its people into the 21st century. Why do we need a new organ? Inspiring and uplifting choral music is one of Holy Trinity’s strengths. Much of this relies totally on accompaniment by an organ with a wide range of tonal colours. The 19th century Forster & Andrews Organ which was buried deep in a chamber on the south side of the church was in a terminally poor state. Organists struggled weekly to maintain the quality we desire in our worship. Many of its functions were unreliable, many stops unusable. We were advised by several leading organ experts, that it had come to the end of its useful life. It was therefore dismantled and replaced with a temporary digital instrument. Location of a new organ The location of the old organ buried in a chamber in the south choir aisle inhibited its sound travelling to the West End of the church. Alternative locations for a new organ have been explored and all have proved problematic given the ‘long, thin’ shape of our building. Our glorious west end window prevents a traditional site for a West End Organ and we lack of a choir screen on which to mount an organ, which would in any event block the view from West to East and vice-versa. We are currently using the flexibility of our digital organ speakers to investigate the possibility of two organs, one to serve the chancel and one to serve the nave. Once our experiments are complete we will proceed to specifications for the instruments and talks with potential builders. It may be possible that one or both of the instruments comprises a project to re-site a redundant organ of suitable, proven quality. Hope that answers, at least, a part of your question.

Would that be the Ampleforth Trompetta Argentea - that certainly had a seperate motor and key to it when I was there!

I might be wrong, and I apologise if I am, but I think that was pcnd5584 who mentioned that he had that, or something similar, (thinking about it, I think it was 'choir to pub'!) put on an instrument where he was, at the time, organist. He also mentioned that he intended to have, when the Minster organ at Wimbourne is restored, 'Pulpit trapdoor' - very good!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07lf1sx you'll find it begins at 1:58:11

Here is a webpage about the organ - together with some pictures and, for those who like that kind of thing, a Composition de l'orgue! http://antoine.pietrini.perso.sfr.fr/oiseau.htm

Elgar Organ Sonata - not Symphony - but, yes - a most enjoyable half an hour! I think he said that it was from the Eglise du Chant D'Oiseaux - in Brussels - played by Keith John. The playlist is here - http://prioryrecords.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_66&product_id=1663

Many thanks for that Alistair. I spent a very enjoyable hour or so looking through! Kindest regards

I knew David Gedge in his brief time at Selby Abbey prior to his 41 years at Brecon Cathedral. I met him and Hazel at Lincoln Cathedral, a few years after he went to Brecon in, I suppose, the early 1970's when his choir were spending a residential week there. David worked hard to preserve the Cathedral type choir that some of us remember from our youth in a Welsh country Parish church that was, by virtue of the catheda, a cathedral. I may be wrong but, I don't think his efforts were, always, totally appreciated - which is a dreadful shame. We lost touch but I remember David telling me that he always thought that Hazel was a much finer player than himself - my prayers and sympathy to his family. Requiem aeternam

That's true. I think the reason is that Cathedral organists, indeed organists in general, now have less influence on the national music scene than they did. There was a time when the Directors of the RCM and RAM and the 'lesser' colleges were organists. Professors at Oxbridge and, indeed in other Universities too, had a similar background and examiners for the Associated Board were also, very largely, inhabitants of an organ-loft! Nowadays, doing Grade VIII, a student can request to have an examiner who plays their particular instrument. I was examined for my Grade VIII 'cello in 1963/4 by a well-known, long-since dead, Cathedral organist. He didn't know my instrument, asked all the 'wrong' scales (looking back I wouldn't have asked any of those!) and gave me a mark (144 out of 150) that, I'm certain I didn't deserve at the time! More importantly though, he wasn't able to make any truly constructive comments about my playing. He told me it was "very nice - well done"!! I remember playing professionally and remember the comments from other players when we were to be directed, often in a choral work, by an organist. They, very often, weren't that happy - and, very often, just went into 'automatic pilot'! One of the most popular conductors of the 1960's was an organist and, whilst well-liked with audiences had many battles with his players. I never played under him but I knew lots of 'old guys' that did - and they told some epic stories! Today standards of Cathedral music are higher than they have ever been. The job is different, the Cathedral organist runs a large department and has responsibilities, both pastoral and musical. He also is expected to produce, daily, excellent performances. In truth, there isn't time to be away examining, performing, conducting not least because the authorities that pay want him there doing the job - and, if he/she isn't, they can always get someone else just as good to take over! Organists totally dominated the National Music scene - even up to forty years ago but nowadays it is different and, perhaps, that is the reason why a knighthood hasn't come the way of any of our Cathedral organists! As for FJ! Against some of the other recipients of knighthoods, I think he, certainly, deserves one. ..................... well, that's my view on it all anyway!

I learn so much from threads like this - and, as I have always said, this is where we are at our best - many thanks to all the contributors.

In the days when my console was in the North Chapel I could be surrounded, particularly at big events, by any number of people. I even found, one midnight Mass, people sitting on the organ bench who were reluctant to move until I suggested they might like to play for the celebration. One day I heard behind me "Look, he can do it with his feet!"