Guest Lee Blick Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 I have come across few lady organists. Are there any at Cathedral level? Or is it mainly a male preserve? Why are there not many females? Surely all-male choirs could do with a few young ladies to keep them on their toes... well at least to watch the conductors. I'm not looking for one by the way. I'm not made that way. So please tell me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajt Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 I have come across few lady organists. Are there any at Cathedral level? Or is it mainly a male preserve? Why are there not many females? Surely all-male choirs could do with a few young ladies to keep them on their toes... well at least to watch the conductors. I'm not looking for one by the way. I'm not made that way. So please tell me. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sarah Baldock - Winchester, Rosemary Field - ex-Portsmouth, are 2 I can think of off the top of my head... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Bennett Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Julie Anne Tanner, Leeds RC Cathedral Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Louise Reid - formerly assistant Wakefield then Guildford - married to DOM at Peterborough and (I think) now i/c the girls choir at Ely. AJJ And Hazel Gedge at Brecon of course! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Judy Martin, DOM, Christ Church Cathedral Dublin. As far as I know she's the only woman to hold the no. 1 position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronald Shillingford Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Louise Reid - formerly assistant Wakefield then Guildford - married to DOM at Peterborough and (I think) now i/c the girls choir at Ely. AJJ And Hazel Gedge at Brecon of course! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I must correct Nick Tanner who stated Julie Tanner was in charge at Leeds R.C Cathedral. It is in fact Ben Saunders who Directs the Music and Julie is the one of the Organist's that accompanies. On the topic of Female Organist 's or are u specifically refferring to Directors's ? Well Elizabeth Stratford is Director of music at Arundel R.C Cathedral. Also, Louise who was Organ Scholar at Westminster Abbey some years ago is Assistant Director of music At Wakefield. Then theres Katherine Dienes no over at St Mary's Warwick formerly Assistant at Liverpool R.C Cathedral. So guys watch out ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Also, Louise who was Organ Scholar at Westminster Abbey some years ago is Assistant Director of music At Wakefield. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> She's moved on since then - check (& scroll down a bit): http://www.kings-ely.cambs.sch.uk/ AJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Roffensis Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 If we include in this thread Lady Parish Organists in the R.C. church, it will go on longer than the Worcester one. but then sir!, shall Madam wish to use the pedals or will the swell sub octave suffice? On a different note, female violinist seem by and large to be little marvels. All best, R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Bennett Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 I must correct Nick Tanner who stated Julie Tanner was in charge at Leeds R.C Cathedral. It is in fact Ben Saunders who Directs the Music and Julie is the one of the Organist's that accompanies. On the topic of Female Organist 's or are u specifically refferring to Directors's ? Well Elizabeth Stratford is Director of music at Arundel R.C Cathedral. Also, Louise who was Organ Scholar at Westminster Abbey some years ago is Assistant Director of music At Wakefield. Then theres Katherine Dienes no over at St Mary's Warwick formerly Assistant at Liverpool R.C Cathedral. So guys watch out ! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> There is no need to correct Nick Tanner at all. Firstly I am called Nick Bennett, and secondly I never suggested Julie was in charge there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Childs Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 Louise Reid - formerly assistant Wakefield then Guildford - married to DOM at Peterborough and (I think) now i/c the girls choir at Ely. AJJ And Hazel Gedge at Brecon of course! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I assume that Reid must be her married name since the surname on the Messiaen CD released from Wakefield was Louise Marsh and two female assistant organists with the same Christian name at the the same cathedral in such close temporal proximity seems too much of a coincidence. BAC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 I assume that Reid must be her married name since the surname on the Messiaen CD released from Wakefield was Louise Marsh and two female assistant organists with the same Christian name at the the same cathedral in such close temporal proximity seems too much of a coincidence. BAC <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You are correct - Louise Reid has a sister Joanna who is also an accomplished organist. Both were students of Marcus Sealy of Bath Abbey and Kingswood School - a superb musician and teacher and also a genius when it comes to service accompaniment. Anyone who heard the recent Choral Evensong from Bath will have heard him in action - his Widor afterwards was stunning. AJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Jones Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 Well it would seem there are quite a few ladies of the organ loft, and certainly more of them operating in our cathedrals and churches than on this forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 Well it would seem there are quite a few ladies of the organ loft, and certainly more of them operating in our cathedrals and churches than on this forum! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If my wife is anything to go by there are times when we 'forumites' have some problems being taken seriously! AJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrew Butler Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 No one has mentioned June Nixon - St Paul's cathedral, Melbourne. OK, not UK, but Anglican and with a fine T C Lewis! