Organ matters - Organs matter!

Hi!


We are moving this site to a new server based in the UK over the next couple of days. We aim to avoid losing any posts posted during the changeover but it's always a possibility and we'll do the best we can.


The server will take over from two servers currently in America holding around 40 or so sites and the new server has capacity for around 50 more. If anyone would like site hosting, we can offer space at good value, supporting the cost of running this forum at the same time.


Best wishes


Forum Admin

Dear Matthew


I have removed Richard's secondary comment which was clearly poorly thought . . . and left the former comment relating to your being underrated, which I believe would be the common opinion of all who know you!


As all who know Richard know, he is like the Curate's Egg, means awfully well but leaves mud on the carpet rather often in whatever he says or writes . . .


If anyone does notice any mud on the carpet, so to speak, within this forum please can you draw it to our attention using antespam at gmail.com and we will get out the editorial "shake 'n vac" as fast as is practicable.


Particular thanks are due to volunteers assisting with admin on this forum who have worked hard in this regard.


Meanwhile we look forward to you posting details of your recent Hastings organ restoration in the Organ Builders section of the forum and details of the temperament used there.


Best wishes


Forum Admin

Hi!


I have just had a message:

Quote

I have from time to time observed guests "registering for an account on the forum" but seldom see these appear as new members... I am afraid something in the registration process is either scaring them off or these are some form of automated device at work... Just don't know.   

I hope it isn't the former... The registration process is hardly anything different from anything else I have experienced anywhere else on the Web... right down to the "terms of service agreement"... 


But there may be a "bug" crawling about that needs a good stomping on

If anyone has difficulties please email antespam@gmail.com
Best wishes

Forum Admin

This topic has been moved to Questions of Temperament.

http://www.organmatters.co.uk/index.php?topic=458.0

Hi Tony!


Yes - greatly inspirational! Thanks for posting - really good fun!


Best wishes


Forum Admin


(By the way how did this get into a sticky topic category?)

Hi!


The world of organs should be one inhabited by gentle people . . . but who have the guts to pull out the Tuba or Grand Jeu when required. However sometimes one gets a cypher and an Ophicleide makes a rude noise when not required.


As Forum Admin, I felt that the thread carrying the good news of the excellent Lyme Regis course, which we hope will be supported well, http://www.organmatters.co.uk/index.php?topic=423.0 contained information which I felt to be irrelevant, inappropriate within the discussion, insupportable and offensive and I have deleted the sections concerned.


We neither want nor like to make any editorial changes to contributions to this forum, but should anyone notice any posts which fall into a category which justify editorial intervention for any reason, please can you report them to Administrators without delay.


Posts are the responsibility of the writers and not of the Administrators, who do not monitor every posting made to the forum. However, where posts are drawn to our attentions we would like to take appropriate action where appropriate as soon as is practicable.


Best wishes,


Forum Admin


POSTSCRIPT Anyone tempted to make derogatory comments may find http://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,819.0.html of interest.

Quote from: NonPlayingAnorak on January 20, 2011, 04:39:27 PM
Of course diversity is a good thing! There are some excellent neoclassical organs (the work of Degens and Rippin/GDB comes to mind, as do certain Frobeniuses, Wm Drakes, Goetze and Gwynns, Aubertins...). I'd just heard that the - edited out by Admin on account of unsupported hearsay

This thread is about an organ course. It is not about the merits of different organs. Please will you observe relevancy.

Quote from: NonPlayingAnorak on January 20, 2011, 07:53:14 AM
50 ranks? That's pretty big! Edited out by Admin on account of unsupported information

A bad workman blames his tools. A good musician makes music on whatever instrument is to hand. A 50 rank instrument will have many and varied tonal resources to draw on. This course is about how to make music, even on an instrument whose idioms may be unfamiliar. Opinions from playing organists with first hand experience are more worthwhile than from non-players.


This thread is about encouraging organ playing education, not opinionated noise about the quality of a particular instrument. Please will you keep relevancy in mind if you choose to contribute to this forum.

Admin

Quote from: NonPlayingAnorak on January 20, 2011, 08:01:25 AM
Oh God!

Please would you kindly not blaspheme.


This thread is about a parish whose budget is in hundreds of pounds and where there are clearly diplomatic difficulties where it is unlikely that further funds can be released.


Elsewhere in this forum there have been examples of where electronics that are good enough get replaced by better pipe organs on the basis of the enthusiasm created. The previous post was made in that spirit and it should be obvious to you that the chances of raising a hundred times the budgets currently in issue at the parish to achieve the goal you suggest are hardly likely to be relevant in the circumstances.

