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Messages - JBR

#1
Quote from: David Pinnegar on November 30, 2019, 02:07:36 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4iVold0eU is a Positif instrument, hand blown, demonstrating how with manual manipulation of the bellows phrasing can be extremely natural and beautiful . . .

Best wishes

David P

Who says the organ cannot be an expressive instrument?!
#2
Quote from: revtonynewnham on May 10, 2019, 07:11:00 AM
He has a fantastic technique  - but does the music communicate?  I'm far from convinced by his excessive tempos.  His playing comes across as "listen to how brilliant my playing is" rather than "listen to the music".  I've come across other players in the same vein - and it can and does alienate some people from the organ.

I gave up on the video quite early - I'd rather listen to the music than a voice-over in a foreign language.  Maybe I missed something more encouraging later in it.

I have to agree with you.  I admit that he possesses a distinct skill, but it is not to my taste musically either.
#3
Quote from: David Pinnegar on May 09, 2019, 01:01:41 PM
I haven't been particularly enamoured with a certain high profile performer but
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGbVnxj8DyE
puts him into a very different light. Perhaps as he matures we'll find that respect is very much deserved.

How did I know who you meant before I opened the video?!
#4
Electronic Organs / Re: New toy
June 25, 2019, 11:05:32 PM
Several different voicing options; several temperaments!  Yes, a very interesting 'toy' indeed.
If I could afford one, I'd love to have one of those!
#5
Quote from: Ian van Deurne on April 26, 2019, 04:00:38 PM
Thanks David for the update.

However, the news, by the cathedral organist himself that the staff of Notre Dame are going to raise the whole organ up "on a pulley" to get to the water damage seems rather frightening.
Doesn't he realise that an organ of this size will weigh around 85 tonnes at least!

Hopefully, someone will engage the services of a competent, professional organ builder before the instrument suffers even more damage than the fire ever did to it!

With best wishes,
Ian.

Raise it up using a pulley?

Surely they won't do that.  In fact, I see no reason for wanting to raise up the entire instrument to check for water damage.

I'd have thought the best thing to do would be to examine it thoroughly (internally) and even dismantle it as far as necessary.

I'd be interested to learn what they actually end up doing.
#6
I remember seeing an 'enharmonic' organ at the erstwhile harmonium museum in Saltaire.

I have a photograph I took at the time, though I'm not sure whether I can post it on here.  (It is, of course, a harmonium rather than a pipe organ.)
#7
Organ Builders / Re: The Stumm Organ Dynasty (I)
March 11, 2019, 10:43:58 PM
Quote from: Ian van Deurne on March 10, 2019, 05:28:27 PM
"We'd love to be able to do something, but we haven't any money"!
This might be all fair and well but......if only it was true!

The church contained a medieval stone pulpit, early 15th century I believe. At our last visit it had been hardly noticeable, just an old grey colour.
Now, however, it had been totally transformed into a picture of beauty. Lovingly restored, with all the medieval tracery and ornaments repainted in their original colours
"Isn't it just beautiful!" beamed the vicar. "We'd been meaning to get this wonderful piece of art restored for ages and now we've succeeded!" he cried.

I'm afraid that organs generally don't seem to be as highly regarded by the majority of people in this country, or that's how it sometimes seems.

Having said that, I know that there are a number of large cathedral organs in the UK which have recently been, or currently are being, restored at great expense.  To me, that is admirable foresight!

I can't believe that the many historical organs found in most of Europe are not all cared for properly.  Quite apart from their historical value, I get the impression that interest in the organ is stronger in most European countries than in the UK, although perhaps some countries, Spain and Portugal, for example, suffer from lack of money.  Even so, as long as those historical gems are not interfered with there is still the possibility of restoration if and when money becomes available.
#8
Best wishes, Tony.
#9
Perhaps, as religions (most, if not all anyway) are fading away, churches could become 'Temples of Reason'.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Reason

Although I admit to being an atheist, nevertheless I am interested all aspects of the pipe organ and would hate to see them disappear.  I'm sure that their music could exist quite happily in a temple of reason!
#10
Perhaps we should have a show of hands by those who can still see this.  Admin might then wish to try to contact other regular posters.
#11
Organs in danger / Re: St Paul's Church, St Albans
November 04, 2017, 10:25:30 PM
So another one bites the dust.  Sad... and shortsighted of someone.
#12
I sincerely hope not.

I have a long-standing interest in the pipe organ and, although I am an atheist, I attend churches and cathedrals not only to enjoy organ recitals but also to appreciate the architecture and history of the places.  I should also mention that I am also impressed by the peaceful and welcoming atmosphere of most of these places.

I can't believe I'm the only non-Christian with such interests!

