Christine Jose Rigby
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Franz Liszt: Prélude et Fugue sur B.A.C.H. Played in 1983 by Gillian Adams on the Cavaillé-Coll organ in the Parr Hall, Warrington, England. Many thanks to Gillian's Husband, Bill Chefers for his kind permission to share this with all of you. https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=!AD1KSoWfuJbLi6M&cid=E09969D010B4D753&id=E09969D010B4D753!14442&parId=root&o=OneUp
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J S Bach: Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 Played by Gillian Adams on the 1870 Cavaillé-Coll organ in the Parr Hall, Warrington, England. Recorded in 1983 by Roland Dowd. In the words of her Husband, Bill Cheffers 'She tried to ‘pull everything out’ ! But we only came up the day before so, as usual, there wasn’t enough time to get used to the beast ! Especially with such an ambitious programme !' The full programme was - 1. Buxtehude - Toccata & Fugue in D 2. J S Bach - O mench, bewein' Dein sunde gross 3. J S Bach - Fantasia & Fugue in G minor 4. Mozart - Fantasia in F minor for Mechanical Organ 5. S S Wesley - Choral Song & Fugue 6. Mendelssohn - Sonata No 2 in C minor Op. 65 7. Franck - Prelude, Fugue & Variation 8. Liszt - Fantasia & Fugue on BACH. Gillian studied organ playing with Professor Harold Dexter at the Guildhall School of Music. She was one time Organist and Choirmaster at St Paul's, Wokingham and later, the Organist and Choirmaster at the Priory and Parish Church of St Germans in Cornwall. https://1drv.ms/u/s!AlPXtBDQaZng-iPC1ctUddbLJCys?e=o9zeC1
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Warrington Parr Hall Cavaillé-Coll
Christine Jose Rigby replied to DHM's topic in General discussion
CD REVIEW IN CHOIR & ORGAN MAGAZINE (Published April, 2016) Roger Fisher Plays the Cavaillé-coll organ, Parr Hall, Warrington Wealdon Studios PHWCD 1 [81:26] 'This is an obviously home-made release featuring recordings of Roger Fisher, the distinguished emeritus organist of Chester Cathedral, playing the 1870 Cavaillé-Coll in Warrington. The recordings are a mixture of a ‘studio’ session captured in 1984 and a live concert, for an obviously enthusiastic audience, in 2011. The repertoire is standard French romantic and 20th-century fare: Guilmant, Franck (Choral III, Pastorale), Saint-Saëns E flat Fantaisie, Duruflé ‘sur le nom’ et al. Understandably, the recorded sound is better in 2011, the playing more consistent and the organ clearly in slightly better shape in 1984. None of this matters a jot, however. The CD has been released by the friends of this extraordinarily important organ to raise awareness of its near-farcical and seemingly endless plight. While rumours continue to circulate on internet forums as to its ultimate destination (Warrington Borough Council having stated their intention to let it go elsewhere already some eight years ago), the bald fact of this, a very substantial concert organ by the 19th century’s greatest organ builder, languishing in such poor condition for so long, shorn of its original mechanism but tonally intact, is hardly indicative of a national organ culture in good health. Buy this CD and support the wonderful people (including Roger Fisher himself) fighting against the odds for its future.' On Friday, 17th June, 2011, we were able to celebrate the Bi-Centenary of the Birth of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll !! Roger Fisher is the man who has done so much for me, with regard to his love of the Cavaillé-Coll organ in Warrington, since breaking a train journey in order to see the organ in the Parr Hall for the first time a number of years ago. And as they say, the rest is history !! He was to make the first recording of the instrument, which was an LP in 1984. He gave me enormous support and encouragement when trying to promote the historic organ in this town, especially when he agreed we should try to celebrate the 2011 Bi-Centenary of the Birth of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll with a recital. These were his words, after I asked him how I could arrange for a recital - ‘The way organ recitals are arranged varies so much that I couldn’t give any definite process, but rarely are they arranged through an agent. I have played several times at the Parr Hall, and once or twice it was arranged by the Cavaillé-Coll Supporters Group, and once the request came from the hall manager, I think he was Nick Shaw. So much seems to depend on meeting the right person at the right moment. Most recital series are the result of drive from an organ enthusiast, who may not be professional, or even professionally involved, but who carries all before him or her, out of sheer enthusiasm. This is not a very satisfactory basis on which to plan for the future, but that is the way it often goes.’ When Roger Fisher (Emeritus Organist, Chester Cathedral) took part in the Recital in 2011 - to commemorate the Bi-Centenary of the Birth of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, it was one of the highlights of his career. On that occasion he said of the 1870 Organ 'This organ has been known as the Bracewell Queen because it was made for Bracewell Hall, a little north of here. Now this particular Queen is a very old lady indeed. She has some health problems, and not every old lady does exactly what she's told first time - but never the less, she is an extremely distinguished old lady, and one that gives immense pleasure to the listener'. After he had played for the recital, he graciously pointed to the organ whilst the audience showed their appreciation. Photo: Roger Fisher at the console of the Warrington Cavaillé-Coll Organ reproduced by kind permission of Cheshire Life magazine. THE ORGAN IS OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE WARRINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. Roger died on 3rd June, 2021 aged 84. https://rfisher.me/recordings-page/organ/roger-fisher-play-the-cavaille-coll-organ-parr-hall-warrington/ -
Warrington Parr Hall Cavaillé-Coll
Christine Jose Rigby replied to DHM's topic in General discussion
Théodore Dubois: Prelude and Fugue in D minor/ D major Played by Pieter Leebeek with the aid of the hauptwerk set by Sonus Paradisi of the 1870 Cavaillé-Coll organ in the Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire, England. https://youtu.be/cmnVlX9bfQg?si=01tiK6Yhm3o1N59f https://www.sonusparadisi.cz/en/organs/england/warrington-cavaille-coll-sample-set.html?fbclid=IwAR3_ONBXvRC4a_d83zlUrSOhfNqiLHqk-b1v84LzbqKnIm5KZcOrhGxfQnQ -
Warrington Cavaillé-Coll Organ
Christine Jose Rigby replied to Christine Jose Rigby's topic in General discussion
Thank you for your reply Colin. Sorry if the post was misleading, there is only the Bach. I realised the post would be better in General Discussion, so it is duplicated. I am sorry to say that the CD isn't available. This link is of Gillian Adams playing the Mendelssohn Sonata No 2 in C minor Op. 65 https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aty6wS5ABp9XpF6fHlh0s_EpS4Nw -
J S Bach: Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 Played by Gillian Adams on the 1870 Cavaillé-Coll organ in the Parr Hall, Warrington, England. In the words of her Husband, Bill Cheffers 'She tried to ‘pull everything out’ ! But we only came up the day before, so as usual, there wasn’t enough time to get used to the beast ! Especially with such an ambitious programme !' Gillian studied organ playing with Professor Harold Dexter at the Guildhall School of Music. She was one time Organist and Choirmaster at St Paul's, Wokingham and later, the Organist and Choirmaster at the Priory and Parish Church of St Germans in Cornwall. The non-commercial recording was made in 1983 by Roland Dowd, who later transferred it to a CD. Many thanks to Philip Davey for converting the recording to OneDrive. https://1drv.ms/u/s!AlPXtBDQaZng-iPC1ctUddbLJCys?e=o9zeC1 The full programme was - 1. Buxtehude - Toccata & Fugue in D 2. J S Bach - O mench, bewein' Dein sunde gross 3. J S Bach - Fantasia & Fugue in G minor 4. Mozart - Fantasia in F minor for Mechanical Organ 5. S S Wesley - Choral Song & Fugue 6. Mendelssohn - Sonata No 2 in C minor Op. 65 7. Franck - Prelude, Fugue & Variation 8. Liszt - Fantasia & Fugue on BACH.
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J S Bach: Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 Played by Gillian Adams on the 1870 Cavaillé-Coll organ in the Parr Hall, Warrington, England. In the words of her Husband, Bill Cheffers 'She tried to ‘pull everything out’ ! But we only came up the day before, so as usual, there wasn’t enough time to get used to the beast ! Especially with such an ambitious programme !' Gillian studied organ playing with Professor Harold Dexter at the Guildhall School of Music. She was one time Organist and Choirmaster at St Paul's, Wokingham and later, the Organist and Choirmaster at the Priory and Parish Church of St Germans in Cornwall. The non-commercial recording was made in 1983 by Roland Dowd, who later transferred it to a CD. Many thanks to Philip Davey for converting the recording to OneDrive. https://1drv.ms/u/s!AlPXtBDQaZng-iPC1ctUddbLJCys?e=o9zeC1 The full programme was - 1. Buxtehude - Toccata & Fugue in D 2. J S Bach - O mench, bewein' Dein sunde gross 3. J S Bach - Fantasia & Fugue in G minor 4. Mozart - Fantasia in F minor for Mechanical Organ 5. S S Wesley - Choral Song & Fugue 6. Mendelssohn - Sonata No 2 in C minor Op. 65 7. Franck - Prelude, Fugue & Variation 8. Liszt - Fantasia & Fugue on BACH.
