mjgrieveson Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Hello there. Husband and self are in need of a week away and neither of us have explored this area. I know members of this forum have been away on this sort of jolly. As well as visiting galleries and museums I would love to take in a recital somewhere but don't have the first idea how to find out what is going on where. Could anyone help please? Don't much mind what it is but I'm currently in the mood for Buxtehude and Sweelinck and the like. How might one enquire, and where would be a good place to begin? If there is a beautiful organ in a lovely building to visit, I'm sure we would find other things of interest in the area. Many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Allison Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 hi. you could always try here its helped me when I first went to Paris for a few "organ" days. Apart from that, all I can think of, is to see if any of the churches in the area you are visiting have web sites. good luck, and enjoy Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidh Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Here are two suggestions, depending on when you plan to travel. Check out "open monument day" on 12th - 13th September http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?...;event_id=27438 http://www.openmonumentendag.nl/ There will be about 4,000 different places open to visitors, free. Many towns include organ recitals and organ visits as part of this programme. In large cities, such as Amsterdam, you can walk from one church to another and hear many half-hour recitals. It's a wonderful idea, but would be even better if different cities celebrated "openmonumentendag" on different dates; one can't be in so many desirable places at the same time. Otherwise there are several people who organise tours; for the last three years I have been on six-day tours in a small group, visiting about three organs a day and with a chance to play most of them. These have taken place each April for several years. See http://www.bussand.nl/dutchorgantours/ for details of this year's past programme and watch out for an announcement of the next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanderman26 Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Here are two suggestions, depending on when you plan to travel. Check out "open monument day" on 12th - 13th September http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?...;event_id=27438 http://www.openmonumentendag.nl/ There will be about 4,000 different places open to visitors, free. Many towns include organ recitals and organ visits as part of this programme. In large cities, such as Amsterdam, you can walk from one church to another and hear many half-hour recitals. It's a wonderful idea, but would be even better if different cities celebrated "openmonumentendag" on different dates; one can't be in so many desirable places at the same time. There's an Open Organ Day in the province of Friesland on September 12th: http://www.organumfrisicum.nl/Nationale%20...ag/speeldag.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Bennett Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 This web site lists lots recitals in the Netherlands. Click on "search" to get beyond the current week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjgrieveson Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 Some excellent resources - thank you all, this was the kind of thing I was looking for and will be a great help in planning an itinerary. I have loose thoughts of October floating around in my head but nothing is settled yet. Hope everything doesn't dry up when the tourist season tails off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanderman26 Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Some excellent resources - thank you all, this was the kind of thing I was looking for and will be a great help in planning an itinerary. I have loose thoughts of October floating around in my head but nothing is settled yet. Hope everything doesn't dry up when the tourist season tails off! This http://www.hetorgel.nl/eindex.html is the most complete calendar of organ concerts in Holland. However, when you need more information or suggestions for your visit to Holland, please let me know. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveHarries Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 A couple opf suggestions: - R.C Church of St. Nicholas, Amsterdam. The church is unmissable once you walk outside of Central Station. Church designed by A.C. Bleijs. Houses a Sauer organ of 1889, op. 505, which was renovated in 2001. I have heard the organ in use during services and sounds splendid. Interestingly the Organist & DOM at the church is an Englishman by the name of Michael Hedley (ex. Newcastle Cathedral and Guildhall School of Music) who has been there since January 2000. Having an English director of music does have one good side to it: from September to June (except for around Christmas) there is Choral Evensong on Saturdays at 5pm. That would be interesting. The wikipedia entry for the church seems to advise that Gregorian Vespers are sung otherwise. Church has 2 choirs who sing Evensong on alternate Saturdays. For anyone there around Christmas there is also a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols which, this year, is 19th December at 5pm. Organ specification: http://www.muziekindenicolaas.nl/orgeldispositie.html Organ picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pietbron/1586563148/ Church music site (in English): http://www.muziekindenicolaas.nl/english/ Photo of the Church from outside Central Station: http://davespix.fotopic.net/p9963233.html The music list can be accessed from the English part of the Church's music site. Anyway, back to organs. Another one I recommend you have a look at is the Grote of OLV Kerk, Breda. Splendid church which was restored throughout much of the 1900s. Organ by Flentrop (1969) with 4 manuals, 53 speaking stops and 3780 pipes. It contains parts from several earlier instruments. The organ history goes back to 1429 but the earliest part of the current one is the Positive, the case of which dates to 1534 and was probably put up by Hendrik Niehoff. Much of the pipework is from 1700s & 1800s although some of the pipes in a number of the stops are stated to be "zeer oud" (Very Old, ie. 16th & 17th centuries - 1534 or later according to the church's organ history book). More of that in the PM I have sent you. I've never heard the instrument but it looks a good instrument to hear. The church itself is also a beauty. View towards the rear of the church: http://www.flickr.com/photos/celesteh/1278699379/ Organ closeup: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamandyzoe/181908369/ Also, please check your PMs. I have sent you a message which, in addition to giving other information on the organ, also gives a vital travel tip for getting around Breda in case you go there. Have a good trip! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjgrieveson Posted August 22, 2009 Author Share Posted August 22, 2009 Thank you indeed and I shall now go and find Breda in the map because my knowledge of the area in question is non-existent. The pictures are glorious and it would be worth going just for a look at the instruments. I've had a look in my message box but nothing seems to have arrived on the subject - maybe later? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjgrieveson Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share Posted August 23, 2009 Many thanks DaveH for the pics and directions - I very much appreciate the trouble you have taken and am assembling materials and travel info to make this happen. Husband isn't an organ fancier however, so will have to include other venues and visits to even things out a bit, buts it's starting to get exciting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
En Chamade Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Do take time out to visit St Bavokerk's in Haarlem. It's well worth a visit and can easily be reached from Amsterdam Central Station. Here's some info on the organ. EC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveHarries Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Many thanks DaveH for the pics and directions - I very much appreciate the trouble you have taken and am assembling materials and travel info to make this happen. Husband isn't an organ fancier however, so will have to include other venues and visits to even things out a bit, buts it's starting to get exciting. No problem. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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