Vox Lancastria
Caught at the Console
Robert Rowley - see page 25
Michael Holmes - Mary Ann Wootton - Joyce Alldred - Michael Baron - Ian Gough Vox Lancastria
2007 Autumn Edition - 025
Patron LANCASTRIA Vacant VOX www.voxlancastria.org.uk Trustees Don Hyde David Alldred Journal of The Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust Colin Smith M.I.C.M. Bill McNally Registered Charity 261487 D Quentin Bellamy Everson Whittle Bob Jones Contents Honorary President Caught at the Console Cover Frank D Read From The Chair 2 The Secretary's Report 2 Honorary Vice Presidents Joyce Alldred L.L.C.M. Your Letters 3 Doreen Chadwick AGM Notification/Accounts 11-14 Nigel Ogden Len Rawle New Members 24
Honorary Committee Chairman Don Hyde Vice Chairman Walter Baker Hon Secretary Robert J Pierce Features Treasurer Colin Smith M.I.C.M. Estrelita 4 House Manager Ron Whalley C.Eng.,M.I.E.E., The World Around Hope Jones 5 M.I.E.I.E Media Production Kevin Grunill. B.A.(Hons) The Silent Choir Organ 15 News From the Heritage Centre 18 Committee Members Mike Dawson A.C.M.A. - Sales Officer Pictures of the Heritage Weekend 19 Roger Fisher - Heritage Centre Manager Concert News and Reviews 20 Vic Matthews - Maintenance Manager Marion Read Spotlight on Michael Baron and Ian Gough 23 Tony Fenelon Inside Back Cover Head of Technical Team Eric Halsall C.Eng.,M.I.E.E. Farny Wurlitzer - the missing section Inside Back Cover
Membership Secretary Contributions and Letters to the Editor Michael Holmes. Bob Jones Editor Vox Lancastria Warwick House Bob (AKA Robert "No Hope") Jones 4 Stanley Place Chester Assistant Editor Vox Lancastria Position Vacant CH1 2LU email [email protected] Technical Advisors Tel 01244 310547 Don Hyde Ron Whalley C.Eng.,M.I.E.E.,M.I.E.I.E. Membership Secretary Hon Secretary Honorary Member Michael Holmes Robert J Pierce Tony Fenelon OAM 26 Stocks Gardens Horwich End Bungalow Stalybridge Chapel Road Past Chairmen Les Barlee, 1968 - 1973 Cheshire Whaley Bridge Frank D Read 1973 - 1996 SK15 2RD High Peak SK23 7JZ WEB PAGES LTOT Chairman Tel 01663 719692 http://www.voxlancastria.org.uk http://theatreorgans.com/lancast/ Don Hyde 8 Headlands Road email addresses: Bramhall Chairman: [email protected] Stockport Secretary [email protected] Editor Vox Lancastria [email protected] SK7 3AN Tel 0161 440 8070
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From The Chair From The Secretary
Firstly we are coming to the end of yet another year in The year rolls on as always and already, at the time of the life of the Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust and as in writing, autumn has arrived with a vengeance and we previous years it has been a very rewarding one, have experienced a mild frost. Concerts, both at Stockport especially in the number of interested groups that have Town Hall and the Heritage Centre, Peel Green, continue visited Peel Green as well as those regular and new to provide excellent entertainment to the audiences. people who have attended our regular lunchtime A new venture, at the request of a member, has been the concerts. Wurlitzer Club, meeting every other Tuesday, 11am to There is one thing I keep bringing to your attention 1pm, at the Heritage Centre. A handful of us attending, however and that is the ex Gaumont organ that we have under the leadership of Peter Taylor, seek to find our way in storage and which is costing us quite a bit of money in round the Wurlitzer console and generally enjoy a rental. I have asked, and I make no excuse for asking sociable couple of hours. Subscriptions are £2.50p each again; does any member know or can help with finding per session. Any interested person is welcome to join us. sponsored storage. I do know that we have had some 19th July saw our first evening concert, “Welsh Night at response but unfortunately actual storage area available Peel Green,” featuring our Vice-President, Doreen seems to be a problem. For the record, to store this organ Chadwick and the Welsh Wizard, Byron Jones. The near we are looking for an area of approx. 1200 square capacity audience showed great appreciation of the feet or something like 35 x 35 feet. The cost of the musical fare provided. Such evenings must be repeated! present storage is beginning to tell on our finances. We continue to be open to the public on Fridays and Now to turn on to other matters. Next year is the fortieth Saturdays but, apart from private bookings, the lack of anniversary of the founding of the Lancastrian Theatre visitors is heartbreaking. We are most grateful to those Organ Trust and obviously we want to have some sort of volunteers who give up their time to man the Centre. special celebration. So I'm putting the question to all our Civic Trust Heritage Open Days was considered a great members - What sort of events would you like to see? success, with Don Hyde, Walter Baker and myself Have you any other ideas? The dates will be between supporting the Town Hall Tours at Stockport, on the October and December 2008, so either put pen to paper Thursday. Don demonstrated the Wurlitzer; Walter and I or email me at the address on the contents page. were on hand to answer any questions, etc. At the Also next year is the Centenary of the opening of Heritage Centre, Peel Green, we were open 11am to 3pm Stockport Town Hall and during the first two weeks in on Friday and Saturday, with tours of the organ chamber July 2008 there will be a series of events to celebrate this. and continuous free organ concerts by a panel of The LTOT will be very involved and we shall be putting organists. on at least three events during that time. These will Jack Jones was in attendance on the car park, with his consist of a special Lunchtime event at the beginning of Street Organ and we attracted nearly one hundred visitors the first week. Also due to the fantastic response to the over the two days, raising almost £150 in donations, sales silent movie event ww presented this year with Dennis and refreshments. Grateful thanks to all who supported James, we are going put on a repeat event. Finally, we and helped. intend to stage a joint event with the Stockport Our Anniversary Concert with Nigel Ogden at the console Symphony Orchestra, details still have to be worked out. of the mighty Wurlitzer, will be on Sunday, 25th As you all know we have put together at Peel Green November, at 2.30pm, again at the Town Hall. Heritage Centre what is acknowledged to be the world's Elsewhere in this edition you will find the official notice first museum to Robert Hope-Jones. What has amazed of the Annual General Meeting of the Trust on the 1st me is the interest from all round the world that this has December 200717th November. created, I have had many contacts and we have had An extra event will be Salford Museum Local History, visitors from all over. We have also been asked to Family Fun Day on 18th November. At this, our contribute to a display to Robert Hope-Jones at a new Headquarters building at Peel Green being situated in museum in Tonawanda where of course the Wurlitzer Salford, we have booked a stall to publicise or activities. Factory was. As a result of the interest we have put To judge by last years event, a really good day out is to be together a 20 minute dvd documentary on this research expected. Anybody who is able to help, please contact with the same name as the paper produced for the Roger Fisher. Simonton Literary award. Hopefully this will be available 30th November sees the centenary of the building which as a sales item in the not too distant future. is now our Headquarters. On the nearest Sunday, 2nd In the last issue I mentioned that this paper would be December, our friends at Patricroft Methodist Church are reproduced in this issue so I hope you will enjoy part one holding their morning service in the Centre, at 10.30am. of "The World Around Hope-Jones". The minister, Rev. Rosemary Nunn, will conduct the service and preach the sermon; the church organist, David
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Your Letters
Hello Don, As was this email
Just received my July-August copy and delighted to see Well he might then be interested to hear that funding is that you have won the Simonton Literary Prize - very being sought to restore the large HJ designed organ at many Congratulations. Good to see an article from the UK Battersea Arts Centre, formerly the Town Hall. I think in the book. this is the largest and most complete/original HJ organ in It’s a shame that nobody on our Rye Committee has the country and is well worth restoring. sufficient technical information to be able to write about In fact I have already managed to get the Swell dept in our Opus 999 - I’m sure it would make a good article as moderately good shape, although there is a huge amount the oldest playing Wurlitzer in the UK. Americans would of work to do to the rest of the organ. be very interested. We are booked to come next week to the Wednesday and Peter Hammond Thursday concerts and look forward to seeing you again Don, then. Best regards I completed reading your winning article several weeks Michael Ward ago and really enjoyed it. It’s an impressive amount of The following is an email posted to the UK Cinema detective work that you’ve been doing. If you continue Organs Internet chat group ...... working on these projects you may be in the running for another trip to the next convention in Indianapolis, and a Hi much less expensive place to stay and a place where it is I hear that Don Hyde of LTOT has won this years’ prize far easier to get around. I have not made plans that far in for his work on the life of Robert Hope Jones. It was advance yet but it’s an area that has some nice presented to him in New York during the recent instruments to see and hear. convention there. The amount of data that Don has accumulated on RHJ is quite amazing and new facts are Dee, in Colorado being uncovered all the time. Set-up in the year 2000, the award was named after the Dear Bob late Richard C Simonton who was one of the founders of the original ATOS organisation way back in the 1950’s. It I would like you to pass on my congratulations to David recognises excellence in the field of literary research and Alldred for the brilliant article on the Tooting WurliTzer publication of information on theatre organ related topics. re-opening. Letting my imagination run riot, I felt as We are fortunate that Don has devoted so much time and though I was there with them, this can only be a effort into this. Some of the results can be viewed in the complement to the writer. You can tell your friends etc LTOT museum at Peel Green, Manchester. all about a day/weekend out, putting these experiences So congratulations Don and keep-up the good work. down on paper is another thing.
