handsoff

When once I wanted an obscure CD that didn't seem to be available from online shops I went to my local HMV and asked if they would order it for me. It took some effort to find a staff member who knew where the catalogues of classical CDs were hidden but it was ordered and arrived within a few days.

Let it whimper; you won't hear it when the chamades are brought on. Which they are. Frequently. More seriously, these are wonderful improvisations and different from others already on CD in that they are full length symphonies structured much as those by Vierne although, obviously, very different in content. The scherzando of the first is incredible; played on a Flute and resembling Free Jazz but with a signature Cochereau ending. The organ sounded, in 1978, as good as it ever was and arguably better than today. I shall say no more so that I don't spoil anything for you except to paste a fragment of an email recently sent to me by Yvette Carbou... Ps : My book “Témoignages” about Cochereau is going to be re-issued next year and there will be also an English version ! Yvette

The sort of invective displayed in the article about BB usually says more about the writer than the subject of the piece.

I didn't listen to the live recital from Manchester, but as Mrs H. had arranged to go out with some friends, instead played a tape that I made the previous week of the CE broadcast from Winchester Cathedral, itself recorded during the Southern Cathedrals Festival. The Willis sounded absolutely magnificent, much better than in previous broadcasts possibly because the BBC set up their miking arrangements differently than for a live event and because of the large choral forces involved. The highlights for me were.... all of it, actually as the singing was top-notch with suitably excellent accompaniment. The anthem was Howells Coll Reg Te Deum - how nice to hear the Contra Bombarde used for the whole of the final pedal passage and not just the final note as in KCC itself; is the the 32' reed there operated by a coin-in-the-slot machine? It appears so often to be used on just one note at the end of pieces that its use seems to be rationed. The Liszt Ad Nos played by Simon Bell as the voluntary was a stunner (OK the piece is really a bit too long for what it has to say) and really had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. Did anyone else hear it? It may be on the BBC play it again thing for a few days.

Although organ music is always welcome for its rarity on R3 this seems a strange event to celebrate. Other far more notable organists and anniversaries have gone unmarked. Thomas Trotter's 25th year as Birmingham City Organist was, as far as I aware, ignored by the BBC and he is clearly a far better ambassador for the instrument than Wayne Marshall. Was Francis Jackson's 90th birthday marked? I shall never, try as I may, forget WM's rendition (rend: to tear apart) of Messiaen at the Proms a couple of years ago... I shall record it and listen to selected items simply because I have never heard this organ.

As a bit of an aside, I went on Monday to Coventry for the final recital of the series, given by Kerry Beaumont, the DoM. I had never before heard him play having been unable to get to his earlier concert; what an omission on my part. The programme was quite diverse and demonstrated just about every one of the organ's colours and sonorities, ending with an improvisation on submitted themes (The Coventry Carol and Sur le Pont D'Avignon). The second of those was a real gift and the improv on it just blew me away. It was almost like hearing a Pierre Cochereau live performance with a few more twists and turns (KB was a pupil of PC). The ending on full organ was stunning.

This disc is a real cracker. The music is played from memory; is, of course, faultlessly performed and captured with equally good camera work. The Thalben-Ball pedal Variations on a Theme by Paganini is captivating to hear and watch. I couldn't hope to play that even with a Pedal to Great coupler. There is a short spoken autobiography by TT in which he talks about feeling uncomfortable when "waving his arms about in front of a choir" on the occasions he had to conduct KCC choir. He says that he has only ever conducted one choir, KCC, not a bad record. Priceless! Highly recommended. [by me, if that's any recommendation...]

Regent Records have just released a DVD of Thomas Trotter playing the Birmingham Town Hall organ.

Thank you heva. Worth every penny and more for the Aubertin organ alone.

A Brilliant Classics three disc set of Alain's complete works is now available at budget price. I don't know upon which instrument(s) they were recorded but at this price must be worth having.

Thanks MM, I appreciate you raiding the memory banks. I have certainly never seen any mention of such a recording - a great pity.

