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John Robinson

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Posts posted by John Robinson

  1. Indeed. Did you see the web site where someone has listed concert programmes by various UK orchestras, including some of them through the war? Lots of German/Austrian music was being played throughout the hostilities, and German artists started appearing very soon thereafter.

     

    Do you have a link?

  2. Quite often when I watch a Youtube clip (from this forum or elsewhere) it suddenly pauses and a rotating circle appears in the middle of the screen. Then it starts agin befoe embarking upon its previous eccentric behaviour. This does not happen all the time though. Is this a common problem? Can anything be done about it?

     

    Thanks

     

    Peter

     

    Yes, it is just downloading the data, and this depends not only your own system's speed but also that of the server from which the data is coming.

     

    Personally, to avoid disappointment I download the entire file, do something else for a few minutes (Spider Solitaire, cup of tea, toilet!), then come back and watch the video without any pauses.

  3. Several years ago, whilst browsing an American bookseller's catalogue, I was intrigued to find a booklet published in Germany in 1945 which was a description of the organ in Liverpool cathedral. The author's name was Dr Thomas Moore.

    I find it quite amazing that a book about an English organ be published in Germany during the last year of WW2.The authorities at Liverpool were interested in having the book for their archive but were unable to shed any light on the author. There is a copy of the book in the OHS archive and they give the translator's name as Paul Smets who was a German writer on organ topics who died in 1961. Can anyone throw any light on the author?

     

    It just goes to show that art transcends war.

  4. The loudest Tuba that I can remember having encountered is the significantly-revoiced Tuba Mirabilis at Girard College, Philadelphia, PA, which can be heard in the first chord of the following video:

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBoChtXOpAo...feature=related

     

    Aside from that, the large Tuba, sometimes known as "Big Louie" behind the reredos at St. Paul's, Akron, Ohio, is perhaps even more deafeningly loud.

     

    - Nate

     

    I was about to say that I am sure there must be several tubas in America which would appear between '0' and '1' on the OP's list.

  5. I'm not sure why you put Liverpool's Tuba Magna in at number one. Some would say that the Tuba Mirabilis at York Minster is louder (John Scott Whitely implies so on Priory's DVD). I have heard both, but would hesitate to commit myself. For one thing, it is impossible to hear both, in situ, at the same time. Another important consideration is the matter of location - where you are sitting; I should imagine that this would have quite a bearing on perceived loudness. I suppose the only objective way of ascertaining some sort of hierarchy would be to visit each venue with a 'sound meter' (decibel meter?) and ensure you are the same distance directly in front of the offending article!

     

    Regarding the Liverpool Tuba Magna, incidentally, didn't Ian Tracey say that the new(-ish) Trompette Militaire was now the loudest stop on the organ? I don't know whether you would extend your survey to such a free-toned stop... which raises another question: when does a tuba become a trumpet? Surely, there is a spectrum of sounds from the one to the other.

  6. With regard to the organs of Klais, no-one seems to have mentioned the Symphony Hall in Birmingham (although it is mentioned in Stephen Bicknell's article). Having heard it myself, I can agree with others who have said how impressed they were by it. Certainly, I think it is much more successful than the Marcussen in the Bridgewater Hall not a million miles from where I live.

     

    Having heard a recital last year in Cologne Cathedral, I personally like the Klais style. As suggested by others, it seems to work well in large buildings. I cannot comment on its suitability in small venues, though.

  7. I can't help with specifics, but am sure you're right about it being W.T.Best.

    The version I heard involved the opening of a town hall organ (somewhere like Bolton) and a mayor's speech:

    'The organ will now play'

    Pause.

    Repeat - 'The organ will now play.'

    Pause.

    'I said, Mr.Best, the organ will now play.'

     

    Reply: 'Well, let it, I'm not stopping it.'

     

    I agree that it was W T Best.

     

    The version I heard had him replying, "Damn the organ, let it play!"

  8. Since a large amount of the work (according to the website) is to be the re-voicing of the reeds...

     

    When I first read this, I assumed that this was to be re-tuning rather than re-voicing.

