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Nic DAVIDSON PORTER

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Posts posted by Nic DAVIDSON PORTER

    Unavailable Organ Recordings

    in General discussion

    Posted

    On 11/01/2006 at 21:17, MusingMuso said:

     

    ==========================

     

     

    And wouldn't it be wonderful if the BBC would allow CD versions of John Betjamin's "Britain's Cathedrals and their Music?" I suppose someone will tell me that they ARE available!

     

    Then a "must hear" from the same archives would have to include Geraint Jones on historic European organs (which are available through the US based OHS catalogue, I understand) as well as a fascinating BBC broadcast of re-created Beethoven "organ works" comprising of Trios.

     

    I would love to know something about the origin of that Radio 3 broadcast, which was played by Wilhelm Kumbacher (Cumbacher, Culmbacher?). I cannot recall whether there were works completed by the performer, or some other, but were I think Beethoven study-works in the style of Bach. Stunning music!

     

     

    MM

    A bit late, but... 

    The Beethoven organist, IIRC was Wilhelm KRumbach, and he played on an old Rhineland Koenig instrument. There was indeed a sort of "Fugenkreis", and also, I think, Van B's notorious organ trios; the first two are arrangements of movements from CPE Bach's Wurttemberg Sonatas, and the third is an arrangement of a Beethoven Prelude for 2 vln and viola. The French composer Fetis picked these up at Beethoven's estate sale, and that is partly how they travelled to France, and Tournemire ended up editing the three into a volume. Because Beethoven had copied out the first two pieces without identifying them, Tournemire assumed that he had actually written them himself. There is also a very nice fugue, which constitutes the 4th trio. 

    Maria-Magdalena Kaczor has done a rather good recording on the Aeolus label. 

    Hope this helps! 

    Proms 2023

    in General discussion

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Nic DAVIDSON PORTER said:

    RIP Mme. Laurin, taken far too soon. 

     

    The Bach/Dupre Sinfonia at the Proms will be a very welcome change from the "Easter Cantata" one, and will be of interest to harpsichordists and pianists... 

    Apologies for brain burp - "Election Cantata"... duh! 

    Proms 2023

    in General discussion

    Posted

    5 hours ago, Martin Cooke said:

    Thanks, S_L - she's a great player. Very sad to read of the death of Rachel Laurin a day or two ago. She was a great composer for the organ.

    RIP Mme. Laurin, taken far too soon. 

     

    The Bach/Dupre Sinfonia at the Proms will be a very welcome change from the "Easter Cantata" one, and will be of interest to harpsichordists and pianists... 

    The Worst Organ In The World

    in General discussion

    Posted

    On 26/06/2006 at 16:24, MusingMuso said:

     

     

    ====================

     

    That's it, is it? 11,000,00 people and that's the best they can come up with covering 300 years?

     

    Assuming that "Greater" Yorkshire has a similar number of people, I could quote the following, and will:-

     

    Beverley Minster

    St Mary, Beverley

    Hull PC

    Hull City Hall

    Bridlington Priory

    York Minster

    Leeds PC

    Leeds Town Hall

    Selby Abbey

    St Bart's, Armley

    Doncaster PC

    Wakefield Cathedral

    Halifax PC

    Halifax Civic Theatre

    Huddersfield University

    Huddersfield Town Hall

    Ripon Cathedral

    Harrogate PC

     

     

    That's 18 organs with a total of 70 manuals and, I believe, 16 X 32ft reeds and two German masterpieces.

     

    Of course, there's lots of historic instruments about and a large number of smaller new ones, romantic ones and older ones.

     

    Nuff said

     

    MM

     

    PS: Why does everyone forget about the Merchant Taylor's Hall, London?

    I'd LOVE to have a solo CD of the MTH. I only have A very nice cheap EMI reissue of SP and YM doing Handel concerti, but interestingly EMI chose all the MT ones, IIRC. 

    Gloucester rebuild

    in The Organ

    Posted

    On 01/08/2023 at 21:22, Phoneuma said:

    Having played now and again at Derby Cathedral I’ll fully concur about those Compton luminous stop controls. I do hope they keep them, an ergonomic delight.

    I would also think that LED technology would be an excellent replacement for all those little filament lamps... I'd stick my (brass!) neck out, and say that Compton's would probably be a leader in that field, if they still existed! 

