handsoff
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Posts posted by handsoff
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Thank you for the details.
P
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I know that Francis Jackson’s recording of Cocker’s Tuba Tune resurfaced on CD from Amphion. However, I’ve recently noticed that it is also available on a Chandos budget CD called “Pipes of splendour”. Does anyone know if this is the original EMI recording re-licensed to Chandos, or if it is a different, newer, recording?
I think it's a different recording - there's a distinct lack of 32' pedal reed at the end...
...but still a worthwhile buy at the bargain price of about a fiver... -
There are four recitals in St Phillips Cathedral, Birmingham over the next month, all on Mondays at 1pm at the very modest cost of £4.00 or £2.50.
23 June "From Earth to Heaven": Choral Recital by Schola Philippi (Director Marcus Huxley, organ Stuart Nicholson). Tallis, Taverner, Rachmaninov and Stanford.
30 June Organ Recital by Henry Fairs: Duruflé, Bach, Howells & Reger
7 July Music for Guitar & Organ: Victoria Green (Guitar) with Stuart Nicholson (Organ). No details of music available
14 July Recital of French Music for Bastille Day
. Organ played by Marcus Huxley.Thomas Trotter is also playing 2 recitals in Lichfield Cathedral in July and one in Walsall Town Hall. NPOR lists the organ
there and it looks a right beast on paper - well worth a trip methinks. There's also a recital at Walsall by the Borough Organist, Peter Morris, next Wednesday at 1pm - tickets £2.00 available up to 30 minutes before it starts.
I must mention the last Birmingham Town Recital of the season which took place yesterday to a crowd of almost 500. This was the annual request spot which featured Handel, (movements i), iv) & vi) from Concerto No 16), J.C. Kerll (Capriccio Sopra Il Cucu), JSB (Adagio & Fugue in C, from BWV 564), Boellmann (Priere a Notre Dame & Toccata from Suite Gothique), Thalben-Ball (Elegy), Messiaen (Dieu Parmi Nous), and Elgar (Chanson de Matin & Pomp & Circumstance No 4). I was reduced to more of a gibbering wreck than usual more than once. The encore, after a short speech, including well-deserved thanks to Rachael, the organ scholar who turns pages at the recitals, was Morandi's Bell Rondo using, of course, the fine bell chorus on the organ. Terrific! I have never known such an atmosphere at a recital as was evident yesterday - TT certainly, and well-deservedly, draws in the crowds week after week after week.
One for the diaries - Nigel Ogden is playing in the BTH on Friday 31 October 2008 at 19.30 - improvising to a screening of that fabulous 1922 film Nosferatu. That's not to be missed...
Finally, the 3rd of the 6 recitals from Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon is on Thursday at 1pm this week, played by Stephen Dodsworth.
Peter
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If anyone ever turns this into a suitable file or CD I'd be first on the list for a copy - back a bit it came up in discussion on this forum.
AJJ
I can't help with copying onto digital format but would be more than happy to make a cassette or 7" open reel copy if that's any use...
P
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I'm with Martin on this one, but it was the Vierne Carillon de Westminster that really fired me up to the extent that I made several cassette recordings of it so as not to wreck my disc! The piece still does fire me up, but I now prefer the Latry recording from ND de P. I just couldn't believe the York Minster tuba in the Cocker until I made the effort to go and hear it in the flesh at the age of 14, and can still remember the huge thrill when it came on. I can't imagine that there will ever be another recording of the piece to match it.
I had several LPs previously, all Bach, but it was the sampler that opened my ears to other composers, most of whom were new names to me. My love of Vierne started with that but it was nurtured by a recording of E. Power Biggs playing the Final from Symphony 1 on the organ of St. George's, New York and this remains my favourite movement from all 6 symphonies. I owe EPB for introducing me to Alain, Dupré, Franck, Gigout and Saint-Saens and for making me explore the Romantic French repertoire which I love even more today.
Incidentally, the cash (£16 10/6) needed to buy my Dansette stereo record player - you know, the one with a built in speaker for the right channel and another separate cabinet for the left plugged into the back of the player - came from my first "professional" engagement. This was playing the harmonium for Sunday morning services for 2 years in Stratford-upon-Avon Hospital Chapel!
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Nigel,
Thank you for the detail - but it won't be Michelangelo's Pietà I suspect, even in such a clearly well-off parish! I shall look forward to seeing it nonetheless.
I shall also have to have a drive over to Long Compton when the Nicholson is installed; having been been brought up around here I have always had a soft spot for the smaller Nicholson instruments, so much nicer than the worthy but sometimes slightly dull Thomas Hewins organs found in the area.
Kindest regards
Peter
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How clever of the Stratford firm to make the church a miniature copy of the case at Ste Sulpice!
