P DeVile

I was told that the critics loved the Liszt recording but someone said that of course the Albert Hall organ should never be used for Bach. She responded by including the St Anne P and F in her next LP. I have digitised (is that a word??) and put it here: P

If you missed today's Bridgewater hall recital on youtube by Jonathan Scott - here it is: P

Having a quick mooch on their website found this page: https://www.skrabl.co.uk/small-organs.asp

I bought one of her LPs at a recital she gave in 1978 which she signed. 'Jennifer Bate plays Liszt at the Royal Albert Hall' which I absolutely loved, especially her totally bonkers performance of Ad Nos which to my delight found on youtube a bit earlier today: P

This organ is going to be in concert tomorrow evening on BBC Radio 3 at 19:30. I was there and Catherine Ennis was wonderful and managed to get sounds and textures from the organ that were incredible. Do listen! P

Thank you Darius. My wife and I were in there on 23rd November singing in Elgar's The Kingdom - a combined choir concert with us in Cambridge University Symphony Chorus and the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus with the BBC Philharmonic orchestra - David Hill conducting. My first visit to Leeds for many many years. The organ was used in typical Elgar style - to underpin - and was lovely and warm and concert pitch! We did a return match concert in Ely Cathedral last Saturday and the organ was very flat - hardly surprising as it was terribly cold! The concert was dedicated to our former conductor Sir Stephen Cleobury. Peter

Royal Hospital School Holbrook https://www.npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=N00981

David Poulter (formerly DOM at Chester, Coventry and Liverpool Cathedrals) is giving a recital in St Mary's Saffron Walden on Saturday (5th) at 19:30. Free admission with retiring collection. He will be playing works by Cook, Bach, Whitlock, Elgar, Saint-Saëns, Reger, Rawsthorne and Cochereau. Best wishes Peter

I gather that one console is to have all the playing aids etc and the other is to be completely mechanical. Guess which console will be used most....

It is one of the most successful transplants I know of. All credit to Graeme Kay and the Orford organ project team who doggedly hung onto the idea despite DAC 'involvement'.. The Collins sounds wonderful in that room - I'm sure the Peter Collins would be really happy that it sings. Total credit to Ian Carter and his team at Cousans, who have made this lovely instrument work well and sound stunning. Peter

I've been in the church today and - wait for it - played it! To be fair, I played my one hymn tune very badly but it does sound absolutely fabulous. Ian and co are busy putting in the final touches and it will be used for the first service on Sunday, with the installation on Easter Day. All very exciting! Peter

I was there last Thursday and can certainly vouch for the amazing work that has already been done by Cousans.

Here in Saffron Walden we have an annual ‘Organ outreach’ concert aimed at kids from 6-8yr olds (but adults love it too…) We were able to use (with permission) the Birmingham Symphony Hall organ video - which is excellent: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yZWZI3f61EY Our organists played various pieces including one pretending to be a tourist and while the ‘compare’ was talking, mooched up the church in disguise to the chamber organ and played a note (the kids fell about laughing) then more and did a duet with the main organ of the Hornpipe Humoresque. It ended with both organists duetting on the main organ the theme of The Incredibles. It is so important that young ones are shown about organs. I find it heartbreaking as an organ builder that so few people are going into the craft - much of it due to the Blair government encouraging teenagers stay on at school and then on to university, when they really want to get out there, like I did. I’ve been doing this now for coming on 42 years and when I retire, who do I pass it on to? Sorry for the soapbox but arrrgh. P

Here at St Mary's Saffron Walden we have an organ scholarship scheme - details here: http://www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org/music/organ/ Best wishes Peter

I am happy to report that the rejected Faculty application for the installation of the Collins organ in Orford has been reversed and so it is all systems go for the project. Completion due by Easter 2019. Peter

The organ that you say is in the Summer Drawing room is in fact in the Long Gallery and is exquisite. It is on wheels so one can push it away from the wall to get in to tune it. The problem then is pushing it back again as the floor is very slippery! The chapel organ is very fine but in quite a state now sadly.

Keeping this thread alive. Good luck to the boys - they did so well. P

I therefore suggest that you visit the church so you can see, and more importantly feel the situation. This is a church which has been handed an instrument on a plate which will enhance the worship and also the secular side of the place. I have rarely seen a village church which is so alive and which puts on wonderful concerts. These choral concerts have, each time so far had to be accompanied by a toaster because the 6 stop 2 manual is not suitable. I can show you several organs which I care for which are not right for the building and which have been there forever and look out of place. The organ they are hoping to be installed is costing a tenth of the value of its worth. It is a no brainer to me, so saying that they should ditch both and start again is frankly absurd.

Having spent the past few days in Orford, I thought that I could do a video of the inside of the church which may show the size of it. Despite my rather dodgy camerawork, I think that it shows what the internal dimensions are like and how the Collins organ looks. How anyone can possibly say that it looks too big for the building is frankly absurd. What do you think? By the way, I have no professional interest in this project - just simply that I have a love for the village and surrounding area! P

Quick update. In this month's Orford Church magazine it says the following: Meanwhile, at its Ipswich meeting on Friday 9th February, the Diocesan Advisory Committee turned down our application for a faculty to install the organ in St Bartholomew's Church as being simply too big, despite having requested two mock-ups (each costing several thousand pounds) to determine best position, either in the northwest corner or in front of the tower. It is now open to the PCC to appeal to the Diocesan Chancellor who is a London barrister. The Collins organ looks fine where it is and will be of huge benefit. Madness! Peter

Thank you for this - a truly wonderful woman. She started me off on the piano 53 years ago.... Peter

I gather that they are keeping the tiny 2 manual in the North of the chancel for accompanimental purposes. The organ should be really fabulous though as it is a surprisingly large church with a lovely acoustic.

Just been into Orford Church to find the organ there already but without pipes or action because the Diocesan Organ Advisor requested a full size mock-up.... before a faculty can be granted. It is a shame that it covers up a window but there is nowhere else for the instrument to go and will be of huge benefit to the worship and Aldeburgh/Snape music festivals. Peter

We tend to blow hot air... no jokes please... which affects the pitch of the pipe which you have blown into and so then takes ages to cool down so you can put it back into tune again. Same goes for just picking them up. I would add that it isn't so important if you want to pick up a 16ft Violone and blow down it! Hope all have had a good Christmas Peter