     

    Could I ask why the reeds should need to be re-voiced? I thought that this organ was very well voiced as it is, and that everyone was happy with it.

     

    Interesting to hear about the changes to the open woods, though. I didn't know that.

  9. My copy has the same problem at 17.22 into the disk. I should say it is a general fault. Though I tend to agree that it is not worth returning it.

     

    Agreed. It is not that serious and, if it is indeed a general fault, there would be little point in replacing it anyway.

     

    Thanks for your help, by the way.

  10. If MTT is a good way into the whole running of the DVD, then the cause is most likely the changing of layers during playback. The laser has to be repositioned to read the second layer, a process which causes a pause which will vary depending on the mechanism. It's there in all commercial releases over a certain length if you look for it; it's just that in some cases it's more noticeable than others.

     

    If I'm right, any replacements will show the same "fault".

     

    Although I am no expert, I feel it unlikely that the changeover of 'layers' would take place during a piece, and almost at the end too.

     

    I still hope to hear from someone else who has bought this disc, as to whether they have found the same problem at the same place. It occurs almost at the end of Master Tallis's Testament, in the final 'quiet bit'.

  11. I have just tried cleaning the disc, although I cannot see anything that needed cleaning. The glitch is still there.

     

    I'd be grateful if anyone else who has obtained the DVD would let me know whether they have the same problem. If no-one has, then I shall feel justified in asking for a replacement. After all, once the recording, etc, has been done, pressing additional discs should cost only pence.

  12. Well, what did fellow forumites make of this evening's offering? Personally I thought JSW's playing splendid as ever (even if the NBA text does suggest a slower speed for at least the prelude). However, I'm afraid I just cannot warm to the Waltershausen organ. I've never heard it live, admittedly, but nothing I've yet heard makes me inclined to make the effort.

     

    I liked it, especially the 32' reed at the end. I think it just shows that you don't need a foghorn on 20" pressure to sound grand.

     

    Just getting ready to watch tonight's instalment (at 11.20)!

     

    I'd still like to know when Series 3 DVD is coming out. I am relying on someone here to let us know just as soon as that happens. What I can't understand is that, having done all the expensive recording and editing, why won't they finish the job by pressing some DVDs? It surely can't cost much more than has already been spent.

  13. An edit maybe?

     

    Perhaps, although I would be surprised if such a thing has escaped Priory's quality control. If it is found on other discs, then obviously it is a common fault and I shall probably accept it.

     

    If, on the other hand, mine is an exception then it might pay me to ask for a replacement.

     

    Of course, it could be that the disc just needs cleaning (although this shouldn't happen with a brand new disc). When I have time, I shall have a go at some careful cleaning.

  14. Since nobody else appears to have said anything, I thought I'd just mention that I've just received a....

     

    "Groovy new DVD from Kings"

     

    Q :)

     

    Yes, I got mine on Saturday and am very impressed, except...

     

    ...there seems to be a slight hiccup towards the end of Master Tallis's Testament. The picture freezes for half a second or so.

    I tried in on my laptop and there was a much shorter freeze at exactly the same point.

     

    I thought at first that it might be some dust on the disc, but it looks perfectly clear.

     

    Have you noticed anything similar?

     

    Even if it turns out to be a fault, I am not sure that it is serious enough for me to ask for a replacement. What do you think?

     

    John

  15. In "Canon Alberic’s Scrapbook", Montague Rhodes James wrote of the organ in the church in St-Bertrand-de-Comminges in 1883. The organ and church are certainly real enough. Those who don't know these wonderful stories have a treat in store. Pictures of the organ and more about this writer are here

     

    Nothing to do with organs, I know, but I fully agree with you.

     

    There is something about M R James' ghost stories that I find atmospheric and sometimes quite gripping.

     

    The BBC has produced some of the more well known ones which, fortunately, I have recorded to DVD in case they are never shown again!

  16. The Tuba Magma was arranged horizontally on the screen and was removed when the console was re-sited.

     

    Whereas the Dome Tubas at St Paul's have been compared to 'red hot coals', the Manchester tuba obviously brings to mind red hot lava!

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