S_L
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Fascinating!
Earlier this year I was at the Abbatiale de Saint-Savin-en-Lavedan, a few miles to the south of Argeles-Gazost in the Pyrenees. In the Abbey church there is a, beautifully restored, Renaissance organ dating from 1557. I couldn't play it because the guy in the church didn't have the key but we were able to see the instrument quite well and the curator of the church was, clearly, very knowledgeable about the instrument. It had one manual of 38 notes and 6 pedals. 8',4' 22/3', 2',11/3',1, plus a Flute bouchee at 4' and a 8' Regal. There was also a Rossignol!
Most amusing though were 3 gargoyles on the front of the case work operated by 3 pedals at the console - their mouths and eyes moved when operated by the player with the pedals!
The instrument looked beautiful and there is a recording of a concert in the church on youtube.
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What an enjoyable read!
Thank you for that, Martin.
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Or any classical music, come to that. Even the Proms, that supposed bastion of popular classical music, is being progressively dumbed down year after year. This year it has only three concerts of pre-Classical music (two Baroque, one Renaissance) and the only organ music I spotted was Wayne Marshall playing BWV 565 (twice). Perhaps the schedule is merely reflecting popular opinion (is it?), but it is surely also helping to shape it.
Of course it's a matter of opinion but I'm not sure that I would say that the 'Proms' are 'dumbing down'. I've looked at the programme for this year and thought it was quite exciting. There are 13 new commissions, and quite a number of London Premiere's! Great orchestras and choirs from the UK and around the world, distinguished conductors and some fine soloists are performing a wide variety of music in a diverse variety of venues - and there are programmes of quality to attract the young too!
Yes, there are omissions! I notice Reger, whose 100th anniversary of his death is this year, is hardly featured - just one work - the 'Variations & Fugue on a theme by Mozart' - but played by the Staatskapele of Dresden. Only one work by George Butterworth too and, as has been said, hardly any organ music. Having said that I have found listed, on 'Organ Recitals.com,' 42 organ recitals in London during the time of the 'Proms' - you could, almost, go to a Organ recital, in London alone, every day during the Prom' season!
The world is changing - and the 'Proms' are changing too! - my opinion is that they are changing for the better. I think they are 'less stuffy' than in the days of my youth. I also think there is a wider variety of music and, quite possibly, finer performances as well! Of course, there will always be criticism - from me too!
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Langham is a fine church, much bigger than one would expect for the size of the village. It was heavily restored in the nineteenth century and is a plain, clean and bright interior with a couple of stunning Burne-Jones windows. The organ is in the north aisle towards the west end, speaking into the nave, and is therefore very well placed to do its job.
A friend of mine was Vicar of Langham, Binham and the surrounding parishes - and remember going into Langham church once. I would have said that the organ was in the South aisle - and, somewhere, I have a photograph of it.
A beautiful part of the country - and one of the parts of England I really miss!
(Morston church, which was also part of the living of Langham, has two rather wonderful looking harmoniums - one of which was in working order and used for services!)
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I wish I had known earlier!
I've just arrived home from taking someone to Bergerac airport - and it would have been only another hour further on and would have made a nice day out (on a lovely sunny afternoon!!)!
I'm planning a trip to Rocamadour later in the summer and I'll call in and have a look!
Many thanks for that!
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LOL
Yes - very interesting - and, I'm sure, scientifically very sound! - or not!!!!
I'm sure there are others on here who can write, a good deal more coherently than me, on the subject and would do - if it weren't the day it is!!!
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Posted on behalf of Paul Derrett:The death has just been announced of Richard Popplewell, for many years a much loved and influential Professor of Organ at The Royal College of Music. He was Director of Music and recitalist at St.Michael’s Cornhill from 1966-1979 and subsequently Organist and Composer to HM Elizabeth II at St.James’s Palace for twenty-one years until his retirement. He died on Tuesday 22nd March aged 80. He had been severely ill for some time.Paul Derrett is a past pupil of Richard’s and a keen promoter of his music. He will be remembering Richard in a recital he is due to give at 11.30am on Bank Holiday Monday at Bromley Parish Church. It will be an ‘upbeat’ recital with plenty for the Easter mood, but it will include the Trio Sonata in C by Bach and works by Richard’s beloved Max Reger and Popplewell himself.
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I first met Max after he’d conducted a performance of Schoenberg’s “Pierrot Lunaire”, during my first undergraduate year. This was a new work in live performance for me and I was mesmerised by the Austrian’s visionary score. I expressed this to Max, after the concert, also mentioning that I’d composed a few pieces.