    Plea for basic help!

    in The Organ

    Posted

    Thank you VERY much to CB, JF, and Dr. P for the additional info! I have  the enthusiasm, but alas! not the musical-practical knowledge to investigate further and write a "handbook" on the matter. Having looked through NPOR, I have a huge (pot-belly?!) gut feeling that this firm merits some SERIOUS research. I am a dreamer, but hopefully, one day... 

    An aside to Dr. P... A year or three back, you very kindly transmitted a piece or two by Harvey Grace to me (I was hoping to do a "complete" recording...) ; if anyone is interested, Damin Spritzer has devoted an entire CD to Dr. Grace, on the Lewis organ of Albion Church. I hope she does more! 

    Plea for basic help!

    in The Organ

    Posted

    Thanks very much for that... I feared as much! It was kind of you to check the index. According to NPOR, Nelson of Durham seems to have been quite prolific; it seems v likely he WAS an ex-Harrison staffer. I think I read that somewhere else... 

    Plea for basic help!

    in The Organ

    Posted

    Please, could any kind soul tell me if Mr. Elvin included "Nelson of Durham" in his Harrison & Harrison book? It may seem an odd Q., but as about half of his "North Country Organ Builders" seems devoted to Cousans of... Lincoln, I ask the question, all the same! 

    If Nelson was off his radar, I shan't bother local library or university about that particular book... 

    Happy Easter to all! 

    Warrington Parr Hall Cavaillé-Coll

    in General discussion

    Posted

    10 hours ago, Martin Cooke said:

    I fear there is a certain inevitability about what Adnosad says here, but the trick, as it were, with pipe organs and preservation is surely to try to discourage everyone from wanting to preserve every last pipe organ regardless of inherent quality. In a way, organs like this one in Warrington Parr Hall are under threat because the sheep are in with the goats. Somehow or other, a way has to be found that preserves the finest instruments at the expense, if necessary of those of less satisfactory quality and provenance. To some extent this is happening and we quite frequently read of transplants - without thinking too deeply, I can think of the Nicholson job in York, we had Orford more recently, and St John's Cambridge is coming up. So that's great. But we must be prepared to acknowledge that not every pipe organ is equally worthy of more time, energy and money being spent on it. 

    Agreed with you both. I don't play myself, but can appreciate that a digital organ at home must've been a lifeline for many, both students AND professionals, during covid. Also, if you live in a flat/terrace/semi, a few flutes and strings to practice trio playing is quiet. Accoustic pianos are percussive... Admittedly, headphones can be used (for digital pianos as well), but I appreciate that not everyone may be inclined. 

    I have a central heating system WITH PIPES!! At times, a little noisy and certainly NOT worthy of a HOC... 

    Holy Trinity Brompton

    in The Organ

    Posted

    On 22/08/2006 at 11:09, Jeremy Jones said:

    I used to live just behind HTB and the Brompton Oratory, but never went into either so cannot comment on the organs. However, I do recall taking the dog for a walk past HTB every night, where there's a nice piece of grass, around 10.00 pm. For some reason this would coincide with an exodus of pretty young women from HTB, many of whom would make a bee-line for the King Charles Spaniel to rub its ears. Unfortunately, they never showed much inclination to do the same with me. :rolleyes:

    I remember my mother telling me that HTB stood for Hunt The Bride... 

    Looking to the future

    in General discussion

    Posted

    Touching briefly on funeral marches,  does Purcell's EVER get an airing?  It damn well ought to! 

    I was likewise dismayed by the moronic comments that were made about the music.  It seems to be that,  for many people,  the organ is just for "spooky"  / "haunted house." Profoundly sad. 

    Oriel College - Four manual ??!

    in General discussion

    Posted

    Thank you both very much for solving my AV puzzle - I initially thought it might have been the Keble Tickell, but for some reason, I dismissed that; not sure why. I would have posted a comment on youtube, but it was one of those "Comments are disabled" vids, so once again, very many thanks. Tomorrow, I shall listen to the Regent recording ! It's a shame the original poster(s) weren't a little more forthcoming ! Oh well...

    Great European Organs

    in General discussion

    Posted

    Reubke's sonata, at the 1937 Klais of Abtei Munsterschwarzach, played by Dominikus Trautner. I believe this organ was built at the same time as the Wurzburg Dom instrument, which was sadly lost in WWII.

    Elgar's sonata at the Seifert organ (1907) of Quirinusmunster, Neuss.

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