Philip J Wells

Roy Williamson, in his book 'The Organs of Gloucestershire', (Published by the Author, 2008) page 150 notes that "In 1855 the then vicar put an organ in the church on the understanding that it was his property which he could remove when he wished". He goes on to suggest that it could be the present organ which "with its non-overhanging manuals, square stop shanks and curious script and decoration on the stop labels is clearly old". He identifies it as deserving of a proper organological survey because some of the pipes are of earlier date and unknown provenance. This does not answer the question but the Forest of Dean has several interesting instruments such as the case in Parkend (ex Chair case from Sailsbury Cathedral) and the Telford of Dublin organ in Clearwell church. PJW

I hope other member will add insights on this builder and other information they might find as well as additional examples of his work. An article on this organ was published on the NZorgan site last August at http://www.nzorgan.com/vandr/dorothea2.htm . It includes a link to the web site of this ogan builder. A CD with Allan Rasmussen organist was published in 1998 by Helikon (HCD 1028). This was one of the highlights of the Organ Club of Great Britain visit to Denmark a few years back when Adrian Gunning was President. Much assistance was provided by Nigel Allcoat who suggested (and played at) many of the venues. PJW

There is an advert for "Organs Skrabl" in the latest Choir and Organ. They are showing 3 organs completed in the UK (Beaminster 25 stops IIIM; Richard Tanner, Blackburn 5 stops IIM; Andrew Malcolm, Saffron Walden 3 stops IIM). And they are advertising 3 more UK contracts for Lyme Regis 41 stops IIIM; Sacred Heart and St Francis, Frinton on Sea 8 stops IIM; and St Patrick's Huddersfield 20 stops IIM. Their UK representative has been a busy person. PJW

Please also note the following from the NPOR web site: Photographs Photographs (colour or black and white) may be submitted electronically, but these should be in JPEG format not exceeding 55 kilobytes in size and should always be clearly identified either by NPOR survey reference number or (in the case of new surveys) by building name and place. Close-up images of stop jambs, if clearly legible, are also welcomed to supplement written stop lists. Photos can take quite a time to get loaded up from my personal experience. If the ones you are thinking about are for a certain Cardiff Church they were sent in last July and have still not appeared. [For that matter I'm still waiting for some to be uploaded from last March!] PJW

Grateful if you would add my name to those wishing to attend. PJW

I believe that the LP in question was from 1967. In 1962 Arthur Wills had the Gt and Ped reeds revoiced on lighter pressures. Whilst the knobs may well have remained with the same engraving the sound was frenchified and whilst they do blot everything out I do not think they can be classified as Trombas. This was an LP that made a great impression on me at the time with its (nearly) all French programme. PJW

I recall in the late 60's early 70's? Simon Preston released an LP of popular organ music under the title of Crown Imperial. It had things like the Walton peice, the Purcell Trumpet Tune, March on a Theme of Handel, Pince of Denmark's March etc. Some time after Nicholas Danby also did some popular music from Eton called Music for an Occasion. It included Elgar's Nimrod, Pomp and Circumstance March No 4, and Imperial March, the Whitlock Paean, Weitz Fanfare and Gothic March and Harris Flourish for an Occasion. Around the same time at the end of the academic year at New College, Oxford they tried a few Lollipops concerts. I think Paul Hale led the 3 or so organists (from the front to the organ loft sucking big Lollipops) and on one occasion we had the Spitfire Prelude on the Chamade Trumpet and by way of a choral interlude a version of In a Monastery Garden with singers rising up above the gallery rail to sing their bit complete with bird song. (I'm sure we must have had the Lost Chord as well.) Whether such things are popular now I don't know. I suppose it depends on the age of the audience. PJW

Readers may be interested to know that in the latest Institute of British Organ Building Newsletter (June 2008) John Norman, as Organ Consultant to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester has authored an article " Is History Bunk? When is it time to start again from Scratch? John Norman considers a classic test case." This just happens to be Worcester! Near the end of taking us through the history which included the information that "No amount of modification could correct the fundamental problem that the sound approached the threshold of pain for the choristers. There were nine ranks of mixture, on ten inch wind ten feet from the backs of the lay clerks heads". He goes on to say that "It was really the need to have the organ in a new position that settled the matter. The new instrument is placed higher, at triforium level, enabling the aisles to be cleared and the sound to spread more evenly throughout the Quire. Given that the organ was to be new , it made artistic sense not to restrict kenneth Tickell by insisting on the retention of old pipes designed to be voiced on extreme wind pressures". I am looking forward to hearing the new organ in due course and admire the courage and foresight of those responsible for having the guts to go for a new organ. PJW

For those who have not heard it I can recommend Paul Hale's illustrated lecture "painted pipes make merrier music" (at least that is what it was called for the 3 Choirs Festival at Worcester). Over 280 slides. Details at http://www.paulhale.org/lecture.php . PJW

We have this in the UK I think. If memory serves me correctly the organist at St Asaph Cathedral runs a pub. PJW

Which Glasgow Cathedral would that be Episcopal or CofS? The RC Cath has a Willis II seem to remember, much nicer.

