Author: Paul

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.

Today a goodly number of people descended upon the Guards’ Chapel in London, where Harrison & Harrison recently completed one of the most imaginative organs they’ve designed for many years.  A fine composite recital displayed it admirably and showed that it could both fill the chapel with sound yet also enchant with a wide palette of delightful softer colours.  A notable success.

The HN&B ‘Trompeta’ remains, but mute (taking it down would have been too costly); its photo here is therefore in memoriam.

At the end of the month was our annual Diocesan Organ Advisers’ Conference, which I had the privilege of chairing for three years and then organising for a decade.  This year found us in Norwich, where the rebuilt cathedral organ made a great impression – as did (to the surprise of no few members) the Peter Collins magnum opus at St Peter, Mancroft.

There were several worthwhile discussions about aspects of our work and a detailed update from Dr David Knight of Church Care.  As usual, the three days were both sociable and informative.

Of the several concerts we attended during August, these two stood out: Jonathan Scott’s barnstorming Prom from the RAH on the 10th, plus an inspiring performance of the Mozart Requiem in Southwell Minster conducted by Marcus Farnsworth on the 25th, as part of the highly enjoyable Southwell Music Festival.

Anne sang for the weekend of August 17-18 in Hereford Cathedral with the excellent choir of St Peter’s Nottingham.  I was able to walk along the river and take these photographs. Note Bulldog Dan, of Enigma Variations fame.

August 8th saw us showing an old friend around Lincoln.  Castle, prison (!) and cathedral all impressed. To my delight, the 1898 Father Willis console is on display in the cathedral’s excellent new museum.  Here are shots of both stop jambs, to entertain organists reading my news this month.

August has been a pleasantly varied month – without too many organs, but busy. Anne and I spent a lovely day on 2nd August at Althorp House in Northamptonshire, the late Princess of Wales’ family home.

Near the lake, on an island in the middle of which Diana is buried, is an elegant temple in her memory, containing various items which bring to mind both her remarkable character and also the tragic manner in which she met her death.

It was a beautiful, tranquil day, and we were moved by the Diana memorials and utterly delighted by the astonishing collection of fine art within the house itself, which visitors are not allowed to photograph.  A visit is highly recommended.