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Ronald Shillingford

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Everything posted by Ronald Shillingford

  1. I had in the post today a copy of Taking Stock by humphrey Clucas. What a really good read it was really amusing some of what he writes. I wonder what other Organist's think of his rather lucid accounts of the bitchy Choral world. Some of what he writes could be libelous.
  2. I see the Abbey will be without the Harrison for 6 months as the Console is being brought up to date with the latest technology. What I want to know is what would you do with 512 memory capacity which is what they are adding to the generals with a stepper ? Plus dare I say it ! They will be using a Digital Organ I wonder is this the first time such and appliance has been used in one of London's richest Churches ?
  3. I see the Abbey will be without the Harrison for 6 months as the Console is being brought up to date with the latest technology. What I want to know is what would you do with 512 memory capacity which is what they are adding to the generals with a stepper ?
  4. Vierne's Organ Music is litter with so many inaccurate phrasing it's impossible to follow what the composer has intended. I still remember the excellent master class given by Daniel Roth at st Chad's Cathedral Birmingam. Might i suggest to some of you Organist's try to imagine your conducting the piece and see if the tempo is what you think it should be. As for any phrase marks or fingerings by any composer this isn't sacrosanct !
  5. I have already decided to play this work as part of my Voluntary. I have to say though the timing of this event is all wrong. Most Organist's I have spoken too are not happy as they would be busy preparing for Carol Services and other Work. It's a pity they could not have arranged it earlier n the Month Christmas is always a busy time for Church Organist's.
  6. Ah. So perhaps, we are getting to the crux of this debate on the Abbey Organ. So in other words it's the style of the Organist's playing that is dull when leading the Choir or Congregation. This is exactly what I was hearing when i attended evensong recently gritty tierces throughout. Whatever happen to a pleno effect and a glorious full swell with the octave coupler ? The glories of any Cathedral. I must admit I did admire Martin Neary for his skill with the choir and of course the wo Organist's of that time. I have several recording s of evensong from the Abbey of his time there and the one has Baker accompany the big Stanford Gloria his style was spot on. Rich full swell with octave coupler and judicous use of the swell pedal. I like to hear a clean organo pleno in Hymn playing with sufficient weight in the pedal. Some Organist's just don't use their ears and to my mind are copying a werkmeister or a french Sound which is not ideal when accompanying a Choir or Congregation.
  7. I got a second hand copy from the Public Library Sale of Music Cds for would you believe 2.00 ! So I bet Brian will be annoyed now that he has paid so much for this Cd !
  8. I think the problem with the Abbey Organ is getting the balance right. A simple test for anyone is to sit in the nave and you will see exactly what the problem is. On the date in question which was 2 Saturday's ago. a visiting Choir attempted to sing Harwood in Ab in addition to o how glorious ! If only the Organist used his ears ! The balance was not right and drown out the hand full of singers who's voices were not really prepared to matched the acoustics of the Abbey. From where I was at the back it was inaudibile and instead a full and ponderous heavy organ which was not the ideal thing. especially when leading the closing Hymn. If people don't sing the hymns remember it's something your doing !
  9. I think the problem with the Abbey Organ is getting the balance right. A simple test for anyone is to sit in the nave and you will see exactly what the problem is. On the date in question which was 2 Saturday's ago. a visiting Choir attempted to sing Harwood in Ab in addition to o how glorious ! If only the Organist used his ears ! The baance was not right and drwn out the hand ful of singers who's voices were not really prepared to matched the acoustics of the Abbey. From whee
  10. I think the problem with the Abbey Organ is getting the balance right. A simple test for anyone is to sit in the nave and you will see exactly what
  11. Yeah I agree there about Worcester. I heard it recently on a broadcast of evensong and it sounds very poor. I think the Organist played Vierne's hymn from the 24 pieces fantaisies. Very poor tonally screamy mixtures and overvoiced reeds which made the whole thing sound like a fart machine.
  12. I am shocked to hear this ! Why remove the fifth manual just to facilitate a better position for the music desk ? Westminster abbey manage perfectly well. In any case it would no longer make it a five manuel instrument anymore. This is silly. I implore you to reinstate it and to talk with the advisors again who have come up with this crackpot idea. I feel that strong about this matter that I might even protest to my local MP
  13. Has someone messed around with the voicing of the Abbey Organ recently ? I was at evensong last Saturday and it sounded bloody awful. I don't know if this might have been the Organist playing with his registration setting. But what I was hearing was gritty mixtures with a cornet combinations in nearly every musical item. The Pedal is far too booming as well. I know it's a difficult organ to play given that the Swell and part of the Pedal is located in the South Triforium. I gather when Neary was Organist there he had one or two things tweaked and added .
