November / December 2012 Number 33 & District Organists' Registered Charity No. 510567 Association

DDOA Events 2012

21st November - 7.15 pm START Chairman’s Event and AGM at St Werburgh’s, Spondon (See page 6)

Concerts & Recitals Wednesday recitals at 8.00 pm St John the Evangelist, . 7th November: Ken Ellis (Curbar PC) 5th December: George Parsons (London) Retiring collection. Wednesday recitals at 8.00 pm St John the Baptist, Staveley. 21st November: Eric Singelton (Unstone) 19th December: Ken Ellis, Geoffrey Gratton, Matthew Yeomans Retiring collection. 2012 Outing to Leeds - Tony Westerman Thursday recitals at 12.15 pm Chesterfield Parish Church 1st November: Ian Brackenbury The itinerary of this year’s outing strident; the reeds are very much 8th November: Keith Morgan (Mkt.Rasen) took us to three interesting venues in the English style, blending well 15th November: Frank Berry and equally interesting with the flues, and mixtures add a 22nd November: Ian Roberts (Ranmoor) instruments: the Binns organ (III certain gravitas to the full organ 29th Nov.: Shaun Turnbull (Blackburn) + P 41) in St. Aidan's, Roundhay; sound rather than brilliance. The Retiring collection. the Norman and Beard/Klais organ resonant acoustic of this very (IV + P 49) in Leeds RC Cathedral, large, tall building is aided by Sitwell Singers and the Schulze organ (IV + P 57) having an apse at each end and a Saturday 8 December, 7:30 pm in St Bartholomew's, Armley. As considerable amount of marble and St John’s, Bridge Street Derby ever, Willis Garratt steered our mosaic work. Wherever one transport of delight through the stands in the building one hears Derwent Singers nightmare of the Leeds traffic the full range of organ tone clearly. Saturday 24 November, 7.30 pm system, ably guided by our Organist Peter Brand offered us a Christ Church, Bridge St, , DE56 1BA navigator Derek Fisher, allowing us warm welcome and demonstrated Handel ~ (£10.00) to make regal progress to each the rich palette of colours venue. Saturday 8 December, 7.00 pm available, including the Unda Maris St John’s, Main Road, Smalley, DE7 6DS The striking case and pipework of he has created by having the Choir (£7.00) the Binns organ have remained Dolce tuned flat. The Binns' Derby Choral Union at Derby Cathedral unchanged since 1896, with only patented tubular pneumatic action Saturday 10th November, 7.30 pm the addition of a Tuba in 1928. has recently been restored as part Poulenc ~ Debussy ~ This is a very comprehensive of a rolling restoration project and Puccini ~ instrument, strongly influenced by now provides a consistent the Schultze organ in Armley: response. However, there is still Saturday 22nd December, 7.30 pm choruses are bold, though not work to be done: the Pedal Saint-Saëns ~ Geoffrey Bush ~ Derby Bach Choir at Derby Cathedral Saturday 17 November, 7.30 pm Beethoven ~ & Vivaldi ~ (£17.50, £12, £5) Saturday 1 December, 7.30 pm

