Martin Cooke Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Isn't it time we heard some news of a new appointment at St Paul's? Does anyone have any idea what is happening and when an announcement might appear, by any chance? Martin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan taylor Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 I am very surprised that the news hasn't leaked out. It is to be Carlo Curley. The cathedral has ordered two manuals to be added to the console. These will work the new theatre section. This new section is to be housed in chambers which will be suspended over the high altar. The console is also to be placed on a lift which will rise from the crypt. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lee Blick Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 I am very surprised that the news hasn't leaked out. It is to be Carlo Curley. The cathedral has ordered two manuals to be added to the console. These will work the new theatre section. This new section is to be housed in chambers which will be suspended over the high altar. The console is also to be placed on a lift which will rise from the crypt. Alan Ho ho ho, you missed April Fool's Day by nearly a fortnight. I was rather hoping it would be the sexy Jennifer Bate with a special cat walk leading from the organ loft door to the altar and new pink lighting with tasteful sparkly adornments hanging from the shades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kropf Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 I am very surprised that the news hasn't leaked out. It is to be Carlo Curley. The cathedral has ordered two manuals to be added to the console. These will work the new theatre section. This new section is to be housed in chambers which will be suspended over the high altar. The console is also to be placed on a lift which will rise from the crypt. Alan Carlo Curley.... there is a quite popular German organist with similar body shape...and years ago there was the joke going around, that they have invented the concave radiating manual keyboard for him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cynic Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Carlo Curley.... there is a quite popular German organist with similar body shape...and years ago there was the joke going around, that they have invented the concave radiating manual keyboard for him... Hey, don't joke.... I could use one (or more) of those!!! P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan taylor Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 . I was rather hoping it would be the sexy Jennifer Bate with a special cat walk leading from the organ loft door to the altar and new pink lighting with tasteful sparkly adornments hanging from the shades. Ah, so you have heard Jennifer is to be sub organist. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 ... I was rather hoping it would be the sexy Jennifer Bate with a special cat walk leading from the organ loft door to the altar and new pink lighting with tasteful sparkly adornments hanging from the shades. Excuse me? Jennifer Bate - 'sexy'? Um.... are you absolutely certain that you intended to apply this epithet to this person? I cannot in all honesty that I have ever regarded her as 'sexy'. However - each to his own.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Just be thankful that Lee isn't a serious competitor for the lady of your dreams, M'sieur! I wasn't aware that Ms Bate had adopted the fashion set by Mr Whiteley. But at least the shades sound slightly more Edna Everage in style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lee Blick Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Excuse me? Jennifer Bate - 'sexy'? Um.... are you absolutely certain that you intended to apply this epithet to this person? I cannot in all honesty that I have ever regarded her as 'sexy'. However - each to his own.... And what is wrong with appreciating the more senior lady? Would be nice to have a female organist for a change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgp Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Isn't it time we heard some news of a new appointment at St Paul's? Does anyone have any idea what is happening and when an announcement might appear, by any chance? Martin. A lay clerk told me that they were at the shortlist stage - two cathedral organists and two singers. No names,no pack drill! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Barry Williams Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 A lay clerk told me that they were at the shortlist stage - two cathedral organists and two singers. No names,no pack drill! I heard that the 'head hunters' had 'phoned round everyone they could think of. I find it astonishing that any cathedral would need to engage 'head hunters', let alone pay them to 'phone around the current 'circuit'. Perhaps it is even more astonishing that any cathedral would attempt to appoint someone when there is no Dean is place. (A Dean has now been named.) Barry Williams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Jordan Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Carlo Curley.... there is a quite popular German organist with similar body shape...and years ago there was the joke going around, that they have invented the concave radiating manual keyboard for him... Eisi? I hadn't heard this, but it's funny. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbouffant Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 I heard that the 'head hunters' had 'phoned round everyone they could think of. I find it astonishing that any cathedral would need to engage 'head hunters', let alone pay then to 'phone around the current 'circuit'. Humphrey Clucas' autobiog reflects on the use of 'head hunters' for the Westminster Abbey post after the demise of Dr. Neary. I loved the comment that Sir David Willcocks refused to have anything to do with them when he was approached by them for his opinion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfdg Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 . I was rather hoping it would be the sexy Jennifer Bate with a special cat walk leading from the organ loft door to the altar and new pink lighting with tasteful sparkly adornments hanging from the shades. Ah, so you have heard Jennifer is to be sub organist. Alan What about Huw then? I didn't think he was moving on as well, although with so many jobs up for grabs at the moment, I wouldn't be surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parsfan Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 I think that headhunters are useful in identifying outstanding candidates that might otherwise not apply. The mention of two singers leads me to think that the model of DOM having to be an organist may be approaching the end of its shelf life. Saying that the SPC job description appeared to be tailored for some one currently working in Victoria St !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Barry Williams Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 I think that headhunters are useful in identifying outstanding candidates that might otherwise not apply. The mention of two singers leads me to think that the model of DOM having to be an organist may be approaching the end of its shelf life. Saying that the SPC job description appeared to be tailored for some one currently working in Victoria St !! In the past a lot of (and occasionally irreparable) harm has been done to childrens' voices by non-singers attempting 'choir training'. If a new generation of choir trainers avoid nodules on the vocal folds, then it will be worth it. Significant ability as an organist, at an advanced level, does not qualify anyone for choir training. Barry Williams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lee Blick Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 I agree totally. Some of the more provincial cathedrals could do with split roles too to improve the vocal training and get the boys back to the high singing levels of the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innate Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 In the past a lot of (and occasionally irreparable) harm has been done to childrens' voices by non-singers attempting 'choir training'. If a new generation of choir trainers avoid nodules on the vocal folds, then it will be worth it. Significant ability as an organist, at an advanced level, does not qualify anyone for choir training. A DOM job without any responsibility for playing the organ might attract a slew of talented choral directors with a cathedral music background. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted April 15, 2007 Share Posted April 15, 2007 This was taken from the website of Norwich Cathedral: MUSIC DEPARTMENT Exciting changes are in prospect for the Music Department from September, the beginning of the new Choir Year.................................... Our review started with David Dunnett's suggestion that he become Cathedral Organist in reality instead of just in title. He felt he would like to concentrate more on playing the organ and less on training and directing our choirs. If we were to agree to David's suggestion, we would be well provided for in the organ department with a Cathedral Organist of international repute and an excellent Organ Scholar in the person of Ben Giddens. Clearly, what we would need to look for in these new circumstances was not a simple replacement for Julian (- Thomas - the departing Assistant Organist) but a specialist choir trainer - not primarily an organist but possessing the specialist skills to train and direct our choir - boys, girls and men - to the high standard to which we have grown accustomed. Another new element, coming at an uncannily appropriate moment for our review, is the Government's new initiative to promote singing in schools by encouraging partnerships between cathedrals and local education authorities. The scheme, which is well funded by the Government, is administered by the Choir Schools Association of which our own Norwich School is a member. In conjunction with Norwich School we can use the Government funding for a musical outreach programme which we hope will have a number of benefits. First, it should help rekindle a desire to sing amongst the children of our local primary schools - we can send out groups of choristers (boys and girls) to encourage this. Secondly, it will help us with recruitment of potential choristers and raise the profile of cathedral music in the community. Thirdly, the funding will help with improving the financial provision we are able to make for our choir members. So instead of advertising for a new Assistant Organist, the Chapter decided to look for a Master of the Music among those for whom organ playing was not necessarily a priority, and to shape the job description and word the advertisement appropriately. An enthusiasm for the Singing in Schools initiative and a background in musical education was an important quality we needed to look for. Somewhat to my surprise we had an enormous response - a huge number of enquiries resulted in nearly forty applications. With the invaluable assistance of David Hill, Director of Music at St John's College, Cambridge, we were able to draw up a short-list of four, highly-qualified candidates; three from England and one from the United States of America. The interviews were fascinating, interesting and problematic - how were we to decide between four candidates of great ability? The auditions were even more illuminating: we invited all four candidates in turn to take a twenty minute rehearsal with the boys and then with