I believe some revoicing may have been carried out in 2005 - I'll check with John. The Great Trompette didn't strike me as too loud yesterday but my lack of recent experience may well be the cause of some mis-hearing. I'll hopefully go again next week and have another listen.
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Paul,
I really liked it but should need to hear it from the Nave to fully appreciate the sound. The two trumpets are voiced quite differently which gives good opportunities for contrast and the Great mixture, which I gather is new/revoiced, gives the 8', 4' 2' chorus a real lift. From the console I thought the Bourdon 16' was a little loud but I'm sure this is very different from the nave. The Fagotto 16' is lovely, quite gentle but big enough to complement full organ, although I played only a few chords loudly in deference to the carpet fitters!
I last played it in, I think, the early 1970s when I had lessons there and it strikes me that the current instrument is much brighter.
I'm hoping to arrange regular practice sessions during the week and will take a recording device to get a better idea. The previous organist, John Morris, is an old friend and I'll ask him along to play one day so that I can hear it.
Peter
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I have been itching to have a play for a while now so with the help of a friend who until recently played at St. James Church, Alveston, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon, I contacted the Vicar who kindly agreed to let me have a go. It's about 35 years since last I played so it was going to be interesting to say the least. I went armed with my ancient book of Bach's 8 Short Preludes and Fugues and the thinnest-soled shoes I could find.
I had played the organ there many years ago as my teacher, the late and much missed Alan Emmerson was organist there for many years. The instrument, originally a Nicholson was rebuilt and extended in 2001 by Organ Tuning Services of Stratford-upon-Avon. I'll append the specification at the end of this tale.
I arrived to be welcomed by a gentleman I took to be a churchwarden who opened up for me and apologised for the fact that I would have to compete with carpet fitters in the south side chapel, but started off by playing a few chords and arpeggios just to hear what the various stops and combinations sounded like. It really is a lovely organ and I had a thoroughly enjoyable hour playing a couple of my old favourites. I'm not sure the carpet fitters enjoyed it quite so much but they were friendly enough!
I was surprised just how much came back after so many years - obviously my fingers and toes fell down the cracks a few times and I'll need a huge amount of practice but it was a start.
Swell
Open Diapason 8
Lieblich Gedeckt 8
Salicional 8
Vox Angelica (TC) 8
Gemshorn 4
Mixture II
Oboe 8
Trumpet 8
Tremulant
Swell Octave
Swell Sub-Octave
Great
Open Diapason 8
Principal 4
Fifteenth 2
Mixture III
Claribella 8
Harmonic Flute 4
Trompette 8
Swell to Great
Swell Octave to Great
Swell Sub Octave to Great
Pedal
Bourdon 16
Octave 8
Flute 4
Open Diapason 16
Quint 10 2/3
Bass Flute 8
Fagotto 16
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Swell Octave to Pedal
4 adjustable combination pistons to each manual, duplicated by toe buttons.
Balanced swell pedal
Electro-pneumatic action
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Apologies if I didn't make myself clear.
My idea was a bit of fun based on a fantasy Messe Solennelle using the performers and venue we should most like to hear...
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Maybe, having noted swalmsley's comments about the St. Ouen recitals, this would be an opportune time to ask when would be the best time to visit Paris? My wife and I have decided on a fortnight in Autumn 2009 but would appreciate some advice on the timing. We have sort of planned on 2 weeks self-catering (for the flexibility) in September/October and wonder if this is going to result in plenty of music being available? I think Rouen is about 60 minutes train journey from Paris and the chance to hear the organ there must not be missed. Thank you in advance for any advice.
Sorry to hijack the thread, but to return to it - St.Sulpice and St. Ouen equal first - but this is based only on recordings!
P
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I hope that no-one will will mind this thread being resurrected.
I wasn't, I really wasn't going to buy the Westminster Cathedral recording of the Vierne and Widor Messes but it was such a bargain (£6.99) on Ebay.....The singing is, as already agreed here, much better than the French recordings I have and the organ is as beautiful as always. However.....and this is just a personal thing.....an indefinable something is missing. Maybe it's just too good? I can't criticise anything about the performance or recording but it just doesn't have the atmosphere of the Cochereau - which maybe was, as pcnd suggested, fed on a small scotch.
I've not yet had time to listen to the rest of disc but am really looking forward to tracks 6 onward.
I've just played the Widor Messe - now that is stunning - quite the best recording (or live performance) I have ever heard; and as for Tu es Petrus and Surrexit a Mortuis...well!
Perhaps we should have a "Fantasy Messe Solennelle" thread. Select your choir, venue and organists.
Mine; St John's Cambridge from the time of George Guest, Sacré-Coeur, Pierre Cochereau (after a tot) on the Grande-Orgues and Daniel Roth on the Orgue de Choeur.
