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Anyone tried Philip Tordoff?

In the town there is the Skrabi at St. Patrick's RC! And, of course, the Town Hall Willis. I also wonder what happened to the small two manual extension organs that Philip Wood built, for the music department, in the early 1970's. Two of them were two rank and the third had a Dulzian extended all over the place. They were ,for some things, terrible, but they sorted your technique out and were ideal for practice.

Well said, Martin! I can't add to that!

Try: Chairman@TheDeliusSociety.org.uk for Martin Lee-Browne. According to the Delius Society website he is the Chairman - it might get to him eventually!

I don't, normally, recommend Wikipedia but there is quite a lot on Austin there. However there is no mention of an Organ Sonata. He had organ lessons from an uncle, Dr. W.H.Hunt, in Liverpool and was organist at several Birkenhead churches. As he is remembered, in maturity, largely as a baritone singer, and not an organist, I would suggest that the Organ Sonata might be an early piece. Austin was friendly with Rutland Boughton, Havergal Brian and used to play piano duets with Bax. All names that point to Harold Truscott!! If only he were still alive, he would be able to point you in the right direction. Sorry to be no no great help!

Oh Barry. We've been here so many times before and I don't know the answer! I know that, when I play a sortie at the end of Mass, the good sisters sit, quietly, and listen to it and, because the sisters are sitting there, the congregation do also. I don't know whether that is engrained in French culture or whatever. We don't have music before Mass as the sisters sing Terce (?), in procession around the cloister entering the Abbey church to sing the Latin Plainsong introit of the day (accompanied by the organ - which is the first time the organ is heard). The organ is inextricably linked to church. My neighbour calls my house organ 'a church organ' and yet it could be in a concert hall. He finds that I have such an instrument in my house amusing - yet he doesn't consider my 'cello, propped up in the corner or the organ room, in the slightest amusing. I do find it frightening that quality music education seems to be in the hands of the public (i.e. private!) schools in the UK. I have told this before but an ex-student of mine read music at Oxford. At that particular time he was the ONLY student in the music faculty who had been educated in the state system. I don't know whether that says something about the state system or Oxford. When I was at the RCM there were a considerable number of us from the state sector but, and this may be fiction, we were always told that the RAM was where the 'public school' students went. Similarly, my Cambridge college, in the 1970's was well known for its prejudice towards the state system. But organ scholars, almost exclusively, came from the public schools. I think the likes of Ann Lapwood are making huge strides towards bringing the organ into a more mainstream arena. But did you notice that her 'Proms' programme drew no comments from members here? And the vitriol towards her on another site, largely from organists is shameful. Do you remember the dreadful comments here about the dress sense of Cameron Carpenter? He wore an earring (I wear an earring!) and that, together with his presentation condemned him to almost all here present! Dare I suggest, the second time today I have stuck my neck out, that we, you and I, are partly to blame for the unpopularity of the organ. Perhaps we need to do more. Perhaps we need to be more approachable, encouraging and enthusiastic to young people interested or who want to learn! But then, of course, there are the barriers to a young person practising. Rightly so, we have to be more conscious of safeguarding today. When I was 14/15 the organist of the local church would let me loose on the organ after Mass and tell me to lock up when I'd finished! Can you see that happening today. And some organists have tarnished our reputation by their behaviour! And so on.................................... I don't have an answer - I wish I did!

I'm sorry - and I expect to be shouted down for this - and, irrespective of it supposed to being a game, I am totally fed up of hearing and reading about speculation for the new organ at Gloucester. The Cathedral and the builders have made it very clear that the scheme will not be revealed until well after the open recital. I don't find words, and that is all it is, on a piece of paper (or on the back of a fag packet!) instructive, helpful or amusing. We are better than this! This kind of clap-trap belongs on another board - and, even there, I bet it wouldn't survive the moderators. Sorry 'father-willis'!!!

You, probably, know the area better than me. But I looked on 'google maps' and West Vale seems to be half way between Huddersfield and Halifax and close to Elland. I looked up West Vale, Elland and Greetland and nothing came up on NPOR. Have you thought of trying the Halifax Organists Association? They have a website and seem fairly active Halifax & District Organists' Association | For all lovers of the organ and of organ music (hdoa.org.uk) There are quite a few email addresses on there - including that of the President, Secretary etc.. It might be worth trying one of those who might put something on their website "English organist from Halifax, living in Australia looking for information ......................." or something like that! Best of luck!

Living where I do the Anglican choral tradition is a distant memory but I, quite often, on a Sunday afternoon/evening, listen to Mass or Choral Evensong from one of the English Cathedrals. I have to say that that I have heard some absolutely excellent performances and also some completely dismal ones - in equal measure! I do wonder if the English Choral tradition is always as safe as we, sometimes rather smugly, like to think it is.

