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John Furse

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Everything posted by John Furse

  1. Yes. But I can't imagine they will have any difficulty in attracting applicants for such positions in such a glorious building (not mentioning the organs) and with such a great DoM. 2024 looks like it will be a merry-go-round of organ benches.
  2. Again, exactly. What is 'rubbish' to one, is treasure to another. For instance, in the disparate worlds of reclamation by Archaeology and from car boot sales and refuse disposal.
  3. I agree with S_L: on the one occasion (in the 90s) I visited this fabulous church with the orgues being played, I thought I would have concussion, so head-splittingly loud was the volume. As regards the state of the instrument(s), Hyperion released this month a CD of David Briggs's music (with improvisations) recorded in July 2022. In the over a dozen one-minute clips available to listen to for free, it don't sound too bad at all. That's not to say how difficult it was for the performer (Briggs) to achieve this.
  4. "In the 1971 instrument the soundboards were reconfigured so that the organ spoke clearly to the east and west. This effective idea will be perpetuated with a Nave division speaking west."
  5. Sir James has composed a surprising amount of organ music. This only became apparent to me after I had the privilege of being the page-turner for a couple of recordings on this CD [Freak out | Extraordinary music for organ - Regent Records (regent-records.co.uk)] – including the MacMillan. The ‘Rouault’ is a fascinating, kaleidoscopic work which, to me, seems to require an organist equipped with four arms. sjf1967 will, of course, know this, as he recorded it on his wonderful (Apple-linked above) CD [James MacMillan: Organ Works | RES10266 – Resonus Classics & Inventa Records], which I purchased after my trip to Suffolk. Some of these pieces need to be listened to several times for their qualities to become manifest. Until my visit, I had somehow not managed to hear the fabulous Holbrook Grand Organ [NPOR | N00981], despite having lived some twenty miles away. This vast, gorgeous, basilica-esque Chapel (with a second organ in the Choir area) has a reverberation period which rivals St Paul’s Cathedral. If at all possible, I would urge members to make a pilgrimage.
  6. On NPOR as West Auckland: NPOR | E01563. A curiously low roof.
  7. I failed to acknowledge Colin's contribution. (Yesterday was rather frenetic.) Anything and everything should be done to save this instrument (which I still haven't heard in any way) from the skip.
  8. Thank you, Peter. I skimmed that Facebook page, too, and was surprised that such a worthy collection of knowledgeable folk could not 'make inroads' with the local authority. It does not quite make sense that they seem prepared to allow such a sum of money go to waste, as it were. Nonetheless, a million quid is not necessarily an absurd amount, when one thinks of what would be purchased. OK, another very large amount would be necessary for relocation and restoration. However, I feel sure that possibilities exist - sadly, these may not be in the UK. If this seeming lack of concern, nay disregard, for an historic treasure persists, I wonder whether it merits an approach to The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
  9. Being a Bear of Little Brain, there are several aspects of this sorry state of affairs I find puzzling. (I have not scrolled through any previous threads.) This is an historic and, presumably, fine-sounding (if not much, much better) instrument. I can find no recordings to which to listen online. If I have missed any, please point me in their direction. Attempts to restore the organ in situ (the most desirable solution in many ways), or move it into a nearby location, seem to have failed. Have serious efforts been made, therefore, to sell it to a worthy buyer, who would treasure it ? If they want rid of it, do the local authorities not wish for the funds this would provide for the benefit of their council tax-payers ? If it is not wanted locally, its preservation and restoration is of the utmost importance. Has no other venue (sacred or secular) expressed an interest ? With the sale of (possibly) much less historic organs overseas, this seems incredible.
  10. There is a good obit in The Telegraph.
  11. More than ever before ? Andrew Lloyd Webber piece among new coronation music - BBC News
  12. Salisbury Cathedral pipe organ will breathe new life into Holst’s Planets | Classical music | The Guardian
  13. I found the most interesting thing Maître Latry said was that the cleaning of centuries of dust from the interior would render the acoustic even more reverberant (!). This would revert to as it was before (after some years), with the return of people visiting.
  14. After a recital I gave in a glorious Spanish church, a distinguished-looking chap introduced himself to me. It was the (now) 88-year old Francis Chapelet. I agree with Colin: you never know who might be listening !
