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David Pinnegar

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Posts posted by David Pinnegar

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    The organ-related archive is now completely transcribed - 

    ORGAN SOLO REPERTOIRE

    https://youtu.be/jaKX1Tpr9-o Guilmant Symphony No. 1 Robin Wells
    https://youtu.be/0recmn65DJk Organ favourites - Robin Wells 1983
    https://youtu.be/AWkUhnqxaDE Organ favourites 1988 Phil Scriven
    https://youtu.be/9kB1JCJFgBI 1986 Handel Organ Concerto and Albinoni Adagio
    https://youtu.be/Y2wMZeYpwWQ Trumpet and Organ - Patrick Addinnal and Robin Wells 

    https://youtu.be/h3VxGbll9uY Herbert Howells recording

    https://youtu.be/Fgpu7Tx4ID0 Benjamin Britten - Rejoice in the Lamb and Late evening carols 1988

    https://youtu.be/bCj0GV1o5Us Chapel Choir and Special Choir 1990-93 Choral music from Charterhouse Chapel

    ORGAN IN CHAPEL ACCOMPANYING MODE
    https://youtu.be/IIsP6OfQSJw Leith Hill Music Festival Choirs 1986 (a particularly magnificent recording)
    https://youtu.be/S9G7KKeJFtM Matins and Anthems 1984/85
    https://youtu.be/f8YKVPWLbJE BBC World Service Worship 1986
    https://youtu.be/56iadfadpEY BBC World Service live October 1986
    https://youtu.be/Kbvdd1t0d2k BBC World Service live November 1987
    https://youtu.be/0o1QxW9So2M Jerusalem extracted from a longer recording
    https://youtu.be/eXdsx_vsuu4 John Rutter Gloria
    https://youtu.be/_VDPHUcnUXY Mozart Requiem
    https://youtu.be/J5mv66uI7NI Praetorius - Lutheran Mass for Christmas Morning

    https://youtu.be/Fgpu7Tx4ID0 Benjamin Britten - Rejoice in the Lamb and Late evening carols 1988
    https://youtu.be/bCj0GV1o5Us Chapel Choir and Special Choir 1990-93 Choral music from Charterhouse Chapel

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    Herbert Howells had a special relationship with the instrument - 

    The instrument was commissioned during the tenureship of Reginald Thatcher https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Thatcher as Director of Music who was a well known organist for the whole of his life. https://artuk.org/.../sir-reginald-thatcher-18881957... and is probably underappreciated as a composer, setting no doubt more than one Psalm tune https://youtu.be/S9G7KKeJFtM?t=225

    After Thatcher, Thomas Fielden took over in 1928 and in 1930 commissioned Herbert Howells to compose "A Hymn Tune for Charterhouse". This is better known as "All my hope on God is founded". Howells would have been intimately acquainted with the chapel and the instrument. 

    Best wishes

    David P

     

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    🙂 Haha! No-one can accuse me of being biased. The instrument is of the English character and if that is as being as dull as ditchwater . . . that's how we are. The accompanying of the strings in the Albinoni is exciting and not all instruments might express the Bach D Minor as St Maximin

     

    I'm not sure one can say that one is "better" than the other - merely different. And it's in that diversity of difference that we enjoy things. Were all instruments like St Maximin then perhaps indeed some English banana and custard would be salve after the curry.

    The point about the Jerusalem is one of fitness for purpose. No-one can say that the instrument is too loud.

     

    Best wishes

    David P

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    For those without access to Spotify 

     

     is a transcription of a pre-recorded cassette on a not very good machine - apologies - but is all I've had. The original CD is "out of stock" sadly.

    Another recording might be enjoyable

    and of the classic lollipop pieces, extracted from the Organ Favourites, possibly worthy of a YouTube entry on its own

    Perhaps in the pleasure this instrument has given to many I might be forgiven for enthusiasm.

