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Messages - revtonynewnham

#1001
Hi

A couple of days ago I came across an organ (1980) by this organ builder, who I've never heard of.  Anyone know anything about the firm - I would guess they are/were in Yorkshire or not too far away.  There's nothing in DBOB (but that only goes up to 1950), and no other instruments by them on NPOR (although there is one by a John Drake - possibly the "J" in "J & D"?

Thanks

Every Blessing

Tony
#1002
New Pipe Organs / Studio Acusticum, Pitea, Sweden
June 11, 2010, 09:59:00 AM
Hi

This strange beast was mentioned on another forum yesterday.  http://acusticumorgan.com/specification

It looks interesting - but quite how it would be used remains to be seen!  I've not got time to have a proper look at the web site for a few days, so I'll make no further comment!
#1003
Hi

BBC Radio 2 - The Organist Entertains (Thursday 10:00 BST (also on BBC iPlayer

http://www.organlive.com/ (Mainly Classical)

http://www.atos.org/radio/ (Theatre Organ)

http://radio.organfax.co.uk/ (Entertainment-type electronics in the main)

http://www.musicareligiosa.nl/defaultOrgel.aspx

All bar the first are Internet stations, and except for TOE and Organfax, are 24/7 streams.

Every Blessing

Tony
#1004
Hi

Audsley is very opinionated - he was one of those people who thought he was right and everyone else was wrong.  His books are an interesting read - but take what he says with a large pinch of salt!  His "ideal" is a very large romantic organ, with everything under expression (some stops in double swell boxes).  It's a concept that has little to do with "real" organ music (that's not intended to be derogatory to, e.g. Theatre Organ or Baroque or any other musical style - they all have their place).

Every Blessing

Tony
#1005
Hi

There are 3 introductory presentations that I know of.  There's web site "Young Persons' Guide to the Pipe  Organ" - see http://www.agohq.org/guide/.  This is an American production - not bad.  There's also a DVD with a very similar name "Young Persons Guide to the Organ" IIRC, produced in Australia.  I don't have details to hand, but I have seen it - we used as an exhibit at the Bradford Organists' Assoc organ day last month.  The ending is rather tacky IMHO, but the rest of it is good.

Then there's another DVD (also available on line) "Dan and the Magic Musician" - see http://www.danmagic.org/  This was produced by good friends of mine, Drs. Peter & Lucy Comerford (the inventors of the Bradford Computing Organ, the root of real time synthesis systems used by Copeman-Hart and others).  It's much shorted than the Australian production - but it's British, which can't be a bad thing!  I see that it's won the BBC Education and Communities Partnership Award for Innovation 2009.  I hear rumours that a follow-up is on the way.

Every Blessing

Tony
#1006
Likewise - and I've also had e-mail from another reader who missed the site.

Maybe there could be an alternative site (perhaps a blog page or something) for updates if the server goes AWOL again?

Keep up the good work.

Every Blessing

Tony
#1007
Hi

I can't comment on the player - I've never heard him live, and it I have heard him on the radio, I've not really noticed.  However, the organ is well worth a listen - it's probably a unique example of a large house organ, complete with roll player, remaining in its original home, and recently restored.

What annoys me is that at one time I was a regular visitor to David Saloman's House (when it was owned & used by the NHS) and I never even realized that there was an organ on the premises.

I only wish it wasn't so far away!

Every Blessing

Tony
#1008
Hi

Yes - the "no shows" were a nuisance, as space had been allocated, and I'd intended to demonstrate the chamber organ at some point during the day (as it was, i did a second session on the Harmonium, which drew quite a crowd).  Both firms are the losers, as we must have had at least a couple of hundred potential customers for their organs (and in the case of the Early Music Shop, a good deal more) through the place during the day - and we could perhaps have used the space for a digital organ, or a Hauptwerk or Miditzer rig.

Still, I think the day was a great success.  The Cathedral authorities have said they wouldn't mind hosting one every year - but I doubt that will happen - most of us by Saturday evening were glad that centenaries only happen every 100 years, so the next one will be someone elses problem!  Actually, a suggestion has been mooted which might be practical as maybe an annual event - but I'd better not say any more at present until we've discussed plans with the relevant people.

