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Jonathan Eyre

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  1. 'Many thanks for all of the interest in the Bradford organ project. If I were able to register as a member in order to post, I would gladly have done so; this not being possible, I am grateful to Jonathan for posting on my behalf. To confirm, yes there used to be a nave pipe division at the west end, which was dismantled in 1987. The Purcell Trumpet was indeed retained and can now be seen en chamade at the very top of the chancel organ case. If anybody knows for definite what happened to the remainder of the pipework, I should be fascinated to know. My understanding is that nobody knows quite what in fact ended up where, and that various ranks went to various places, in a rather piecemeal fashion. The previous nave organ occupied a central position at the back of the Cathedral, blocking the (rather fine) West End window, not to mention eclipsing a good deal of natural light. The proposal for the new division is that it be sited above the space taken up by the current shop. This is on the south west side of the nave, but far enough forward and not too far off-centre such that we (and our builders A J Carter and consultant Paul Hale, as well as delegates from the CFCE) are entirely confident that it will assist the projection of organ sound immeasurably and lend the extra presence of sound that is needed for larger services, especially those of a processional nature. As to the make-up of the division, exciting prospects are afoot, and a specific instrument in mind that will form the basis of this division, but the proposals will not be formally ratified by Chapter until later this month. I hope to post in a couple of weeks' time, in the light of the impending Chapter meeting, to report our exact plans for the specification and to let readers know of the provenance of the pipework.' Alex Woodrow
  2. We are pleased to report the completion of the first phase of restoration work at Bradford Cathedral. The instrument now benefits from a revitalised and redesigned console, with new keyboards, pedal board, swell pedals, toe and thumb piston layouts, sequencer and stepper facilities, and a new bench, all commissioned from P&S and installed by A J Carter of Wakefield, working in conjunction with Andrew Cooper. The new console has considerably eased the experience of playing the instrument, and resident players and visitors alike are delighted by it. Fundraising is ongoing, with £118,000 raised in total since the launch of the Organ Appeal two years ago. We are now turning our attention towards plans for a nave pipe division, playable from the console, to enhance the projection of organ sound through the building, and in the second phase we will also attend to the transmission for the whole instrument. We are pleased with the progress that has been made, not least as the project was embarked in the eye of a severe recession, and we are most grateful to the many individual donors and supporters as well as the grant-making trusts and bodies that have kindly supported the restoration appeal. Alex Woodrow and Jonathan Eyre Bradford Cathedral
  3. We are pleased to report the completion of the first phase of restoration work at Bradford Cathedral. The instrument now benefits from a revitalised and redesigned console, with new keyboards, pedal board, swell pedals, toe and thumb piston layouts, sequencer and stepper facilities, and a new bench, all commissioned from P&S and installed by A J Carter of Wakefield, working in conjunction with Andrew Cooper. The new console has considerably eased the experience of playing the instrument, and resident players and visitors alike are delighted by it. Fundraising is ongoing, with £118,000 raised in total since the launch of the Organ Appeal two years ago. We are now turning our attention towards plans for a nave pipe division, playable from the console, to enhance the projection of organ sound through the building, and in the second phase we will also attend to the transmission for the whole instrument. We are pleased with the progress that has been made, not least as the project was embarked in the eye of a severe recession, and we are most grateful to the many individual donors and supporters as well as the grant-making trusts and bodies that have kindly supported the restoration appeal. Alex Woodrow and Jonathan Eyre Bradford Cathedral
  4. Bradford Cathedral are pleased to welcome ANDREW LUCAS (St. Albans Abbey) Wednesday 22nd May at 13.05 Programme Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 547 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 -1750) Sonata Op 65, No 4 in B flat Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-47) i Allegro con brio ii Andante religioso iii Allegretto iv Allegro maestoso Psalm-prelude, Op 32, Set 1, No. 2 Herbert Howells (1892-1983) “But the meek spirited shall possess the earth and be refreshed in the multitude of peace.” Dankpsalm Max Reger (1873 – 1916)
  5. Bradford Cathedral are pleased to welcome Jennifer Bate on May 1st at 1.05pm. Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C, BWV564 Johann Sebastian Bach 1685-1750 Choral No. 2 in B minor César Franck 1822-1890 March upon Handel’s Lift up your heads Op. 15 Alexandre Guilmant 1837-1911 Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d’Alain Maurice Duruflé 1902-1986 Andantino Sir Lennox Berkley 1903-1989 arr. Jennifer Bate b. 1944 Toccata on a theme of Martin Shaw Jennifer Bate You are all very welcome.
