Peter Clark

http://iof.pipechat.org/ldgal.htm (I have never heard of a Llamarada organ as in the Walt Disney instrument - are there many such around? P

Any idea why? P

Crass insensitivity on that organist's part. Peter

Paul's advice to Whistlestop is (as one would expect from so distinguished a performer) most sound. I would like to add something however from my own experience. I have always considered myself a competent player, able to accompany most of the standardliturgical literature and capable of presenting an adequate, if not mind-blowing, recital. But I like to pirch my next or current project just that little bit beyond what I am presently capable of. As an example, 6 months ago I would not have beleived I could give a persuasive account of Dupre's Cortege at Litanie, which is what I have been working on since about January. (My parents bought me the score as a Christmas present.) Now I am at the stage where I still can't give a public performance of it, but I know I will be able to in a few weeks. Slaving away at it, asking other organists for advice and. most importat of all, loving playing it despite all the mistakes I currently make, has given me a new found confidence. Obviously I haven't neglected other music and regularly play through pieces with which I am wholly familiar and confident. But that reaching out beyond what I thought possible and really wanting to attain it, that has been a great learning experience. Best as ever to all Peter

Thanks for this. IMSLP have the Clara Schumann edition which is a model of clarity and common sense! Peter

I was never too leen on the original, but this....... Peter

I have the Bretkopf edition of these, edited and with a preface by Wolfgang Dallmann. His aim, assuming a 3-manual intrument with "electrical registration" and modern playing aids (the publication date is 1974) is a "realisation in sound which is ideally appropriate to the expressive content of the work, yet which agrees with the somewhat restrained sound of the romantic organ..." and goes on to say that you could probably play them on a "fully mechanical" organ (with regsitration assistants) or even, heaven forbid, a 2-manual instrument. That's before you get to the music itself which is to my mind somewhat overburdened with registration suggestions, fingering and footing suggestions and an unnecessary number of manual changes. There is also a problem with loss of continuity when the pedal continues or concludes a line begun the the manual and vice versa , since a 16' registration is indicated for the pedal (though coupled) and 8 and 4 for the manual (see eg Fugue 1 bars 7-9, Fugue 3 bars 17-18). I would welcome members' thoughts on this topic. Thanks Peter

Does this help? http://www.popcafemusic.com/home/music-sto...p;product_id=22 Peter

Crosby, B: The Bells of St Mary's

Why? With choir support it can be sung by an average congregation - after all is, arguably, not much more than a slightly elaborate psalm chant. Peter

What, Stainer's? It beautiful in my opinion! Peter

How did subsribers feel about the promotional CD that came with the latest issue? On the whole I liked it. Actualy I thought this one of the better issues for a while. I very much enjoyed resdig the piece on Iberian instruments, having lived in Spain for a while. The article by Rosemary Parrott was both thoughful and thouht provoking. In all, a fine edition of a journal which has seen its ups and downs recently. Peter

OK Paul, don't tease us! What were the pieces? P

Yes, thanks. I too remember these programmes and I think did a follow up series on choirs. Peter

Hot off the press: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8176352.stm Peter

I phoned the NHS helpline about swine flu but all I got was some crackling. yes, I know, it's an old one already P

Great to see Justason doing so well. All this and lacrosse too! Has he ever thought of signing up to this forum? I'm an old fogey whose university days are long gone but it would be informative,and I'm sure entertaining, to have some insights from the younger organist and musical student life generally. P

Manyt years ago I made a study of the plainchant and plainsong themes Langlais used in his works with a view to creating eventually a catalogue and was in touch with him - he felt it a worthwhile project and was most encouraging. (I still treasure a letter from him, written in his wife's hand but which he signed.) The iron fist of circumstance saw to it that the project would never fully be realised but I still have some research notes and bibliographic sources. I see that this particular piece dates from 1929, considerably earlier than the rest of the collection (1942-3). I don't have this score to hand but if you'd care to post the melody I'll have a look through my notes and in my Liber Usualis and see if I can come up with anything. (Actually I suppose you'll have to send me a PDF, so please PM me for my email.) Peter

Well I'm on the next plane to Finland! P

I found this tonight.. http://www.televisiontunes.com/All_Gas_and_Gaiters.html P (I must get out more)

Indeed; i wonder how many of us have met someone who plays the organ but "doesn't use the pedals"? I once reminded a non-pedalling organist to leave the swell box open and he asked me where it was. P

The last time I played for a chorister's funeral I waived the fee; she was also a good friend and we woild regularly watch Mastermind or University Challenge together over a gin and tonic. I also used to look after her dog when she went away and over the years became a friend of the family. I wrote in her memory a short gospel acclamatiion which was used at the funeral. Anyway, a few weeks after the funeral I was given an envelope containing more than twice what I would normally receive, from her children - all that & a large boitle of Gordon's too! Peter

Thanks for the replies so far but I'd still like to know whether it is considered polite for a guest organist to approach the resident in such circumstances. As I said, I alwasy have - besides which if I am going to play for, say ,a wedding in an unfamiliar chuch there may be some idiosycracies about the organ which only the resident organist could warn me about.... P

I've just been told that I am not needed for a wedding on Saturday. Having had decorators in my flat, and the subsequent mess, I assumed I had lost the paperwork referring to the wedding so I phoned the bride. She said that they had their own organist and didn't the priest tell me? Nhe did not, I said. Two points here: why was I not told and, perhaps more importatly, why did the guest organist not contact me as a matterof courtesy? I have always thought in an unwritten rule in the church organ world that if you are playing for a service an another church you approach the resident - at least that is what I've always done. Am I being pedantic here? Peter

Just goes to show why they are the best brass band around. Superb. P