Photos: Binns organ at St Aidan’s, Roundhay Playing: Tony Westerman (left) & John Hobbs Three splendid and engaging hosts, from left to right: Peter Brand, Organist of St Aidan’s, Roundhay, Daniel Justin, Assitant Organist, Leeds Cathedral and Christopher Newton, Assistant Organist, St Bartholemw’s, Armley Nave and Choir organs in Leeds Cathedral Trombone has been disconnected a revelation. If your experience of did not intrude into the playable due to an ingress of water, though Norman & Beard has been less area of the keys, and the action Peter told us that it was something than fulfilling, then I would urge was pleasingly responsive. This is of a disappointment as it does not you to hear this instrument. a very fine instrument, worthy of speak well from the depths of the On paper, the specification would the beautiful building and the chamber. appear to be typical octopodal- flourishing choral tradition being Leeds RC cathedral proved to be turn-of-the-century. Klais, developed by the cathedral staff. one of the most striking churches I however, have realised all of the The welcome given to us by the have visited. It is not a large latent potential of the original Assistant Organist, Daniel Justin, building for a cathedral, but is of pipework by placing it on the was fulsome, informative and beautiful proportions, the recently- original chests in positions from delivered with humour. Daniel cleaned stonework reflecting light which it can speak clearly into both played three pieces for us to with a warm, honeyed glow. The chancel and nave. The new Klais display the wide scope of the reredos and other Arts and Crafts pipework blends beautifully with instrument's potential and neo-gothic fittings have also been the original and, perhaps most demonstrated that his will be a restored, creating a comfortable, importantly from the player's name to watch – the playing was of welcoming interior that delights perspective, one can hear a very high standard. Subtly rather than overwhelms. During everything one plays, as it sounds, blended organ tone made up for the period when the building was as the console is also at clerestory the lack of mutations normally closed for cleaning and restoration, level. Accompanying must be a found on German instruments, and the Norman & Beard organ, silent delight. the full organ sound was for 30 years, was removed by There are seven divisions everything one would hope for Johannes Klais Orgelbau for controlled from manuals and without the senses being assaulted. restoration. pedals through a clever Our final destination was St The choice of a German organ arrangement of transfer stops. Bartholomew's, Armley, which builder to restore an English Whilst the possibilities inherent in houses one of the iconic instrument was not made without the transfer system took a little instruments of the nineteenth considerable thought. Numerous while to understand, they create a century. Built by the German firm schemes had been proposed over degree of flexibility which is really of Schulze in 1868, following upon many years, ranging from rather fine. The other aspect of their success at The Great interesting to quite bizarre, though the console that delighted was the Exhibition of 1851, the organ was I am pleased to write that the quality of workmanship: everything originally sited in a specially-built instrument now gracing both sides was within reach; the two swell wooden shed in the grounds of of the chancel at clerestory level is boxes were very effective; pistons Meanwood Manor – the size of the