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Manchester Town Hall - Work In Progress
Christine Jose Rigby replied to Choir Man's topic in The Organ
Of the nine organs that were built in this United Kingdom by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, those that remain have been altered more than others. Two of those that remain were NOT built for a Church, being the 1877 C-C in Manchester Town Hall and the 1870 C-C in Warrington's Parr Hall. It is possible that we are the envy of the French, some of whose native Cavaillé-Coll organs having been greatly modified. The same fate has befallen the once authentic C-C installations at Paisley Abbey, and what is now Blackburn Cathedral. What is remarkable, is that it was the Sheffield Albert Hall concert organ that WAS the envy of the French, at a time when they had no A C-C concert organ of their own, that is, until the Trocadéro organ. The Sheffield orgue was lost in a fire in 1937, and the Trocadéro orgue was as good as lost, when it was moved to the Palais de Chaillot, and then to the Maurice Ravel auditorium, Lyon. To the best of my knowledge, the organ of the Philharmonie, Haarlem, The Netherlands, and that of the Parr Hall, Warrington, are the only two remaining Concert organs built by A C-C, in near original condition, anywhere in the World. -
Manchester Town Hall - Work In Progress
Christine Jose Rigby replied to Choir Man's topic in The Organ
Manchester City Council - Heritage and art. < The Organ At the heart of Manchester’s Town Hall, centre-stage in the Great Hall, is the organ. Built in 1877 by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll of Paris (arguably the best organ builder in the world at the time) at a cost of £2,700 (approx £2.5m today), Cavaillé-Coll later returned to make a few additions to the original scheme, which resulted in his final design of 1893. In the years since, however, it has been subject to a number of modifications, and a condition survey, carried out in October 2015, showed that the instrument is in dire need of major restoration and reconstruction. As an important part of the Our Town Hall project, this work will see the organ largely restored as Cavaillé-Coll originally intended, after the wholesale removal of the entire organ, pipe by pipe. Thankfully, that condition report also showed that the instrument still has a distinctive voice: although changes have taken place, Cavaillé-Coll's tonal palette is unmistakable, and it is possible to recover this. Virtually all of the original pipework survives, with comparatively little alteration, and by applying modern conservation techniques and a knowledge of Cavaillé-Coll’s practices, the original sound can be restored. The work will be undertaken jointly, by Nicholson & Co of Malvern, and Flentrop Orgelbouw, of the Netherlands. “As two leading organ building firms, we have decided to make a joint offer as a collaboration on this exciting and significant project. We feel that pooling our respective skills, experience, resources and locations makes our joint offering markedly stronger than what either of us could offer independently. The organ will be returned in almost every way to its 1893 condition, including the return of the original pitch, the manufacture of new actions (with three new Barker Lever machines), new console, chests, and much of the wind system, all in a strict replica of the Cavaillé-Coll style. The casework will be returned to its original 1877 appearance." The organ will be wholly dismantled in the late spring of 2020, and returned to the building for completion by the end of 2023, to coincide in 2024 with the re-opening of this much-loved building. > https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500354/our_town_hall/7676/heritage_and_art/7?fbclid=IwAR0Dm0ciNHN7sy8Oelwq1G_kNoeE3t65sRaGD7irgf4uKQFZtmdO4HbnRTc -
Manchester Town Hall - Work In Progress
Christine Jose Rigby replied to Choir Man's topic in The Organ
' Following the announcement by Sheffield Cathedral in September, 2011 that they were no longer interested in acquiring the 1870 Cavaillé-Coll organ in the Parr Hall, Warrington, Dr Gerald Sumner said this ............ 'Although the organ is obviously important as the only recognisable survivor of the nine C-C organs built in this country I believe strongly that the organ has a special significance in the entire corpus of the Cavaillé-Coll organs, something that might well be especially important if the disposal of the organ by the Warrington authorities becomes a real threat to its survival. There is no doubt in my mind that this could and should become a major heritage issue in the widest sense.' -
The Liverpool Daily Post - Thursday 19th March, 1914. PARR HALL ORGAN Warrington is in need of a first class organ to replace the existing one in the Parr Hall. When this hall was presented to the town by Mr J Charlton Parr, the local musical society transferred the organ in their possession to the Parr Hall. It was then much the worse for wear, and latterly, it has been in such a condition that it has been almost impossible to use it. The Corporation accepted a tender for a first-class instrument, to cost £1,600, but the Local Government Board refused to allow them to borrow the money, and left them with the alternative of taking the cost out of the current year's rates. This idea was brought before the General Purposes Committee and defeated, and the Mayor (Councillor Peacock) approached some of the wealthiest citizens with the view of raising the money by private subscription. The response was rather disappointing, but this week a start has been made with a subscription of £100 from Mrs Parker, of Penketh, and hopes are entertained that this will give a fillip to the movement which the Mayor has initiated. The Widnes Examiner newspaper - Saturday 8th May, 1920. PARR HALL ORGAN It is certainly a reflection of the worst kind upon Warrington that the Parr Hall contains an organ that cannot be played. The instrument is so far gone that it is unequal to the task of providing the blatant kind of noise that would pass for music at a political demonstration. Many attempts have been made to arouse interest in the question of the provision of an organ that would be at the service of the Musical Society and other bodies who wish to cultivate their special gifts and to provide entertainment for what we are pleased to believe is a musical public. We have a splendid public hall that is miserably equipped - an illustration on a lamentable scale of the folly of spoiling the ship for the want of a pennyworth of tar. There have been a good many local war memorials. What of a musical war memorial in the shape of a new organ for the Parr Hall.