Regards - Ian Macnaught David Wild - via email
And this was posted in response ... This letter was sent to Stockport Town Hall and passed on to me via Don Hyde. Yes indeed & reproduced in the current Theatre Organ, well worth a read, congratulations Don if you read this.. Thank you so much for putting on that organ concert on the Wurlitzer at Stockport Town Hall on July 15th. It Best wishes was so good to hear in one programme five organists all Gordon Crook very competent and each with their own style. For me, Ian Goughs playing was outstanding, his musicality lit up the whole event and my friends in the Part One of Don's article is audience were captured. Could I ask you to find a slot for him in your future plans for a full concert played by him? His is a wonderful talent and he is a great on page 5 of this entertainer. Thank you. A Evans L.G.S.M., L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M.
edition of Vox Lancastria Joyce Alldred has penned a few words - see page 23
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deceased relative when amongst all the rubbish and junk I came across an old oil painting and an old violin. Thinking they might be worth something I went to the Estrelita Chester office of Sothebys and left the items with them. A few weeks later I was invited to call in and was told that what I had was a Rembrandt and a Stradivarius .. my For so many years the strains of Estrellita meant that dreams of spending the rest of my life on a sin kissed Charles Smitton was arising from the depths of the Odeon Caribbean beach were shattered when I was told that the cinema so it was wonderful to hear that melody played on violin was by Rembrandt and Antonio Stradivari was the violin at this years Last Night of the Proms. rubbish at painting.
Estrelita means little star and followers of Spanish Thanks go to Gordon Crook for the photo of Charles at the Gaumont, Wayne Ivany for the photo of Charles at the Odeon and the late Tommy Cooper for the joke. The LTOT archives are short on pictures of Charles - if you have any that you would like to share please let me know - ed.
A rare photo of Charles at the console of the Gaumont, Manchester
Grammar will recognise that the “..ita” suffix generally means small a bit like “..let” in English with a streamlet being a small stream. Charles in more familiar Estrellita was composed by the Mexican composer surroundings at the Odeon Manuel Ponce and although it was written as a song it was much better known as the 1927 violin arrangement Manchester by Jascha Heifetz. The piece was performed at the Albert Hall by Joshua Bell. Joshua resides in New York City but was born in Indiana. He plays a 300 year old Stradivarius Don't Forget! made in 1713 - considered to be Antonio Stradivari's golden era. Apparently this violin had been stolen twice from the previous owner but was recovered each time. L.T.O.T. Joshua Bell had held and played the violin and then, by chance, discovered that it was up for sale. He sold his Annual general Meeting then current Stradivarius added a considerable sum of money to the proceeds and bought the violin which is known as the ”Gibson ex Huberman”. Theatre Organ
Antonio Stradivari lived a relatively long life from 1644 Heritage Centre to 1737 with the Latinized form of his name Stradivarius - and simply “Strad” - being used to refer to his instruments. Saturday 1st December 2007 2-00pm A few years ago I was going through the attic of a
4 Vox Lancastria The World Around Hope-Jones
The Simonton Literary Prize was established in Honour of Richard Simonton who was a founder of the American Theatre Organ Enthusiasts which enventually became known as the American Theatre Organ Society. The purpose of the prize is to encourage and reward original research and writing in the area of theatre organ history, restoration and conversation. Our chairman's work on the new research into Hope-Jones and the people he made contact with has entered new grounds in the history associated with theatre organs. This, plus a little bit of arm twisting resulted in the chairman writing a paper that was submitted for the Simonton prize this year - 2007. The prize was awarded to chairman Don Hyde at the American Theatre Organ Society Convention in New York in July.
