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Davidb

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Posts posted by Davidb

  1. The 'Bach and his stick' story certainly appears in one of the major biographies but like VH I can't remember which one. The use of the organ with other instruments isn't unheard of either... I know that Brühns would often play his own bass line on the pedals whilst playing a violin. Also, which of us hasn't used an errant elbow to get rid of swell to pedal?!

  2. There is a book, published by the RSCM edited by David Halls called 'Open thou our lips' which contains a large selection of upper voice only settings of music for evensong. Certainly the situation is certainly different to when I investigated unison settings about five years ago, where Bairstow in Eb, Dyson in c, Wood in Ab, Stanford in D and the Howells services was about the only music of any real quality.

     

    Whilst it is a travesty what has happened at Llandaff, with it does come opportunity. Perhaps other composers could be convinced to write settings for upper voices, to support the music at Llandaff?

  3. Funny you mention the Wassail Carol... It was recorded by St Johns Cambs a few years ago 'On Christmas Night' (Chandos.) Whilst cataloguing a new series of music we've been 'gifted' I found 21 copies at church - after giving it to the boys to have a little sing through, they thoroughly enjoyed it - they were big fans of Sir Christemas last year, so I think we'll do Wassail this year instead of the planned a Babe is Born - it seems considerably easier...

  4. I look forward to the replies to this topic. I've had similar problems as you when looking for new boys ruffs. Our mens neck pieces are currently being replaced by my mother in law stitching up single pieces of fabric, but I think a professional job is going to be needed for the little darlings!

  5. I think these pieces are beautiful, and certainly don't possess the insurmountable technical problems that the likes of the etudes etc do. Rorate Coeli is lovely, but the setting of the Lent Litany 'Attende Domine' is in my top 5 organ pieces, to my mind it really is that beautiful. O Filli always goes down well with congregations as well.

     

    Similiar music? It's a bit less structured but what about the Meditation by Durufle? The Henri Mulet collection Esquisses Byzantines also has some very nice movements in it.

  6. There is a fine toccata by Remzi in the Dover book 'Toccatas, Carillons and Scherzos' - I think it's in b minor? If not, a mighty fine book to have available on the shelf with some obscure gems amongst the warhorses!

  7. Our Diocesean organ advisor has made a suggestion to my church, of making a bottom octave of 32 foot pipes using pipes of 1/8th length, so that the bottom C would be 4feet long. I've never heard of this idea before. Has anyone else ever come across it, or know of the success or otherwise of it?

  8. We had a token nationalistic nod this morning, ending with Jerusalem followed by NA, all the other hymns being trinity based. Voluntaries were Swing Low Swing Chariot Arr. Lemare and Variations on Rule Britannia by Beethoven arr. Me before hand, and Pomp + Circumstance No.1 afterwards. Crown Imperial tonight

  9. Shameless plug for my own recital in Cromer Parish Church on Tuesday 5th June, 8pm, retiring collection

     

    Pomp and Circumstance March No.4 - Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934)

    Voluntary No.6, Op.6 - John Stanley (1712 - 1786)

    Elegy in B Flat - George Thalben - Ball (1896 - 1987)

    Dance to your Daddy - Sverre Eftestol (1954 - )

    Variations on 'I've got Rhythm' - Harold Britton (1923 - )

    Allegro from Trio Sonata No.5 in C Major - J.S. Bach (1685 - 1750)

    Sheep May Safely Graze BWV 208 - J.S. Bach (1685 - 1750)

    Spring Song - Alfred Hollins

    The Stars and Stripes Forever - J.P. Sousa arr. D. Ballard (1854 - 1932)

    To a Wild Rose from 'woodland Sketches' - Edward MacDowell arr. D. Ballard

    Concert Fantasia No.1 - Edwin Lemare (1866 - 1934)

  10. This morning was the Widor *Groan* and the boys sang This Joyful Eastertide (Ledger) and Now the Green Blade (Lindely) Pre service music was the Bach Allein Gott (BWV 662) and Demessieux 'O Filli' variations (a wonderful piece.)

     

    This evening is Smith, Psalm 114 (Bairstow) Dyson in D, Blessed be the G+F, and Stanford in B Flat Te Deum. Prelude might be Howells Psalm Prelude Set 1, No.1 , but the postlude is definitely Incantation Pour un Jour Saint (Langlais)

  11. Hi guys,

     

    Wonder if anyone could help me in tracking down this piece of music by Reginald Goss-Custard. I know it appears in the Schott ''Purple'' album, but can't seem to find a copy of this anywhere. Could someone help me out in this season of goodwill??!!

     

    Thanks in advance

  12. The stars and stripes? (I've got a wonderful unpublished arrangment which involves a thumbed down melody if you want)

    The Funeral March of a Marionette - Gounod arr. W.T. Best

    Dance to Your Daddy - Sverre Eftestol

    Concert Fantasia No.1 - Lemare (Rule Britannia / March of the Grenedier Guards / Sailors Hornpipe / Auld Langs Syne)

    Entrance of the Gladiators

    Dance Suite - Rawsthorne

     

    Thinks thats a few of the more curious things i've played in recent years

     

    db

  13. Perhaps Parry is now due a reappraisal? As organists I suppose we are often guilty of being rather insular but lets start at Mr. Parrys organ music. Thanks to the wonders of spotify we can access James Lancelots' fine recording on Priory of the complete organ works, summerised as F+F in G, 'Wanderer' T+F, two books of Seven Chorale Preludes, and three Choral Fantasias. Some good stuff lies herein, and I am already thinking that the Fantasia and Fugue, which I partially learnt a few summers ago might need finishing off for next years recital programmes.

     

    It's certainly comparable to the works of other 'serious' English composers from the end of the 19th century.

     

    With the choral music, are the songs of farewell not amongst the most beautiful things of their type? Best Pair of Nylons and I was Glad have had their own outings of late. Orchestrally, I know the Lady Radnors suite, which is a pleasing piece of english string music of its time.

     

    Perhaps Jerusalem is Parrys great downfall? A composer who will never escape a weak composition - the people who enjoy it the most would be unlikely to investigate further, and those who see it ass something which doesn't make them want to learn more about the composer also won't.

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