Oh wow! I wonder if I played 'cello in that performance!!
In my 'first life' I did a lot of work with Max and particularly 'Pierrot Lunaire', usually deputizing for Jennifer Ward Clarke. It was a situation that a lot of conductors/composers wouldn't have been happy with - but Max was always most welcoming. I also played 'Vesalii Icones' and also the '8 Songs for a Mad King' several times and also conducted a performance of it. Following the AQA Examining Board adopting the Messiaen 'Quator pour le fin du temps', for five years, as the A level set work, I tried to persuade them, unsuccessfully, to follow it with '8 Songs' - I was told there were 'political implications!'
From about 2004, bi-annually, I performed a number of large scale works with professional musicians and also schoolchildren aged between 10 and 18! In 2006 I conducted a performance of Britten's 'Noyes Fludde' (with 350 animals in the ark!!) preceded by Max's 'Kirkwall Shopping songs' In 2008 we commissioned 'Mankind' from the distinguished composer Michael Finnissy and, after its first performance, we talked with Max about the possibility of a new opera, for 2010, from him. Sadly it came to nothing.
His idea of a 'Choirbook for the Queen' was truly inspirational.
Max was a craftsman, he was a brilliant communicator - he was also a lovely man and the twinkle in his eye when something was going really well or, even, when he was stirring a little mischief is something I will not forget!
Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.
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Mae hapus iawn Dydd Gŵyl Dewi at ein cyfranwyr Cymreig.
(Only 'google translate' I'm afraid!)
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Absolutely well worth a look!
Thank you for that.
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The new Archbishop has a fine singing voice.
................ and his face after he intoned the opening of the 'Te Deum' at the end was a picture!!
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Indeed. Mentioned earlier on in the week here by 'Positif' in the 'Appointments' thread.
My apologies - I hadn't seen it!
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Also on the site is the news that Daniel Hyde has been appointed to succeed the late John Scott at St. Thomas' New York.
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There are three works by Alun Hoddinott for organ, a Sarum Fanfare, Intrada and the Toccata alla giga which might be suitable for the occasion. (There is also an Organ concerto - the 7th Symphony (Organ Symphony) and an Organ Sonata - which probably aren't!) There are also a number of Anthems, by Hoddinott, which might be suitable to use! I've always found Alun Hoddinott's music very accessible!
Guto Puw, whose music, perhaps, isn't always accessible, has written a Ffantasia for Organ (No. IV).
Orianna Publications, in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, publish a lot of music by Welsh Composers.They may be able to help.
............................ or, if you are into Improvisation, you could improvise on one of those splendid Welsh hymn Tunes - try Llangloffan - sung to the Office Hymn for St. David's day "We praise thy name, all-holy Lord".
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Sorry - technology failure on my part!
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I heard a story that, upon receiving a reminder from his publisher, Sir David Willcocks composed Fanfare on 'Gopsal' (OUP) on the train between Cambridge and London.
January 20th was the anniversary of the death of George V and, the day after, therefore, the anniversary of Hindemith composing the 'Trauermusik' - Music of Mourning in 1936. One story I was told, when I first played the 'cello version of this, was that it had been written, in a few hours, on Victoria station in London and broadcast, that evening, with Hindemith playing the solo viola part and the strings of the BBC symphony orchestra conducted by Adrian Boult! The latter part is true, the former, a good story but I think the truth of it was that it was written in an office at the BBC - but beautiful, beautiful music all the same!
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More money of course. But with King's I doubt whether money is a problem.
There is a misconception that institutions, such as Kings College at Cambridge, are awash with money!
They have to balance the books - just like anyone else!
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I understand that the 9 Lessons and Carols is the last service with the organ. I don't suppose that there is a Christmas morning service at a collegiate carol although I stand to be corrected.
There is, indeed, a morning Eucharist in Kings College Chapel on Christmas morning - and there always has been!
This year the Music includes:Mozart Missa Brevis K275 in B flat and traditional hymns/carols. The sermon is preached by the Dean and the final Voluntary is the Widor Symphonie V - not unsurprisingly - the Toccata. The service begins at 11h00.
These pages from the College website give details of the organ restoration and the timescale of that work. Hope they're helpful.
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/organ/restoration-2016/index.html
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I agree with everything that AJJ has said! I'm not convinced that is 'a sign of the times' either! I think that you can sell the youth almost anything providing that you do it convincingly, and that they see it as being 'quality' with a certain amount of 'cool'!
