John Morris

"England" (John O'Gaunt's Verse) by Parry is rather fine and is in unison. http://imslp.org/wiki/England_(Parry%2C_Charles_Hubert_Hastings)

How very sad.

I think he was quite a hard taskmaster! It's a long time since I read Charles Reid's biography of Malcolm Sargent (who was an articled pupil of Keeton at Peterborough) so some details may be approximate. I've still got the book somewhere - I'll see if I can dig it out. if the pupil's playing was not up to scratch, Keeton would slide along the bench, simultaneously taking over the playing and removing the hapless pupil in one go. There was also the story of Sargent turning up to a piano lesson and thought he'd surprise Keeton with some Debussy. To bring the young Sargent back to his senses, Keeton prescribed a shedload of Clementi Studies and muttered something to the effect of "if the rest of the world's gone wrong in the head I see no reason why I should".

That sounds interesting - hopefully Sine Nomine will return to its EH version!

If you use one or both of your existing 16' ranks for an harmonic 32' then it should just be a wiring job. If using two ranks, it's usually better if the softer stop provides the quint so as to avoid a "boomy" sound as you get higher up the bottom octave. Not quite sure what you mean by "stop/slider occupied by the Dulcet 4' on the pedal" - if you mean the control on the console then that shouldn't be a problem. If you are referring to the inner workings of the organ then it would be rather more complicated!

An excellent performance of a glorious work. The camera work, too, is inspired without being obtrusive. Thank you both very much!

Sounds like a brilliant idea! I'm more than happy to set up a blog to receive reviews of organ recitals.

No problem - look forward to bumping into you at a recital!

Paul's memory obviously serves him well! I've just got the official specification from the Friends of the Guild Chapel, so for the sake of completeness, here it is: GREAT ORGAN Open Diapason 8 Stopped Diapason 8 Octave 4 Open Flute 4 Twelfth 2 2/3 Super Octave 2 Tierce 1 3/5 Full Mixture 15.19.22 III Trumpet 8 Tremulant Swell to Great SWELL ORGAN Claribel Flute 8 Viola 8 Voix Célestes 8 Gemshorn 4 Stopped Flute 4 Fifteenth 2 Nineteenth 1 1/3 Mixture 19.22.26 III Contra Fagotto 16 Cornopean 8 Tremulant Octave Unison Off Sub Octave PEDAL ORGAN Open Diapason 16 Bourdon 16 Principal 8 Bass Flute 8 Fifteenth 4 Trombone 16 Fagotto (Swell) 16 Cremona 4 Great To Pedal Swell to Pedal Great and Pedal Combinations Coupled Generals on Swell Toe Pistons Compass of Manuals: CC-c''' (61 notes) Compass of Pedals: CCC-G (32 notes)

Most interesting, Handsoff and Paul - thank you! I should be delighted to be included in a Saturday demonstration if you can manage to arrange one - we now live in Hampshire rather than the Lake District, so it is doable there and back in a day! Best wishes, John

After raising a huge amount of money and overcoming numerous obstacles, the Friends of the Guild Chapel presented the opening recital on the new organ by Principal Pipe Organs on Saturday, 4th October. After various introductions, Stephen Dodsworth played a varied programme to an enthusiastic capacity audience. The programme included Karg-Elert, Bach, Derek Bourgeois, Dubois and Franck (A minor Choral). It showed off many aspects of the instrument which sounds much larger than its two manuals and pedals. The organ feels powerful without being overbearing. It was more than adequate in supporting the assembled throng who sang three verses of “Now Thank We All Our God” with vigour. Organo Pleno is breathtaking. The beautiful Stephen Dykes Bower case and the shell of the previous console remain, otherwise, I understand it’s a new organ. I only had the chance of a brief word with Geoffrey Coffin after the recital as well as a quick look at the console and wish I’d written down the specification. Unfortunately, Principal Pipe Organs doesn’t seem to have a website, so I’ll try to get hold of it by other means. Maybe Handsoff can help with this. In the meantime, do try and get to a recital if you are in the area - there’s quite a programme of events planned for the coming months - further details on the Friends of the Chapel website at: http://www.stratfordguildchapel-friends.org.uk.

Sorry - upon reflection they had to screech up to a B flat for the ante-penultimate note! Urghhh!

Around twenty-five years ago I was asked to play for a funeral in a large Roman Catholic Church in Lancashire. The organ was miles away on a west gallery. The first hymn was Crimond and the second hymn was "How Great Thou Art". Unfortunately, the priest announced "How Great Thou Art" first. Rather than fumble through the hymnbook, I though I would busk it, having played it many times in the past at an Evangelical Church where I was organist in my teens. A very quick calculation suggested that the first part of the tune would sit farly comfortably in F major which it did. However, I broke out into a cold sweat as we reached the second part of the tune and experienced the terrible realisation that the congregation would eventually need to screech up to a top A - something reminiscent of the chipmonks had it been a little quicker. At least - when it came - F major worked for Crimond. It's never happened since, but I've always used a post-it to indicate where each hymn is... just in case...

The London Organ Concerts Guide is now accepting listings for its Autumn/Winter 2013/2014 edition. It covers the dates 01 September 2013 - 28 February 2014 inclusive. Further details: http://www.londonorgan.co.uk/listings.htm

Holy Saturday: Vierne - Carillon de Westminster Easter Day: Bach - Concerto No 1 in G / Tournemire/Durufle - Improvisation on Victimae Paschali

Hello, handsoff - interesting to read your comments and thank you for your welcome! Sorry - I'm not the John Morris who used to work across the road! However, my wife and I both love visiting Stratford and the theatre whenever we can. We actually live in Cockermouth in the Lake District. Very much looking forward to hearing the new organ when it is installed - The Friends of the Guild Chapel have done a great job raising the money. Best wishes, John Morris

The organ in the Guild Chapel in Stratford-upon-Avon is being "played out" in a recital by Stephen Dodsworth on Wednesday 6th March at 7.30. This will be replaced with a new two manual and pedal organ by Principal Pipe Organs later in the year, hopefully by mid-August. Here are details of the new instrument's proposed specification: http://www.stratfordguildchapel-friends.org.uk/page8.html It's a beautiful little chapel in the centre of Stratford, right by King Edward VI Grammar School, not far from the theatres and well worth a visit. Best wishes, John Morris