the girls and men together. Our decision made, it is thus with great pleasure that we are able to announce the appointment of David Lowe, as Master of the Music, from 1 September. David was a Choral Scholar at King's College, Cambridge, from 1976 to 1979, a Lay Clerk at St George's, Windsor, from 1980 to 1992 and, since 1994, has been Professor of Singing at the Royal Academy of Music. He is a cornerstone of the choral establishment in Cambridge, conducting the University Chamber Choir and training choral scholars at King's, St John's, Trinity, Clare and Caius Colleges. He regularly teaches on the prestigious Eton Choral courses and maintains links as a regular choral manager for such conductors as Simon Rattle, Roger Norrington, Mark Elder and Richard Hickox. Coming to us here at Norwich will allow him to realise his greatest ambition which is to work within the English cathedral music tradition at shaping, training and directing a choir of his own. His commitment to music education is infectious and we know he will work with the new Singing in Schools initiative to its very great advantage in this part of East Anglia. It makes interesting reading! AJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lee Blick Posted April 15, 2007 Share Posted April 15, 2007 Sounds like a very good initiative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kropf Posted April 15, 2007 Share Posted April 15, 2007 Indeed very interesting. Most of you might know that at large catholic churches or cathedrals in Germany, the positions of organist and choirmaster are split (mostly due to the high amount of "lower" services which need the organ only and would make it impossible for a broadband musician to cover these AND to train the choirs). (This "German catholic" model is also found at most scandinavian cathedrals.) Large protestant churches in Germany prefer to have the English model of a DoM, with or without assistants/organ scholars. Very few exceptions have two musicians of equal importance, e. g. Hamburg St. Michaelis. German academic church music education traditionally emphasized the all-in-one musician, but the situation (of the parishes) is changing, and many of the the posts become more and more individually accentuated, and so a brilliant choirmast but merely poor organist can get his job as will the organ virtuoso who should better not try to lead a choir warm-up... Though, the latter situation is the less lucky one, as most congregations try to bind "new" people to their congregations, so being an attractive leader of choirs and other ensembles is now the more important capability for smaller and medium-sized posts. Could anyvbody provide a link or something for more information about that Governmental programme to encourage singing in schools? Thanks and greetings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ick1508 Posted April 15, 2007 Share Posted April 15, 2007 Have a look here , Karl, for something on 'singing in schools'. It's all rather new - I'm sure your govenment is no faster than ours at actually doing something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 Hey, don't joke....I could use one (or more) of those!!! P. Here you go, Paul! http://www.flickr.com/photos/robot_starry/458968759/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cynic Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 Here you go, Paul! http://www.flickr.com/photos/robot_starry/458968759/ 100% Off-topic alert - sensible readers will leave us here. Thanks for thinking of me! Sorry - I concede that this fair try, but having raised my hopes, I'm afraid that nothing less than three decks could possibly satisfy my needs. In fact, the ideal number of manuals for me is almost impossible to decide; obviously, one wants the maximum number for ego/boasting purposes but somewhat fewer for comfort and convenience! I have decided that eight is the optimum number to have - there shall be five on one console and three on the other. [Consoles to be next to each other]. Unfortunately, the main deficiency of wrap-around keyboards is that one might well have to turn slightly to play them. Not good! - no hope, in fact. I have already put some serious thought into this whole question because I am shortly due to commence re-construction of my magnus opus. I shall eschew fancy keyboards in favour of those that require virtually no movement at all. In preparation for my approaching senility/incapacity, mechanical assistance will be designed for the purpose of lifting my bulk onto the bench. Once that feat has been accomplished, I will require all necessary manual notes to be available to my sausage-shaped digits without me having to lean more than 10% from the vertical forward - more than this jeopardises the whole enterprise and could result in a Derrett-shaped hole in the middle of the console! Pedal notes may eventually be playable (if required) by means of a belt-driven punched card system. Stops beyond reach will either have to be drawn before I mount the console and left 'on' for the duration of any performance (enabling denizens of this remote village to 'enjoy' the results at a surprising distance) or un-acknowledged (and frequently verbally-abused) assistants with GHOS will steer the ridiculously large number of tonal controls of the beast on my bloated behalf*. *I suppose I could commission a slide-show-projector-style extension (as used by acolytes of a most distinguished Lancashire maestro) but then I would have to bother to choose stops in advance of The Performance. Sounds like too much of an effort to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APB Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 There is a short article on the organ rebuild on the Cathedral website here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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