Organs I have known

[mcb]

(I never knew I could pick up Armenian so quickly!)

OK, presbyter, you win!
Ever felt sorry you'd started something?

[HallamPhil]

Thanks presbyter for the reminder of ND de F Leicester Square. I recall playing the Welsh National Day service there in march 1973 where the Presider, an eccentric and now deceased David Lewis (who went on to to be Chaplain of Gatwick Airport when the Pope visited and later Carmelengo of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome) gave a sermon in Welsh, English and Latin! Probably one of the most unusual moments of my life ... apart from being introduced publicly at a catholic jubilee year gathering at Birmingham's NEC as the first person to have slept in this particular priest's bed. What he failed to point out to the gathered Catholic world was that it was a new guest bed and that the hosting priest slept elsewhere! Oh it all comes flooding back!

[presbyter]

St Peter's, Roath Cardiff; The Finnish Church, London; St Mary's, Rotherhith; Soutwark (Anglican) Cathedral; Canterbury Cathedral; St David's Hall, Cardiff; Holy Trinity, Dockhead; Malmo Cathedral (Sweden); there may be more to come...

I am itching to know if Mithras will do a Paul Carr ~

http://www.paulcarr.co.uk/Gallery.htm

...and wondering why a Welsh National Day Service was being celebrated in the French Church??? As for Mgr Lewis - there are many tales but we'd better not go there and let him rest in peace.

[presbyter]

Has anyone any first-hand knowledge of the new Copley in our Cathedral in Edinburgh?

http://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/organ.html

[Mithras]

St Peter's, Roath Cardiff; The Finnish Church, London; St Mary's, Rotherhith; Soutwark (Anglican) Cathedral; Canterbury Cathedral; St David's Hall, Cardiff; Holy Trinity, Dockhead; Malmo Cathedral (Sweden); there may be more to come...

I am itching to know if Mithras will do a Paul Carr ~

http://www.paulcarr.co.uk/Gallery.htm

I said I'd played them, I dodn't say I was any good....

[Mithras]

Is the Venerable in Rome a Tamborini? I've played that, though I think there's been work done on it since (not because of my playing I add!). It has a crescxendo pedal, one of the most dangerous devices known to organkind (unless you're playing Reger and don't have an overly inquisitive right foot); that and the double touch canceller, a favourite of Walkers' which I would always put in the off position before I started. The English College, Valladolid, where I did four years and probably played it every day - it''s a two-man taoster by the way, with a 1' flute or something and when I visited the college a couple of years ago thought it might be approaching its retirement. St David's Metropolitan Cathedral, Cardiff - an 11 rank 3-man Compton. St George's Cathedral Southwark which I have not seen for about 20 years but played now and then when the late Shaun McCarthy was organist. Good tuba, I recall.

As I said in an earlier post, it would be interesting to learn of instruments we have shared. (In view of previous admonitions I have chosen the term "instrument" over any other that might invite untoward speculation.)

M

[organist]

Being in an organists association helps - most of the college organs in Cambridge and Oxford but not King's, loved OLEM Cambridge, Westminster Abbey and Cathedral, All Souls Langham Place, All Saints Margaret Street, Hereford, Worcester, Lincoln and Truro cathedrals, best of all Salisbury cathedral and York Minster! Sydney and Johannesbury Town halls and cathedral organs. All of these were on short visits but I once played for Mass at Canterbury cathedral (lethal swell pedal but what a view)!
Perhaps more interesting are the organs one was not allowed to play - why? New one at Catholic church Boscombe, St George's chapel, Windsor, St Chad's Cathedral Birmingham. I do know what I'm doing - I won't spoil the new toy!
First time at Mayfield school met a friend in the pool who said go and play the Compton organ in the chapel whcih I duly did. A voice from the back of the chapel "And what do you think you are doing?" from one of the nun teachers. "Geoff suggested I play" "Oh that's alright"!

[Mithras]

Forgot to mention Belmont Abbey (and I'm looking forward to giving the upgrade a whirl!).

M

[organist]

Yes Belmont Abbey is a treat. Plans in hand to play St Paul's cathedral next year!

[organist]

I have now played St Chad's cathedral organ, Birmingham and David Saint was very friendly, St Alphege Solihull and St Peter Wolverhampton. St Paul's cathedral coming up soon! Wow! Have played the Royal Festival hall organ but the big one is the Royal Albert Hall - still not played that!

[organist]

The lovely Tickell organ at Doaui Abbey and there's a Tamburini as well!

[organist]

The Compton at Downside (tribute to Dom Gregory Murray) and Clifton cathedral.

[contrabordun]

I got 10 minutes on Birmingham Town Hall during an Association visit last year.

Contrabordinetto, then aged 3 months, went to sleep in his buggy. Which was standing four feet away from the BTH organ. While I was playing Cocker's Tuba Tune on it. Which, it is fair to say, was not originally planned as a lullaby, and I think the registration was fairly authentic.

(Incidentally, said buggy and said child plus self and Mrs Bordun are visible on the group photo on Paul Carr's web page that presbyter linked to earlier up this thread).

[organist]

Some kids can sleep through anything! Thomas Trotter promised a visit to the Town Hall but was unavailable this summer. I lent him an organ score of "Elijah" on condition he signed it and he remembered that. He played superbly at Westminster cathedral and is playing at Croydon parish church on October 14th - not to be missed. The organ at St Chad's is very loud especially when at the console! Would contrabourdonitto sleep through that? Now to find that photo!

[organist]

We met Paul Carr at St Paul's Birnmingham last month when we went along to introduce our youngest son to the Sunday evening choir as he can;t get to weekday practices because of work. A very friendly person and excellent player