    Best wishes

    David P

     

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    10 hours ago, sjf1967 said:

    The first is the Leighton Fanfare. Second Franck Piece Heroique.

     

    Brilliant - thanks so much. 

    I'm trying to compile the corpus of available recordings of this instrument. On https://youtu.be/0recmn65DJk I can't remember which Mendelssohn it is, and am hazy on the third item, and of course I should know the Elgar but can't pin it down, nailing only the Bach D minor and the Boellmann. If anyone can help me on this I hope the recording is enjoyable.

    The tape had to be baked in order to retrieve the recording and the quality might not be as good as others. BASF 911 tape has survived well but the 910 is all subject to the Sticky Shedding Syndrome but luckily without great loss. However, occasionally on playback or fast winding, a whole strip of oxide will shed catastrophically.

    Best wishes

    David P

     

     

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Rowland Wateridge said:

    and David’s apparent agreement in the first line of his next post.

    Haha! Yes - thanks for pointing that out - and like you don't quite agree with that bit: it was simply included within the line of substance.

    For me, the music of the War Memorial Chapel at the time, the organ which was built to express it and the sound of that instrument provide the context of the time relevant to the remembrance of the War and the warning to those who follow about wars. That music - still within the age of the Empire - certainties - expectations of victories - losses - boldness and bravery and no doubt others will be able to add more eloquently all of those contradictions that the War Memorial brings. Usually a War Memorial is architectural, monumental, but this War Memorial spoke and speaks with sound, singing and the expressions of music.

    https://youtu.be/ZG1swrloB94 rather sums up those emotions, even to the point of the recording being tragically truncated. However in that particular instance the replacement instrument would be equally competent but other recordings perhaps with full complement of singers and orchestra.

    Best wishes

    David P 

     

     

     

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    24 minutes ago, Peter Allison said:

    all the "historical" stuff been said is just talk (as far as I see it). But what about the cost in pounds, shillings and pence (as they say) it does not really matter if its a church, school or concert hall, its just criminal how much something like this costs, and when there are so many less well off people in this (once) great country🤐

    Yes - I agree. There must be a significant difference in cost between rebuilding an existing instrument and constructing an entirely new one - unless that speaks for the quality of the new one. As a charitable body rather than a business, funds should be devoted in preference to bursaries to children whose parents cannot afford the high fees. 

    Best wishes

    David P

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    Yes - it was Phil Scriven playing 

    The fact that the inspired outstanding organists demonstrates its teaching worth.

    With respect I disagree that organ builders should be exonerated from having to defend decisions. Builders willing to butcher buildings and rob stones from older structures are just as culpable as those who are instructing them. This is why a Code of Conduct to which organ builders might be encouraged to subscribe could be very helpful. The issues have been around for a long time and 11 years ago John Mander and I were at an interesting conference in Zurich concerning organs. I did my best to write up notes. https://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,915.0.html setting out ideas for "Organ Rights" is potentially relevant.

    What is as regrettable as the loss of the organ is that those involved officially in its considerations and the expert commentators have not picked up on the rather glaring problem that the instrument presents. It's audible in the recording of the Guilmant. That this is the standard of expertise which is being applied to decision-making does not bode well for the survival of fundamentally good and valuable instruments.

    Best wishes

    David P

     

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    Whilst writing this, I loathe Facebook and the way Facebook groups encourage soundbites and echo chambers of friend bubbles leading to disjointment and confusion in any form of deeper considerations.

    On the Facebook discussion James Atherton writes
     

    Quote

    But the die is cast. There will be a new organ. It isn't up for discussion, neither is it a decision anyone is ever going to reverse. 

    Wanton destruction should be exactly why the Organ world is in need of a Conservation Code of Conduct.

    On the facebook discussion mention has been made of novices poking their noses into where they are not wanted. It's very much a place where a lot of novices make a lot of noise as not one of any proffering expertise has picked up upon the one significant fault of the instrument. That fault is far from fatal but its omission from any of the considerations about the instrument demonstrates the level of expertise with which decisions have been taken regarding the instrument.