John Maxwell-Jones at Armley Gillian Chatto at Leeds Cathedral Andrew Storer at Armley 2 Vierne's Naïades Op. 55 No.4. Mr Recent Events Trinkwon's reputation as one of the leading virtuoso recitalists is Derby Cathedral Organ Recital founded upon his enviable Series 2012 technique and the breadth of his The eight recitalists in this year's repertoire, evidenced in the final programmes presented audiences two pieces Drifting Cloud by Deszö with many works that are not often d'Antalffy-Zsiross and Toccata de heard and some that were new to la Libération by Léonce de Saint- most, if not all, of the audience. If Martin. the variety and imagination It was my misfortune to miss apparent in the programmes this Stephen Grahl's recital, though it year is representative of a wider was clear from several comments pattern amongst recitalists on the made to me that his growing English circuit, then it can only help reputation as a recitalist is well- to broaden the appeal of the deserved. St Bartholemew’s, Armley instrument to a discerning musical public. Peter Gould offered works by organ would suggest that the Bach, Elgar, Hakim and Widor There is something about the first 'shed' was of considerable size, but amongst others. The performance few bars of any recital that either even so, in that environment the of Reger's Benedictus was captures an audience or leaves it organ must have been deafening. particularly fine, capturing the feeling indifferent to the music, or It was removed to St Peter's, complex harmonic weave of even worse, anxious. Jane Watts, Harrogate for a short while before Reger's romanticism and a sense in the opening recital of the series, being erected in St Bartholomew's. of spirituality. Mr Gould's not only established a comfortable Even in the vast space of this formidable technique was more sense of security in the opening church the organ is very powerful than equal to the demands of bars of Concert Variations on 'The – an instrument to be used with Hakim's Hommage à Jean Langlais Star-Spangled Banner' by Dudley some discretion, especially the V and the Allegro from Widor's VIth Buck, but established a formidable rank mixture on the Great. This Symphonie. really is an instrument with which measure against which the other congregations could not argue. performers in the series might be A beautiful interpretation of judged. In works ranging from Bach's Fuga sopra Magnificat Despite its great power, there is Franck to Messiaen, Jane Watts opened David Liddle's remarkable much that is beautiful and subtle displayed a mastery of both organ recital. All of his pieces were in all of the four manual divisions – and music, choosing to memorised; an impressive feat in the fourth manual is an Echo communicate through her itself, more so due to the complex Organ rather than a Solo – and performance rather than address nature of the works by Feliks once more, the position of the the audience. Nowowiejski (Symphony No 3 in A instrument on a large, raised minor) and Frederic Wood (Scenes Daniel Moult's more flamboyant gallery in the north transept allows in Northumberland, Op 25), each approach provided a complete it to speak clearly into the of which was beautifully contrast, as did his programme; building. Even the quietest strings registered. As an encore, we had Reger, Reubke and Whitlock can be heard at the west end. The Departure of the Queen of provided an opportunity for Mr Sheba, which proved to be both The organ was originally Moult to exercise his technique, whimsical and very entertaining, powered, unsuccessfully, by a whilst Mozart's Andante K616 and delighting the audience and water engine. This was replaced Elgar's Vesper Voluntaries III & IV providing a light, but very pleasing by a gas engine, though the fumes provided some quieter moments. close to a stunning recital. from this caused members of the Mr Moult ended his recital with Live congregation to faint on a regular Wire by Iain Farrington. Tom Corfield ended the 2012 basis. Despite this minor series – an unenviable position due A rich variety of composers and drawback, the organist's son had to the quality of the preceding styles allowed Martyn Rawles to to sit in the engine room with a lit performances, but one to which he explore the considerable resources taper in case the gas went out! was more than equal. Langlais' of the organ with sensitive Incantation pour un jour saint was Chris Newton, Assistant Organist registrations supporting intelligent followed by Bach's delightful at Armley, welcomed us and told interpretations of works by Bruhns, Prelude and Fugue in A BWV 536 us about this fine instrument. His Strauss, Messiaen and Lanquetuit, which was registered with delicate playing reflected an easy amongst others. His performance flue work and beautifully phrased. familiarity with the organ and of On hearing the first cuckoo in A fluid and apparently effortless knowledge of how to exploit the spring, Delius (arr. Fenby) was manipulation of organ colour in generous acoustic. sensitive and beautifully phrased, Karg-Elert's Seven Pastels from producing a stillness in the This was a most enjoyable and the Lake of Constance brought cathedral which was quite magical. rewarding day and our thanks go new admirers to these little-known to Stephen Johns for his The theme of this series, music pieces. The recital was a fitting painstaking organisation and that paints a picture or tells a close to a series that has provided preparation. We should also thank story, was represented in D'Arcy something for all tastes with the staff of the three churches who Trinkwon's recital by his own performances of an international made us welcome with a genuine transcription of Liszt's Saint Francis standard. feeling of warmth and fellowship. de Paul walking on the waves and Tony Westerman Tony Westerman 3 Members’ Recital at Sudbury, enjoy each others’ achievements All Saints, 13 October as players and to present organ music to the public. About 25 members, friends and parishioners gathered at Sudbury Less well-known pieces we were to enjoy a composite programme introduced to included Paul consisting of a variety of pieces, Edwards ‘Contemplation’ from the baroque, classical, romantic, Millenium Organ Book (played by modern and even, perhaps, John Forster), John Ireland’s ultramodern. This is in itself a ‘Villanella’ (Ian Stapley), Francis pleasure, but there are several Jackson’s ‘Laudate Dominum’ Ed Stow, Stephen Johns, Gillian Chatto and other pleasures peculiar to (Edmund Stow), and - most Ian Stapley (Apologies to John Forster who had evenings of this type: for instance, unusual of all, and in its way quite to depart before the photo opportunity.) we are not listening to top-flight unique - a guitar prelude by Villa professionals, so we know that we Lobos. Stephen Johns played this Stow, John Forster, and Stephen ourselves might be able to tackle one and modestly said he did not Johns added Bach to Buxtehude, at least some of the works they ‘arrange it’ so much as play it but registered him variously - present. Then it is interesting to straight from the guitar score. another lesson for us all. listen to the sounds the different Well, maybe so, but his It was a thoroughly enjoyable players conjure from the same registration and sensitive evening, greatly enhanced by the instrument, an excellent one at performance totally disguised its beautiful surroundings of All Saints Sudbury. Furthermore, several origin. Church, and by the tasty buffet players introduced us to repertoire Gillian Chatto stuck to what we provided by ladies of the parish. we might otherwise never have might term ‘standard’ repertoire, One parishioner who was present noticed. We are an association, Buxtehude’s g minor prelude and admitted she had come armed with after all, not primarily a concerts fugue and a Mendelssohn prelude, a book to read in case she got society - we exist to exchange proving that the Sudbury organ bored; she never opened it. Good information between ourselves could present such pieces in a for her, and for the performers! about organ music as well as to thoroughly satisfying way. Ed James Muckle A Traveller’s Tale - John Bland

