I wanted to point forum members to a very worthy project in Welshpool, in Mid-Wales. Christ Church in Welshpool was designed by Thomas Penson as a second parish church in the 19th century, in a Romanesque style. Sadly, the church became redundant, but is now being lovingly restored. Karl and Natalie Bass have completed their own residence at the back of the nave and under the tower, and are now starting to restore the nave, the organ, and other fittings. The Gray/Holdich organ was built for St Mary's, Welshpool, in 1813, and was moved to Christ Church in 1884. They have started raising money for a full restoration with an organ recital by James Parsons last Sunday, and have already raised £700! I am sure they would appreciate any contributions. Natalie has also told me that members of the forum are welcome to book a visit to play the organ. It is one of two organs by Gray in Montgomeryshire with BIOS certificates; the other is at the Church of St Mary and St Tysilio in nearby Meifod.
NPOR entry for St Mary and St Tysilio, Meifod: http://www.npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=D02563 (Note that a replacement for the original Great Mixture with contemporary pipework has been put in by Peter Collins in recent years, according to the organist, Dr Malcolm Clarke.)
I really hope interest in the instrument is not yet dead. As for this forum, I could not possibly say.
My interest in the pipe organ only really started on going to university. As a relatively able pianist in my youth, I was dragged onto a couple of rather uninspiring local instruments in my native Mid Wales to play for weddings and funerals. When I finally heard the instruments at Cambridge (as a Music student at St John's), I was hooked. Since then, I have become something of an organ nerd, reading stop lists for fun. My current work, as an apparatchik in the state education system, has hindered opportunities to explore my interest much further than reading all I can about organs.
I would love to contribute more in some ways, yet my knowledge and experience are limited, and I would much prefer to hear from experts in the field. Perhaps you (David P) could appeal to such experts that you know to open our ears to the less well-known instruments that deserve the attention of passionate amateurs. There are a number of interesting instruments even in my fairly remote neck of the woods.
In reply to your question, JBR, I can only offer these links. It does irritate me that the author of the first article cannot tell the difference between "then" and "than"; however, I hope that these are useful.
Pope Benedict XVI's address to Regensburg University was remembered by many only for referring to Islam, but it is really about the relationship between faith and reason. It is largely a refutation of voluntarism, but in so doing it also provides a compelling argument against literal Biblical interpretation.
The specification of the organ in St Giles' Church, Camberwell, reminds us how much more important the Choir division was in British organs, though even here the Swell is gaining importance.
The intention is to put the Choir organ in. Some pipework may be transferred from the Great and Swell to the Choir. The instrument's virtues are quite obvious, but we do intend to make some slight changes to the stoplist.
I had heard some of the Choral Scholars at St John's in Cambridge, where I studied, speak of John Scott in glowing terms - a few were choristers at St Paul's under his direction. I heard him play at Hereford Cathedral just a couple of weeks ago, and his playing was, of course, stunning. I was also impressed by his friendliness with all, including myself, who were lined up to meet him after his recital.
Back in May, I was very fortunate to have about a minute's playing time on the organ of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. David Poulter had given a recital, and an organ club (from somewhere considerably further south, IIRC) had been allowed to try the instrument using the Nave console. I asked Prof. Tracey whether I could jump onto the end of the line, and he answered in the affirmative. I played the start of Bach's Prelude in E flat BWV 552, and was enthralled by the sound of the instrument reverberating around the building.
Messages - Gwas_Bach