Every Blessing

Tony
#1009
Hi

The day was a success!  I don't know how many people we had through the door - but most of the time I guess that there were at least 50 around (we ran from 10:00 to the end of the recital following evensong).  The various displays generated a lot of interest (and hopefully a few new members).  We had 2 "no shows" on the exhibitor front - Early Music Shop cried off at the last moment, and one of the portable chamber organs didn't turn up, which was disappointing.  The other instruments drew numbers of people when they were played - the Debain Harmonium especially - I don't think many had heard a harmonium in good condition and played tolerably well.  The sound certainly carried around the cathedral, despite the instrument being tucked away in an ambulatory alongside the chancel. 

The Wingfield organ also generated a lot of interest.  For those who don't know, it's one of the instruments produced for the Early English Organ Project (their web site gives a lot more detail), and is in residence in Bradford Cathedral until December.  Playing it is quite a culture shock.  The keys are small, and only about 3 1/2 octaves.  Stop controls are at the side of the case, where the ends of the sliders protrude, and the pitch is based on F, so is around a fifth adrift from modern instruments (playing a C key gives F at modern pitch) - somewhat "interesting" if you have perfect pitch.

The Cathedral Choir excelled at Evensong - despite Bradford only being a recent foundation, and normally only have choral services on Sundays and Mondays, the choir was significantly better than the last Cathedral evensong that I attended (which was in a cathedral that had better remain nameless, but has a far more established choral foundation).

Now it's bcak to normal work!

Every Blessing

Tony
#1010
Hi

Sorry - no trains or aircraft (although I am interested in trains, and it's very convenient that the Bradford Railway Circle meet in my church).  Vehicle wise, at present, a VW Passat diesel estate. (2 1/2 years old, on a leasing deal that makes it affordable), and a Kia Picanto as a local runabout.

Every Blessing

Tony
#1011
Hi

Looks like a good programme - a pity that I live so far away - and Sundays are always busy!

Hope it goes well.

Every Blessing

Tony
#1012
Electronic Organs / Re: hi!
May 14, 2010, 10:19:53 AM
Hi

There is now a free version of Hauptwerk available - it has limitations, but is fine for smaller organs.  The late, lamented "My Organ" Freeware will read Hauptwerk 1 files, but nothing higher.  (I must have been one of the last to download "My Organ" before it was withdrawn (I heard that the owners of Hauptwerk were threatening legal action - but that may just be a runour).  There is another open source organ simulator "Grande Orgue" which appears to be similar to My Organ and probably only runs HW1 files (I've not looked at it in any detail, as it seems to use more computer resources than "My Organ" or HW.  The writes of Grande Orgue say that they are working on an open source alternative to HW in its current incarnation.

I have in the past seen instruction on the web for producing sound fonts/samples for HW.

Every Blessing

Tony
#1013
Quote from: David Pinnegar on May 12, 2010, 11:20:02 AM
Hi!



If you ever have the opportunity to play a French suspended action tracker instrument, you would not dream of wanting anything else

Best wishes

David P

Hi

Definitely.  A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to play the 4 manual tracker organ by St. Martin (Swiss organ builders) in Girton College, Cambridge.  It's basically a French design (complete with the Grande Orgue on the lowest manual).  The action is lighter than some electric & pneumatic organs that I've played, and we were told that organ scholars often couple the manuals together to increase the weight of touch when practising for recitals elsewhere!  (Even 2 manuals coupled is still very light!)

Granted,a suspended action isn't possible in all situations - it needs height - but given sensible organ layout, mechanical action in most cases far surpasses anything else.  The only exception I would make is where heavy pressure reeds are part of the tonal design (high wind pressures do make tracker action heavy!)

Every Blessing

Tony
#1014
Hi

On Saturday, Bradford Cathedral is the venue for the second of our Centenary Events.  Apart from the Cathedral Organ (see http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=A00542), we have arranged for the Wingfield Organ (http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=E00205) to be in the cathedral for most of the rest of the year.  I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play this instrument - it's a reconstruction of an organ from the Tudor period.

We also have 2 chamber organs coming, a Fairground organ (for those who like the lighter side of things) - and hopefully a display by the Cinema Organ Society.  As I commented in another post, I will be playing a Harmonium at times during the day, and the Early Music Shop will be there with their kits of portative organs, along with displays by various organisations, and various other things describing how the organ works, etc.  Well worth a visit - Bradford Cathedral is just at the edge of the city centre, close to Forster Square Station, and an easy walk from Bradford Interchange.

The day concludes with a special choral evensong by the cathedral choir, and a recital by cathedral organist Andrew Teague, including a new piece commissioned for the event and written by our president-elect, Paul Fisher.

Hope to see some of you on the day.