Situated on the stone, uncarpeted Clavier I floor of the south transept, with Montre 8’ Bourdon à cheminée 8’ plenty of space all around and Prestant 4’ above, the clean clear tones sang Nazard & Tierce I & II out to the whole building. The Flûte conique 2’ reeds were brilliant – naturally, Plein Jeu IV-V very French – and just piercing Dulzaïna 8’ enough in tone even to an English Clavier II ear! There were mutations in Montre 8’ abundance, and flutes of gentle Bourdon 8’ Flûte à biberon 4’ clarity. There was also a Rossignol Doublette 2’ – though I am not sure where St James, Perros-Guirec Larigot 1 1/3 twittering birds fit into the French Trompette 8’ Sometimes it’s great to be wrong! Catholic liturgy! Pédale On holiday in Northern Brittany this The specification below is as the Contrebasse 16’ Flûte 8’ August, we were wandering builder gives it on his web-site: through the small town of Perros- Accessories: Guirec when we came across the Couplers, Tremblant, Rossignol modestly sized Church of St James, prettily situated in an open floral A real treasure, and a happily square. “I bet there’s a lovely mistaken assumption on my part. organ in there”, said my son-in- John Bland law. “I doubt it.”, said I, “I’d guess there isn’t an organ at all.” Curiously enough I was nearly right! There was an organ in St James, a new instrument in 1997, and the first ever organ in the church’s several hundred year history. It was built by Yves Fossaert S.A.R.L., of Mondreville (about 70 miles south of Paris), his Opus 14. To my delight, on enquiry, I was invited to “ have a play”. Organ by Yves Fossaert S.A.R.L. Mondreville John Bland, in holiday mood. 4 Ben Bloor at Liverpool Cathedral

Ben Bloor, currently Organ Scholar world, aided by the wonderful at New College, Oxford, recounts a acoustic of the building. There has memorable recital he gave in even been a bird-whistle stop August of this year: grafted on to the side of the organ which Dr Tracey can press if he Recently, I was fortunate to be needs some comic relief from a given the opportunity to play the heavy sermon... largest organ in the UK – the five- manual Willis in Liverpool Anglican My recital was a mixture of Cathedral. I was given a generous romantic and 20th-century practice time of 4 hours the night repertoire, mainly to indulge myself before the concert and can safely in a full-bodied instrument which I say that they were some of the have been relatively absent from in most enjoyable hours I have had Oxford (although the New College on any instrument. Indeed I spent organ manages romantic repertoire the first hour just exploring the very well, it is fair to say that it is vast array of sounds – the most at home with baroque works). manual features a gauge on top of enormous jambs on either side of The sequencer made the huge its respective jamb and gently me containing such novelties as a organ much easier to handle, nudging the box backwards and 32' stop on the Great manual and a especially in a piece such as Karg- forwards, when done with the 64' resultant bass in the pedal, the Elert's Hymn to the Stars, where right set of feet, produces a very enormous reeds on the solo, and stop changes are frequent and a gradual and effective change in the choice of 5 open diapasons on sharp decrescendo at the end is dynamic. a single manual left me spoilt for made much simpler by just having All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed choice. The majority of the Swell to tap your foot on one piston to my short stay in Liverpool and feel reeds were out of action during my progress to the next set of sounds. very humbled to have given a visit, but such was the versatility of I was amazed at the ability of the recital there (to an appreciative the instrument that it didn't make a instrument to handle soft sounds as crowd) on a quite brilliant great difference. Although I was well, which made Elgar's Nimrod a instrument. My thanks go to Alan not able to use it in my recital, I very intimate experience, even in a Dronsfield for organising did use my practice time to try out building of such magnitude. everything and I hope to be able the Trompette Millitaire on the fifth Something I just about got used to to return in the future. 'bombarde' manual, which is the by the end of my visit were the second loudest organ stop in the infamous rolling swell boxes. Each Ben Bloor

Organ Competition (NIIOC), Senior Kimberly Marshall, Goldman Members’ News Category, taking away a prize of Professor of Organ at Arizona £1000. He played a varied State University said: "The International Success for Ben programme which impressed the standard of the organists in the Ben has been busy this summer! competition jury and audience by senior class was very impressive. In addition to giving recitals in its brilliance as well as his musical The Jury voted unanimously for Liverpool, and elsewhere, interpretation and outstanding Ben Bloor as winner. He is an he is this year's winner of the musicianship. The Chair of the outstanding player and a versatile Northern Ireland International Jury, international organist, musician." As part of the prize, Ben will have opportunities to perform in Westminster, Cambridge, Dublin and Belfast. Many congratulations to Ben!

