Christine Jose Rigby

Thank you to every one of you for your replies to my enquiry about the hymn books in use at your church. I have had experience of most of these books and agree with your comments. I was 'brought up' with English Hymnal and Merbecke, but that is a long time ago. Some 25 years ago I joined another church choir and was asked to deputise for their organist. I have never regretted it. Even with a small choir, their standard of music is good. We don't relish singing too much in unison and by and large, we are 'traditional'. Our Full Music and words only AMRs are well past their best, but we still find they contain some of the best loved hymns. I have not yet been successful in my request for them to sing Coe Fen, but there's still time. What I do find difficult to fathom is why a hymn such as 'O Jesus, I have promised' has had it's words altered in HFTC, and has even had a verse left out. Probably the best way of funding a new hymn book would be for each adult church member to buy their own copy, but that wouldn't account for all the copies we would need. The Vicar would prefer NEH and has said no to Common Praise. I have quite a little collection of different hymn books but am still unsure about the choice we should make. I still welcome your input on this topic. Tempo Primo.

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Our Choir was invited to sing at a recent Wedding at a very old timber framed church in Cheshire. It came as no surprise that the congregation has to use the 'facilities' of the Public House next to this Church. It is always interesting to observe which hymn books are favoured by other churches. This old church had not only one, but two books, Common Praise and New English Hymnal. They both looked comparatively new. Our own Church alternates between Hymns for Today's Church and Ancient and Modern Revised. We have considered other Hymn Books and we are still undecided as to our next one. It would be interesting to know what Hymn Books are in use at the Churches of members of this board. Tempo Primo.

If this is the organ, it is on Youtube. Schlosskirche Brumath. Tempo Primo.

Hello Murton, I suggest that you e-mail Daniel Roth, Organiste-Titulaire of the Grande-Orgue at St Sulpice in Paris. His web-site gives his e-mail as danielroth@club-internet.fr Didier Matry, Organiste Titulaire of St Augustin, Paris, was most helpful when I was unable to find his CD of Gigout music. Good Luck! with your search, Tempo Primo.

Thank you MAB, for this 'thread'. It's been a long time since I have laughed out loud so much when reading the replies. Tempo Primo.

Sad state of affairs it is. It was a great consolation to find that the Henry Watson Music Library of the Manchester Central Library has been temporarily re-located http://manchester.gov.uk/info/1015/books_r...62/henry_watson Tempo Primo.

Greetings Adnosad, Thank you for those kind words. I am so pleased that you were there 'on the night'. It was all worth it! Roger Fisher and Benjamin Saunders made it a truly memorable night. The Great Organ was magnificent, in spite of it's shortcomings. The Parr Hall Management were excellent. I hope David Wells is proved to be right in that there could well be another recital before too long. That recital will be another 'tour de force' if we achieve it. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to be able to post the information on this web-site. It was good to see so many there and to be told how far some of them had travelled. My best wishes to you, Tempo Primo.

Good to hear from you again MM. You do well to question whether this MAY be the 'final' time this organ can be heard in a Recital in the Parr Hall. If I can persuade those in authority to promote another one before it is dismantled, I will be more than pleased. I was sorry to hear that you were prevented from joining us, so, better luck next time !!! A good few travelled considerable distance to hear the Bracewell Queen. My best wishes to you, Tempo Primo.

I am so pleased you were able to join us John. I understand those there numbered 174. One person came from Ely for the Recital. Roger Fisher, Benjamin Saunders AND David Wells have been very supportive of this event. There were times when I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew after I had asked the Warrington Borough Council to promote the event, but it was all worth it in the end. What remains now is for those who are making the decisions to decide where and when the Great Organ will be taken. We must make sure that it isn't put into storage at all costs. My best wishes to you, Tempo Primo.

I agree with everything you said about the Herbert Sumsion Elgar Sonata. I bought it only recently, and then ordered the CD that includes him playing the SS Wesley Choral Song and Fugue. It is a delight to listen to such a lovely organ, which I understand underwent a controversial re-build not long after. Tempo Primo.

May I, on behalf of Roger Fisher and Benjamin Saunders, give information about their Recital on the 1870 Cavaille-Coll Great Organ in the Parr Hall, Warrington on Friday, 17th June, 2011 at 7.30pm. The programme of music to be played by Roger Fisher is as follows:- Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921): Fantaisie in E flat - (i) Con moto & (ii) Allegro di molto e con fuoco. Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937): Andante Cantabile (from Symphony no 4 in F minor). Cesar-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck (1822-1890): Pastorale (opus 19) Dedicated to Aristide Cavaille-Coll. Cesar Franck: Chorale in A minor. Louis Vierne (1870-1937): Naiades (Pieces de Fantaisie, Opus 55). Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911): March on a theme of Handel. Please note that this is not only the 200th anniversary of Cavaille-Coll's birth, but also the hundredth anniversary of Guilmant's death. Saint-Saens and Widor shared the first two performances on this instrument in March 1870. A third programme was given soon after by Alexandre Guilmant. Following its installation in the private home of Mr Hopwood, Bracewell, England, the organ was inaugurated by William Spark on November 7, 1870. Tempo Primo.

