Peter Clark

A major resoration project is underway on Belmont Abbey's fine organ: http://www.belmontabbey.org.uk/restoration...restoration.htm http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi...ec_index=A00515 I have played the instrment many times and indeed was a friend of the late Abbot Alan Rees, a gifted organist and composer who died in tragic circumstances a few years ago. Peter

That, Paul, is because God's local representative has, on the whole received little or no training in either music itself or how to foster and maintain relations with church musicians. This often is reflected by the attitude of the congregation. In my own heresy of choice, Roman Catholicism, up till relatively recently what Father says must be right and more often than not the organist /DoM is wrong if his/her musical opinion or some action seems to contradict that of Father. A modest example from my back catalogue: a few years ago "Father" asked me to play at Communion on Advent 3 Wachet Auf - one of his favourite pieces it seemed. I played it, and it went on a little after communion had finished so the priest was waiting to say the post-communion prayer. I duly finished, and he said the prayer and there was an end to it. Later, a chorister no less upbraided me for keeping Father waiting and I shouldn't have done that. Ah but Father specifically asked for that piece, I said. Oh that's OK then said chorister. I asked her how it could be OK if Father says it but not if I say it since the result was the same. Ordained members of this forum I know are the exception to this being musicians themselves; (incuidentally, this cuts both ways in my case since my degrees are in Theology - this does not always go down well!) P

This is a very funny series of books involving a church organist/police detective: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/philipg/detectives/konig.html Some seem available on Amazon. Peter

Also (going back to this morning's Sunday Worship) it was nice to hear the Buxtehude D minor Passacaglia given an outing, a piece heard too rarely these days. I might slip it in sometime... though my copy (Peters edition) has consecutive 5ths. Is this correct? Peter

The anthem in today's broadcast was quite spine-tingling. I only heard it on a small transistor so can't comment on the quaility of the performance but I'd love to know what it is called. It seemed mainly unision with Ahhh descants every so often. Anybody know? Oh and I wasn't surprised to see John Rutter in there somewhere, considering Tuesday. It's the onlt time of the year I drink Guinness! (Hope that's not advertising.) Peter

In the episode Day of the Devil one character, Canon Humphrey Appleton (Richard "Pie inthe Sky" Griffiths), seems to be an organist. Can't remember what he played though. Peter

This is, in my opinion, one of the very best contemporary hymns but it is not without its problems. When I learned a few days ago that I was having to play it at a funeral yesterday, I cautioned against it becuase I do not think it works as a congregational hymn. The only way to get the best out of it is to treat it like a responsorial psalm, with a solo canotor singing the verses and the congregation joining in the refrain. Yesterday's rendering of it was pretty disastrous. The priest belted it out through a microphone which was turned up far too loud. The congregation were all at sea. With the organ in the west gallery, and the priest at the front and the people in the middle it is an acoustical nightmare to begin with but when such a difficult piece as On Eagles' Wings on the menu there is little hope for any of us! Have others had this or similar problems? Peter

Srephen, having now sat through all 7 episodes (and the "bonus" track about Peterborough Cathedral) I agree that it is a superb production. The BBC really does these things well. What is the music during the closing credits of each episode, though? Another Bourgeois piece? Peter

I enjoyed much of today's (8th March) - the opening Slane was very arresting although I was not too keen on the treatment of Repton. Any other thoughts? Peter

He also wrote a setting of part of Whittier's poem generally known to most church-goers as Dear Lord and Father, called Tranquillity,* and also composed General William Booth Enters Heaven - possibly not strictly liturgical music as such but still with a pronounced Christian theme and what a glorious piece it is! Peter edit: * or was it Serenity? I used to have an LP of this and other stuff of his but I've never seen it on CD and I've lost the LP.

I bought the DVD yesterday - a bargain at £9.99 - and the opening scene is of the choir "conducted" by Donald Pleasance. So which one is you, Stephen? (The series was made in 1982....!) Peter

I read somewhere - perhaps on this board - of a general cancel thumb piston dupicated as a toe piston. This may not be the least musical playing aid but it may be the most redundant! Peter

I e-mailed Derek Bourgeois and his PA replied to me. The Barchester Choral Suite is still in manuscript and according to her has not been published - but Bourgeois made a small anthem out of the main theme tune for boys'/girls'/womens' voices called Come Holy Ghost and this is available as a download from Sibelius. www.sibeliusmusic.com/cgi-bin/show_score.pl?scoreid=1693 Peter

Indeed, just why is French music so expensive? I can sort of understand it is pre-EU days but now....? Peter

When Mozart wrote out the Allegri Miserere which was a closely guarded Vatican-only piece, was this the first case of an llegal download? P

Local music shops are notorious for saying things are out of print when they're not - it's happened to me many times only to find what I.m looking for on line. P

' The church in this episode seemed particularly OTT decor-wise, even for the highest of Anglo-Catholic buildings; but back to the music - I suppose there must be a way of finding out who played the organ, which choir was singing and so on. I am reminded of the Barchester series of about 12 years ago when the actor playing the choir conductor, Donald Plesance, waved hios arms about in a totally amateurish way while the real conductor was hidden from the cameras. And I don't kmow which choir that was, either! Peter

I watched the episode Service for all the Dead last night; it is largerly set in a parish church where murders and suicides occur on a fairly rergular basis. It included nearly the whole of the JSB A minor prelude as well as a snatch of what I think was the Num Komm (the slow one) from the 18. At one point in the episode the church choir is singing Locus Iste (Bruckner) and you can clearly see the Peter's edition copies they ae singing from. Which choir though? Peter

Many thanks. p

Does anyubody know if this piece is still available? I can't see it in the "usual places" (Musicroom &c). Thanks Peter

What is the budget here? I don't suppose you could get away with a decent instrument of the kind proposed for less than £500,000! (+ VAT) Peter

I enjoyed this morning's - the opening introit (tautology?) I did't recognise but it was lively. I enjoyed the story about the man and his horse. The service closed with one of my all-iume favourites which was nicely reharmonised for the last verse. Only two reservations: the descant to Gutting Power (a personal thing - I've never been stuck on it) and that rather eccentric amen at the end. Any more thoughts? Peter

Peter Williams in New Grove Online: "It is unlikely that J. S. Bach had a specific combination in mind when he asked for organum plenum, whether in 1715 or 1745; however, a contemporary organ builder, Gottfried Silbermann, directed organists to use the manual coupler but no manual reeds or Tierces in the plenum (Fraureuth, 1739)." Which is sort of what I said, I think.

I suppose I meant organo pleno ie an organ with "full resources". I agree that reeds (manual atl east) would damage the effect. Peter

The JSB "Giant" is always a winner - arresting and sounds good on full organ; in the same (Novello) book, the D major Alla Breve is similarly effective. Neither is over-taxing but should fulfil your wish for something that sounds more difficult than it is ! (I love such pieces!) Good luck! Peter