[Tales From The Organ Bench]

Foot Loose and Fantasy Free

Stop messianing about

[Great Gambas]

Try playing on the Aubertin strings at St Louis en L'Ile in Paris or St John's College Oxford - they are real ear openers. 'Like nothing from any UK tradition. I am not qualified to go too far into Bach organs but I'd love to do a Bach cantata using one of these instruments only for the accompaniment. The strings almost sound like real 'Baroque' strings and the flutes like real 'Baroque' flutes.

 

As to Great Gambas etc. - they could be seen to be part of a tradition where 8's and 4's etc. are combined horizontally to achieve variety and contrast - less part of he 'neo' tradition of registering vertically ie. single stops/pitches 'piled up' on top of each other. (I remember some discussion on here a while ago about how each of these were used by different organists at Gloucester Cathedral. Some would go straight for an 8, 4, 2 etc. effect - thin etc. while others would start by coupling all the 8s - adding 4s etc. - much more lush an effect.)

 

Also - the only stop that will accompany a Swell Oboe solo is often the Great string (or Dulciana) - certainly on my instrument the 8' Great flute is too big for this purpose so the (mildish) string is invaluable.

 

Alastair

 

I have also found the Dulciana to be most useful in this respect. There are some beautiful examples to be found. What a pity that they have become unfashionable to some people. I think that an unenclosed Dulciana provides a wonderful alternative to the enclosed Salicional /Celeste effect in the Swell.

I have also played some wonderful organs in Stockholm with a wide variety of strings, some mild, some big and French. The 3 - manual romantic organ in the St Maria Magdelena Church has no less than 5 strings on manual III, including a Salicet at 4' pitch. One could sit and improvise all day!

[Lichfield appointments]

At Lichfield, the DoM had no intention of stepping down before the Dean demanded that he (and others?) reapplied for their own job...I had hoped we'd be given a break from the "Wesley Carr/Brandon Jackson" mould of high-handed Dean with little regard for the talent and hard work of those in their community.

 

I have heard the same myself, from someone who used to sing in the choir.

[Lichfield appointments]

At Lichfield, the DoM had no intention of stepping down before the Dean demanded that he (and others?) reapplied for their own job...I had hoped we'd be given a break from the "Wesley Carr/Brandon Jackson" mould of high-handed Dean with little regard for the talent and hard work of those in their community.