Organ matters - Organs matter!

Hello David,

The fact remains that churches and organised religion are in decline. There is nothing that can be done to reverse it because the world is evolving away from it, as it is from monolithic centralised goverments. However, that is not to say that 'God' is not actively involved here. It is. But it needs considerable research and understanding to come to the realisation that 'God' is The Cosmic Energy which is everywhere and is not the preserve of one single religion but all of them and none. Perhaps people are becoming aware that the Cosmic Energy is around them and in them, so they do not feel the need for a 'middleman' anymore.

Your comment about consciousness is a timely one. I have been reading about the experiences of Karl Jung, and am toying with the idea of buying the complete Red Book but the expense is putting me off!  I have also noticed that 3 NDEs from other sources also mention a Temple of Wisdom and a Great Memory which records everything, perhaps via morphic resonance. I think we are coming close to the dawn of a new Golden Age, in which science will start to get to grips with these things.

Best wishes,
Paul

Yes David, the organ and its music is a lost cause, at least in church. Religion is a mugs game now. The world is evolving away from organised religion towards personal spirituality.

Best wishes,
Paul.

I already knew about your background before I posted, Tony. I don't believe you can safeguard the pipe organ by encouraging the use of other instruments because at some point the cost of maintenance will be called into question. There is an oft-repeated myth that there is a shortage of organists. There isn't. There are plenty of people on the organ tutoring programme of Liverpool Cathedral for example. But they don't want to be church organists. Why is that?

You commented on the organ being used with other instruments and stated that you saw nothing wrong with that. Well, I see everything wrong with that. The organ does not need other instruments to play along with it. It is designed to supply everything itself. It is true that organs are used occasionally with orchestras, but in a church setting it is usually guitars and electric basses that form the accompaniment. When I have been asked to help out in a music group I have often avoided using the organ and used an electronic keyboard instead which went through the P.A to blend with the other instruments. I don't have a problem with music groups. After all, in many parishes the pipe organ has already gone, so music of some means still has to be provided. If there is no organist then the vacuum must be filled. However, some clergy find the pipe organ to be an utter embarrassment and an anacronism that is at odds with their zeal for reform. I suppose I was just venting my frustration with the idea that the organ by itself is no longer sufficient, that it would be best buried under amplified instruments to perform its role. Perhaps I went a little too far. Perhaps my little diatribe was akin to a Daily Wail rant. Maybe I should learn not to post when I have had ale. But it was genuine feeling of frustration that unfortunately wasn't watered down before publication.

Best wishes,
Paul.

Your opinion speaks volumes about what the clergy thinks about pipe organs Tony,  i.e that they are a nuisance really and that their roles should be usurped as much as possible. This attitude will only ensure the slow death of the instrument. I cannot tell you how angry I feel at your comments. I feel I have completely wasted my time learning this bastard of an instrument. What WAS the bloody point? All those painful pedal exercises, all that effort directed at co-ordination. It was all a total WASTE of time. It wasn't appreciated. It never will be appreciated. And because of this, I am beginning to hate the instrument itself. I really should have learned three chords on a guitar and saved myself a lot of time money and effort.
We are just like trainspotters really. They love railways, but the railways don't love them.

Best wishes,
Paul.

Here are 2 pieces by Thomas Tomkins played on the same instrument:

http://youtu.be/cMoS9NzqiK4

Best wishes,
Paul.

If you PM me your e-mail address I will send it to you.

Best wishes,
Paul.

Thanks for your kind comments. The organ is in its original condition and hasn't been altered. In addition to the trigger swell it has four toe levers, two of which are reversible (Sw to Gt coupler and the Great Open Diapason). The façade pipes all speak. I understand that the organ may possibly be due an historic organ certificate, owing to its unaltered state.

I plan to put on a concert celebrating the organ's 125th birthday sometime in September, hopefully.

Best wishes,
Paul.

Here are some pics of the organ I play, which this year turns 125 in August. It was built by Henry Ainscough of Preston and was overhauled in 2000. It still has its pumping handle in situ, and the Swell box is controlled via a hitch down lever. The pics were taken on a Kindle Fire and aren't great quality, but they will give you an idea of what it looks like:






Here's what it sounds like. Again it was done via a Kindle Fire so the quality isn't great:

http://youtu.be/rY6UphpCrms

Best wishes,
Paul.

QuoteTurning up at major venues to play, wearing leotards and 'wife-beater' undershirts.....

Most amusing, I must say. Some of you chaps certainly have a way with words.

Do said undershirts come complete with beer stains down the front?

Best wishes,
Paul.

It is no surprise that the largely poorly educated British public has reached such a conclusion. They are celebrity and image-obsessed, so for a start church attendance is viewed as uncool. However, to suggest that religion actually causes harm is nonsensical. Have any of these people heard of food banks? Or religious charities such as CAFOD, The Children's Society and Islamic Aid? Or charities that have their bases in faith, such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent? Or the collections that places of worship have for various causes? It is sad but true, the British public only appreciates that which charms the dullest intelligence: texting, sexting, Facebook, Twitter, X Factor et al.