On another site she has been lambasted - with some terrible comments. And nearly all from organists!! Someone has suggested that the thread be removed! I notice that nobody on here mentioned the 'Prom' she gave. It is worth pointing out, and I think 'The Times' did, that 10 years ago there might have been 40 or 50 people at an organ concert that finished at 23h30. There were 5,000 people there! I hold this lady in the highest regard - she might, very well, be the salvation some of us are looking for! Long may she continue to present programmes of diversity and of quality that challenge our imagination and, perhaps, the perceived vision the general public has of 'the organist'!!!

Perhaps this belongs in 'Are we dying on our feet?' I remember. quite some time ago, someone posing the question 'what do we do well?' I said then that I've always thought that the sharing of our joint knowledge was where we showed ourselves in the best light! But I also think that our digressions and diversions are often quite fascinating! Thank you Rowland, for that!!

Hello & welcome to the board!!! I've searched in all the usual places but all I can find, like yourself, is a Vocal Score with the orchestra parts condensed into a piano accompaniment. Sorry I can't be more help!

...................... of blessed memory. An absolute gentleman and a fine organist. I remember sitting in his front room, in Bridlington, as he played to me his recording, about to be released, of Garth Edmundson's 'Apostolic Symphony'. If I remember rightly the disc was savaged by the critics - completely unjustifiably in my view!! Of course, he wasn't part of the 'smart-London-set', nor a cathedral organist! I still have the record, I have it next to me - with the Fanfare he wrote for his daughter's wedding in 1972, the three chorale improvisations of Karg-Elert (Op 65, Nos. 5 & 21 - Op 75, No. 2) and 'Legend' as well as the Chorale Prelude on 'Urbs Hierusalem beata' of Healy Wilan. Welcome, Paul.

I'm sorry but, perhaps, you needed to be able to add three points together from my answer to reveal the answer to your question. 1) My friend gave me a melody edition 2) He didn't have an organ edition 3) Harmonising each verse as he saw fit (as mentioned by another poster) Revealing that a copy of the hymn book may not exist! You then mentioned that you thought the book might be available through the Diocese of Altenberg. I made the point that Altenberg Dom is, in fact, not the seat of a Bishop, not a Cathedra and that it comes under the Diocese of Cologne. So, if th book does exist, it would be through the Diocese of Cologne. I hope that isn't too much pontificating!!!

I have a friend who was a Lutheran 'Cantor' in a large church outside Hanover. He is a distinguished player & conductor. When I lectured at the Hochschule, in Hanover, I visited him quite frequently and was always in church for the morning Gottesdienst. I asked him for a copy of the hymnbook they used and he gave me a melody edition. When I asked if he had an organ edition he looked blank and pointed out that he played from the melody edition, harmonising as he went along. My understanding is that this was common practice among North German Lutherans and that is how Lutheran organists were trained. My understanding is that there is no Diocese of Altenberg. The 'Dom' was never a Cathedral or seat of a Bishop but is within the Diocese of Cologne. I hope that helps.

Yes, of course! But I find that doing things like this keeps me awake. It's easy, it's simple but, when you get to over 70, little challenges, taking 10/15 minutes, are a sort of therapy! If that makes sense!!!

I'd never heard of it but I found a version on YouTube - it's easy enough to transcribe to manuscript. Attractive little piece but it doesn't go anywhere!!!

