sbarber49

I've replied to Philip via PM, but I'll give some further links/suggestions below: Fuga a la Noel the eponymous above-mentioned Rudolph my own Toccata Nervosa Best to all, - G Where can I find the Fuga, please? It sounds fun. I've looked on your website without success. Stephen Barber

I am also about to introduce a new setting. I've never seen a satisfactory non-responsorial setting of the Gloria, which I blame entirely on the unmusical metre of the words. I will certainly get a copy of the St Thomas Mass by David Thorne as a lot of you seem to recommend it. I think the Murray setting is at least unobjectionable and, after a quick look-through, I don't see the consecutives and ineptitutude to which you refer. Has anyone done any of the Alan Wilson settings? I used to do the All Saints' Mass and found it quite good. Stephen Barber

What does a Cavaille-Coll Tuba Mirabilis sound like? S

Good thought! Perhaps, then, it wasn't the sequencer that was to blame for the lack of space between movements of a trio sonata that you mentioned - perhaps it was a lack of musicianship! You might even say that the sequencer would help in this aspect of playing as the player can judge the space using his/her musical judgement, rather than the space being dictated by the number of stops to be added or subtracted. S

This seems an extraordinary argument to be used against sequencers/steppers! Pity the poor pianist who doesn't have stops to pull out and push in - how on earth are they to know how long to leave between movements of a Beethoven sonata? S

I can understand that overuse of pistons means that the registrations can be unimaginative. However I don't see why use of the sequencer needs to have a detrimental effect. Stephen Barber Not that I have one - haven't even got generals!

No, sorry, Roffensis. No "Organ Spectacular" could ever have been recorded in Croyland Abbey. You couldn't play a tuba tune in Thorney Abbey (a very fine Bevington/Hill, fairly recently restored). You could play a Keraulophon Tune, or a [swell] Cornopean Tune or a Cremona Tune. Which do you think? I'm afraid your colleague is having a laugh. Stephen Barber

Although many recitalists these days seem to do virtually all their registering with their right foot on the sequencer/stepper pedal. Takes all the fun out of watching! Stephen Barber

Dear Roffensis, Have you any evidence for this? The organ is 12 stops - all 8' & 4' (although a mixture recently replaced the dolce). I still don't believe your earlier posting about a recording of Reubke on it. Did you ever manage to get any more information on that one? (I did PM you.) Stephen Barber

Try this link: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OFPXI2f...esult#PPA151,M1

Simon Preston played one of the duetti at his Prom Recital. I'd never heard any of them before. Does anyone here play them?

I much enjoyed the St John Passion conducted by Gardiner at the Proms the other day but I did wonder how "authentic" the choral singing was. It was so beautifully shaped, but would Bach's choir really have sung like this? Huge amounts of dynamic contrast - more Virgil Fox than Walcha. The chorales were certainly phrased in a way that a congregation couldn't have. Mind you I have grave reservations about a concert performance of one of the Passions in the middle of the Summer anyway. Stephen Barber

Sorry, you're quite right. They're dance shoes, not ballet shoes, and I can't do "points" in them: I either need to buy new shoes or stick to playing the organ. Stephen Barber

What about the "Suite in Blue" by Michel (in Jazz Inspirations 2) - the Sortie at the end always goes down well (I've only played a couple of movements). There's a good jazz arrangement of "When the Saints" by Kenneth Baker in something like "Jazz pieces, Home Organ Library volume 7". (Actually it's here: http://www.sheetmusicwarehouse.co.uk/details.php?ref=53080)

I am about to buy a toaster for home practice. I was considering a Wyvern so the above worries me. Can anyone suggest a good (but cheap) organ? I've been considering Wyvern Sonata, Viscount Vivace 40 and Allen CF2. Since this is a pipe organ site, please PM me if you have any useful advice. Apologies to Manders - I do play a proper organ on Sundays (a 1917 Harrison)! Stephen Barber

I use ballet shoes and have found them great - bought from a local ballet store. They're by Freed and are called "Rhythm Collection". They are similar to these: http://www.movedancewear.co.uk/product_inf...products_id=363 Stephen Barber

No, I'm suggesting that: 1) I thought (I suppose I should have done the IMHO thing) it was too fast. Not a Meditation on the miracle of God coming among us but merely an exciting showpiece. 2) I should be able to express that opinion without being accused of holding it because I am jealous of his ability. (As a matter of fact, his playing is so far out of my league that I'm not!) By the way, I've just come in from an absolutely stunning recital by John Scott in Peterborough Cathedral. Fantastic use of the organ (and not everyone makes Peterborough organ sound good). Stephen Barber

I am significantly less gifted (to put it mildly) than Wayne Marshall, but am moved and thrilled by fine performances by organists. If you are suggesting that I (and anyone else criticising the performance) is guilty purely of envy then I find that a bit insulting, frankly. I'm sorry that I missed the point (or several points) of the performance. Stephen Barber

Of course it's a French toccata, but it's also a meditation. It was played so fast it was just a showpiece that, to my ears, didn't come off anyway. Would any members of the audience who were unfamiliar with Messiaen's organ music have got any idea of what it's all about? By the way, I loved the playing of the Beethoven Rondo but, on glancing at the BBC Messageboards (too many to read properly), I see that I seem to be in a minority of one. Stephen Barber

I don't think removing Dieu Parmi Nous from the context of the 9 Méditations and treating it as a "play it as fast as you can" show-piece/toccata does Messiaen any favours. Stephen Barber

Sortie (from the Suite in Blue) by Johannes Matthias Michel goes down well (in one of the Jazz Inspirations books). Stephen Barber

2 easier pieces: Guilmant's "Paraphrase on Judas Maccabeus" (Thine be the Glory") goes down very well with congregations, in my experience. The Peeters prelude on "Christ ist Erstanden" in the "Lent and Easter" book of chorale preludes is effective. Stephen Barber

Then there's the EASY Modern Organ Music volumes. The Leighton Fanfare from the first book is a very effective piece but, from memory - I haven't got the books here, I don't think many of the other pieces in these volumes have stood the test of time very well either. Stephen Barber

You can find a picture (and more information) on the website here: http://crowlandabbey.org.uk/index.html The original abbey must indeed have been magnificent but only the north aisle is left. I'm still anxious to know about this "Mighty Collossus of Sound" on the 12 stop Binns, including the Reubke. I still don't believe it! Who was playing? Can you get any more information? Stephen Barber

Any chance of some more information? I really want to know what's going on here. Who's playing? Stephen Barber