Jonathan Lane

Just wondering whether it might have been an Estey organ.

My understanding about copyright law is that there are two 'exceptions' when photocopies are allowed, one is to aid in page turning, and the other when a copy of a score is lost shortly before a performance and it is not possible to get a replacement at such notice, provided the replacement is purchased immediately a source is available. Page turning isn't restricted to choral accompaniment, or indeed organ music. A former member of this forum is much more well versed in this than I! Jonathan

We have just come across an organ with a builders plate saying 'The Melodia Pipe Organ - 12 Rathbone Place, London, W1' Does anyone know anything about these instruments. I have more information if useful and photos. Thanks, Jonathan

I have used various items from time to time with pupils and for myself. I would absolutely agree that real music is the best, the advantage too is, if you have to buy it, you have something to play at a later date. For straightforward two save transposition, with a twist, the Bach-Reimenschnieder Chorals are excellent, because they offer a tougher standard than would be expected from most ARCO standard tests. For real pieces, a good starting point are the Healey Willan Hymn Preludes, which are all on 3-staves. The best advice I ever got was to push the standard well beyond what is expected, i.e. difficult 3-stave pieces, harder transpositions (more than a tone), and for score reading lots of stuff with C-clefs and more than four parts. If you feel really adventurous, score read orchestral scores, I was made to do this at college, but it is hard if you are not used to reading orchestral scores. At one point I transposed every hymn I played, just for practice, normally up though, as most of the tunes were too low for a choir to sing!

A number of former organists, myself included, have devised revisions of the scheme, but unless the church puts the money in there wouldn't be any hope. In my view, it needs a radical rethink along traditional English lines. Jonathan

and probably feet (hers!) J

Well the temptation has to be tried!

Hopefully an accurate edition then, but we all know what MC Alain did with Jehan's organ works! Clear layout is always good though. Jonathan

I use Peters edition, which is very starightforward, and allows you to annotate to taste and needs appropriately. I would too agree thy are some of the finest pieces from the period and would argue that all organists should at least play one of them, even if they don't particularly like Romantic music. Needless to say, I don't play them all!! Jonathan

Now there's no need to ever play the original! Jonathan

I asked the company who made them some time ago if it would be released on DVD and they said no. Someone else must have done it, but note its on NTSC, which shouldn't worry most people, as most DVD players in this country play NTSC! Would hate people to be disappointed if they couldn't, they really are very good. It is only £11.99 on play.com

Thanks Barry & Malcolm. I still think VAT is hard! Jonathan

I'm probably wrong, and I bow to Barry's knowledge on such matters, but my understanding about thresholds was they were worked out on turnover not sales. If however, I am wrong, I would be delighted to know! Jonathan

It wasn't particularly!

However, the discussion on pride distracts from the real point here, a real organist can always provide a better service than a machine! Jonathan

All this revolves around self and not service. Jonathan

The first dictionary definition for pride is 'a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.' This is what I have always seen pride as, i.e. a proud man will never admit he can be wrong. At no stage do I or have I ever taken pride in what I do. I do my best, I offer the highest service I can, and the most complete help and support to the bereaved, and indeed to a couple at a wedding, or any church I work for. And indeed, some of the best organists I know do not take 'pride' in what they are doing, they certainly dreive pleasure from it, for themselves and others, they provide a sense of worship and dignity for the situation, and often provide an atmosphere conducive to the situation. If we feel pride in what we are doing, we are doing it for ourselves. My whole playing career has been dne for one reason, and that is to serve God through music. I derive pleasure from it, yes; I feel humbled to be allowed to be able to do it, yes; I feel blessed that I have the skills and talents to carry it out, yes; but I can never say I have ever felt proud about it. Jonathan

You may be right, but th old adage is 'Pride comes before a fall'. I still don't think pride is an appropriate thing to take when dealing with the bereaved. Jonathan

This is what it says on their website: Specialist Music & Media Services Established in the mid 1990's, Wesley Music was set up to provide a highly specialised music service to the bereavement community. Using the resources of its mother company - The Yaboo Company Limted, a company of professional musicians, recording engineers and production managers, each having considerable experience in the music business (through ventures ranging from the recording of Gregorian chant to the promotion of pop and rock concerts) - Wesley Music provides a unique library of recordings specifically for use in crematoria. From the very beginning the company made it its business to provide clients with exactly what they wanted, and to continue this on an on-going basis. The result has been a continuous development of our services culminating in the on-line computer-controlled music system provided today. With our extensive knowledge of and access to all types of recorded music, we have become the one-stop music solution to our clients - "if it's available, we'll provide it"! At Wesley Music we take immense pride in the special relationship developed with each and every one of our customers, and we dedicate ourselves to the continued update and development of our services. My thoughts: Wesley Music was set up to provide a highly specialised music service to the bereavement community. - Isn't that what real organists do, well its what I do! From the very beginning the company made it its business to provide clients with exactly what they wanted, and to continue this on an on-going basis. - Again, isn't that what real organists do. I provide a comprehensive service, including discussions with family, advice that if something isn't suitable on the organ it may be better to use a CD, and source that CD if necessary, but I charge them a reasonable fee for the service I provide. With our extensive knowledge of and access to all types of recorded music, we have become the one-stop music solution to our clients - "if it's available, we'll provide it"! - Well, I can go one further, even if it isn't available, I go out of my way to make available, transcribing if necessary, and using my large network of contacts to find out of print music. At Wesley Music we take immense pride in the special relationship developed with each and every one of our customers, and we dedicate ourselves to the continued update and development of our services. - I think it would be fair to say I don't take pride in the service I provide, in fact I find it incredibly humbling to be asked, and provide the highest standard of service, but I still believe pride goes before a fall! Jonathan

So even they couldn't do it without the real thing (both organ and organist!) Jonathan

I was at Walworth today to ring, and while getting access to the tower you have to go up past the galleries. The organ there is in pieces. The church website says the organ is being replaced by the H&H from Whitelands College but doesn't say who is doing the work. The existing organ was apparently cobbled to gether after the church was bombed, but retains the Lincoln case front. Would be interested to know more. Church link: http://www.stpeterswalworth.org/#/organ-appeal/4530616639 Jonathan

The thing that worries me about hybrid organs, and I have no very strong opinions on the use of electronics in the right context, is that the electronic ranks don't go out of tune, while the pipe ranks can. Does anyone have experience of problems like this? Jonathan

OHS site is excellent, I got my Sept Pieces there, very good copy, a reprint, but from the original masters, but much better than some of the Kalmus editions of Widor. Jonathan

I believe this organ has been shipped to Germany, it was sold in late 2006. Jonathan

'Many organ scholars have gone on to notable careers in music and in other fields. Two notable ex-organ scholars who went on to achieve fame in other fields are Edward Heath (who read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Balliol College, Oxford) and Dudley Moore (who read music at Magdalen College, Oxford).' I think this sums up the reasoning, for the editors, notable means people who are known nationally, to most people. I hope they now edit the Periodic Table of Elements to remove those which are not known by most people, after all, if people don't know them they cannot be notable!!! Jonathan