Admin

Quote from: NonPlayingAnorak on January 20, 2011, 07:48:11 AMunequal temperament: some other music simply does not work without ET. I know that my mother has expressed an interest in performing her piano sonata at Hammerwood, possibly a song cycle (as yet unperformed) which she wrote a few years ago, but, having been written with the rich, ET tone of her 1917 Bosendorfer, an early Bechstein tuned to UT would be a disaster second only to a modern, brassy, sharp-tuned metallic-toned Steinway.

Please would you kindly observe some degree of relevance in threads. This thread is about the suitability and advantages of providing calm harmonious well tuned and enjoyable home keys in the early stages of musicianship rather than the purposes of virtuosity.


Admin

Hi!


Thanks _so_much_ for posting these very helpful and informative articles.


For visitors to this forum, the writer here trained as an organ builder many years ago and this gives him a very helpful perspective whilst in retirement he studies and plays French organs and composes. If anyone would like a great piece to play, PM him for his Fugue on Incompatible Themes and it will greatly entertain you as well as anyone you play it to . . . !


Best wishes and Happy New Year


ForumAdmin

Hi!


I hope everyone has a good 2011 and that between us we might be able to raise appreciation for the King Of Instruments more in this year to come. It would be great if the year is not one in which we see organs in skips or destroyed by bulldozers.


We frequently see "Guests" logged in as browsing the forum: it would be great if we knew a bit more why guests browsing don't join up . . . ? Or contribute . . . . ? Or merely ask questions? There's enough categories to provide for all areas of interest aren't there? Suggestions are always welcome . . . !


It would be really great to start the year with 100 members . . . can we see just two more people joing during the day?


Best wishes


ForumAdmin

Hi!


The server that hosts this forum is one of a pair of servers. The other server has problems and as a result access to this site may be flakey over the coming couple of weeks or so. Please don't be alarmed by this.


Does anyone know any server experts: we are going to be looking for a new server provider for some 50 sites or so. Any suggestions?


Best wishes


ForumAdmin

Hi Eric!


thanks for pointing that out - I have altered the heading appropriately


Best wishes


ForumAdmin

Hi!


Welcome new members!


Free speech and in particular independence from any manufacturers is fundamental to stoking the fires of boilers of enthusiasm . . . so that in the future people enjoy, and respect, pipe organs.


Whilst it's said that all publicity is good publicity, it is of concern here that the name of an electronic manufacturer has been linked here as a negative influence. I would add, however, that elsewhere on this forum mention has been made of that same electronic manufacturer having produced an instrument in the 1960s which is now being replaced by a pipe organ, and possibly regrettably as the instrument from what we saw in the videos was a fine instrument and that even though it was electronic, it was such a mammoth opus and effective into the bargain, that people would have had reason to seek its preservation. It was certainly inspiring enough to cause the parish to want to build a real pipe organ - and so this electronic producer should be applauded in the cause of pipe organ enthusiasm.


I would ask people who have mentioned the name to think responsibly about whether the name should be linked to this subject matter and to alter their posts substituting the words "electronic manufacturer" instead. What has been said about the behaviour of other electronic manufacturers, trampling pipes etc, is of great relevance in generality to pipe organ preservation issues - and that's what this forum is about.


Best wishes


ForumAdmin

Willis - UK - http://www.willis-organs.com Excellent site with details of current projects, concerts and a guide to the factory including the Erection Room.  :o  Should be enough to excite any teenager.

This topic has been moved to Organ Builders.

http://www.organmatters.co.uk/index.php?topic=286.0

Further details on
http://www.organrecitals.com/1/recitals0.php?venue=htw

Hi!


It's rare to see gravestones or memorial plaques in memory of lost pipe organs. The one here is particularly poignant . . .

Does anyone know of any others? Please can you post photos here?


Here is the pipe display referred to:



The historic pipe instrument was replaced by a (then) top rate 3 manual analogue Johannus, which was inspirational enough for the top manual never to be used to the extent that its keys are stuck, for lack of use, and is now being replaced by a piano.


Pipe organs are so much more inspiratonal!


Best wishes


ForumAdmin

Hi!


If you are promoting a concert or know of a concert somewhere, you can post it for the date in the Calendar facility of this forum - in the menu options above - Home Help Search Profile My Messages CALENDAR


So for instance I have entered the concert on 7th November for that date - details on
http://www.organmatters.co.uk/index.php?topic=238.0


Best wishes


ForumAdmin