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Yes John, Monday's recital was first rate, wasn't it? I hadn't previously heard Henry Fairs play live and was most impressed. Did you notice how scared the young chap turning the pages looked?!
If there was a single thing I could change about the Symphony Hall organ, it would be to make the 32' reed a bit "bigger" - it never seems to quite match the power of the tutti, especially when the chamades are drawn. All the same, I wish the lunchtime concerts were more evenly balanced between the Symphony Hall and Town Hall - it would give a few more opportunities to hear those sublime stops in the 2 echo divisions. I can feel the hairs on the back of neck standing up even thinking about the French Horn with the box closed, played against a very quiet string.....
I shouldn't complain - nowhere else in the country has a weekly recital for much of the year with such players and instruments, and all for a fiver.
While I'm on, Peter Summers played a short piece by Jose Lidon yesterday, "Sonata de Primo Tono". I once heard this played on the Trompeta Real at St John's, Cambridge and felt sure it was also on a vinyl disc recorded there. Can anyone remember which disc it was, please? I thought I had it, but can't find it and fear it may once have been lent out...
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The lunchtime recitals at Birmingham regularly see audiences of 300-400 - that number doesn't look many in Symphony Hall, but the Town Hall is often wedged. It's a tribute both to Thomas Trotter's superb playing and the magnificent instruments.
Today's lunchtime recital by Peter Summers at Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon was excellent, with an estimated audience of 70-80. Not bad for a small town recital with little publicity.
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A series of 6 free lunchtime (12.45) concerts in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon starts next Thursday, 5 June. A light lunch of sandwiches and coffee can be bought after the concert.
The organists are Peter Summers, Darren Oliver, Stephen Dodsworth, Alex Berry (shortly to become organ scholar at Guildford Cathedral), Andrew Jones (current DoM) and Stephen Davies.
If anyone's in the area I should imagine it will be well worth a visit. I'll be there if nothing else crops up...
This is the instrument...
http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch...ec_index=D05055
P
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And... for all its imperfections it still has to be the most exciting recording of this work ever made. The new one (made last year?) is 'better' in some ways, but not as successful in raising hairs on the back of the neck!!
I totally agree. The singing on the Lefebvre recording is easily the best of the three recordings I have, but the sheer exuberance and power of the Pierre Cochereau disc simply isn't there.
The recording from Sacre-Coeur is good and the final chords of both the Kyrie and the Benedictus with that huge 32' Bombarde do tingle the spine quite nicely but the PC version wins hands down for me for the atmosphere.
I burned a CD of it for my car last week and while waiting for Mrs T outside Boots in Stratford-upon-Avon did attract a few querying looks as I played it at quite a high level. Maybe if I had been wearing a baseball cap as if unsure which way my head was attached, nobody would have taken any notice.....
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.......and if you follow the Cochereau recording even more faithfully, don't worry about drowning the choir - if they want to be heard above the organ then let 'em sing louder!
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Me Sir, please Sir!
Thank you
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Thank you for those interesting replies. I've looked at the scores and don't think it's really my sort of thing. I certainly could never have played the pedal part Vox Humana pointed out - nor would I have wanted to, I don't think!
I may ask if my local library can get a copy of one or more of the CDs rather than buy it (them) myself - space on the shelves has become scarce since I joined this forum.
P
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I received an email from Europadisc about Bank Holiday special offers including this...
http://www.europadisc.co.uk/classical/6065...Works_vol.1.htm
I confess my total ignorance having never heard of the composer and wonder if anyone knows the pieces bearing in mind they haven't been previously recorded. Is it worth buying? Worth a punt at the bargain price I guess...
Thanks
P
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Celebrating what? ChampionsLeague cup?
Pass.....Football is a closed book to me!
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Choral Evensong is from Manchester Cathderal this Sunday.
The closing voluntary is Langlais - Hymne d'Actions de Graces - Te Deum. That'll be a bit of entertainment for anyone on Victoria railway station at 16.55ish.....
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As for younger, though established names, two names that spring to mind are David Bednall and Henry Fairs, both of whom have impressed me very much in recitals.
People may be interested to know that Henry Fairs is giving the lunchtime concert in Birmingham's Symphony Hall on Monday 2 June at 13.00.
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That's put me in a good mood for the rest of the day, even with a mild hangover!
Thanks pcnd...
...but still a worthwhile buy at the bargain price of about a fiver...
. Organ played by Marcus Huxley.
Here (doesn't) Come The Bride...
in General discussion
Posted
When I was organist in the 1970s at a very pretty village church often with 4 weddings on a Spring Saturday, the then Rector, Karl Grey, always made it clear to any couple booking a wedding that if the bride was sufficiently late to hold up the following ceremony, he would have no option but to cancel their service.
He never had to carry out his promise/threat at least in the years I occupied the organ bench...