Guest Cynic Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Dear folks, I had a few photocopied scores run off for those that had asked for them and these went in the post today (yes, I realise it has taken me some while to get around to it). In error, I seem to have allowed for more takers than actually got around to giving me their details. Should you be interested, please contact me with your postal address, it will be first come, first served (on the house) for those sets that remain. The package comprises: A Church Service interrupted by a Thunderstorm The Organ Trumpets (March Pomposo) dedicated to Henry Willis Rubinstein's Russian Patrol Your libraries might well not be complete without a few works by the legendary Lancashire Organ Virtuoso. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHM Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Is this David Clegg the same one that ran Makins until retiring a few years ago? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cynic Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Is this David Clegg the same one that ran Makins until retiring a few years ago? No. The David Clegg in question was organist of Littleborough Parish Church, Manchester from 1890 and Borough Organist of Salford from 1907. Extant from 1867-1923, he was a popular (not to say notorious) recitalist, giving regular concerts in such places as The Crystal Palace, Albert Hall and The Alexandra Palace. His appeal was somewhat sensationalist - improvisations including storms seem to have been a feature of his programmes! I owe this information to John Henderson's excellent tome. I think he must have been a premier fusician before the great Arthur Nobile coined this useful term! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cynic Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Thanks for the quick response. All available sets of music have now been spoken for. Have fun, folks! P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
father-willis Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Honourable members. I confess that it was - probably - me who brought up the subject of one D. Clegg and his notable compositions (especially looking for the "church service interrupted...). The noble "Cynic" has copied these and they have been pounced upon by all Clegg enthusiasts. Unfortunately I have only read this board this morning (unable to yesterday) and discover that my very wants have all been taken - gone!!! Now our own dear Cynic will have a certain difficulty making new copies (as explained to me in a PM) so I wonder if any of you kind readers who have received (or who are about to receive) said music would consider copying those pieces to me! Thanks in advance, F-W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
father-willis Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Might I repeat my request for scores (incase members missed my previous post or were perhaps on holiday)? Having started the David Clegg thread Cynic made available some copied scores one of which I was particularly keen on getting (Church service.....thunderstorm). He kindly made an offer to send copies out to people who wanted them. I missed reading about that until the day after(!) by which time all had gone. PLEASE would any of you kind people who did receive a Clegg score be willing to copy it and send me one? PM me is fine. In hopeful thanks, F-W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cynic Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Might I repeat my request for scores (incase members missed my previous post or were perhaps on holiday)? Having started the David Clegg thread Cynic made available some copied scores one of which I was particularly keen on getting (Church service.....thunderstorm). He kindly made an offer to send copies out to people who wanted them. I missed reading about that until the day after(!) by which time all had gone. PLEASE would any of you kind people who did receive a Clegg score be willing to copy it and send me one? PM me is fine. In hopeful thanks, F-W If all else fails, I will dig and photocopy again. Your method would work equally well fhw, and no doubt faster, since I am off 'on tour' again any day. P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classic car man Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 no probs - give me a week or so and I'll sort you a copy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carrick Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 Being involved with the newly installed Empress Ballroom organ in Blackpool, I find it sad there is so little documentation of the original organ installed by Clegg and its subsequent rebuild by Cookson under the direction of G.T Pattman in 1924. All there seems to be is a specification on NPOR, and some information a trusted source managed to dig out of his extensive archive which was all hand written copied information from newspaper accounts of the time. I've pieced together what I've managed to find out below. The first pipe organ in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, was originally a travelling organ built by an unknown Blackburn firm for David Clegg. It was installed in the Winter Garden's Indian Lounge (now gone, the space it was is now known as the Arena) in the first half of 1913, The Blackpool Herald, dated Tuesday 17 June 1913, lists David Clegg and his Military Band Organ in the Indian Lounge twice daily and Sundays at 8pm. It had eight manuals, not all of which were full compass, and they controlled the various divisions and effects of the organ. Over the summer season of 1913 the recitals on the organ grew in popularity and by October/November of that year, the organ was relocated from the Indian Lounge, next door, to the upper east balcony of the Empress Ballroom. David Clegg delivered the opening recital on the 12th of November and continued playing it for recitals, dances, and silent picture/film accompaniment right up till his death on the 31st of October 1923. Newspaper accounts vary the number of manuals during this time, from anything between eight and fourteen. It is possible that it was enlarged over the years and at the point of David Cleggs death, it had fourteen manuals. At the time of David Cleggs passing away the organ still belonged to him. The announcement of the organ being for sale by auction seemed to have triggered a public outcry and the people of Blackpool did not wish it to depart from the town. In May 1924 the Gazette and Herald reported that: "It is suggested that the employment of some progressive firm of organ builders, who would re-build the organ on more-or-less standard lines, whist retaining all the effects and material (which I assume is the rest of the organ), then tune it to concert pitch, is desirable. Two separate consoles should be provided, one in the traditional place and one “in the orchestra”. An expert organist should be called in to advise".The rebuild was completed by E.Cookson, an organ builder from the