On the left Don is being presented with the prize by Vern Bickel, Chair of the ATOS Educational Commitee and on the right Don is being congratulated by the President of the A.T.O.S. Ken Double
The purpose of this paper is to record the recent research that has been carried out into the world of Robert in books. Hope-Jones and the people who lived and worked in his Over the years the Trust has collected quite an amount of environment and whom he met during the course of some Hope-Jones heritage material and put it into safe storage. of the work he did during his organ manufacturing time It was therefore essential that this heritage was in Great Britain before he emigrated to the United States. safeguarded and the details of it recorded for the benefit The Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust has been troubled of future generations just in case some of the original for some time that almost all of the original pipe organs reference material was lost for some reason in the future. built in Britain by Hope-Jones have been totally rebuilt, After all Robert Hope-Jones is acknowledged throughout dramatically modified over the years by various organ the world as the father of the Theatre Organ. builders, or have been scrapped. Robert Hope-Jones, the third son of William Hope- Since its foundation in 1968 the Lancastrian Theatre Jones, was born at Hooton Grange, Eastham on the Organ Trust has been acutely aware of its close proximity Wirral, Cheshire, in 1859. The birth was recorded by to the birthplace of Robert Hope-Jones and to the area at John Jones the local registrar as entry number 317, and Birkenhead on the Wirral in Cheshire where he started tells us that Robert was born on the “Ninth February his ground breaking work on pipe organs. Also, because 1859, at Hooton Grange, Eastham”. The birth wasn’t one of Trust’s first vice presidents was Farny Wurlitzer, officially recorded until a month later on the 11th March (see appendix) who was one of the persons in control of 1859 (see figure 1). Robert’s Baptism is recorded as the Wurlitzer Factory at the time Hope-Jones was taking place on the 27th March 1859 (see figure 2). working there, we had a duty to preserve as much of this Hooton Grange was quite a spectacular mansion which heritage as possible, before it was too late and was all lost was built for Robert’s father William, a person whose for ever to become something that one only reads about occupation is recorded as “Landed Proprietor” or in
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other words he was quite wealthy. The mansion was Birkenhead. designed and erected under the control of Architect Thomas Brassey, born on 7th November 1805, was the Charles Verelst. It was designed in a Tudor style of son of John and Elizabeth Brassey. The Family owned Architecture and was built in stone and light coloured and farmed some 300 acres of farmland near Chester in brick. The mansion had a long driveway with a Lodge at Cheshire. Thomas was educated at a school in Chester each of its two entrances. Hooton Grange was about and at the age of sixteen he became an apprentice to a halfway between Chester and Birkenhead. surveyor. When the apprenticeship finished he became a The architect Charles Verelst was born in 1814 as partner in the business. Along the way Brassey was Charles Reed, who at some time later and for an involved in a quarry on the Wirral and then started in the unknown reason, changed his surname to Verelst. He was brick making business where he became well known for also the architect for Saint John’s Church in Birkenhead his light coloured bricks. It was these light coloured which is famous in its own right as being the home of a bricks that were used in the construction of Hooton Robert Hope-Jones pipe organ, once thought to be the Grange and which gave the mansion its spectacular first pipe organ Robert built, but now known to be the looks. second such organ. The later Saint John’s organ having Brassey became much more famous for his railway an electric action designed to what afterwards became construction work. This all started when he was building British Patent number 18,073 and was officially taken out the Chester Railway Station main line terminal and was in 1891. introduced to the famous railway engineer George During our researches we looked in many archives Stevenson. Stevenson said he was greatly impressed by around the area of South West Lancashire and other local Brassey’s contracting work and as a result employed areas in the hope that some record or pictures could be Brassey’s company to lay railway lines for him. It can be found of Hooton Grange. The answer was always the said that Brassey laid more railway lines than possibly same, as far as anyone could tell us there were no any other contractor. At this time Brassey employed existing pictures of Hooton Grange and no one could some 85,000 men and when he died in December 1870 in even tell us what the mansion looked like. Then by a his will left £3,200,000. sheer stroke of luck, while carrying out some of the Thomas Brassey’s achievements included most of the research into this area where Hope-Jones lived, a visit railway lines laid in Britain and railways in France, Paris was made to see if any foundations of Hooton Grange Rouen railway 1841, Spain, Barcelona and Mataro 1848, were still in situ. We found that one building, the original Holland 1852, Italy, Turin 1854, Eastern Bengal 1858, tack house where horse riding gear was kept, was still in Mauritius 1862, and Australia, Queensland 1863, plus existence and of course any remains of the house many others. Some of Thomas