Better still David, join us in the Parr Hall, Warrington on the 17th June 2011 and hear the 1870 Cavaille-Coll Great Organ being played by Roger Fisher and Benjamin Saunders. It will be a memorable celebration of Aristide's work. Tempo Primo.

A correction is needed here. After being told, only recently, by Warrington Borough Council, that the Great Organ in the Parr Hall is destined to be dismantled next year, two web-sites will eventually be amended to read that this MAY be the final opportunity of hearing this organ in the Parr Hall. Never-the-less, this joint recital to be given by Roger Fisher and Benjamin Saunders will be an event NOT to be missed. Both of these Recitalists have a connection and affinity with this organ, so the quality of the music-making is assured. Parr Hall has recently undergone a refurbishment and the results, including views of the organ, can be seen at www.posimage.co.uk Click on 'Latest Work' to see these pictures. Tickets for the Recital on 17th June can be obtained at the Parr Hall Box Office Tel. 01925 442345 AND from www.pyramidparrhall.com They are £10 and £7 Concessions. The programme will be in the style of the organ and consist of music by composers who were inspired by the Great Organs of Aristide Cavaill-Coll.

A correction is needed here. After being told, only recently, by Warrington Borough Council, that the Great Organ in the Parr Hall is destined to be dismantled next year, and not this year, two web-sites advertising this recital will eventually be amended to read that this MAY be the final opportunity of hearing this organ in the Parr Hall. Never-the-less, this joint recital to be given by Roger Fisher and Benjamin Saunders will be an event NOT to be missed. Both of these Recitalists have a connection and affinity with this organ, so the quality of the music and music-making is assured. Parr Hall has recently undergone a refurbishment and the results, including views of the organ, can be seen at www.posimage.co.uk . Click on 'Latest Work' to see these pictures. Tickets for the Recital on 17th June can be obtained at the Parr Hall Box Office 01925 442345 AND from www.pyramidparrhall.com They are £10 and £7 Concessions. The programme will in the style of the organ and consist of music by composers who were inspired by the Great Organs of Aristide Cavaill-Coll.

There will be a recital in the Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire to celebrate the Bi-Centenary of the Birth of Aristide Cavaille-Coll. This will take place on Friday, 17th June, 2011 at 7.30pm. The Recitalists are Roger Fisher, Organist Emeritus, of Chester Cathedral AND Benjamin Saunders, Director of Music at Leeds Cathedral. The programme will include music written by the composers who were inspired by the 'symphonic' organs of Cavaille-Coll. This recital may represent a final opportunity to hear the Great Organ in it's present home, prior to a possible move elsewhere.

There will be a Recital to celebrate the Bi-Centenary of the Birth of Aristide Cavaille-Coll. This will take place at the Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire on Friday, 17th June, 2011 at 7.30pm. The Recitalists are Roger Fisher, Organist Emeritus, of Chester Cathedral AND Benjamin Saunders, Director of Music at Leeds Cathedral. The programme will include music written by the composers who were inspired by the 'symphonic' organs of Cavaille-Coll. This Recital may represent a final opportunity to hear the Great Organ in it's present home, prior to a possible move elsewhere.

Thank you very much Tony, It is interesting to see that audience numbers were so good then and such a pity that over the next few years audience numbers decreased considerably. Regrettably, that is one of the reasons Warrington Borough Council sought to dispose of the organ.

Another Daniel Roth - St Sulpice - Marcel Dupre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X6cZfy9uR0

Daniel Roth - St Sulpice - Marcel Dupre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjqbee8cRyw

Thanks very much, I looked at the NPOR for detail and thought that the 2006 ref. to Organists' Review referred to work done but 'further stop notes added' was a ref. to amended stop lists. Incidentally we have been successful in asking the Parr Hall Management to promote a Recital to mark the Bi-Centenary of the Birth of Aristide Cavaille-Coll. Roger Fisher and Benjamin Saunders have kindly said they will play and the programme will include music of those composers who were inspired by the 'symphonic' organs of Cavaille-Coll. The recital is on Friday, 17th June, 2011 at 7.30pm (Parr Hall, Warrington) Have you by any chance got Organists' Review, August 1998, p231 it refers to 'restoration work completed' on this Great Organ. Many thanks.

Has anyone got the Organists' Review, May 2006? I am particularly interested in page 8 which deals with the additional work done to Cavaille-Coll Great Organ in the Parr Hall Warrington.

Felix Reinburg was foreman of the team installing this organ in 1870 at Bracewell Hall (the organ was commissioned by John Turner Hopwood, who lived at the Bracewell Hall and was a most benevolent host to Felix Reinburg). At the time of the renovation by Henry Willis in 1971/2, the Barker Lever was deemed to be irreparable, and/or the cost would have been prohibitive, so it was replaced by electric action. It is regarded that this timely renovation is the reason why the Great Organ is in it's present day condition, and without it, there would have been no organ to discuss today.