North East of England. The organist advising on the scheme was G.T Pattman. G.T Pattman left his position at the Empress Ballroom in 1925 and the position of recital organist was taken up by James Hodgetts F.R.C.O. Hodgetts remained at the Empress Ballroom until 1929, when he took up residency at the Tower Ballroom on the new 2/10 Wurlitzer. His position at the Empress Ballroom was taken up by William C. Vann, who later became depute organist to Reginald Dixon. William C. Vann was also organist at the Palladium and several Blackpool Churches. With the installation of the new Wurlitzer organ in the Empress Ballroom during the winter if 1934/35, it appears that the concert organ was, discarded unless someone knows otherwise. Attached is a photo of the ballroom in the late 1920s. The organ case can be seen on the far balcony, which is 15ft deep and spans some 90ft, and the ceiling topping out 45ft above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Newnham Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Interesting post Carrick. I've saved the post for future reference. Every Blessing Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveHarries Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 An interesting post: thank you for this. Looking on Wikipedia where there is a 2012 picture of the hall - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Ballroom#/media/File:Empress_Ballroom_Winter_Gardens_Blackpool.jpg - I can see that someone appears to be sitting at an organ console on the right of the picture. I guess the sound comes in through the grilles on the ceiling (not shown in the picture in carrick's post) but I have no idea as I have never been to the venue. Clearly not a pipe organ, however, as the NPOR has no information. From the NPOR it would seem that the Wurlitzer that was installed in the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool in around 1930 (NPOR R01469) was transferred to the Empress Ballroom in 1934 (NPOR D08326). That instrument was then transferred to the Playhouse Theatre, Manchester sometime in the 1970s (NPOR D08327) before finally going to the Assembly Hall, Worthing, Sussex (NPOR D08328) in around 1985. The current instrument in the Empress Ballroom is also Wurlitzer though thanks to the Cannock Chase Organ Club - https://www.tccoc.co.uk/installations/blackpool-empress-ballroom/ - and it must sound lovely in there. It would indeed be interesting to know what happened to the pipe organ in carrick's picture though. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carrick Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 13 hours ago, DaveHarries said: An interesting post: thank you for this. Looking on Wikipedia where there is a 2012 picture of the hall - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Ballroom#/media/File:Empress_Ballroom_Winter_Gardens_Blackpool.jpg - I can see that someone appears to be sitting at an organ console on the right of the picture. I guess the sound comes in through the grilles on the ceiling (not shown in the picture in carrick's post) but I have no idea as I have never been to the venue. Clearly not a pipe organ, however, as the NPOR has no information. From the NPOR it would seem that the Wurlitzer that was installed in the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool in around 1930 (NPOR R01469) was transferred to the Empress Ballroom in 1934 (NPOR D08326). That instrument was then transferred to the Playhouse Theatre, Manchester sometime in the 1970s (NPOR D08327) before finally going to the Assembly Hall, Worthing, Sussex (NPOR D08328) in around 1985. The current instrument in the Empress Ballroom is also Wurlitzer though thanks to the Cannock Chase Organ Club - https://www.tccoc.co.uk/installations/blackpool-empress-ballroom/ - and it must sound lovely in there. It would indeed be interesting to know what happened to the pipe organ in carrick's picture though. Dave The Tower Ballroom Wurlitzer was installed in the Tower Ballroom in 1929 - hence my reference above to James Hodgetts FRCO taking the job there after being at the Empress Ballroom for 4 years. The image shown on Wikipedia is of the new organ and I can assure you that it is a pipe organ, and speaks through the grilles above the stage. The new instrument utilised the disused chambers that were constructed for the original Wurlitzer in 1934. Regardless of all that though, if possible, to find out more of the original Clegg/Cookson organ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbouckley Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 Just noted this topic on the net. I'm David Clegg's grandson and as far as I know his only descendant. He died in the UK, and my grandmother came to Australia with my mother. I have some scores, original manuscripts, photos and other memorabilia stored away if anyone's interested. David Bouckley Newcastle Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveHarries Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 2 hours ago, dbouckley said: Just noted this topic on the net. I'm David Clegg's grandson and as far as I know his only descendant. He died in the UK, and my grandmother came to Australia with my mother. I have some scores, original manuscripts, photos and other memorabilia stored away if anyone's interested. David Bouckley Newcastle Australia Welcome to the forum. Good to know that some of his music etc. has survived. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dafydd y Garreg Wen Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 Welcome likewise. The niece of a local organist long deceased always mentions your grandfather’s Russian Patrol whenever I see her, so it evidently made an abiding impression on her. It was a piece her uncle enjoyed including in recitals. I think she would like me to play it for her for old time’s sake, but I’ve never come across a score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbouckley Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 Dafydd, Had a look through my collection. Seems like Russian Patrol was written by Rubenstein, not my grandfather. I've got a program of a performance of his pieces and others'. Russian Patrol has Rubenstein next to it as the composer. Being top of the concert agenda I guess means it must have been an impressive piece. I have some scans of what I have, but they're too large to attach in this forum. Regards, David dbouckley@gmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DariusB Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 I think David Clegg was the arranger of Rubinstein's "Russian Patrol." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dafydd y Garreg Wen Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 14 minutes ago, DariusB said: I think David Clegg was the arranger of Rubinstein's "Russian Patrol." Yes, that’s right. I remember now. Apologies for muddying the waters. Anton Rubinstein (not Arthur) of course, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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