Brassey’s descendants couldn’t be too far away from this building. still live in Queensland Australia. While we were on this site looking at some stonework, an Just a short distance from “Montana” on Palm Grove is a old gentleman came up and asked what our interest was. road called Charlesville which has a junction with a road On replying it was found out that he had taken a number called Reedville, both roads named after Charles Verelst of photographs in the early 1950’s just before the house (Reed). Interestingly, at this junction stands the first was knocked down (see figure 4). We were fortunate to Parsonage of Saint John’s Church Birkenhead. be given a set of these photographs and although their At this point in our research it was imperative that space quality was not too good the full splendour of the was made available to put on public view our Hope-Jones building could be seen. From other research in searching Heritage items and Historic findings. So in 2002 the archives around the country it would now appear that Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust decided that premises these are the only surviving pictures of Hooton Grange. had to be found to create this small museum for the Using a bit of modern computer technology it has now benefit of the interested public. An old Sunday school been possible to restore some of these photographs to was found and purchased in Eccles on the western side of give a view of Hooton Grange in its former glory (see Manchester with sufficient space to build a small theatre figure 5). and with space to create our very special Museum. During our research investigating the design of Hooton When the official deeds for this Sunday School were first Grange we located another similar mansion at 26 - 28 viewed an interesting fact came to light. The Sunday Palm Grove in Oxton, Birkenhead, designed by the same School was built in 1907 on land originally owned by Sir architect, Charles Verelst, and looking very similar to Charles Legh of Adlington. Sir Charles Legh lived at Hooton Grange (see figure 6). Adlington Hall in Cheshire where his descendants still Directly opposite 26 - 28 Palm Grove was originally a live today. This hall has a piece of unique heritage in that house with the name “Montana” now rebuilt as it houses the oldest playable pipe organ in Britain. The apartments. This house was once the home of a certain organ was built sometime just after 1500. This was an Thomas Brassey. Brassey was one of the unsung heroes organ on which George Frederic Handel played and of Victorian times and he worked for Charles Verelst as a composed some of his music and in the safe at Adlington Contractor. Brassey could be claimed to be the world’s Hall is still held an original handwritten manuscript by first contractor. He built quite a number of these large Handel which states “The Hunting Song, music houses for Verelst and he also built Saint John’s Church,
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composed by George Frederic Handel, words by Sir have now been placed on indefinite loan to the Hope- Charles Legh”. The organ was restored by the British Jones Museum by the Church of England Diocese at organ builder Mander in 1959 and is still playable today. Burton-on-Trent, who we now thank most sincerely for A fantastic and interesting link to our worthy cause. letting us preserve them for posterity. The Eccles Sunday School was not in a good condition Both these consoles are from complete organs that were with broken windows and water pouring in. It also had manufactured by The Hope-Jones Electric Organ not been used for some 30 years except as a depository Company. The oldest of these consoles dates from 1894 for unwanted items of rubbish, so a great deal of work and is from the Church of St. Paul’s. The St. Paul’s organ was required, firstly to just empty the building and then is a unique instrument being the first complete to bring it back to a useable state so it could be converted commercial organ built by Hope-Jones after his Company into the requirements for our project. After four years of was formed in 1892, and it is identified as Opus 70. The hard work totalling some 17,000 hours by our volunteers reason for this high Opus number is because Hope-Jones the building was fully restored and converted into the had been counting his Opus numbers on all organs built Trust’s Heritage Centre with its unique Hope-Jones under license to his patents and these licensed Museum. This Museum has already been acknowledged instruments had been built from 1888 until 1893 when to be the world’s first Museum dedicated to the work of Robert Hope-Jones set up “The Hope-Jones Electric Robert Hope-Jones. Organ Company” as his first commercial organ building Since our project started we have been contacted by a Company. The second console, dating from 1900 is from great number of various interested persons who have St. Modwen’s, this is identified as opus 145. This was either come forward and donated Hope-Jones artefacts built just 3 years before Robert Hope-Jones emigrated to which have now been added to our collection or who the United States of America and where he eventually have supplied information about the possible joined the Wurlitzer Company. whereabouts of other potential artefacts. This information As previously mentioned, Hope-Jones is credited as has been followed up and in many cases has led to other being the Father of the Theatre Organ, but it has been important finds. said that Hope-Jones didn’t make any Theatre Organs as A great many of these artefacts have been found and such before emigrating to America. A careful added to the collection, two of them, in particular, are examination of these two Hope-Jones consoles puts a very important from a heritage point of view. These are slightly different light on that situation. two original and unaltered Hope-Jones consoles (see On both consoles the stops are not drawstops as one figure 7). These were found stored out of view in two would expect at that time to find on Church organs, but churches in Burton-on-Trent in the Midlands area of the consisted of two types of stop tabs. On the earlier console United Kingdom. Following some negotiation with the from St. Paul’s the stops are a type of ivory rocker tabs Church authorities, the two consoles were rescued and that were specially manufactured for Hope Jones by the