I don't know the set up at Leeds Minster either but I do know that, across the city, there is a thriving music department in St. Anne's Cathedral where the Office and Mass is sung daily and where they have Junior and Senior girls and boys choirs who sing quality music by themselves and with the choral scholars.
Of course the press enjoy this kind of sensationalism. I don't see what is happening at Leeds Minster as being particularly sad. Sometimes it's good to say 'that's enough', stand back, re-evaluate the situation and.reform. It's hard to do it but what comes out of it is often stronger and more successful and, reading the article in the 'Yorkshire Post', that seems what the new Rector is looking for!
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A difference between English cathedrals and many continental ones is that English cathedrals are used rather a lot for services, whereas one could go to some major cathedrals in France, for example, and see "Messe 1000" each day and nothing else.. Without the daily round, it would be easier to close a building completely.
I hadn't seen the wiki article. I had my information from a Kantor friend who lives, nearby, in Barsinghausen and who was at the opening. He took me to Hildesheim Cathedral when I was lecturing in Hannover quite some time ago..
I think that there is some truth in what you say although most French Cathedrals, in my experience, have Messe (usually at 10h00!) but often an early or midday too, every day and also say the two main offices, usually in a side chapel which, very often, isn't advertised. Quickly looking through a number of UK cathedrals for the programme for yesterday most did exactly that, the difference being that the evening office was sung and everything was advertised!
In France, of course, there is another matter to consider. French Cathedrals are owned by the state not by the Roman Catholic church who only administer to the spiritual needs of those attending. Somewhere, presumably in an office in Paris, there is a list of 'Cathedrals to be renovated' and also, presumably 'Organs to be restored' - you submit your proposals and, when your turn comes around the job is done - and paid for by the state. (an oversimplification I'm sure!) Up to 20 odd years ago very little restoration work had been done, in the country, as opposed to in Paris. I remember being at Amiens and seeing Messe celebrated on, almost, an orange box! The Cathedral was in a poor state of repair - then a comprehensive 'restoration' took place of the Cathedral to its present state. Even now the organ has not had work done to it since, I stand corrected if I'm wrong, before the war (1936, I think!) Chartres Cathedral is undergoing a major restoration at the moment - and has been kept open. Interestingly, like Hildesheim, Chartres is also a 'World Heritage Site'. The situation in Germany I have no idea but I know of the wonderful restorations in Dresden of the Frauenkirche.
My village church (sans orgue) is being restored at the moment. It has been closed for over a year and Messe was last said there early in 2014. It's tiny, but a building of major historical importance, being 1000 years old, an old 'Templar' church and on one of the routes to Santiago di Compostella. Restored is an interesting word - and I have been watching the work they have been doing - English Heritage would have a fit!
Various contributors have noted the difference between the UK and our continental counterparts - it's true - we do it differently! - sometimes for the better but not always!
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The restoration of the Cathedral at Hildesheim has now been completed and was solemnly opened on August 15th 2015, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, and the titular feast of the Cathedral.
The new organ, built by Seifert of Kevelaer, has also been completed.
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And I see that on yesterday’s post on the YouTube thread the organist is using what appears to be an iPad to play Franck.
I hadn't noticed that!
The possibilities, of course, are endless. perhaps frightening and, possibly, beyond most of our imaginations. I suspect that more and more, in the future, organ consoles will be fitted with more and more devices to allow us to input different technologies - some are there already - others will appear and become the norm and the console of, even 20 years from now, will look very different from that of today.
At my age I find it all a bit scary! - but then I would never have believed when I was at school or even as an undergraduate that, one day every morning, I would switch on a computer, access information and receive messages from around the globe and, more importantly, be able to create music scores and generate a set of parts - the days of spending the first hour, or more, of a rehearsal finding the mistakes in a set of parts seem so long away!
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Thank you for that flute harmonique!
It is the most amazing instrument and where I usually like go to Mass when I am in Paris. The last time I was there there was a totally amazing improvisation before Mass that, at one point, so devastatingly loud, I thought the organ was going to jump off the back wall!
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Might this just be a reflection of the 'three-fold' manner in which the plainsong Kyrie was sung?
Kyrie thrice: Choir, Choir+Congregation, Choir
Christe thrice: Choir+Congregation, Choir, Choir+Congregation
Kyrie thrice: Choir, Choir+Congregation, Choir
It now tends to be two-fold in these 'modern' times. Choir followed by Choir+Congregation for each of the Kyries and the central Christe.
Tony
Did the congregation participate at all? I suspect in Couperin's day, not at all - not even participating in the communion!
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What do people ask you about organs?
in General discussion
Posted
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!"