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Childs Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 No one has mentioned June Nixon - St Paul's cathedral, Melbourne. OK, not UK, but Anglican and with a fine T C Lewis! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> True but then we would have to take in the United States, starting with Dorothy P at St John the Divine unless she has grown tired of waiting for the organ to be fixed and moved on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Childs Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 Well it would seem there are quite a few ladies of the organ loft, and certainly more of them operating in our cathedrals and churches than on this forum! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Unless they have all chosen to hide behind a pseudonym ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrew Butler Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 True but then we would have to take in the United States, starting with Dorothy P at St John the Divine unless she has grown tired of waiting for the organ to be fixed and moved on. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well, i still think of John Scott as an English cathedral organist, so why not? And I can't spell Dorothy's surname either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Anyone who heard the recent Choral Evensong from Bath will have heard him in action - his Widor afterwards was stunning. AJJ <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I would agree that technically, he played it well. However, the registration was slightly odd. The score is marked in such a way as to imply the use of the tutti throughout - using changes of clavier to achieve a terraced dynamic. Personally, I thought that reducing to mf in the middle robbed the movement of much of its impact and grandeur. However, as you say, his accompanimental skills were good; (that which I heard at any rate - I had a school choir practice for most of the broadcast). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 True but then we would have to take in the United States, starting with Dorothy P at St John the Divine unless she has grown tired of waiting for the organ to be fixed and moved on. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> =================== The highly talented, vivacious and energetic Dorothy Papadakos is no longer the organist of St.John-the-Divine, New York. I think she was "eased out" of the position, for reasons which are best not discussed on the board. She resigned the position however. The current organist is Timothy J. Brumfield, B. Mus., and the Associate Organist is William E. Randolph, Jr., B. Mus. Of course, it goes without saying, that Dorothy still has many friends. MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 ===================The highly talented, vivacious and energetic Dorothy Papadakos is no longer the organist of St.John-the-Divine, New York. I think she was "eased out" of the position, for reasons which are best not discussed on the board. She resigned the position however. MM <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I seem to remember another Titulaire of St. John the Divine (David Pizzaro) who suffered an apparently similar fate. Perhaps it is not a very happy place in which to work.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 I have come across few lady organists. Are there any at Cathedral level? Or is it mainly a male preserve? Why are there not many females? Surely all-male choirs could do with a few young ladies to keep them on their toes... well at least to watch the conductors. I'm not looking for one by the way. I'm not made that way. So please tell me. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ========================== Changing tac ever so slightly, it is a FACT that women drivers are terrible, even though they have less accidents. They don't seem to have the same spatial awareness as men. There aren't too many women composers, and that cannot be down to a lack of opportunity. There aren't very many cathedral organists from the fairer sex. HowEVER, what about concert organists? There are a fair number who are right there at the top of the heap, and several who make a full-time living from it. They probably drive terribly, but as organists, they are spot-on and definitely not accident prone. Which reminds me, I shall be going to hear Jane Parker-Smith in the near future, when she appears at Leeds Town Hall. That should be good! MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Personally speaking, I would be happy just seeing JP-S (Unless she has changed substantially in the last ten years or so). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrew Butler Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 ==========================Changing tac ever so slightly, it is a FACT that women drivers are terrible, even though they have less accidents. They don't seem to have the same spatial awareness as men. ... Which reminds me, I shall be going to hear Jane Parker-Smith in the near future, when she appears at Leeds Town Hall. That should be good! MM <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 20 odd years ago, I heard DGW play a recital at Cheltenham Ladies College, and over a drink afterwards she told the group of us who had come from Bristol for the evening that on the way there, she had been caught speeding on the M4. I cannot mock, as on the way home I had a blow-out on the M5 whilst doing ** in the outside lane! (I had been drinking mineral water - honest!) I had a car-load of Bristol's finest organists, some of whom helped change the wheel. (Is there a "how many organists does it take....? joke??) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headcase Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Personally speaking, I would be happy just seeing JP-S (Unless she has changed substantially in the last ten years or so). Best be prepared for a shock, then...I think you'll find she's gained a lb or two. H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Best be prepared for a shock, then...I think you'll find she's gained a lb or two. H <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oh no! She used to look so, well.... you know.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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