  6. Hi John, The plan is to lay the bottom octave of the 32' reed on top of the swell box. Jonathan
  7. Thank you for your interest in the Bradford Organ Appeal. I tried to create an account of my own, but was unable to do so as the moderator is apparently not accepting any new accounts at the time being, so thank you to Jonathan for posting this on my behalf. Anyway, to put the record straight, we shall be inviting further quotes for the work in due course once the public appeal is well and truly underway and once we have started to harness support from grant-making and charitable trusts and organisations. We have one reliable and realistic quote already, based on the repairs and enhancements that Paul Hale detailed in his report to the Cathedral Chapter of 2010, and we have obviously factored in the inevitable variations between quotes from different firms in addition to increases owing to a number of years' inflation while we raise sufficient funds. While we would very much like to have the work completed by 2019, the year in which the Cathedral celebrates 100 years since its elevation, we have to be realistic that, as a parish church Cathedral with no endowments or historical legacies, we can only carry out the work in stages as the funding becomes available. With no available initial injection of funding to put towards the project, we are having to raise all the funds ourselves, which is both a daunting challenge and a tremendous thrill in just about equal measure! However, having taken advice, we are confident that £250,000 spent on the work in stages, as funds become available, over a number of years, will allow for the necessary repairs, upgrade to the console and the four or five tonal enhancements we are planning. As to the point about the instrument struggling to project its sound down the Nave, indeed the Chancel is more resonant than the Nave, and as with all reasonably long buildings, an instrument situated wholly in the chancel will have a much less immediate impact further down the Nave. However, this is a problem faced by countless long churches and Cathedrals, and the situation at Bradford is actually far less acute than in many buildings with a longer Nave. A couple of the planned ranks, the 16' manual Open Diapason and the 32' Contra Trombone will undoubtedly assist in this respect. I also believe that a large congregation can be fully supported by a strongly rhythmic lead from the organ and choir at a little above mf, rather than by sheer volume alone. I have seen pictures of the old West End organ and have no doubt that it had an immediacy and clarity that assisted those situated at the back of the nave. The Purcell Trumpet of course has been retained and is now mounted en chamade at the top of the chancel case. However, I am also assured by those who remember it that the Nave division was nigh on impossible to keep in tune, and therefore often unplayable in conjunction with the rest of the organ in the chancel. Finally, I do commend the instrument to you; it is a fine organ with some excellent quality pipework, a delight to play, and chameleon-like in its versatility. Once fundraising is well underway we will let you know of our plans concerning who we will ask to carry out the work; I can assure you though that we have been well advised and that we haven't simply plucked the figure out of thin air! Alex Woodrow
  8. As yet we are still in the early stages of fundraising but will be looking for quotes for work in the near future. Best Jonathan Jonathan Eyre Assistant Director of Music
  9. For those of you technically minded you may also like to join our FB page: https://www.facebook.com/BradfordCathedralChoir
  10. If any of you happen to be in Bradford this coming Wednesday, Alexander Woodrow (Director of Music) will be launching our £250,000 organ refurbishment appeal. The recital is at 1.05pm with a buffet style lunch at 12.30. There is a regular series of recitals most Wednesdays, and further details can be found at www.bradfordcathedral.org To find out more about the appeal visit our dedicated appeal website: www.bradfordcathedralorganappeal.co.uk Do join us if you are able.
  11. David Condry is being replaced by Jonathan Eyre as Assistant Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral (Sept 2012).
  12. Sadly no-one has been appointed. The appointment process happened as scheduled with none of the candidates being appointed.
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