Thanks for this (and the two other answers). By "drawings" I meant the "artists impression" . I do not wish to cause you additional work and am happy to accept it was left out. It is a good job you have a head for heights or we would not have such an enjoyable set of pictures to view. Thanks one more. PJW

Thank you very much for sharing yet more photos with us. Three observations if I may; a. The design of the side case returns seems to have changed from the drawings on Tickell's web site to now include a pipe(s), and b. Whilst the stop spec on Tickell's web site makes mention of coupling the Transept Gt & Sw to various keyboards nothing is mentioned about the Pedal stops. Is there no drawstop to put the Transept Pedal organ On & Off? c. Will the Choir console have drawstops for the Transept organ or will stop control be only by pistons? Thanks PJW

These sometimes come up for sale on ebay. I had not reailsed until last year that there was a No 19 from Chester - Roger Fisher. This contains the Reubke 94 th psalm Sonata which was so highly praised on this board. The other 18 were: 1. Liverpool- Rawsthorne 2. York Minster - Jackson 3. Westminster Abbey - Douglas Guest 4. Gloucester - Sumsion 5. Coventry - David Lepine 6. Exeter - Dakers (there was a rumour afterwards that not all the notes on this record were played by him!!!) 7. St Giles Edinburgh - Bunney 8. Llandaff - Robert Joyce 9. Durham - Eden 10. Hereford - Melville Cook 11. Salisbury - Dearnley 12. Norwich - Statham 13. Ely - Wills 14. Worcester - Robinson 15. Westminster Cath - Kynaston 16. Canterbury - Wicks 17. St Paul's Cath, London - Dearnley (the only person to play on two) 18. Lincoln Minster - Philip Marshall and 19 Chester. Were there any more? I suppose there should have been 42 [edited from 23] for all the English Anglican Cathedrals (+ Westminster Abbey, Llandaff & St Giles Edinburgh). I was brought up on these and they were regular listening after Sunday Lunch. I must have played them rather loud as my Father, failing to attract my attention by calling me in my bedroom from the bottom of the stairs, went into the garage and turned off the electricity to the house! PJW

According to Plumbley and Niland's 2001 book on St Paul's London the Cymbal on the Dome was changed in 1993/4. They also document a number of other changes made between 1977 and 2001. John Scott has written there that "The big 4 rank Fourniture is usually only used when the Dome reeds are added in a dramatic tutti. The 3 rank Mixture (originally a higher pitched Cymbal) falls midway between the Quartane and Fourniture adding further radiance to the plenum". I guess the Cymbal was just too bright. PJW

I asked the seller where it was. I often find that when the person selling knows nothing about pipe organs the NPOR comes up trumps and makes sense of what they have written. This job is at http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=R01254. Of course if it is not NPOR listed, ebay and the seller can be a good place to get some details of unlisted organs before they get lost in the mists of time (or broken up or sold to on to Europe or beyond [thinking mainly of Japan and Australia]). PJW

Yes in Nick Plumley and Austin Niland's book on the St Paul's Cathedral, London organs published by Positif Press, Oxford PJW

It would be nice to think that some people would offer their collections to the British Organ Archive, either during their life or write the intention into their Will.

Parts of the Glyndeborne instrument are in the 1971 HNB instrument in the Guards Chapel, Wellington Baracks, Westminster London. Please see: http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=N07766 PJW

Well this console looks a bit different (and in England too), controlling an organ in a dustbin - sorry baked bean can! http://picasaweb.google.com/ColinRenatus10...orMichaelFarley . PJW

A guide to grants which may be available is on the British Institute of Organ Studies website at http://www.duresme.org.uk/BIOS/biosgran.htm. PJW

On the subject of toasters, is the one at Lancaster Priory http://www.priory.lancs.ac.uk/orgspec.html somewhat unique in its scale and age . . . ? Perhaps it's no coincidence that they are appealing for a pipe-organ http://www.priory.lancs.ac.uk/organapp/organap2.html but as a toaster the console is audacious: http://www.priory.lancs.ac.uk/organ.html Appologies for a tangent, but for those wishing to see what was destroyed in the process of installing the above this seems to be on the NPOR as Lancaster St Mary at the following link. It was obviously controversial at the time as the faculty application went to a Consistory Court. http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=N12830

I was told many years ago that HN&B already had a 61 note console chasis in stock so it was cheaper to use that with a small bodge to accomodate the 58 notes than build a new one! (I was also told that a space was left on the old console jambs so the 32 foot wood could be put back when Downes died - too bad it was disposed of too soon) As the Liverpool Anglican mobile console has been mentioned what do people think about the new St Paul's London mobile console layout? Should there be a category for futuristic consoles; I would like to nominate Matthew Copley's Oxford job with the lift buttons as stops.