    Best wishes

    David P

     

     

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    I haven't contacted others yet. The announcement was made only recently and to be blunt I suspect that those involved will only take notice with a clamour. A listed building application was made, but not publicised in any organ related circles of which I'm aware. 

    https://planning360.waverley.gov.uk:4443/planning/search-applications?civica.query.FullTextSearch=charterhouse chapel#VIEW?RefType=GFPlanning&KeyNo=532894&KeyText=Subject

    The Heritage Statement

    https://planning360.waverley.gov.uk:4443/civica/Resource/Civica/Handler.ashx/Doc/pagestream?cd=inline&pdf=true&docno=8249103

    makes no mention upon quick perusal of the instrinsic importance of the instrument as part of a War Memorial.

    The Council's Consultant Conservation Adviser 

    https://planning360.waverley.gov.uk:4443/civica/Resource/Civica/Handler.ashx/Doc/pagestream?cd=inline&pdf=true&docno=8270030

    would have been visually trained and have no understanding of such musical matters. She notes 

    Quote

    Musically, the organ is designed and voiced according to the tastes of the Victorian and Edwardian eras and the needs of its church music.

    but fails to make the connexion with those who are remembered perishing in the 1st World War and the music of certainty that this musical period represents, and thus the relevance of the sound of the organ to the War Memorial.

    The organ is contemporary with the War Memorial and Sir Giles Gilbert Scott designed the organ case for it specifically for the building which he designed. 

    The instrument is of the sort capable of giving not just another organ experience but raised hairs on one's back sort of excitement. As a player it inspired many organists and not just for its musical qualities. There are few instruments upon which upon drawing the Open Wood one can play pedal bottom C and C# together wondering if one might succeed in shaking the whole building down. Such excitement never happened but to today's generation of nightclub vibration-seeking youth this instrument retains relevance.

    Apologies for emotion. The instrument inspires such.

    A contact writes:

    Quote

    I live nearby and our choral society holds concerts there (usually in the Hall rather than the Chapel, but I have sung in that before. I know of several people who would be dismayed to hear of it’s demise!

    The instrument means a lot to many people.

    Best wishes

    David P

     

     

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    Another recording of this instrument, is on

    here being played by the late Robin Wells, and the orchestra conducted by the late Bill Llewellyn. That recording is testament to their opinion of the instrument at the time.

    The instrument here isn't your normal sort of musical commodity like a Steinway in a concert hall nor a teaching instrument in a practice room, but the sonic backdrop in  1927 to the building constructed, I believe, as the largest War Memorial in the world. Those hearing its greatness in the following decade went off to fight Hitler to achieve the freedoms that we now take for granted, and were willing to die to defend them. Those who followed, the instrument has inspired. Grandeur, and the determination of the school's ethos "Deo Dante Dedi" make this instrument an intrinsic part of the building, of the heritage and of memory. 

    For this reason normal arguments which may well have their place elsewhere do not apply here. 

    Were this instrument a matter of serving a concert hall, or a cathedral, where an instrument is there to do its job, I'd bow to pragmatic arguments about repertoire and function and whatever opinions there might be about the needs of an instrument to perform duties. But the duty of a War Memorial is that of memory, and that purpose is sacrosanct. The instrument is of its building and of its time.

    Were any stone-mason be under instruction to remove the pediment of the Parthenon and change the columns from Doric to Corinthian what might people say about both those instructing the mason and the mason himself?

    Those responsible for the care of a War Memorial or any other part of our Heritage might "own" the site as a matter of technicality but in practice they are curators and caretakers for the future generations that they themselves might benefit from that heritage. The Firman given by the Turkish occupiers to Lord Elgin to remove the Parthenon Frieze has not worn well the test of time.

    Best wishes

    David P

     

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

     
    demonstrate well what this instrument is all about.
     