I today arrived a bit early for the lunchtime recital at Coventry Cathedral Mk2 so spent a while wandering about the ruins of the old one. The position of the Willis organ is shown on a floor plan and I've seen the specification of the instrument on NPOR. I know that it's a long shot given that the cathedral was destroyed in WWII but is anyone aware of a recording of the the Willis? Incidentally, Paul Joslin started the recital with Arthur Wills' "Fanfare", today apparently being the composer's 85th birthday...

I can't answer that but the patent stamp on the close-up photograph shows it to be German. Perhaps it would be worth asking the vendor if he has any details?

Although for piano, this arrangement would easily be adaptable for the organ. The website suggests that one can order it in any key assuming that they accept £Sterling or Paypal. HTH

The Claribel flute on the south Choir Organ at St Paul's cathedral is also a wondrous stop. Not that I have played it

Yes, thank you Paul; I shall certainly use your very fine last verse version of Diademata when next the hymn pops up when I'm helping out. As long as, that is, two gentlemen and one lady who can really carry the tune are in the choir that morning... P

One here for fans of Daniel Roth, C.M.Widor and St Sulpice and for fans of David Briggs, David Briggs and St. Sulpice.

Indeed, but the Swell Oboe is, I submit, of equal beauty. It sounds a shiver down my spine when used as a solo stop as in Flor Peeter's "Aria" and a JSB Chorale Prelude (I forget which), both of which I heard played there recently.

Oh yes! I too love these and always try to listen to the 12.00 slot on Radio 4 Extra on DAB. Slightly more modern was Radio Active, my all time favourite and of which I have many cassette tape recordings.

...or guess what your wife said?

As the BBC clearly won't invite me, here goes... Collected works of The Pet Shop Boys - cheerful (in the main) and something to bellow along with safe in the knowledge that nobody will be there to throw things at me. "Songbird" - CD by Eva Cassidy. Messiah - Kings/Willcocks Howells Choral and Organ works - St Paul's CDs Guilmant Organ Sonatas - Ben van Oosten/St Ouen L'Oganiste de Notre Dame - Improvisations by Pierre Cochereau As much Dupré played on Cavaillé organs as can be fitted onto a boxful of CDs As much Mozart and Haydn as can be fitted onto a boxful of CDs Books. The collected works of P G Wodehouse and of Terry Pratchett. Both are sufficiently prolific to allow me to read them all and then start again having forgotten every story in the intervening period. Luxuries. The best hi-fi system money can buy but as this may be provided as a matter of course,1) an album containing all our holiday photos taken over the years, from our first holiday in Paris the year before we were married to this year's shots from an Exmoor farm and 2) my Stressless recliner. This presupposes that I can't have the organ from St Ouen... I reserve the right to change this selection on an hourly basis for the rest of my days or until the ship sails, whichever comes sooner. Edit 1 - I must have some Tallis choral.

When I was organist at a small parish church some 35 years ago, I bought a Morris Minor rear-view mirror and fixed it to the console. It's still there today; or it was a few weeks ago when last I deputised. My 1969 Minor's mirror isn't in quite such good condition as the one on the organ. Dare I risk a swap?

PM sent

Have a look at this; it addresses some of the issues. Paul is, of course absolutely correct about room size and I imagine that very few people have a large enough space to properly hear low frequencies. If they have, it probably means that they have the resources to install an organ and, if necessary, an organist!

My KEF IQ90s will handle anything I care to throw at them but the first problem is that my desktop is upstairs in my study and the KEF system downstairs. I have elderly but good Wharfedale 505.2 speakers and a NAD system upstairs which would struggle with a 64' resultant! The second problem problem is getting a signal from the PC to the amplifier - my boxful of leads has nothing suitable. I shall consult Mrs H's niece , hopefully before the pipedreams Prom is deleted. Mrs H. habitually listens to Heart FM which, in fairness does play some good stuff, but I've yet to see her moondancing - she doesn't much like reversing...