Organs (cinema, theatre, church, etc)

Hi all, A cinema organ with some differences. One, it's British built. Another is that it's being played by a classically trained organist. This is a different style to most that I have posted in the past. His sight reading ability is like gold. If only I could see to read music like that. A classical organist at a British Compton. When I say classically trained organist, just look at this for his full qualification title: "Dr Kevin Morgan BA, MA, PhD, FRCO, FISM, Hon.FNMSM, LRAM, LTCL"

Hi all, So much in life appears to be patterns of behaviour. I'm fearful that the pandemic may have produced an over-exposure of online top quality organists, that with the pattern of physical attendance broken for nearly two years, it may never go back, without some kind of stimulant. Currently, theatre & cinema attendance in England is less than half the volume of August 2019. Who knows? Just as Coventry transport are revising timetables & routes again. I've done my own quick estimate on that, maybe a saving of around seventy driver shifts in Coventry per week. I will talk more about that on the bus topic later. Arts will need a kick-off from schools, I believe.

Evening all, The theme tune for "Friday night is music night", was the regular opening melody splash for the band Minim Music, who I played with for many years. This time on a Friday evening, we would be doing just that at the Albany pub. My idols of music were The Duke & Semprini. Both of these musicians had the amazing ability to play multi time signatures simultaneously. I had my first experience of this in a classic piece, To the Spring by Greig, which formed part of my grade six exam. The organist that I'm hoping that you will enjoy listening to, Tedde Gibson, performing on a giant Kimball organ, has this skill like I've not heard in a decade. Tedde Gibson To The Spring (for comparison of multi-time signature classics) I tell you what! I was never frightened of playing in sharps after learning that piece. Six sharps bloomin eck!

Philip, I thank you for reviving pleasant memories, I am a big fan of Greig particularly his nature pieces, this brought back to me the time standing at the spot where Greig is interred and standing looking out over the fiords at the place he lived and composed. A pleasant time, thank you. Derek.

Thank you Derek, As I'm moving more & more outdoors, as restrictions are being lifted ever mindful that Covid has not gone away, nor is it likely to, as we adapt to it, that's the way that I'm thinking at present. I'm also reminded that a lot of folk are still very nervous of venturing out to entertainment venues, very much so for those down under. Sometimes a good all round entertainer is what is called for. Hope there is something from this fabulous organist. If this doesn't get toes & feet tapping, well. Please listen to his introduction, it's really worth it.

My satnav comes out of the dashboard like that one on the Tedde Gibson link. I wish it were as competent at directions as he is on the organ. I too like a bit of Grieg.

Hi all, I tell you what, Helen. I can't wait for the day when I'm able to post a recording of our own Coventry Gaumont Compton upon completion of its restoration. It's fun riding up & down on an organ lift. The New St Odeon was a twizzler, it spun round from behind a curtain, as did Turners in Northampton. I enjoy Dave's performance on my last post as he gives a good airing to the phantom piano. The organ in the Brighton Pavilion had all of the percussion instruments, including the Bechstein grand, were all in front of the organ on the dance floor level. There was a guard rail so that those dancing could not interfere with them accidentally whilst dancing. I loved that set-up.

Hi all, Just when you thought it was bedtime, it's cinema organ lesson time. A newcomer's look at a cinema organ. Hope you enjoy.

Hi all, Ages since I posted an Organist Entertains performance. Possibly the finest restored British-built Compton organ anywhere, this installed in a private home, this side of the pond. Simon Gledhill & Richard Hills. The collective term for theatre or cinema organists is showmen. Richard & Simon, are beyond that classification I believe as their intent is the quality of their musical performance, not showing off. I do hope you enjoy this presentation on home soil, only uploaded a few days ago. ps. Please use either high performance hi-fi, or earphones for optimum listening enjoyment.

Hi all, Whether it's the Covid restrictions, or just that hymn singing appears to be a thing of the past, nobody can reach the top notes anymore. I'm not talking about tunes, or lyrics that have been modernised or the like, but very traditional carols. Silent Night, is traditionally written & played in the key of C, the first note being sung is G. It then goes to top D, then the next high note to be reached is top E, right near to the end. Talk about scratchy floors. So this afternoon I played it in Bflat. A whole note down, but it was still a struggle to sing to. Carry on.

Philip, you will like these. Some excellent images and info turned up recently via FB. Thomas Swarbrick built one of his largest organs in 1733, to complement the one in Holy Trinity of the previous year. It was presumably in the west gallery. and contained three string stops as a novelty. which were removed in 1763. Rebuilt by J.C. Bishop in 1835 for £534 and moved to an east gallery. The early photograph shows it on a platform at the west end, to which it was moved in 1849. Dismantled and stored in 1885 for a church restoration, but a new organ was built by Willis in 1887 for £1760. Much of it came from the organ exhibited by Willis at the Inventions Exhibition of 1885, though some pipework went to Canterbury. Herbert Brewer had been appointed organist the previous year.There was Barker lever action to Great and Swell and tubular pneumatic to pedal. It possessed 14 thumb pistons and Swell sub and super octave couplers. Despite all this it was hand blown for about twenty years. In 1911 J.C. Lee of Coventry overhauled the organ, and added Swell strings, two more Great diapasons three prepared-for stops and a few other things, for £700. In 1918 St Michael's (one of the three or four largest parish churches in England) became the Cathedral, and the organ remained unaltered until destroyed by bombing in 1940.

Brill! Thank you Neil.

Hello Philip, I wonder if you have come across the Beauty in Sound (BIS) channel on YouTube hosted by Richard McVeigh? It demonstrates Hauptwerk on a very grand scale.

Hello Skybluedave, in Crewe. Yes. The trend with instruments now is to include the sample sets as an integral part of the instruments that are manufactured, but that's quite a normal progress with computer technology. When I first experienced Hauptwerk, it was the best thing since sliced bread for me, which is why I bought a twenty five year old Yamaha, to drive it. My Yamaha is at the end of its useful life, so I'm slowly pondering what comes next. Thank you for your post, Dave. Brill.

Hi Philip, Many thanks for your reply, I find it all very interesting. Although I can't play more than a few notes myself, I can appreciate and wonder at the ongoing developments in technology that enables you to replicate, say, the Great Organ of York Minster - budget permitting - in your own living room. And also the skill of the organist, whether a recitalist or accompanist, in creating their own registrations and interpretation of the score. Best wishes on your next steps with or after the Yamaha.