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handsoff

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Posts posted by handsoff

    Introduce Yourself

    in General discussion

    Posted

    Peter, alias hands off - I was also at Birmingham T.H. today, overall enjoyable but for some reason left me slightly disappointed. I didn't think S.C. gave the music sufficient emotion for want of a better word. Probably so used to hearing Mr Trotter. Since Howells was recently mentioned on this thread, one of the subjects on Mastermind this evening was Herbert Howells, his life and music; the lad did quite well.

     

    I agree Jim, the playing seemed in parts to be a bit "routine". I'll admit to being a teensy bit bored in the Bach at one point, but the colours SC used in some of the variations did lift the atmosphere. He did get more animated after the middle section of the Messiaen and I also became quite fired-up when the big reeds came in.

     

    Incidentally, one of the door stewards in the circle was wearing very conspicuous green ear plugs. Was it that loud?!

     

    I must use my cable channel's play again function for Marstermind....

     

    Best regards

     

    Peter

    Introduce Yourself

    in General discussion

    Posted

    As a new member, albeit one who has been reading and enjoying the forum for some time, I thought I should introduce myself.

     

    My name is Peter and I live in Stratford-upon-Avon. My musical career started with piano lessons from age 7 to 11, when I started to play the organ at my school's chapel. My piano teacher was also the organist at a local church so I switched instruments but kept my teacher. From age 15 to 19 I passed a few exams and ended up as organist at a village church near Stratford along with regular deputising at various other establishments. Through various circumstances revolving largely around a change of tenure at The Rectory, I left, stopped playing (lack of talent may just have been another factor - hence the "handsoff" alias!) and after auditioning was accepted into Andrew Fletcher's choir at St. Mary's Warwick, where I sang tenor for around 7 years. Other, more shapely, diversions took over and that was the end of my active involvement in church music. In the last year I have started playing once again although only at private sessions at a couple of local churches, purely, for now, for my own amusement.

     

    I have maintained my interest in organ and choral music and when I was fortunate enough last year to achieve retirement from my career at age 51, I found plenty of time for listening and been busy expanding my CD collection. My tastes are quite wide-ranging but my current favourites are French Romantics, especially Vierne, Guilmant, Widor, Bonnet etc along with Howells choral and organ music choral music from the Tallis era. I absolutely adore the sound of the big French instruments and don't find much to beat the experience of a Cavaillé-Coll tutti with the amazing 32' Bombardes supporting everything.

     

    I don't ignore the English tradition and have a goodly selection from around the country.

     

    I've started to go to the lunchtime recitals in Birmingham and have just returned from Stephen Cleobury's offering at the Town Hall. What a wonderful sounding instrument with great subtlety as well as enormous power. The Symphony Hall organ is simply stunning; to look at as well as to hear.

     

    I shan't be able to contribute a great deal in the way of learned discussion either about the intrument or its music but shall certainly enjoy my daily delves into the fora.

     

    Kind regards

     

    handsoff

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