Hopefully, as the following of most religions seems to be waning, perhaps churches may yet survive with functions such as meeting places, musical venues and, yes, organ concerts.
#13
Miscellaneous & Suggestions / Re: Sibelius users!
September 21, 2017, 10:14:03 PM
Can you overwrite letters on Sibelius, or perhaps move letters about to position them anywhere?
If that is the case you could, for example, place an 'O' somewhere and then superimpose a '/' on top of it.  Similarly, an 'A' with a (reduced size) 'o' placed above it.
#14
Miscellaneous & Suggestions / Re: Sibelius users!
September 17, 2017, 09:48:07 AM
Yes, Tony.  I had forgotten about that, but I've now found it hidden away somewhere and added it to my toolbar.
It certainly works when posting on here.  Let's hope it also works in Sibelius.
#15
Miscellaneous & Suggestions / Re: Sibelius users!
September 16, 2017, 10:20:51 PM
Quote from: David Drinkell on September 16, 2017, 09:50:11 PM
A question for Sibelius users: how does one get Norwegian letters (the "a" with a little circle over it and the "o" with an oblique stroke through it?

I've been trying to find how do it, but no luck so far!

The only suggestion I can offer is to use Word (Insert/Symbol), type the word including the å or ø (see how I did that!), copy it and then paste into Sibelius.
I'm not sure whether Sibelius will accept text created in Word, but perhaps it's worth a try.
#16
The owner might have been wealthy and probably didn't need any more money, but why did the selfish bugger not offer it for sale on ebay, preferably at a knock down price?  I'm sure he'd have got rid of it more quickly and easily than chopping it up and burning it.
#17
Organs in danger / Re: Slow death
September 04, 2017, 10:28:32 PM
Quote from: diapason on September 04, 2017, 10:06:28 PM
Sadly, I can't make the conference.  However, you may have seen the link I posted a few days ago to the campaign to save the organ in St Paul's, St Albans.  As a result of this campaign, a few of us are looking at the feasibility of forming a group aimed at the preservation of organs in churches - campaigning for their retention and use - and also the he-homing of organs which are 'redundant'.

Many green shoots amongst the devastation wrought by the happy clappy brigade.

A laudable proposal.  Unfortunately, the number of active churches seems to be reducing as well.

I must confess to being an atheist and so I do not attend church services.  I am, however, very happy to attend organ recitals.  Perhaps we could follow the lead of the French a couple of centuries ago and convert redundant churches to 'temples of reason'?  I don't know where the money would come from, though.

Re, the happy clappy brigade, I live in hope that it is a passing trend, and that it passes quickly!
#18
Quote from: David Pinnegar on May 09, 2017, 09:16:47 PM
The point about the Ripieno is that it's a buildup of octaves and fifths. So 8ft and 4ft Principal, then Nazard, Fifteenth, Larigot, 1ft, fifth above that and the octave above that. Of course they break back to the lower octaves at the upper end of the keyboards.

But perhaps people are familiar with the mock 32ft effect by playing fifths on the pedalboard. A fifth produces a beat note an octave below the lower note of the fifth. So as one starts to add octaves and fifths their beats add notes below them, and if these beats are strong enough, they will add octaves lower still. It's for this reason that the Ripieno adds gravitas whilst apparently going higher.

Best wishes

David P

But wouldn't you expect the same with quint mixtures and cymbels?  Or is it more to do with the sound quality of Italian principal pipes?
#19
Thanks Ian.  Interesting information.
#20
Quote from: Ian van Deurne on March 20, 2017, 01:01:00 AM
Firstly, your question on the Spitz Flute and Erzaeler.
The Spitz Flute is a medium sized, in bore and cut- up, a robustly - toned flute.  The word ' Spitz " implies that it has an open, invertly tapered body, and it has been traditionally used in the main 8 ft or 4ft flute chorus on the principal keyboard of the organ.  However, different organ builders might have their own interpretation on this.

Secondly, the Erzaeler, which is a little more difficult to explain.
In the USA, it generally denotes a mild - toned string stop, often paired with a Vox Celeste which gives an undulating effect when the two are used together.
       However, my own interpretation of the Erzaeler  (German : Narrator ) has always been a reed register

Thanks for your explanation.

I asked the question because, outwardly at least, the Spitz Flute and the Ezähler look very similar (in being tapered).  Consequently, I always thought that they must sound fairly similar too, although I realise that appearances can be deceptive and there are a number of alterations that can be made to change the sound of a pipe quite radically.

I can't say I have ever seen an Ezähler on a British organ, and had assumed that it was an entirely American thing which was just another name for a Spitz Flute or perhaps a Gemshorn.

If a mild string stop, then, could it be somewhat similar to a Spitzgamba which, I think, is more likely to be found in German speaking areas?

I confess that I was completely unaware that there were Ezählers in the form of reed stops.