Best wishes,
Paul.

David, dare I suggest that you seem to be hinting at some sort of 'perpetual machine'.? Is not such a machine an impossibility?

Best wishes,
Paul.

Won't energy be expended in moving the pole?

Best wishes,
Paul.

Quote from: hjtib1 on May 28, 2014, 05:16:52 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS8MJi0B76s - Paul, Explain this then?

There is nothing to explain. I once played a Yamaha Electone in front of 2000 people at a beer festival in Bolton. The people were there for the beer, not the music. Same applies in this instance. It just so happens that a Wurlitzer was installed on the premises.

I like theatre organ music. But it is not the type of music that is being advocated in the article you quoted. The 'advancement of mankind' would suggest something that went beyond mere entertainment.

Best wishes,
Paul.

Quote from: KB7DQH on May 28, 2014, 05:14:15 AM
And that's got to be part of what we unleash today, is this real Renaissance in human thought.

Why? The general populace aren't interested in real/classical music, unless some tw*t produced by Simon Cowell sings the usual stuff (Nessun Dorma, Pie Jesu et al) from the Cowell back catalogue.

Look at the state of the Proms now. We have the likes of Paloma Faith taking part in the main season this year. The trouble with the public is that they take an instant dislike to anything that attempts to raise their understanding beyond that of beer, sex and football. They are quite content peering through the bars of their cages. They think art galleries are elitist, yet entry to one is a tiny percentage of that required to enter a football ground, and very often only a donation is required. Yet football is what they want, not art. They want thuggish behaviour off and on the pitch, not Monet or Rembrandt. These are the people you would have to influence to bring about this 'Renaissance'. It is never going to happen.

Best wishes,
Paul.

Cameron is trying to be different. In the words of another 'Cameron', I get that. But that organ of his is complete overkill and it is out of date as a concept: he still needs a large truck to carry it around, yet Hauptwerk is now on the scene. The man is power-mad.

He can't damage the organ scene though. The organ is happily doing that all by itself because of the frankly pathetic return on one's money, time and effort to learn it properly. However, Cameron could damage himself. Those supplements he drinks can be bad for you in excess. Or he could put his back out one day on the weights.

It seems to me that Carpenter wants to enter mainstream entertainment. To do this, he needs to sing and drop the organ completely. That sagely Manc Noel Gallagher hit the nail on the head concerning his band's lack of a keyboard player. He said keyboardists always look down at their hands. Too true. And that makes CC's crusade a non-starter: he's got his back to the audience. If he really wants to be modern, he needs to drop that monstrosity he calls an organ, cut it down to three manuals, put in a terraced stop arrangement to keep the console low, and turn the whole thing round 180 degrees so that people can see his surly gob. That would be really modern.....

Best wishes,
Paul

Have already got tickets. Will be in seat 66 in the balcony.

Best wishes,
Paul

Now there is a chap definitely ploughing his own furrow....

Oh, by the way, I lasted 2 minutes 45 seconds. It really doesn't improve over time. The sad thing is, he'll probably get more 'hits' via Gareth Malone and Facebook than most organ videos.

Best wishes,
Paul.

There is a recital on this instrument in March this year by Ian Tracey. The administration at the Parr Hall should be congratulated for this, and we should all try to show our appreciation by attending. I will certainly be going.

Best wishes,
Paul.

Christ is not an idea. He is as real as you or I. Certain events occurring to me during the past few months have convinced me of this.

Anyone wanting evidence of the divine need only to ponder on music and its inspiration. I watched a documentary on the Beatles over Christmas and there was a part in it where John Lennon was doorstepped outside Abbey Road after the band had played its last live concert. He was asked if he would still write music. "Of course", he said. "Once you start writing music you can't stop. You write whether you want to or not"

It is an interesting thought. Where does the inspiration for musical composition come from? I am not talking about dabblers out to write a pretty tune, but people from whom music flows like water and who struggle to get what is going on in their heads onto paper before it vanishes like mist.

I don't believe JSB could have written such beautiful music based on an idea. Nor do I think Catholic England could have undergone such persecution during the Reformation.

Best wishes to all for 2014
Paul.

David,

If I am being honest with myself, I am, by nature, a person who is easily discouraged. And, I am as image-conscious as the rest of society, though I could not care less about material things. I am also impatient and feel I am on the verge of a mental breakdown at times. About a month or two ago, I experienced something that led me to draw three conclusions as to the source: 1. God, 2. Prescription drugs, 3. Madness (not Suggs and Co. but going tonto). The fear of looking like a prat coupled with my impatience now steers me more in the direction of options two or three (or two causing three, lol*) though at the time it happened I was firmly of the opinion it was option one. You see, I am as image-conscious as Katie Price and her bakelite boobs....

Thanks for your kind words, but I really should have done some research instead of trying to appear clever.

Best wishes,
Paul.

*I hate text-speak, but this seemed appropriate in context.)