handsoff

I've always liked Elton John's music and Bernie Taupin's lyrics but am not so keen on EJ's voice. I have a CD somewhere with many of his songs sung by others. I can't remember all the details but "Sacrifice" sung by Sinead O'Connor was terrific and very moving. ......Just been downstairs and found it amongst Mrs H's discs (humph!). It's called Two Rooms and has 16 songs, produced in 1991. Playing it now... Ah memories

Thank you for that info. I'd never heard the original ending before buying the Southwark CD. Editors can be strange beasts. It's a bit like someone saying that they don't think the ending of Vierne I is quite right, so they remove the pedal run and substitute "pom-tiddley-om-pom....... pom-pom!.

Peter Wright's new CD from Southwark Cathedral features this piece and the ending is quite different from any I've heard before and is, IMHO, very effective and enjoyable. He ends with a unison cadence with almost jazz-like grace notes finishing on bottom D. Simple and fun.

And a splendid organ in an amazingly attractive hall it is too. I've been to several lunchtime recitals although I now find the journey from Stratford-upon-Avon through the heart of the West Midlands conurbation tiresome. I well remember Paul Hale's concert a couple of years ago and his closing piece; "Widor meets "When The Saints...""!

Mrs H. and I are off to the fringes of Exmoor for a couple of weeks next month and as usual I have had a look on NPOR for any instruments in the area. This organ is within 1.5 miles of the farm cottage that we are renting and I wonder if anyone on here knows the instrument, which on paper looks quite interesting. Thank you.

One of the churches at which I occasionally deputise has this Hewins, later rebuilt and slightly enlarged by Nicholson of Worcester. Unusually for a Hewins, there are no registrational aids although I suspect that any foot operated composition pedals may have removed when Nicholsons converted it from mechanical action to EP and provided a balanced swell pedal in the place of the kick-stick. It would be nice to have a few thumb pistons for each manual... The fixed bench is at such a height that I, at 5'11", cannot sit without bowing my head to avoid the casework and always come away after practice or a service with an aching neck and back. It is also impossible for me to use my heels when pedalling without wearing embarrassingly high heels, something I generally try to avoid doing in public . Note the blu-tac, fixed to the woodwork on the extreme right, as a very necessary warning to the unwary. For a very small two-manual the organ sounds quite pleasant and bright; Swell 8, 4, 2: Great 8, 8, 4 and Pedal 16, 8, 4. Incidentally, the 4' pedal flute is the nicest stop on the instrument and how I wish that it were available at full compass on the Great as it would match the Stopped Diapason quite beautifully. PS. Don't get the wrong idea of my skills from the score on the music desk. I am learning just the 2nd movement for use as a Lenten voluntary.

The Temple organ is soon to be dismantled and taken away for a complete restoration lasting almost 2 years. See here. There are some recitals in the near future giving a chance to hear it before the work starts.

Just to make a late addendum, I yesterday went with Mrs H. to hear James Scott play the T.C. Lewis in Southwark Cathedral. This was the first time that I had heard the instrument in the flesh, as it were, and it's difficult to over-emphasise what a glorious sound it makes. James played a real variety of repertoire, including Howells which sounded magnificent and the organ suited it all beautifully. The Great Organ principal chorus simply sparkles, the solo reeds blend beautifully, being clear but without overpowering the chorus, and the French-style pedal reeds top it off (bottom it off, I suppose...) magnificently. It's such an easy journey from here I shall certainly go quite regularly. The lunchtime food in the refectory is good too and it's nice to be able to support them rather than one of the myriad commercial enterprises nearby.

Bombarde The reaction of some to the new RSC theatre tower in Stratford-upon-Avon.

My disc arrived yesterday and fulfilled all my expectations; it's simply first-rate. The music selection displays the organs to the best, from the glittering 4 rank Great Mixture on the Grove, through its splendidly fiery Tuba and huge 16' Pedal Bombarde to the lovely strings and flutes. The Milton also comes over extremely well; I know that the instrument isn't thought of too highly in some quarters but I think that this recording may well change a few minds and tempt people to attend the summer recital series which are always a treat. Carleton Etherington's playing is excellent, of course, and well displays his intimate knowledge of the organs in Tewkesbury. One tiny regret. I should love to have heard something played on the little Elliott organ but the disc does run for over 75 minutes so maybe there wasn't the opportunity.

