DHM Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 It was announced yesterday that the Cavaillé-Coll organ in Parr Hall, Warrington has been sampled for a well-known "virtual pipe organ" software program. I hope this might raise the profile of this apparently neglected organ and re-awaken interest in it. The sample-set producer said: "The organ has 3 manuals and some 45 speaking stops, including a 32' in pedal, but it is still a chamber organ, voiced originally to fit a small private room. I must confess that I have never heard such tender and refined voicing before. This sample set will be a true revelation, because it is so special among other Cavaillé-Coll's production, and also because the organ is today somewhat forgotten, almost unused for any public performance. The sample-set is due for release in about two months." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Allison Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 about b***** time. People like Christine Jose Rigby have been trying to keep the CC organ at the forefront, but greatly let down by the Warrington Borough Council, who just want it to rot, then can bin it (imho) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic DAVIDSON PORTER Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 Excellent news indeed! I am afraid that every time the name Warrington pops up, I am reminded of the Peter Sellers sketch involving the past-it thespian trying to cash a cheque... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic DAVIDSON PORTER Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 On a more serious note, is it known yet if the sample set will be "pure" C-C, or will it have the HW additions &c.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwhodges Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 That supplier typically offers both possibilities (and even if there are any additions, the original will be untouched and fully documented so you can restrict yourself to it, as is true with any sample seta for that software). Of course, some additional options are part of the software, and cannot be omitted - but they typically have a separate interface from the sample set's console (an example is that the software allows any manuals to be coupled). Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbarber49 Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 More info here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/660405240701596/posts/7965402740201773/?refid=18&paipv=0&eav=AfYrOZZtxr8p1LWpEVTxxMBuIMFFSOb65_R6nAq1Fmtf0V3wP9BPQopkfnl--FhF2XM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic DAVIDSON PORTER Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 Thank you both very much for replies/info/links. I DO hope most fervently that the authorities don't see the "Hauptwerk ing" of this glorious instrument as an opportunity to... ahem... wash their hands... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Pykett Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 If you want to hear the real thing, the late Roger Fisher issued an enjoyable CD recorded from sessions in 1984 and 2011. Wealden Studios WS 221. Their website suggests that it's still available. The Wikipedia article about the organ says that other recordings were also made but I don't know about their availability, nor have I heard them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwhodges Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 The (self-published?) CD on the late Roger Fisher's website is made up from the Wealden Studios recordings and later ones; Wealden Studios themselves vanished sometime later in the 1980s. I hope his family are keeping the sales of his recordings going. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Allison Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 13 hours ago, Nic DAVIDSON PORTER said: Thank you both very much for replies/info/links. I DO hope most fervently that the authorities don't see the "Hauptwerk ing" of this glorious instrument as an opportunity to... ahem... wash their hands... Too late I reckon. After the late lamented Sheffield comings and goings, am sure they just want rid, and to hell with any public outcry from a few. I would have thought that quite a high percentage of the general public in that area don't really care, especially at this time of high personal bills etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Furse Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 Being a Bear of Little Brain, there are several aspects of this sorry state of affairs I find puzzling. (I have not scrolled through any previous threads.) This is an historic and, presumably, fine-sounding (if not much, much better) instrument. I can find no recordings to which to listen online. If I have missed any, please point me in their direction. Attempts to restore the organ in situ (the most desirable solution in many ways), or move it into a nearby location, seem to have failed. Have serious efforts been made, therefore, to sell it to a worthy buyer, who would treasure it ? If they want rid of it, do the local authorities not wish for the funds this would provide for the benefit of their council tax-payers ? If it is not wanted locally, its preservation and restoration is of the utmost importance. Has no other venue (sacred or secular) expressed an interest ? With the sale of (possibly) much less historic organs overseas, this seems incredible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Pykett Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 1 hour ago, Peter Allison said: Too late I reckon. After the late