  14. Obviously you have spent a lot of time and money in promoting yourself on a website. But you might be making the same mistake a lot of student's do after spending 3 or 4 years in a redbrick University. As my Accountant once told me web sites and advertising yourself on those silly little cards are nothing more then tombstones ! It does not take a genius to work out that the Classical world is a very competitive business. It's more about who would want to hire you or for that matter who would want your services ? I am sorry if that sounds harsh but I am approaching 44 years of age next month and I am looking at other job options. Good luck to you and I wish you the best in what ever you achieve.
  15. Too far for me to go from Birmingham and I havent the time. In any case it's a poor Organ. I am surprised a that nothing in the way of plans have been draw up to provide the Priory Church with a instrument that tonally develops well into the body of the building and has some guts in it. I have heard this Organ before on brodcasts and to me it just does not have the tonal range and power to support lusty singing especially Contemporary repertoire.
  16. Royal Albert Hall Organ . I learn from friends of mine in that there is rumours going about as to the reliability of the under actions of this Organ recently renovated. I am told that the magnets are not doing their job efficiently and all 32 soundboards will have to be changed over at some considerable expense. If this is so why was this problem not looked into before applying the latest technology to this instrument ?
  17. How is it going to be possibe to refurbished St Paul's instrument in stages? I learn of this from the Organist Mr Archer. Surely the whole instrument will have to be dismantled in order to do this work. Or is is each section been done in stages. that is Chancel, Dome, and West division. I can't imagine this instrument being silent for a long period as no other appliance could fill St Paul's in the way the Willis sound does.
  18. The Hereford Organ is a gem ! I recently attended the opening recital by Roy Massey following the complete refurbishment by Harrison's of 2004. I can tell u the sound is even brighter and a lot more responsive. There was one or two tweaks by Harrison's. That being the Tuba has been louden slightly and the 32's have had the wind pressures restored. Don't know what they were before ? The instrument once again is in first class working order. Just one minor quibble the console bench will have to be french polished again as it appears to be badly marked by someone getting on and off the organ bench.
  19. At the risk of rubbing any other fellow Organist's why is the it is that the Organ loft and for that matter is an untidy place ? usually tatty music left about with hymn books on top of the Console with Service sheets and Anthem books. And I also cannot understand why some organist's have the odd humbugs and bottles of water in the loft. It really is ghastly to be surrounded by all this in addition to dusty old carpets. Shal I send Kim and Aggie out to find the dirtiest Organ loft ? All that is needed is a bit of effort and organisation. So come on have a sponsor spring clean of the Organ loft and keep your loft tidy .
  20. In answer to who is looking after the Bristol Cathedral organ as far as I know the work of tuning and regulation was entrusted to Tony Cawston who also looks after the Symphony hall Organ and the Organ at St Chad's Cathedral Birmingham. I don't know if it was Mander's who recently altered the piston combinations and provided more memories. If there are serious problems with the up keep and maintenance of the Organ then surely it's the responsibility of the Cathedral Organist and Advisors to address these problems you say are current. I have not played the Organ for a few years so I can't comment on recent developments.
  21. The Bristol Organ is a gem and probably one of the few remaining instruments to be found with original actions. For that matter, when the funding was been raised to restore it several people were approach for advice and the consulant was Nicholas Kynaston. There is nothing wrong with tubular pneumatic action. Obviously there will be some sort of delay with any type of action and any Organist needs to bear that in mind and play with the building's acoustics rather then trying to get a instant note resonse straight away. Eton College has a similar Organ with the same type of action and is reliable so I don't see the justification in vadalising something with a modern action to suit the player.
  22. I would be surprised if Bristol Cathedral Organ is being restored when in fact a complete overhaul and rebuild was done back in 1989/90 to critical acclaim. I ve played the Organ a few years ago for a lunchtime Recital and I can state it is in fine fettle.
  23. Looking at some of the topics on your discussion board was highly interesting .But I think some people have overlooked the most important part of the Organ that of the Blowing and tuning. I Cannot stress the importance of making sure that the blower is attended at least twice a year I ve just heard about Organ which has problems with the bearings in the motor all cease up and will have to be replaced at some expense. Also tuning should be carried out four times a year no matter what expense ! From my experience your only storing up more problems in the long run.
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