Peter Clark

Possibly John Ellis - Ocumuse as was published his piece based on A Coventry Carol. I have a copy somewhere, it's quite effective. Peter

Thanks -I've sent a PM with the details. Peter

Many thanks to you all for responding - I will try all 3 methods! (Although I live in Cardiff I have a friend in London who may be able to get to the British Library and get a copy there and then - or do they only do postal and on-line applications?) On the subject of Welsh-themed music, I believe Carlo Curley once wrote a piece based on the lovely Welsh tune Ar Hyd y Nos (Day is done). I heard him play it a few years ago and I think he said it was a written-out piece and not a spur of the moment improvisation. Anybody know/play this? Is it in print? Peter

Can I put out an APB for this if anyone knows how I can get hold of a copy, or has one that can be scanned, or by whatever other means does not violate divine or civil law this can come my way? I'm planning a recfital for March 1st - St David's Day - and am hoping to do a Welsh-themed (though not exclusively so) programme. So far I'm putting in Mathias' Antiphonies, and probably Rhosymedre (spelt wrongly I think) by RVW. Thanks Peter PS just realisefd that March 1st follows Feb 28th. Feb 28th is my birthday. How sensible therefore is it to plan a recital for the day after one's birthday?

The definitive performance? http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gRcMtB27z7E Peter

I suspect that, given time, this will become the standard organists' version of "not playing with a full deck..." Peter

I hope to be there too Adrian - is it pay on the day and is there a decent pub for lunchtime nosh? Seriously thpough, even the chance to have a few minutes at the console will be worth the visit - and I am looking forward to meeting board members and putting faces to names! Peter

Well Ron, during the intercessions we sing a little petition "Lord hear our prayer, Lord hear our prayer, Lord in yoiur mercy hear our prayer". The last of the prayers is for the recently departed and we remember too the anniverseries of those who died in previous years. Thus morning, the other prayers and sung response having gone according to plan, the reader began the prayers for the departed. When he got to what I thought was the last name of the list, I began the refrain - and when we had finished singing the names kept coming ... it seems he had paused at a difficult name and was working out how best to pronounce it when I came in with the music. Any more? Peter

Just to say a happy Christmas to all on this forum - and especially to John and the team from Manders who once again should be offered huge thanks for hosting this always invaluable, often amusing and even challenging discussion board. Peter

How you you get away with it (and indeed other pieces) if you have - as in my case - a 30-note pedal board? I would be interested to hear of the various ways people have got around this problem which must after all be quite common..... Peter

And my mum! Peter

I'm not sure the Macbeth analogy stands, Nick. People going to a performance of Macbeth know exactly what they are going to get, whereas people turning up for an organ recital often don't - more often than not the programme is given as you go in (or sometimes there isn't one and items are announced by the recitalist!). Also, many that take place in the parish church setting are supported by parishoners who do so becaue they are friends of the recitalist, or they want to support church events - and not always that they are organ-savvy o organ music-savvy. The last thing I would want to do is to patronise ie to make out I am better than they because I can play the organ and they can't. No sirree! But, as has been remarked many times before on this discussion board, it is important that we wrench the organ away from its frankly struffy - to so many people - reputation and show it can be fun. If an "light" or "popular" encore can do this then all to the good. Peter

Surely it depends on your audience? I can see O Mensch being appropriate if your listeners are mainly organ buffs and would probably know (and love) the piece, but as this is often not the case in the average parish church recital, might it be nice to send the people on their way with a tune they can hum and which they may recognise, thus tempting them to come back again next time? Didn't Holz make a similar point in another post? Peter

Haven't heard of this one - is it based on the Anderson tune Sleigh Ride? By the way does anyone know when or if his Bach Goes to Blackpool will be published? Peter

I did Thunderbirds TV theme recently as an encore; I'm thinking of working up Handel in the Strand (Grainger) for next time..... Peter

According to the local press the organ cannot be moved for at least a year.... so that gives us some time if we want to write letters or make other representations..... Peter

The late Cardinal Basil Hume was a Newcastle fan and at his funeral the organist imporvsed on, with the approval of the officiating clergy, the Match of the Day theme as the coffin was leaving the Cathedral. I think it was James O'Donnell at the console but I am prepared to be corrected.... Peter

Simon Preston Was probably at his best on The organ of Westminster Abbey. Compared to him a lot of other players sounded pretty shabby.

This was mentioned a couple of years ago I think but wasn't this the re-opening recital for which William Mathias wrote a fanfare? And yes, Quentin, I share your sorrow and anger Peter PS Echo Gamba I've sent you a PM regarding the Unitarian church in West Grove.

Musicroom have it for £6.50. Peter

I am sitting just a stone's throw from West Grove, in fact in St Peter Street, as I am organist at St Peter's Church here- I don't know what happened to the organ in the Unitarian church; the building is now used as a "healing centre" - but I'll find out and get back to you. Peter

The local paper, the South Wales Echo, carried a story (with photo) last Friday concerning the apparent need to get rid of the 4-manual Christie currently in Barry Memorial Halls. NPOR has the spec : http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=N01867 The reasons given, according to the paper's report, are that it "takes up too much room" and that "there are not enough organists around to play it." As to the second reason, I wonder how many you need - one has usually proved sufficient in my experience. Now I know that the theatre organ is to not everybody's taste but this was a fine instrument in its day, but the paper also notes that it has not been played for four years so I suspect that some deterioration has occured. Short of a letter writing campaign or battering the doors of the town council or both, what else is there one can do? Offer free concerts (subject to the management paying for fixing the instrument)? Any ideas? Peter

Mex Reger Sometimes wrote a bit like like Bach, only vaguer, And by the time he'd finished There was little anyone else could do with the chord of the diminished. William Mathias, It seems, was sent to try us But it looks like we'll have to wait To ask him why he was apparently so obsessed with added 6ths and 9ths and time signatures like 7/8. Any more, anyone? Peter

Since I am firmly of the "not before the 17th" school, I didn't have this yestetday but would not - will not - end with a T de P. What I did have was Come thou long-expected Jesus (Stainer's highly chromatic tune Cross of Jesus from TheCrucifixion), a delightful hymn O Comfort my People to an Irish tune, and Hail to the Lord's Anointed. I sent them home to Nun Komm (BWV 599); I know that strictly one should not have voluntaries in Lent but I regard these Advent Chorale Preludes (which are but a minute each) as commerntaries on the preceeding liturgy therefore integral to it. And I made sure the bells were not rung! Peter

Did anybody dowload this from the Choir and Organ website? If so what do you think? In his accompanying notes the composer says that there is a cryptic reference to the name of Bach, though I can't find it! Peter