Queen’s Hall Update Further to our note in the July Newsletter, the final Sunday service at Queen’s Hall Methodist Mission took place on 9th September. The main organ (Hunter c.1875, Matthew Copley 1996) has now been dismantled and moved to storage at St Osmund’s, London Road, Derby, where it is due to be installed during 2013 to replace the ailing and inadequate Kingsgate From left: Ben Bloor (First prize), Martyn Noble, Tom Etheridge, Michael Papadopoulos. Davidson instrument. In the background from left: judges Mark Duley, David Hill and Kimberly Marshall. Edmund Stow 5 paying the reduced rate. This has Membership List DDOA - Your Association led the committee to consider if In January the revised list will be there should still be two different available to members on request. If From the Hon. Treasurer membership rates, and the general your details have changed since the view was that the distinction As in all areas of life, the previous issue, please let the should be abolished. Association is not immune from Secretary know as soon as possible. increases in costs. Members will The subscription rates are Provisional Programme for 2013 be aware of the massive increase decided by all members at the in postal charges earlier this year, Annual General Meeting (not by February: Talk: History of Scales and although the canny Newsletter the committee), and it is open to March: Visit Nottingham & Lenton Editor bought a year’s supply of any member at that meeting to April: Talk: Accompanying services stamps before the price went up, make a proposal. My view is that May: Workshop: Improvisation the increase will hit us next year. we should be considering a single June: Annual Dinner Also, the capitation fee paid to the subscription rate of around £15 July: Recital for Families IAO, unchanged for a number of (student members would still be September: Outing to Oxford years, is rising next year by 50p free), with members subscribing to October: Visit Ashbourne PC per member. This means that the ‘Organists’ Review’ paying the November: Chairman’s Evening cost per individual member will discounted ‘OR’ rate in addition. I rise next year by more than £1.30 would also propose that we Members’ News for these two items alone. introduce a rate of around £5 for We are sad to record the death of additional members at the same The Association has traditionally our member Margaret Wall from address (effectively giving a rate offered a discount to members Etwall who who much enjoyed our of £20 for joint membership). who are 65 or over. In common meetings before her recent illness. with many similar organisations, However, I must emphasise that this is a personal view, and that it the average age of our We are delighted to welcome a new is a decision for the whole membership has been increasing member, Alistair Timmis, who membership at the AGM. So over the years, to the extent that recently graduated from Durham come along and have your say!! only 40% of our members now pay University and is now playing at All the full rate, with nearly 60% Chris Darrall Saints, Mickleover. Forthcoming DDOA Meeting

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday 21st November 7.15 pm at St Werbergh’s Church, Spondon. Please note the starting time for the AGM. The Chairman’s Evening follows immediately at 8.00pm

CHAIRMAN’S EVENING 21st November 8.00 pm at St Werbergh’s Church, Spondon.

‘The organ: partner in concerted music’

Our Chairman, Prof. James Muckle, writes:

We organists are usually soloists and accompanists of congregations and choirs, and we do not often think of the organ as a ‘chamber music’ instrument. But there is an area of the repertoire where the organ figures in a small ensemble. In the Chairman’s Event after the AGM, we shall first briefly explore some of this repertoire: Mozart, Vivaldi, Dvořák, Rheinberger, and some of the English concertos: Stanley in particular, whose two sets of concertos can be very effectively played as chamber works, and were probably intended as such. The event will be emphatically NOT a concert, but an exploration of an area of music we perhaps do not know well, or even at all. After an initial presentation by the Chairman and instrumental-playing friends, there will be an opportunity for you, the members, to try out pieces for yourselves. Music will be provided and our visiting string players will be at your disposal. We hope it will be fun. If you play a stringed instrument yourself, feel free to bring it and participate.

Items of news or articles for the January/February edition of the should reach the Editor by Monday 10th December, either via e-mail: [email protected] or by post: Dr Laurence Rogers, 24 St.David’s Crescent, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 4SS. The Secretary, Stephen Johns, may be reached via [email protected] Please visit the DDOA Website www.derbyorganists.co.uk for information about Association activities, past editions of the newsletter, photo gallery and many special features of local interest.

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