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Messages - rh1306

#1
Organ Builders / Re: Willis History
March 27, 2013, 12:03:45 AM
I believe the Thornton Heath instrument went to Japan...
#2
I am devastated by the sudden death of Carlo, my best friend of 35 years, the most talented organist the world has ever known.
RIP my dearest Carlo :'(
Dick 
#3
...or a BOURDING 16'  :)
#5
Electronic Organs / Re: Miller Spinnetta
June 27, 2012, 12:46:18 PM
This event took place on Friday, 16th April 1971 and featured Nicholas Kynaston, Marcel Dupre and Reginald Foort at the RAH organ, George Blackmore at the Hammond X66, and Jackie Brown at the Conn Theatre 3 manual organ.

Marcel Dupre was, by this time, becoming extremely frail (he died aged 85 just six weeks later) and had to be assisted up the steps to the console.  He performed three pieces - Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D minor; his own Cortege and Litany and an Improvisation on two submitted themes, one of which, if my memory serves me correctly, was the English lullaby "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (I can't remember the other theme but it may have been something Patriotic such as "Rule Britannia").

I still have the printed booklet and programme for the RAH Grand Centenary Organ Festival (15p Admission!!!).

Richard H
#6
Hi,

Wagner's Liebstod (Tristan und Isolde) features on Track 2 of the Carlo Curley CD "The Emperor's Fanfare", recorded at the organ of Girard College Chapel, Philadelphia, and released in 1990 by The Decca Record Company Ltd., London.  It is no longer commercially available, but copies of this CD can occasionally be found on ebay.  Hope this is of some help.

Good luck!

Regards,

Richard
#7
Frederick Rothwell, 1955 is all I can ascertain about this instrument.....
#8
Organ concerts / Re: Alexandra Palace April Concert
April 07, 2012, 10:41:12 PM
WOW!  What an interesting and varied programme.  I just HAVE to get there somehow, despite the fact that I now live 150 miles away from AP.....this one is far too good to miss.  Thanks for posting!

Regards,

Richard
#10
Hi,
I used to tune and maintain this instrument for Rest Cartwright & Son in the early 1960s and it was a terrible old thing then.
Richard
#11
Removal of the Tuba???   That was the BEST stop on the old SLJ organ :o
#12

"Oh, with regard to SLJ, I should perhaps point out that the person responsible for the junking of the old organ (there are those who will know to whom I refer)....."

This 'person' has wreaked havoc and destruction wherever 'they' have been.  Their only redeeming feature is  being an exceedingly fine player..... 
#13
Professor Gordon Phillips:

http://www.animusi.co.uk/page15.htm

Margaret Evelyn Cobb, Mus.B, first Organist of the rebuilt St. Lawrence Jewry-next-Guildhall, London 1957
#14
A difficult choice, but my personal all-time favourites are, in order of preference:
1) Carlo Curley
2) Virgil Fox
3) Sir George Thalben-Ball
4) Gordon Phillips
5) Margaret Cobb
#15
Being someone who has regularly attended recitals at St. Lawrence for a period of over 40 years, I think that I am probably more qualified than most to make a reasoned comparison and judgement between the old and new organs.

I have always been under the impression that the organ from St. Paul's, Camden Square was actually a Willis, and that only the pipework was used in the construction of the 1957 organ for St. Lawrence Jewry.  In fact I was told this by no lesser a person than Ivor Davies himself, who apparently had somehow acquired the instrument and subsequently sold it on to Noel Mander.

By the end of the 20th century, the Mander organ was indeed showing signs of age, but could have easily been rebuilt for a fraction of the cost of the new Klais which, to my ears is a loud, raucous and most unmusical of intruments - a unappealing sound indeed. ...

#16
@AnOrganCornucopia: you have had the courage to say precisely what I meant!  The old organ was sublime, but the new one is more than LOATHSOME - it's an ABOMINATION!!! 
#17
Hi,

My own personal 'in memoriam' would be the 1957 Mander, formerly in the Church of St. Lawrence Jewry-next-Guildhall, London, E.C.2., destroyed by 'enemy action' in 1999>:(  I will refrain from commenting on its replacement!!!

Regards,

Richard
#18
Miscellaneous & Suggestions / Re: Town hall organs
February 06, 2012, 05:11:13 PM
Hi,

Regrettably, Barrie, it is the same old story practically everywhere; heritage is not at the top of most Councils' list of priorities, all part of a deliberate policy to undermine, and ultimately destroy, our National identity and culture.  Enough said!

The set of frescoes by Ford Madox Brown which adorn the Grand Hall of the Manchester Town Hall are suffering very badly from damp and a white fungal growth, and the fine timber roof is imperilled by copious and widespread water penetration.  In my humble opinion the Cavaille-Coll is a vastly superior instrument to the Bridgewater Hall Marcussen.

Regards,

Richard
#20
Miscellaneous & Suggestions / Re: Town hall organs
February 01, 2012, 01:55:13 AM
Pitiful state of the Manchester Town Hall Cavaille-Coll:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGaSc0YosK8