  15. For the quickest inputting, use a separate numeric keypad - unless you happen to have a PC with the number pad situated on the left of your QWERTY keyboard. These, I have just found, are classified as 'left-handed' keyboards. This enables me, as a right-hander, to play the notes with my RH on the music keyboard and adjust the note lengths with my LH via the numeric. Thanks to Paul Patterson for this invaluable, time-saving method - which works with Sibelius. Unclear about other software.
  16. The Magdalen specification is both ingenious and intriguing – the split Swell/Récit especially so. I suppose it would have to be ingenious, given the (lack of) available space in the case and on the screen. With the Tuba being available on every manual, all ‘eventualities’ are covered. This is, as far as I can discover from NPOR, only the second four-manual in the Chapel. (The 1855 Gray & Davison was the previous.) It seems perfectly suited for accompanying Anglican service music (from the Renaissance to the present) and most solo repertoire beyond. Given Eule’s superb sound and colour in other locations, it should be a treat to hear. I would be interested to see others’ reactions.
  17. M. Aubertin has made many organs of the finest visual and sonic beauty. Even the most ‘famous’ builders (in the UK and beyond) have made a less than successful instrument. Some, several. They have been documented in these ‘pages’; as are the ‘corrections’ that they, or others, found it necessary to make. If this proves to be the case, Bernard may not be in the best of health to travel and undertake such work. I believe he may have suffered from Covid and is, in any case, well past the official retirement age for France. Many of the comments on FarceBook reflect the ignorance of the poster: whether in architectural, ecclesiastical, acoustical or ‘organological’ areas. I have been deafened at the console of historic instruments in Spain, with en chamade Trompetería almost blowing my hair out of place ! (Did 18th century organistas use ear-plugs ?) Similarly, when sitting in ‘the wrong place’ at an East Anglian cathedral. When all of us are gone, his instruments will remain as an outstanding legacy of a visionary master.
  18. What I heard involved what we used to call a ‘rubber’ (actually, a Civil Service eraser). Thatcher. And a Royal. At the Royal Opera House. I have no reason to doubt the veracity of this story.
  19. The blame is partially mine, therefore. As a newly-qualified teacha, I was ‘elected’ (by my colleagues) to head a county committee advising on the content of Music in said N.C. I was not lacking in experience, having previously lectured in Music. It was not the N.C. itself which was faulty, but the way it was implemented – and then ‘perverted’ by government. The same applied to the brilliantly conceived G.C.S.E. Thatcher insisted on equivalence with O levels – and, by the by, Music was within a hair’s breadth of being omitted. This, of course, is straying from the thread.
  20. I do not believe anyone with any kind of musical intelligence would pay heed to the lamentable Daily Male. It's not as if they employ an esteemed classical music critic. In any case (and I cannot bring myself to look), surely, these comments must be from some of their more mis-informed readers - of which there must be a multitude. ('Organ out-of-tune' ? I ask you.) There can be few occasions when standards of excellence (by the Abbey musicians) in all respects have been exceeded so greatly. 10+ for every aspect. It was also good to see that the Chapel Royal boys were 'level with' those from the Abbey this time - not tagged on the end. Previous slight criticism must have been noted. Those who support (in every which way) Anglican Church music should rejoice at the World's being able to watch and listen to how it should be done.
  21. That is an excellent idea. There should be enough time: early in the New Year has been mentioned as to when this might take place. I note, as I wake, that today's Order of Service has two specially composed works: a Psalm setting by Judith Weir and Anthem by Sir James MacMillan.
  22. Others may cavil at that last word, given current sensitivities. There are, of course, few, if any, better royal marches than Walton’s. As for a present-day equivalent, Sir James MacMillan might be one. So sadly, William Mathias died early, thirty years ago. He was one of the best 20th century composers for the royal family and did this sort of music perfectly. John Rutter is fairly obvious; with Cecilia McDowall and the much younger Paul Mealor other contenders. We mustn’t forget, too, there is a Master of the King’s Music.
  23. Despite working close by, I never visited Pilton, North Devon. I was intrigued to view the photos in: NPORView D02980 In the fourth photo down, the 'bulge in the bench' is facing backwards - the other way to Llanrhaeadr. One of these benches must have been turned around. Which is the correct positioning, therefore ?
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