JohnW Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 BLOOMSBURY CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH 235 SHAFTESBURY AVENUE, LONDON WC2H 8EP GRAND ORGUE THE NINETEENTH CENTURY EXPLORED SATURDAY 28th JANUARY 2012, 2pm - 7pm RECITALS THREE 30 MINUTE RECITALS WILL GIVE AN OVERALL IMPRESSION OF THE PERIOD AND ITS MUSIC: Mo Wha Chan (Organ Scholar - St Maryʼs Cathedral, Edinburgh) French Music - 2:00 Jonathan Hope (Organ Scholar - Southwark Cathedral) English Music - 3:15 Tim Wakerell (Sub-Organist - St Paulʼs Cathedral) German Music - 4:30 The day will end with a 60 minute recital at 6:00pm: Gerard Brooks (Central Hall, Westminster) A Survey of the Period in Sound PRESENTATIONS THREE 30 Minute PRESENTATIONS WILL LOOK AT RELATED TOPICS TO THE RECITAL MATERIAL: WILL FRASER (FUGUE STATE FILMS) - CAPTURING CAVAILLEʼ-COLL ON DVD - 2:30 THE RHINEGOLD SINGERS - CHORAL MUSIC OF THE PERIOD - 3:45 GERARD BROOKS - THE OVERALL BACKGROUND - 5:00 DISPLAYS THERE WILL BE DISPLAYS OF/BY ORGAN RELATED ORGANISATIONS, BOOKS, MUSIC, CDs REFRESHMENTS ONGOING DURING THE AFTERNOON. A BOOKABLE BUFFET AT 5:30PM COST FOR THE AFTERNOON RECITALS AND DISPLAYS - FREE (BUT WITH AN ONGOING COLLECTION) THE BUFFET - £5 CONCLUDING GERARD BROOKS RECITAL - £5 DETAILED INFORMATION http://www.organists...org/grand.orgue Please let Philip Luke know -philipluke@waitrose.com or phone 01953 688393 if you would like to book a buffet meal in advance or for any further information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbarber49 Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 I'm thinking of going to this - what's the organ like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Luke Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 A first posting from me and as Organist /DOM at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church it is a pleasure to respond to Stephen's question - let's hope that any perceived favourable bias from now on will be minimal! The present instrument is 95% JJ Binns and new to Bloomsbury in 2008. The previous instrument of multiple parentage had a long and not too happy genesis through several cost-saving rebuilds but the reordering of the church around 2000 provided the opportunity to explore alternative organ possibilities. One of the options considered was of using the redundant organ from Beechen Grove, Baptist Church, Watford - a sizeable 3-manual including Tuba - and during one week in 2006 we experimented using a few hundred of these Binns pipes and the improvement, I have to say, was dramatic. Most noticeable was the glimmer of a bold chorus scheme, warm harmonic flutes (most of the previous ones were very dry) and very characterful French strings. However, the Watford organ was by no means 100% complete (many ranks having previously been sold) and to maintain a viable basic JJ Binns unity we would need to find another similar redundant organ. The late and much-missed Colin Goulden rang me with much helpful advice and pointed out that the redundant Binns at St Augustine's, Tonge Moor, Bolton might suit our purposes admirably. We were very fortunate in being able to purchase the Binns pipework which was in reasonable condition. Thousands of other organ pipes were strewn around the west gallery and other parts of the church in what was, we were told, an unfinished attempt to create the second largest organ in Lancashire! In late 2006 the Bloomsbury Church AGM voted unanimously to support the organ scheme and the total support of the church and ministers have been central to everything since. The Shepherd Brothers spent a whole year in the preparation and voicing of the scheme aided by John Males (electronics) and Keith Bance - who fitted and voiced the 32' reed. The Vox Humana and the Subbass 32' (Polyphone) were added as extras to the scheme. The organ specification as listed on the NPOR can be seen here: file://localhost/Users/philipluke/Desktop/http-::www.npor.org.uk:cgi-bin:Rsearch.cgi%3FFn=Rsearch&rec_index=P00257.webloc Since its installation the Shepherd-Binns organ has been used extensively in a whole host of activities. The Saturday Afternoon Organ Buffet Concerts (the last Saturday of each month) are proving to be very popular and leading players are now writing-in all the time. Apart