I expect we could all write a book on our experiences of weddings - and, possibly, funerals too! In our tiny little Abbey the brides would contact me direct. You always knew the ones that were going to be difficult! The phone would ring and I'd hear "My daughter is getting married .............." A mother got very 'shirty' with me when I pointed out that Widor was not a good idea for the bride to COME IN to!! She insisted and the bride arrived at the nave altar after the first page and stood there whilst the rest of it was played. The officiating Priest wasn't too happy but the Bride's mother seemed happy enough! I used to play, occasionally, at an 'Estate church', a housing estate church. It had a pub across the road and frequently the entire wedding party would be ensconced in the pub prior to the wedding. On one occasion the priest went across the road to remind them it was time for the wedding. The worst ones, the rowdiest, were the 17h00 on a Saturday afternoon! Payment was another interesting area. "Give the money to the Officiant at the rehearsal" I would say. Mostly it came, sometimes it didn't and I would have to confront the best man - or the bridal couple as they were getting into the car to go to the reception!!!! But the most memorable was a little couple, they were slightly older too, who came to see me after High Mass one Sunday in January/February. They were getting married in August and wanted to ask if I would play the organ for their wedding. It wasn't a problem and I put it in my diary and suggested they contacted me nearer the date to sort out the music. They didn't mind, I could play anything I deemed suitable. They didn't want any hymns because there would be hardly anyone there to sing them. They asked about payment and I, as usual, said to pay the Priest at the rehearsal. No, they would like to pay me now and they counted out the fee in, mostly, silver with the odd pound note. They had been saving up. August came and I did the wedding. There was no one there apart from two witnesses. The bride was dressed in 'normal' type clothes, the groom similarly. I think one of the witnesses took a few photographs and, as I was driving home, I saw them - standing at the bus stop!! Later that evening, I had their address, I put the fee in an envelope and popped it through their letter box. I've never forgotten that wedding. 'Dear Lord and Father of mankind' was a hymn often chosen at weddings - 'forgive our foolish ways' and the last verse 'Breathe through the heats of our desire'! I've had 'Colours of day' at a funeral 'so light up the fire, let the flame burn' I have never had 'Fight the good fight' at a wedding. I often thought that they chose hymns that they had sung at school. Nowadays state schools rarely sing hymns, if at all - but I don't do weddings any more so I wouldn't know what is current! And so on ........................................ I'll let someone else have a turn!!!

I am flattered to have been quoted in the eulogy! "Very few distinguish themselves ........................." Stanley and I communicated a number of times. I shall miss him! May he rest in peace.

Yes, I read about that yesterday or the day before! In my time, as a member of a professional (BBC) orchestra, I experienced some very strange, often unacceptable and fairly frequently what might be described as bullying type behaviour from conductors. It happened in those days! I could write a book!! But I never saw anyone actually resort to physical violence!

Yes, she did Prom No. 15 - a late night - at 22h15 - 'Moon and Stars' No one on here mentioned it - perhaps because it wasn't, particularly, mainstream. And I missed it too and omitted to mention it in my Post of August 14th, for which I apologise. My excuse is that, living in the remoteness of South-West France, I do miss things - and this is something I would certainly have listened to. Music by: Kristina Arakelyan, Ghislaine Reece-Trapp, Olivia Belli, Hans Zimmer, Florence Price, Philip Glass, and two Debussy arrangements, one by Guilmant and one by herself. No piece over 8 minutes long, I would have thought an excellent introduction to non-mainstream organ music. Don't forget, fellow forumites, to listen to the organ recital tomorrow afternoon (see my post above!) There have been some splendid 'Prom' concerts this year. I could go on ................................ but I won't!!!

I knew an organist, deceased but still shall be nameless, an FRCO who maintained that he had played the same three pieces for LRAM, ARCM, FLCM & FTCL and two of them for the FRCO!!! I played the same two pieces for ARCM (Teachers) & FTCL. And I always thought that Stanley had retired to the Lake District. Somehow I had that impression from his writings - it shows you how wrong you can be!!

Yes, on August 13th, two days after her 62nd birthday. I wonder how much of her vast output for organ is played in the UK. There is a Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani. Sounds interesting Rachel Laurin (b. 1961) : Concerto for organ, Strings and timpani (2011) - Bing video I'd like to see a score of her String Quartet.

Previous Organ recitals at the 'Proms' have been on a Sunday, not the best time for organists to turn out to listen to one of their number! This year's Recital is on a Saturday afternoon - at 14h00 - on the 26th. It is being given by the Canadian Organist, Isabelle Demers with a programme that includes two of her transcriptions, a world Premiere by Rachel Laurin, as well as works by Bach, in an arrangement by Marcel Dupre, Reger, Coleridge-Taylor and the Elergy by William Grant Still. Interesting programme, I hope to be able to listen to it.

Dr W. S. Monkhouse, F.R.C.O (Chm), M.A., M.B., B. Chir., Ph.D., M.A. Very few distinguish themselves in more than one field. Some occasionally in two but rarely in three or four! Stanley was one such man. F.R.C.O., he was a fine organist. M.A., M.B., a Cambridge qualified Doctor, B.Chir., F.R.C.S.I. and Surgeon. Ph.D., one who undertook Doctoral studies on an original subject M.A., and Priest. He also had spent a year studying the History of Art. Rowland is completely right, he enjoyed pricking pomposity. Some, I suspect his Bishop, found him difficult. I found him a warm and generous man, an authority in all kinds of areas. We corresponded regularly via this website and others, and by email, and I was sad to read the news of his death. There was a fascinating interview with him in the Church Times. Interview: Stanley Monkhouse, anatomist, vicar, and musician (churchtimes.co.uk) May he rest in peace.