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Endolithic Ivory Company Limited of London, whose horizontal. The Trust is not aware of any other electric advert states “Sole makers of Ivory Keys to the Hope- actions of similar age that are still in existence, although Jones Electric Organ Company Limited.” The later some component parts have been found. As far as is console from St. Modwen’s, manufactured just six years known all the other original complete Hope-Jones later, has stop keys of a completely different design. Here electric actions have been destroyed and scrapped over Hope-Jones has completely changed the appearance of the years. Thus to find such a complete and well the stops. These later stops look almost identical to those preserved action is not only a very important Heritage used some years later on the Wurlitzer theatre organ and item but a major contribution to our Hope-Jones as were also used on virtually all Theatre Organs. Museum. The two consoles are both four manual units with the We had always been under the impression that there were rows of stops across the top of the backrail. Also both no surviving Hope-Jones tremulants, and again it was these consoles have on their right hand key cheeks thought that these had been destroyed when their additional rocker tabs which control the tremulants which respective pipe organs were rebuilt. However through an were fitted to these organs. The pipe ranks and stop interested person creating a lead, one such original arrangements of both these consoles are showing a tremulant has been located, rescued, cleaned and is now tendency towards the stop arrangements appearing on the in the museum. It is interesting to look closely at this later theatre organs, Stops like Tibias, Strings, Oboe, tremulant and observe its operation, and also to observe Gamba etc. plus of course those tremulants. The embryo how later Wurlitzer and other Theatre Organ Tremulants of Hope-Jones’ colour coding for theatre organ tabs is follow this basic Hope-Jones design. This unit again is also evident here for the first time; white for flue stops, controlled by two of the original Hope-Jones action red for reeds, and black for couplers. So all the elements magnets, also the pull wire from the operational bellows of what we consider today to be a Theatre Organ were interestingly has the same thread for its leather buttons as actually present on this first Hope-Jones commercial pipe that used on the later Wurlitzers, so Hope-Jones organ built in 1894. One can say in all honesty that this continued to use the original British threads when first Hope-Jones commercial organ was most definitely a working in America. theatre organ in all but name. The Museum also has what is known to be the world’s Another major item also acquired and on display is what oldest surviving Diaphone. This Diaphone is the only we now know to be the earliest surviving original remaining one of a complete rank found at the back of Hope-Jones electric action. This electric action was the organ in St. John’s Church Birkenhead. It was discovered along with other Hope-Jones items under understood that these Diaphones had been stored there much rubbish in the attic of a Funeral Director, where it for many years following early work during their had been in store for many years (see figure 8). development. They were stored on an unconnected The action consists of a series of multiway switches pipechest at the rear of the organ. The Diaphones were operated by stoptabs which were intended to couple key rescued by Trust Technical Team members just as St. contacts to pipe magnets. Each switch consisting of a row John’s church was about to be finally demolished. The of two wire contacts, one wire contact being joined to a complete rank of Diaphones was put into storage in a key contact, the other wire contact being connected to a farm out-building in Winwick near Warrington, but pipe magnet. The contacts were operated by shorting unfortunately disaster struck when all these pipes except together each pair of contacts with a short bar fastened in one were destroyed in a fire caused by an electrical fault vertical rows on a wooden actuator. In many ways similar in the building where they were stored. Fortunately the to the later Wurlitzer relay system the major difference one pipe and its base had been removed from storage to being that the effective roller switches on this system are be photographed and was thus saved. This pipe with its vertical, whereas the later Wurlitzer roller switches are base support and its tuning slide, with Hope-Jones' own
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Hooton Grange and Palm Grove
Hooton Grange - taken in 1953 just before the house was demolished
A computer restored image of Hooton Grange. Taken from an old black and white photograph to show off the original splendour of this house.
