Jonathan Lane

And as we all know, not true in many cases. In many Oxbridge and other colleges the Organ Scholar runs the chapel music. Jonathan

I totally agree. All names are notable to the people who held the post, and who is to say these people might become 'notable' later on. Just stupid. Wikipedia has seriously dropped in my estimation! Jonathan

There's only one arbiter.

So to that extent, if people find that they cannot worship during the sermon, or intercessions, perhaps they should feel free to have a coffee at the back and a chat!

Would you say the same for real families too, but as we know, the whole relationship of families has tantrums, confrontation and disagreements, it doesn't stop them being a family. As for your comments about what actually happens, that doesn't make it right or what should happen. I'm not looking to have my ego smoothed, yes its nice when something says something, but when I decided to be an organist, it was because I wanted to serve God and the church. It is my way to worship. Jonathan

And organists too! In my last post I did 35 hours a week!

Maybe this is the time for a philanthropist or group of them (I'm sure someone out there can enlighten us to the collective noun!) got together and did something. The future might of course be only online, which can be much cheaper to run, no printing, posting, etc. I would be glad to help on something like this, and with someone of Paul's experience and knowledge as editor it would, I am sure, have a large readership! Jonathan

One has to remember as with all things French, their interpretation is very different to ours, and its a cultural thing. pp is really quite loud, and as for sections like the middle of Franck's Third Chorale, it is essential to have the Recit Trompette and Hautbois for the effect to work, but this is not very quiet! J

I am envious (although I shouldn't be, as that is a very un-Christian trait). I would love to be there too! Jonathan

Why? God wants us to strive for our highest standards in worship of Him, but that doesn't mean he won't accept whatever people offer Him in praise. I am sure what none of us want is something that is carried out in an offhand 'I don't care' manner, whether it is the musical offerings, the sermon, the prayers, the liturgy, or dare I say it the Notices! Jonathan

I don't for one second think its anything to get 'up ourselves' about, and I strongly believe that the voluntary IS part of the worship, and having been a Christian for most of my life, my playing IS and always IS done as an act of worship. Because I get paid for it does not make it any less. Do you say to clergy they are not worshipping God because they are paid, but just doing a job. If you make an argument that this isn't so after the Eucharist, because the liturgy finishes at 'Go in peace', then you have to make the argument that even the anthem at Evensong isn't part of the liturgy. The service of Evening Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer liturgically finishes at the Collect for Peace, therefore the anthem is also fair game for announcements! Jonathan

To be serious for a bit, this is the key to it, and I know we have gone into this on other threads before. The voluntary at the end, as much as the voluntary before are part of worship, and part of our worship in particular. Our gifts are as organists, and we offer these gifts (whether paid or not) as part of worship, and as a gift to God. For someone to then get up and destroy that gift is at the best insensitive and rude and at the worst an offence to God himself. As a people we are here to worship God, and this includes the voluntary! As an aside, the people who make these announcements tend to be the same people that complain when a baby cries in the service that it is interfering with 'their' worship' Jonathan

Come October you will be able to do many of the excellence suggestions made here so far, in the meantime I suggest that next week you get up in the middle of the Eucharist prayer and announce something to do with the organ fund! It has happened to me, I resigned, possibly not the best course of action, revenge is sweeter!! Jonathan

or even ex-Members! One of the reasons I resigned from the RCO.

I'll try to put some photos up like Adrian Lucas did for the little organ down the road from here! Give me a few weeks and I'll set something up. I'll let people know when they're up. Jonathan

Its a beautiful piece of work. Jonathan

I think one of the reasons for choosing wood is relative cost. I wonder whether anyone has thought about using things like titanium for extreme conditions, although I wonder who could afford it! Jonathan

I seem to remember they installed an instrument just up the road in Beaminster as discussed on here before. I'm not sure what to think, looking at the Hele, I would probably prefer that, but I am a romantic at heart! Jonathan

Obviously John Williams and Marcel Dupre can be spoken of in the same breath these days! Jonathan

Or is it someone from Neighbours! Jonathan

Just proves parliament is no different to Wind in the Willows! Jonathan

I'm just wondering when we get to scale the houses of parliament and undo a banner! Jonathan

As opposed to buying it at the rediculous full new price. Sadly not, I need it too! Jonathan

That's what I prefer, both as an organist and a tuner. I remember Sandy Edmonstone apologising to me a few years ago for the tuning state of the organ at Perth Cathedral, which he looks after. I had applied (and was offered but did not take up) the post of Director of Music. He was most apologetic, but to my ears, which I think are pretty good, it sounded perfect. I think he must be a perfectionist too. It was a lovely organ too, after the work he had done. Jonathan

You gets what you pay for! Jonathan