Every Blessing

Tony
(President, Bradford Organists' Association)
#1015
Hi

Hydraulics have been widely used in various fields, and I suspect that organ builders have experimented, but other forms of action are used because, over time, they have been shown to work - and in the main, to work reliably over 25 or more years, which means consideration of moving parts, wear & tear, etc.  Have you considered the additional weight of the fluid - especially for a transportable organ?

A well designed tracker action can (and often does) overcome the issues that you mention - especially where a "suspended" action can be employed - then the touch can be very light.  Tracker also has the advantage of the feedback to the player's fingers as to exactly when the pallet starts to open, and the possibility of controlling the starting transients of certain stops (depending on the voicing).

Every Blessing

Tony
#1016
Hi

It's significant that this idea has, as far as I know, never been tried commercially, whereas all sorts of pneumatic and electric actions have been built.  I suspect that the problems are size of the pistons needed - and the cost of the precision engineering to keep them leak free; and also the potential cost of maintenance (bleeding the system, etc.)

Also, I very much doubt that the resulting touch would come anywhere near that of a properly constructed tracker action.

Every Blessing

Tony
#1017
Electronic Organs / Re: hi!
May 09, 2010, 02:20:45 PM
Hi

I've read the web page a couple of times, but not having access to a Sound Canvas device, that's as far as it got.

Every Blessing

Tony
#1018
Hi

On Saturday 15th May the Bradford Organists' association have an all-day event at Bradford Cathedral.  We have a number of different organs coming on the day - apart from the Cathedral Organ and the Wingfield organ from the Early English Organ Project (which arrived today and will be in residence in the cathedral until December).

However, of more interest to this group is that we will have a Harmonium there, and I will be playing it at various times during the day.  (Sorry - I don't know exactly when as yet).

The doors open at 10:00, and the exhibition and demos will finish around 4:00 - but will be followed by Choral Evensong and a recital on the cathedral organ.

Currently, I think that the organ that I will be playing is an early Debain from the Fluke's collection - but that is subject to change.

Hope to see anyone who isn't too far away.

Every Blessing

Tony

(I'll post something in the relevant topic about the day in general after the weekend).
#1019
New Pipe Organs / Re: New organ for Taize
May 04, 2010, 07:40:06 PM
Hi

There is a danger in thinking that only "art" music is good enough for use in worship.  Maybe in an ideal world, that would be true, but in the real world, it only serves to alienate many people, and get in the way of their worship.  I don't see this as an either/or thing, but as a both/and.  There is room for all styles of music and patterns of worship in the Christian church - God only requires that we worship "in spirit and in truth", and that our offerings are made to the best of our ability - which does mean that whatever musical style is used, the musician(s) need to prepare and practice (and to work at improving their technique, etc).  Taize music actually needs a lot of skill to be performed well - and the simplicity an repetitiveness of the tunes is part of the ethos behind them.

I hesitate to comment on architecture - I'm no expert.  As a Baptist Minister, I'm well aware that many of our churches are plain - sometimes downright ugly.  Historically, there has been opposition to anything other than plain walls (IMHO an over-reaction to the perceived excesses of the Catholic church and the puritanism of former generations).  Thankfully, in some quarters this is now changing - and not before time.  I enjoy great architecture and visiting churches of all denominations, but without being put to use by the church (the people of God) it remains just stones or bricks and mortar.  Great architecture is not essential for the worship of God, and nor is great music (after all, the early church had neither!)  But both can be helpful, but must not become ends in themselves.

Every Blessing

Tony
#1020
New Pipe Organs / Re: New organ for Taize
May 04, 2010, 10:03:51 AM
Hi

I don't know about the church building - and really, buildings aren't that important - the church is the people of God, but Taize isn't about restoring the past of the RC church - and nor should it be! 

As to the Taize chant, firstly, it's a style of its own, not a replacement or anything else, and it can be very effective.  I've just returned from the annual Baptist assembly in Plymouth.  Mostly, the worship is led by a band, and consists mainly of contemporary songs, with a few older ones and hymns thrown in - and every session is "blended" in style.  (I have no problem with that - although I do wish they'd reintroduce an organ to the mix!)  However, this year, the Saturday evening session, which focused on world mission, used exclusively Taize  and a little "world church" music - and in conjunction with the structure of the rest of the evening, it was a very effective time of worship.  I was surprised, as, although I use some Taize songs at times (not too frequently) I've had reservations about devoting a whole service to this style (and I'm still not sure how it would work in my churches if I should try it).

We do need to be careful about letting our personal likes and dislikes limit our vision of what God can do through the many styles of music that He has inspired people to write over the centuries.

Every Blessing

Tony