from the organ itself, a more-or-less ideal central location combined with free admission (collection,) buffet, double-screen projection, and perhaps the more popular time-slot - 4:00pm - are all playing their part. We try to be as welcoming and friendly as possible and others considering promoting organ concerts might find a few of these ideas helpful. The Grande Orgue event in association with Philip Norman Music Services is one of a number of collaborative events at Bloomsbury; others will include the RSCM / RCO. At present we are planning a busy 2013. As this subject has come-up before, perhaps I can announce now that Robert Quinney will perform Francis Pott's Christus in 2013. Lots of popular concerts, too, but don't miss this!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnW Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 Specification of the organ of Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church Shaftesbury Avenue, London Great Bourdon 16 Open Diapason 8 Stopped Diapason 8 Flauto Traverso 8 Dolce 8 Principal 4 Harmonic Flute 4 Octave Quint 2 2/3 Fifteenth 2 Mixture 4rks (15, 19, 22, 26) Double trumpet 16 Trumpet 8 Clarion 4 Swell - Great Choir - Great Swell Tremulant Geigen Principal 8 Lieblich Gedact 8 Viol d’ Orchestre 8 Voix Celeste 8 Geigen Principal 4 Lieblich Flute 4 Fifteenth 2 Mixture 3rks (15, 19, 22) Bassoon 16 Horn 8 Clarion 4 Oboe 8 Vox humana 8 Swell Octave Swell Sub-Octave Swell Unison Off Choir (enclosed) Tremulant Salicional 8 Gedact 8 Principal 4 Wald Flute 4 Piccolo 2 Larigot 1 1/3 Flageolet 1 Sesquialtera 2rks (12, 17) Sharp Mixture 3rks (22, 26, 29) Clarinet 8 Unenclosed Trompette 8 Tuba 8 Swell - Choir Choir Octave Choir Sub-Octave Choir Unison Off Pedal Sub Bass 32 Open Diapason 16 Bourdon 16 Dulciana 16 Principal 8 Bass Flute 8 Fifteenth 4 Octave Flute 4 Twenty Second 2 Sackbut 32 Trombone 16 Bassoon 16 (Swell) Trumpet 8 (Great) Clarinet 4 (Choir) Swell - Pedal Great - Pedal Choir - Pedal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Kemp Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 I am intending to be there but will not require the 5.30pm buffet. Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 A first posting from me and as Organist /DOM at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church it is a pleasure to respond to Stephen's question - let's hope that any perceived favourable bias from now on will be minimal! The present instrument is 95% JJ Binns =============================== I know so many very usefully re-built Binns organs, which seem to lend themselves to tonal modifications when these are performed well. Indeed, I lived with an original Binns for about three years, and then with a re-built and tonally expanded Binns, which was wonderful. Here is one of the best I know:- http://www.hdoa.org..../organ.php?id=8 (Click on sound clips) So congratulations on what I would regard as a very sound choice of donor instrument, which should serve you well for many years to come. MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnW Posted January 18, 2012 Author Share Posted January 18, 2012 The programmes for the recitals are as follows:- Mo Wah Chan - French Music Pièce Héroïque César Franck (1833 - 1890) Andante Cantabile C-M Widor (Symphony 4) (1844 - 1937) Fantasia in Eb Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921) Carillon de Westminster Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937) This recital is sponsored by the family of the late Rev. Seth Stephens Jonathan Hope - English Music Sonata in G Major (Mvt. 1) Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934) Elegiac Romance John Ireland (1879 - 1962) Concert Rondo Alfred Hollins (1865 - 1942) Tim Wakerell - German Music The Soul of the Lake - S Karg-Elert (Seven Pastels from (1877 - 1933) Lake Constance - Op. 96) Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme - Max Reger (Kleine Choralvorspiele - Op. 135a) (1873 - 1916) Fantasia on the Choral - Max Reger 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (Op. 52, No. 2) This recital is sponsored by The Karg-Elert Archive Gerard Brooks Siegfried Karg-Elert (1877-1933) - Toccata - Jerusalem, du hochgebaute stadt (Jerusalem, Thou High Built City) - Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele (Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness) - Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Wake, awake, for night is flying) Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937) - Marche du Veilleur de Nuit (The Nightwatchman’s March) Alexandre-Charles Fessy (1804-56) - Offertoire Alexandre-Pierre-François Boëly (1785-1858) - Fantaisie & Fugue in Bb - Judex Crederis Eugène Gigout (1844-1925) - Rhapsodie sur des Noëls Charles-Marie Widor - from Symphonie no. 5 - - ii) Allegro cantabile - - iii) Andantino quasi allegretto - from Symphonie no.6 - - v) Finale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbarber49 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Just registered for the afternoon - it looks fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Specification of the organ of Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church Shaftesbury Avenue, London Great Bourdon 16 Open Diapason 8 Stopped Diapason 8 Flauto Traverso 8 Dolce 8 Principal 4 ... ... Swell - Pedal Great - Pedal Choir - Pedal On paper (which I know can be deceptive) this looks to be a good scheme. I assume that there are no 'secret' digital ranks in on the Pedal Organ - at least, not with this pedigree? For the record, what was the original scheme of the Choir Organ, please? The planned events look to be interesting and well worth attending. Oh for a Saturday off.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Luke Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 In answer to pcnd, the first Choir Organ of 1969 was based on extension principles and was a fairly typical 'child of its time': Spitzflute 8 E, Dulciana 8 A, Flute 4 E, Nazard 2 2/3 F, Piccolo 2 E, Tierce 1 3/5 TG, Larigot 1 1/3 F, Clarinet 8 Prepared for The 1990 scheme incorporated additional pipework from various sources including Holy Trinity, Eastbourne, but for these and other reasons the problems of balance and ensemble were never wholly satisfactorily resolved: Spitzflute 8 Rohrflute 8 Gemshorn 4 Sauberflote 4 Principal 2 Larigot 1 1/3 Sesquialtera II 12.17? Cymbale III Cremona 8 Trompette 8 Tremulant There are no digital stops at all on the organ. The Polyphone was originally at a church in South-East London and in the Bloomsbury acoustic its presence is keenly felt but is still proportionate when underpinning ppp manual combinations. I suspect that there is a revival of interest (and possible reassessment) in the work of JJ Binns at present. Perhaps I can be forward in mentioning that the church of St Stephen's, Rochester Row has also recently acquired a JJ Binns and the opening recital will be given by James O'Donnell on Wednesday, April 5th at 7:30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Thank you for this information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I suspect that there is a revival of interest (and possible reassessment) in the work of JJ Binns at present. ============================ Long overdue; thought the reeds were not absolutely top-drawer quality by and large. Hopefully, the same revival of interest might also include Charles Brindley and Isaac Abbott; two of the other very significant northern buidlers active around the same time. There is to be found in the organs of these three builders, IMHO, the basis for a whole new potential and future direction in British organ-building. MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Owen Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 The recital mentioned above at St Stephen's, Rochester Row in London on the transplanted Binns is, I believe, on Wednesday, 25th April not the 5th as stated. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Luke Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Thank you, Martin, and I'm happy to be corrected on this: the date is Wednesday, 25th April. As small compensation perhaps I can just add that Daniel Moult, Stephen Farr and Rosemary Field (the DOM at Rochester Row) will also be participating in the opening series. As for timings, etc I think I will refrain from playing the dating game in the light of recent experience...............Come to think of it, could this not be a fascinating new thread?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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