    As for the instrument being too loud . . . it can't compete with 700 young people and full orchestra. These sounds must be of the most magnificent of any.
     
    It is of an enormous loss to the organ and musical world, and a loss to our British musical heritage.
     
    It exemplifies why there should be a conservation Code of Conduct for organ builders to ensure that organs are not wilfully destroyed and people be encouraged to keep such instruments in place. The organ conservation world lags behind almost every other area of conservation and ICOMOS specifically values nowadays what is known as "intangible" heritage - which includes the sound of a place. This organ is intrinsic to the sound of its place.
     
    Best wishes
     
    David P

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    9 hours ago, Martin Cooke said:

    I realise you are deeply dismayed, frustrated and disappointed by all of this, David.

    Yes. Very much so. 

    In fact the instrument was so inspirational that it provided the inspiration behind John Pilling who founded Makin to attempt to model his electronic reproductions. Copying is the best form flattery . . . 

    For many it represents the epitome of the best of the English Organ.

    Why should we destroy our English tradition of sound merely to embrace copies of the French?

    Copying is what electronics can be very good at. Perhaps others might see the value of preserving our English originals.

    Best wishes

    David P

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Martin Cooke said:

    It seems to me that there are bound to be exceptions to every rule and there must surely be instruments by our best organ builders that are not as good as others, for reasons of available finance at the time, alone, I assume.

    . . .  But, if it genuinely isn't an example of the best work of that firm at the time, and bearing in mind that those who use the instrument on a daily basis will understand its shortcomings better than any, I would hate a school or church to be hamstrung in what it can do.

    I do assure you - over knowing it for near five decades, and having learned on it with teachers who knew it, understood it, the instrument is superb . In my long experience of organs few compare and most with which I've had direct experience disappoint in comparison. The instrument reaches parts that others can only aspire to. The old saying that a bad workman blames . . . . might be apt.

    There is no question that of its genre the instrument is the tops. There is no question that any organist of 50 year ago would have said so. 

    As a War Memorial and a most splendid one at that, the instrument contains the voices of the many who died in the 2nd World War and any who destroy will in the future be haunted by them.

    As an aside as to where orphaned organs go, Malta will be one day recognised as a site of World Heritage.

    Best wishes

    David P

    New organ for Charterhouse school

    in The Organ

    Posted

    It's with the greatest regret that this news has arrived. 

    The Harrison and Harrison at Charterhouse School is extremely special.
    - It's in all essence and important respects unaltered since it was built in 1927 but out of fashion. It's very English of its time.
    - It's positioned in one of the most enviable of ideal organ acoustics.
    - The chapel wasn't merely a chapel for a school but was the largest War Memorial in the country for the soldiers who fell in the 1st World War and was to incorporate memorials for those in the 2nd.
    - The instrument was the aural inspiration for so many who went off to that war and to whom now our generations owe their freedoms. We owe it to our future to preserve the heritage.
    - As a school instrument serving 700 on a daily basis 6 days a week since 1927 the instrument has inspired more people than any cathedral instrument in existence.

    For these reasons the organ should be recognised in importance, and not destroyed.

    One wonders what efforts might have been made to give consideration to its preservation in situ and as to whether perhaps a second West End instrument might be installed of a different style but so as to preserve the original organ.

    Rather than it being destroyed "preserving three ranks" might those responsible for having taken part in the decision making process, be persuaded to change their minds?

    If destruction really is to be considered appropriate might it be made available whole for preservation elsewhere? Perhaps might the Virtual Organ community might be allowed to sample it?

    This https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPW2WKq0IGU
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIl-LRafVO4

    is how the instrument sounds and how versatile it is capable of being.

    A decade ago John Mander contributed to the Zurich Resolution https://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,904.0.html and the proceedings https://www.organmatters.com/index.php/board,40.0.html set out many principles for preservation and forward direction. The destruction of the Charterhouse instrument goes against all principles of conservation which have developed in most other preservation disciplines.

    Best wishes

    David P

     

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