Thank you Douglas. I shan't miss that one; Mrs H. has just been requested to book 10 days off work. Had I realised a couple of weeks earlier that this weekend was a milestone then we should have been there tomorrow.

The next couple of weekends in St. Sulpice; if this doesn't tempt anyone... I'm off to get my coat DIMANCHE 6 FÉVRIER : 5ème DIMANCHE DU TEMPS ORDINAIRE Messes à 7h00, 9h00, 10h30, 12h05, 18h45 10h 30 Messe Solennelle Organiste : Daniel Roth Prélude (10h 15) : Poème improvisé sur le nom d’Aristide Cavaillé-Coll Offertoire : Improvisation sur « Lumen » Lumière pour éclairer les nations et gloire de votre peuple d’Israël (2 Février, La Purification de la Bienheureuse Vierge Marie) Communion : Andantino en sol mineur, C.Franck Audition : par Georges Lartigau, président de l’association A.Cavaillé-Coll Hommage au facteur d’orgues Aristide Cavaillé-Coll (4 février 1811- 13 octobre 1899) Sortie (extrait de l’Organiste Moderne), L.J.A. Lefébure-Wély Andante con moto op. 16 dédié à A. Cavaillé-Coll, A. Guilmant Marche religieuse (Six Pièces) dédiée à A. Cavaillé-Coll, E. Gigout Et Misericordia (Livre d’Orgue pour le Magnificat), D. Roth Grave (1ère Suite) dédié à O. Messiaen, J.J. Grunenwald (né le 2 février 1911) 16h00 concert d’orgue (dans le cadre de la célébration du deux centième anniversaire de la naissance du facteur d’orgues Aristide Cavaillé-Coll) Sophie-V. Cauchefer-Choplin, Eric Lebrun, Yann Liorzou, Vincent Warnier, Daniel Roth OEuvres de Bach, Hesse, Lemmens, Guilmant, Widor, Franck, Vierne, Lebrun, Roth Concert enregistré par France-Musique 18h45 : messe paroissiale animée par les Guides Aînées DIMANCHE 6 FÉVRIER à 12h05 : MESSE DES SANCERROIS DE PARIS DIMANCHE 6 FÉVRIER : Marc CADIOT AU GRAND ORGUE DE NOTRE-DAME A 16h30, Entrée libre. Cortège et Litanie, Marcel DUPRÉ (1886-1971) Carillon (Sept pièces), Marcel DUPRÉ (1886-1971) Hommage à Jean-Jacques GRUNENWALD (1911-1982)(centième anniversaire de sa naissance) Deux Suites (extraits) : 2.1. Procession - 2.3. Scherzetto - 1.5. Allégresse Diptyque liturgique Oppositions JEUDI 10 FÉVRIER à 20h30 : ÉCOLE D’ORAISON DIMANCHE 13 FÉVRIER : 6ème DIMANCHE DU TEMPS ORDINAIRE Quête impérée à toutes les messes pour les Aumôneries des Hôpitaux Messes à 7h00, 9h00, 10h30, 12h05, 18h45 10h30 Messe Solennelle Organiste : Daniel Roth Prélude (10h 15) : Symphonie III – Prélude, Ch.M.Widor Offertoire : Fugue en ré mineur BWV 539, J.S.Bach Communion : Choral « Bien aimé Jésus nous sommes ici » BWV731, J.S.Bach Postlude : Sonate V – I. Allegro appassionato, A.Guilmant Audition : Choral II en si mineur, C.Franck Toccata, T.Dubois

I've only just got around to listening to my tape of the programme and what a breath of fresh air it was. For anyone interested, the instruments featured were; 1) Oxford Town Hall 2) Sheffield City Hall 3) Birmingham Town Hall (not Danse Macabre , I think TT recorded that one at Symphony Hall!) 4) Hull City Hall 5) Leeds Town Hall 6) Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and 7) Dunedin Town Hall, N.Z. It's probably available on the i-player for a few days. Try this for perfection in transcription-playing, with music by Leroy Anderson: possibly the wealthiest organist ever, with such hits as "Blue Tango" and "Sleigh Ride." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btyebm5XUvI...feature=related Quite a large house organ don't you think? Complete with fairground horses I've recently taken delivery of the new "Organ Fireworks" disc recorded in Melbourne Town. For anyone liking high pressure party horns and associated goodies it's a good listen. A superb performance of Guilmant's 1ere Sonata rounds it off (and how!).