lamented Sheffield comings and goings, am sure they just want rid, and to hell with any public outcry from a few. I would have thought that quite a high percentage of the general public in that area don't really care, especially at this time of high personal bills etc. I was simultaneously amused and impressed by the link below describing an AGO event designed to promote deliberately the 'scary and spooky' image of the pipe organ: https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2021-10-27/why-is-the-pipe-organ-so-scary What an excellent idea! I wonder whether there might be mileage in putting on something similar at Warrington to showcase the instrument and bring it closer to public awareness in the area? The idea came to mind last night while I was listening to Roger Fisher's CD of the instrument which I mentioned above. At the time I was listening to Franck's Fantaisie in A, a solid 14 minutes' worth of music that might well be described as scary (or gloomy or boring?) by some listeners, regardless of what we organ nuts might think about it. I've said previously that, if we want to sell the organ to the public, we shouldn't make the mistake of thinking that we are selling it to ourselves. It's no good preaching to the choir. The public out there should be regarded as customers for a product, who need to be attracted by presenting it in ways which we ourselves might well find surprising and possibly distasteful. In the Warrington context, and particularly in the context of this topic, perhaps a battle-of-the-organs type of event could be staged when the new sample set becomes available, in which the electronic and real versions of the instrument are compared and contrasted. One can envisage some sort of competition in which the audience (or those among them who want to participate) are either blindfolded or asked to turn round while pieces are played on both instruments. They then assign marks which are later totted up and announced as the 'winner'. It's been done before of course, and it usually goes down well and in some cases has attracted news media attention. Of course, I guess the problem with this idea would arise if the winner was the electronic version ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Allison Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 On 19/03/2023 at 08:02, John Furse said: Being a Bear of Little Brain, there are several aspects of this sorry state of affairs I find puzzling. (I have not scrolled through any previous threads.) This is an historic and, presumably, fine-sounding (if not much, much better) instrument. I can find no recordings to which to listen online. If I have missed any, please point me in their direction. Attempts to restore the organ in situ (the most desirable solution in many ways), or move it into a nearby location, seem to have failed. Have serious efforts been made, therefore, to sell it to a worthy buyer, who would treasure it ? If they want rid of it, do the local authorities not wish for the funds this would provide for the benefit of their council tax-payers ? If it is not wanted locally, its preservation and restoration is of the utmost importance. Has no other venue (sacred or secular) expressed an interest ? With the sale of (possibly) much less historic organs overseas, this seems incredible. John, from what I have gleaned from the Warrington CC situation, there are some people (organists/pro builders and non professionals alike) that there is a concerted effort been made to do something positive, but sadly (from the Facebook page) its falling on deaf ears of the halls owners ( WBC) If anyone wanted to purchase it, they would have to find an extreme amount of money (North of a million £, so am told) then restore it. As for any concerts on it, think I went to the last one a few years ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Furse Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 Thank you, Peter. I skimmed that Facebook page, too, and was surprised that such a worthy collection of knowledgeable folk could not 'make inroads' with the local authority. It does not quite make sense that they seem prepared to allow such a sum of money go to waste, as it were. Nonetheless, a million quid is not necessarily an absurd amount, when one thinks of what would be purchased. OK, another very large amount would be necessary for relocation and restoration. However, I feel sure that possibilities exist - sadly, these may not be in the UK. If this seeming lack of concern, nay disregard, for an historic treasure persists, I wonder whether it merits an approach to The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Furse Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 I failed to acknowledge Colin's contribution. (Yesterday was rather frenetic.) Anything and everything should be done to save this instrument (which I still haven't heard in any way) from the skip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SomeChap Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 I am lucky enough to have played this organ back in the 90s. I can confirm she has superstar qualities, Actually I wonder (idly) if she's the sort of organ who could do with a name - like the Collins in Orford, which I understand has been christened Anna Magdalena? Marie-Claire perhaps? Or Dame Gillian? Every little helps, as they say! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic DAVIDSON PORTER Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 Marie-Claire is a BRILLIANT idea!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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