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The following article appeared in The Choir publication, 1926. 'In the Parr Hall, the largest concert hall in the town, there stands today a derelict organ. It has three manuals covered in dust and shorn of ivory. It is entirely unplayable and looks a miserable object on near view, although the case and the pipes impress the stranger in the body of the hall. It has a history that probably cannot be paralleled in any other town and it is (fortunately) a silent verification of suspended Warrington enterprise. This 'Ichabod' organ was purchased for £155 upon the inauguration of the Musical Society in 1834. It was built by Samuel Renn, of Manchester, and had six stops on the Great and four on the Swell. In 1840, it was removed to the Town Hall. In 1862 it was resolved 'That Messrs. Gray and Davison be requested to value the organ with a view to it being sold as soon as possible.' But nothing was done in the matter, and two years later, when a Public Hall was erected, the organ was enlarged at cost of £500 through the generosity of Mr Joseph Litton, and it was opened by Mr. W T Best in 1865. In 1891, a scheme was brought forward to turn the hall into a theatre, and this necessitated the removal of the organ. No purchaser could be found, and the organ was therefore taken down and stored for three years. In 1895, a new Public Hall was presented to the town of Warrington by Mr Joseph Charlton Parr, who also lent money for the enlargement of the organ in the Hall, where it languishes today, its soul of music shed. After lengthy negotiations, the organ was transferred to the Warrington Council, which (though a valuable asset) had been something of a white elephant.' The Parr Hall was presented to the Borough of Warrington by J. Chorlton Parr on the 26th September 1895. Members of the Warrington Musical Society performed Handel's Grand Oratorio 'Judas Maccabeus' at the afternoon opening.
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Many thanks for sharing this information about the many organs of Paris. Vincent Hildebrandt not only has this website, but he also has a Facebook page 'Organs of Paris' https://www.facebook.com/OrgansOfParis/ It is a timely reminder for me to share both of these links with the Warrington Cavaillé-Coll Organ Facebook group, where Vincent keeps us up to date with the recitals at the Parisian Churches. https://www.facebook.com/groups/660405240701596/
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Some images and sound-samples* from this unique studio-organ, designed by and built for, internationally-acclaimed teacher, organ consultant, and recitalist, Roger Fisher. Following his retirement from professional engagements, the instrument is now offered for sale. (Guide-price: £8,000.00, with the purchaser responsible for removal.) Interested parties should contact Philip on prushforth539@gmail.com (* Pieces used in the video, in order: Elegy - Harold Darke (1888 - 1976) Méditation - Maurice Duruflé (1902 - 1986) Monologue in C - Josef Rheinberger (1839 - 1901)) The music is played by Roger.
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Some images and sound-samples* from this unique studio-organ, designed by and built for, internationally-acclaimed teacher, organ consultant, and recitalist, Roger Fisher. Following his retirement from professional engagements, the instrument is now offered for sale. (Guide-price: £8,000.00, with the purchaser responsible for removal.) Interested parties should contact Philip on prushforth539@gmail.com (* Pieces used in the video, in order: Elegy - Harold Darke (1888 - 1976) Méditation - Maurice Duruflé (1902 - 1986) Monologue in C - Josef Rheinberger (1839 - 1901)) The music is played by Roger.