Just out of interest, the house in question near Stratford-upon-Avon is now for sale, the agents stressing (several times!) that the property is now unencumbered by any future liability to the C of E. A very nice farmhouse for anyone with c £.75m to spend - plenty of outbuildings for the organ...

Thanks very much MM. I'm not too proud to a lesson from anyone; I need all the help I can get! The tempo I have been using is much the same as the lad from Holland who makes it sound musical and with a nice flow, so that's a big help to me. I love the sound of the Czech organ, the piece works well with the higher registers; something else to try on my next trip to practice... For a nicely ornamented version, I like this one, albeit played a bit faster... P

I'll put in Birmingham Town Hall as an outsider as Nigel Ogden appears there most years to improvise to an otherwise silent movie... I do very much like theatre organs; the technique of some of the players is stunning; but I sometimes find the programme on R2 a tad disappointing. Too much time is often taken by the BBC for trails. The last one to which I listened had probably little more than 20 minutes musical content. Mind you - that's 20 minutes per week more than organ music from the other side of the divide. Still, my tape deck/timer will be set tomorrow.

I'm not an habitual listener, but this week's programme showcases town hall and concert hall instruments. It's on Radio 2, which I recall is to be found a little way to the left of R3 Oops, the time in the sub-heading is incorrect. The programme starts at 22.00

Thanks Vox. One of my copies attributes them as being "Possibly by J.T.Krebs" and the other, an ancient copy of "An Introduction to Bach for the Organ" (Edited by A.M. Henderson) which was far from new when I acquired it upon starting to play the organ in 1966, makes no comment. I'm tending towards a fairly stately tempo with a crotchet probably being ~= 60 (my metronome's spring having recently pinged ) on the bases that all of the notes are clearly audible, the music "flows" nicely and that my out-of-practice digits can cope.

Thank you Nigel; as always, a pragmatic answer. I shall follow my ears and fingers...

I don't know if many people here ever play the short preludes and fugues BWV 553-560, but I'm using them for practice after a long lay-off from the organ bench. They are also nice and short for use after a morning service with a congregation keen to either get home or chat around the coffee cups in the vestry. I'm currently re-learning BWV 559 in A Minor and can't decide upon the appropriate speed; neither of my copies has any metronome markings. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I don't recall that has previously been posted. If it has, my apologies. Edit later (interrupted earlier and I forgot to complete the script...) It's worth a look for the marble console even if you don't like Demessieux. (I suppose that they may be someone, somewhere).

A new CD from Tewkesbury Abbey will shortly be available featuring the uncased wonder in the North Transept. P

...and doubling the amount of organ music broadcast by the BBC in 2010. There was a piece on today's Today about cathedral music and the outreach programme helping less well-off families to place their children in cathedral schools.

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I had to play "Lo, He Comes" recently at a small parish church and during the choir practice took it at quite a modest pace which prompted a couple of comments about how slow it seemed. One of the choristers had heard Choral Evensong from Canterbury Cathedral that very afternoon, at the end of which the same hymn was taken at a really belting pace (cantered through?) and he thought that it "seemed quite fun" to sing it so fast. I said that I thought Canterbury's singing of it was poor; that it had no dignity, as VH says no sense of majesty and not much chance for the organist to play the last verse with the reharmonisation that this tune demands. I imagine that time constraint played a part on R3 so that the voluntary (Allegro from Vierne 2) wouldn't overrun into the next programme, although I suppose that a verse could have been omitted. We went through it a few times at varying paces and my view prevailed. This is only a small church with a small 2M+P organ so I didn't go as far as sticking to the RVW speed but took it much more slowly than appears to be the norm these days. On Sunday one or two of the congregation commented how nicely sung and played the final hymn had been. Result! Bear in mind that I'm only an occasional deputy and have no wish to alienate either the choir or the regular organist so don't feel able to force such a point too much.