[Slurs in J.S.Bach's "St. Anne" Prelude BWV 552i]

 

 

There is an anecdote - unfortunately by someone too young to have heard Bach personally, although his father was a Bach pupil - claiming that a certain organist who played everything staccato "could not possibly please those who knew Bach's legato manner of playing." There may actually be something in this since there are very occasional hints in Bach's writing that could be seen as being consistent with a legato style and the slurs in BWV 552 could arguably be seen as another indication. Was the richer and fuller sonority that would have resulted from legato playing perhaps part of Bach's quest for Gravitas? I don't think it's impossible, although I can't say the idea appeals to me musically.

 

 

I tend to default towards legato in Bach, as my main place of playing is so "dead" acoustically that staccato sounds, well - silly for want of a better description! I find - rightly or wrongly -that my personal preference is for an almost Dupre-like legato for many chorale preludes (eg "O Mensch bewein", "Nun komm, der heiden Heiland" and "Liebster Jesu")

 

[Swell pedals]

The oddest swell pedal I've met is at Coalisland Parish Church in Northern Ireland, where you press the heel down to open the box and the toe to close it.

 

Reminds me of when Peter Collins added a Trombone (among other things) to the Willis at St George's, Benenden, Kent a few years ago. I played for a wedding there at the end of the week the Trombone was connected, but no one told me that the drawstop had been temporarily connected the wrong way round (out for off, in for on) Not sure why this would have been - an organ builder might be able to hazard a guess...??) but the catastrophic result when I started playing beforehand can be imagined!

[Goodbye King's]

I don't really see the point of this topic until something definite is known. I am also sorry to see that, as so often, any mention of KCC involves some sort of gratuitous SC-bashing.

[Wireless Consoles]

I'll look out for that - thanks. Is it online anywhere? This was the organ I'd heard about.

[Wireless Consoles]

Apologies if this has been discussed before, but I heard recently of an organ that had been rebuilt with wireless transmission. I have never come across this - are there many examples around? Seems an excellent idea - but something else to go wrong!?

[New OUP publications]

I think Martin must be our OUP publicist!!

 

I decided to plump for these and ordered on Sunday evening (going for both meant a spend of over £20 which qualified for free delivery from the OUP website). They arrived at my work today in a box the size of a shoe box and stuffed with protective paper (for two volumes containing a combined total of less than 200 pages)!

 

I've had a flick through and am certain there will be items in here of use and value to me. As one would expect, the books are well-presented and the print crystal clear. The pieces are very much miniatures (none more than 6 pages that I can recall, many only 2) and there is a pleasing variety of styles and moods. I applaud the inclusion of suggested registrations - they can be easily adapted to suit resources but give a flavour of what the composer is trying to achieve. There is definitely a nod towards our American cousins with some of the tunes chosen, but that is perhaps no bad thing. While some obviously fit with seasons, others are less clear-cut, hence as Martin says much of the contents of the Epiphany volume could be used elsewhere in the year, although I struggle to see the relevance of 'Salzburg' to Epiphany - I don't know of it paired with anything other than 'At the Lamb's high feast we sing'.

 

I've not yet had a chance to get down to church and try these and a full appraisal will take some time because every piece is new. The good thing is that these volumes are out in plenty of time for the seasons they represent, giving ample time for study, and I trust others will follow to complete the series.

 

One thing though - and don't tell pcnd - there's another piece based on his favourite Kendrick ditty!

"Salzburg" is given as a choice along with "St Edmund" to "Songs of thankfulness and praise" in at least one RC hymnbook

[Hymn book for Hand bell ringers...]

I must take up the handbells!!

[The 1908 Organ Of Ely Cathedral]

 

With regard to Arthur Wills, I doubt that he had a moment's thought in the matter of restoring the 'Hill' sound at Ely Cathedral. As you observe, both he and Cecil Clutton were extremely fond of French music and wished to have an organ which could fulfill Wills' desire to play much of this repertoire.

 

Is it the case that, once again, this instrument is not quite able to cope with a full building on great occasions?

 

in the matter of 16ft. flues on the claviers, I find that a well-voiced Quintatön is often preferable to a Bourdon - although if it is a choice between having or not having any kind of 16. clavier tone, I should still prefer to have a Bourdon; at least there is then some kind of sub-unison tone.

I used to have an LP of the "old" incarnation of Ely, played by Arthur Wills. I can'[t remember what was on the disc, but I'm sure he found some "French" sounds - may have been for a Daquin Noel.....? I have never fully understood the intended use or been aware of the actual effect of the Horn Quint.....?