John Furse

Errollyn Wallen CBE appointed first Master of The King’s Music of the new reign | The Royal Family Errollyn Wallen appointed as Master of the King's Music - BBC News Belize-born composer is first Black woman to be Master of the King’s Music | Errollyn Wallen | The Guardian

They should have been subject to ex(mobile)communication !

This re-ignited my memories of unease. I almost reeled back from my PC's rather large screen ! It also made me wonder whether wielding a mobile 'phone in camera mode is now part of the High Mass ceremonials. What would Tomás Luis have said ?

Decades ago, I happened to be in Santiago de Compostela on this date. There was a stupendous High Mass in the morning, when I was able to witness the group of Thurifers manipulating the Botafumeiro (their famous Thurible: Botafumeiro - Wikipedia). It did look a tad dangerous and I stayed well clear. The concluding Voluntary was a slightly bizarre rendition of 'The' D minor Toccata – with ‘amplifications’. Until now, I’d happily forgotten this !

Dominic Gwynn, scholarly organ builder who worked to recover the sounds of the Tudors – obituary (telegraph.co.uk)

I tried that. 'The trick was' . . . NOT to crop the altar, too. Doh !

As with many organs, it’s best heard away from the console and when not playing it ! When my little piece was recorded there by Regent, most of the mikes were on the floor of the nave, albeit somewhat elevated. It is, nonetheless, more than good at the console. Marvel at the size of the gallery. You can see from the console photo on NPOR (I can privately send you a better one), there is a sufficiency of aids to registration and coupling, etc. It should be noted, however, that the action is quite old and slightly ‘clattery’. There was a plan to raise, I believe, well over £1,000,000 for a complete refurbishment. Having said all of that, it is a fabulous instrument in the most gorgeous acoustic, which is more than close to St Paul’s. It should prove one of your best organ experiences and I, for one, will be interested to find out your impressions. If you don’t mind a few suggestions, compare the choirs of strings (Choir, Swell, Solo), the reeds (Great, Swell, Solo), the diapasons (Choir, Great, Swell), for example. The alternation of these was employed to great effect in the registration of my piece. Finally, use some minutes to walk on the 'ground floor' and soak in the beauty of what is, in effect, a basilica . . . imagining how poly-choral Gabrieli would sound there.

Today, 20th April 2024, is International Organ Day. Perhaps I should have headed for Worcester. There has been, is and will be an impressive amount of innovative performing on offer: International Organ Day - 20th April - The Association of English Cathedrals However, R3 has managed ONE solo item (‘the’ Widor) on Breakfast. Despite much of the revised Saturday fare consisting of chat-type programmes, with a multiplicity of varied output, not one organist features. (Wayne Marshall’s sister, yes SISTER, appears in Jool’s Holland’s hour.) This was an ideal opportunity for organ-related programmes for the general, as well as specialist, listener. I find this incomprehensible. I remain most grateful to this station for how it has educated, entertained, consoled and puzzled me for most of my life. Also, for the world première and broadcast of one of my pieces (by the fabulous BBC Singers) but, as an organist, cannot help feeling short-changed today. If I have missed something, please add it below.

That is Magnificat news ! But, inside gen ? Can you reveal more ?

I'll accept the accolade with grateful thanks. (Sorry: I couldn't resist !) But, seriously, I seem to have missed spotting which builder will be doing the work on the old St John's instrument and then installing it in Kennington. Perhaps it is not in the public domain, as yet. In any case, it will probably have to head West or North, before journeying to Cobbett's Great Wen. I'm still most interested to discover whether the 1955 Trompeta Real will be retained in Cambridge - re Tippett's Magnificat.

Wasn't quite as simple as that but, with slightly more 'fiddling', it worked, thanks. The functionality on that website isn't the best.

The M11 ?

Nope.

Despite going back and forwards on the net, I have so far been unable to track down a specification for the Winchester organ's latest incarnation. Can anyone assist, please ?

As Rowland writes, H&H state it will have 67 stops: 24 more than in its Brighton incarnation. This is an increase of more than half the existing number of stops. Currently, Swell and Solo are enclosed. I’ll leave it to others to suggest what this enlargement might include.