Author: Paul

It was a total delight to attend a stunning concert by Ex Cathedral this evening, in St Francis church, Bournville.  The choir and its founder-director Jeffrey Skidmore, were on typically top form.  I last played the organ here in the early 1970s, when Roy Hayton was the excellent choirmaster, since when both the church and the organ have been beautifully refurnished and an enhanced.  What a joy to see the nave completely full for this concert!

Today I met Alastair Johnston, who is carrying out research into one of my favourite ‘small’ organ-builders – Roger Yates (1905-75).  Willis-trained, his work was absolutely first-class and it was a joy to play and inspect this remarkably successful 2-manual of his in St Andrew’s, Kegworth church. Dating from 1953, it’s much the same age as me, but shows it rather less!

Back home and some practice needed doing for my recital at Sleaford a few days later.  This Rodgers organ was installed to accompany services in the nave, leaving the compact 3-manual Harrison & Harrison in the chancel to accompany services (such as Choral Evensong and Compline) east of the wonderful but dense screen.  Seems an ideal solution and I enjoyed myself,  playing the encore (‘Tune in E’, Thalben-Ball) on the H&H, which went down well with the smiley audience.

Believe it or not, it was basically an organ-free holiday: we spent far longer in galleries etc than seeing organs.  However, on our last morning we just had time to walk three blocks from our hotel to St Paul’s Church in K Street.  The big Schoenstein there was an organ I’d long wanted to play and I was not disappointed.  Full of gorgeous colours (a Flügel Horn to die for) and with much brighter choruses than I’ve experienced in other Schoensteins.  A wonderful liturgical instrument for a richly Anglo-Catholic church, with a British Rector, too.  And an enjoyable way to end our USA 2024 trip.

Then we took the train down to Washington DC, to spend three days mainly in Art Galleries and Museums (most of which come under the umbrella of the Smithsonian). On our first afternoon (Sunday 13th) we took a bus up to Washington National Cathedral – such a grand and beautiful building – where we attended Choral Evensong.

It was a surprise to see massive steelwork at the top of the central tower, where damage from the 2011 earthquake is still being repaired.

In the Cathedral Shop is this enormous Lego model of the cathedral, which visitors can pay to enlarge by a few bricks.  It will be stunning when – if – completed.

The famous Aeolian-Skinner organ is almost completely removed for rebuilding, after many years debate of what to do.  A scaffolding bridge has been erected between the two sides of the organ (filling two bays).  It has been dressed up to look like stone – very clever.

Evensong was accompanied by a Walker Technical digital clone of the cathedral’s pipe organ.  It was exceptionally effective but so large that one wonders what its next home could possibly be.  Ideally they should move it to a room somewhere, use it with headphones, and rehearse on it when the cathedral diary doesn’t permit access to the pipe organ.  Every cathedral could do with just such a set-up!

Following the wedding, we spent a day in the city’s marvellous Art Gallery, returning to the city centre for a superb 5.30pm recital on the largest fully functioning organ in the world (29,000 pipes) in the Grand Court at Macy’s store (was more famous as Wanamaker’s). 

Peter Richard Conte has been organist there since 1989.  Famous for its colossal string section, the organ – and Mr Conte – did not disappoint, and appeared to be in tip-top condition.

From 7-17 October we were in the USA for my nephew’s Philadelphia wedding.  I was allowed a ‘day off’ which I spent at the glorious mansion close to Philadelphia which now is the home of the Organ Historical Society.  I was welcomed royally and spent a wonderful time there, mainly looking at their unique collection of organ literature and archival material, all stored in climate controlled rooms – former bedrooms in this grand country house.  What a treat! As was the chance to play the Aeolian-Skinner.

This was the very first organ made after the Skinner takeover of Aeolian so in effect it is a typical lavish Aeolian, with pipes and mechanism below floor level in several chambers, emerging through grand bronze grilles in the floor.  Gentle and lush, it boasts four undulating ranks and three Vox Humanas!

The month of October began and ended with organ recitals – both on Rodgers organs, the first of which, in St Peter’s Nottingham, is part of a surprisingly effective and successful hybrid organ, the major ranks on Great, Choir and Pedal being pipes.

We’ve had a delightful day at the annual Southwell Ploughing Match, which these days is all but as large and varied as the County Show.  The sun shone, hundreds of people strolled around the many fields full or rural attractions, and my wife’s grand-nephew, whose 2nd birthday it was, had the time of his life, both sitting at the controls of an excavator and then watching in the main ring ‘Dancing Diggers’ – five JCBs doing things JCBs don’t usually get to do. A glorious ‘last gasp of summer’ day out.

It was my pleasure to organise an Organ Club 5-day tour of 15 organs (plus Osborne House) on the Isle of Wight, ending up at Quarr Abbey before returning to Portsmouth for a session on the cathedral organ, where we were warmly welcomed by Dr David Price.  The Island has a wide range of organs – some of them fine musical instruments as well as ‘interesting’.

Island organ-builder Andrew Cooper made most of the arrangements (what a help that was!) and accompanied us on our travels.  At Quarr, the beautiful Mutin Cavaillé-Coll (excellently restored by Andrew Cooper) stole members’ hearts; the truly imperial Fr. Willis at All Saints Ryde thrilled them in equal measure.  A very sociable – sunny – and successful tour.