26/28 Palm Grove
A house designed by Verelst in similar style to Hooton Grange and still standing today
9 Vox Lancastria hand writing impressed upon it is now on display in a Unfortunately, the Lancashire Maxim-Weston Electric showcase in the Hope-Jones museum. Co. Ltd. that Henry Royce was working for went It is generally considered that St. John’s Birkenhead was bankrupt and it is recorded that “friends” suggested the church where the first complete organ built by Robert Royce move to Manchester to form his own company Hope-Jones was situated. However research has shown manufacturing electrical items. A move which took place that this is not so and the credit for that first organ should in 1884. now go to St. Luke’s Tranmere, Birkenhead, an organ The fact that Royce moved to Manchester and shared part which was rebuilt in 1884 by Hope-Jones then aged 25. of a building with an organ builder adds to that question The organ had originally been built by William and above - did Henry Royce already know Robert Hope- Frank Hall, organ builders in Birkenhead. The remains of Jones? Had they met during their work in Liverpool this organ have also been acquired, restored and are now streets? Was it even Hope-Jones who suggested that reduced to a diminutive two octave version with three Royce share a factory with Benson’s Organ Builders? stops, which is working and on display in the museum. What is certain is that at that time George Benson, owner This organ from St. Luke’s was first played by Robert of the Company, was manufacturing pipe organs with an when he was just 23 years old. It is interesting to note electric action manufactured under licence from the that a certain Mr. Laird was a sidesman at the Church and Hope-Jones Patents, so George and Robert were certainly when Robert started work his first job was as an acquainted. apprentice at Laird’s Shipbuilders in Birkenhead, owned There is now no doubt that this Royce connection with by the same Mr. Laird. Benson’s Organ Builders has uncovered some evidence Starting in 1886 Robert Hope-Jones built the organ for to identify a surviving early electric action coil from St. which he became most famous, that being the organ of John’s Church Birkenhead as the world’s oldest Henry St. John’s Birkenhead. He built this organ assisted only Royce artefact. Prior to this evidence coming to light the with the help of volunteers from the church choir, Henry Royce Foundation told us that the world’s oldest because in 1886 he was still working as a Telephone known Henry Royce artefact had been dated at 1898. Our Engineer with the Lancashire and Cheshire Telephone research has now moved this date backward to 1886 (see Company in the position of Chief Electrician. It should figure 11). therefore come as no surprise that he used the electrical The documentary evidence that proves this fact is knowledge gained in this job in the early days of contained in a company profile written by John De electrical engineering to design and subsequently patent Looze. John De Looze was the Company Secretary of an electric action for pipe organs. With this electrical F.H. Royce Ltd. from 1893 until 1943. The document knowledge and the experience gained through his job it lists early items manufactured by F.H. Royce and Co. and was always thought that Hope-Jones would have wound in the document is the following important statement: the coils for the electromagnets in his electric action ‘inter alia’ Electro Magnetos for the Hope-Jones organ himself, however again recent research carried out has manufactured at Birkenhead, the work was not of such a now shown beyond all doubt that these coils were wound nature as would call the attention of the ‘man in the in Hulme, Manchester by a certain Henry Royce, who street’ who is desirous of making his fortune with little later became famous in his own right as the co-founder of risk.” the Rolls- Royce car company. A fact and link that has This important evidence came to light in documents that lain undiscovered for 100 years. were held in the Leicestershire Records Office and were Just before this time Henry Royce was working as the found for us by the Rolls Royce Historian, Tom Clarke. first electrician for a company that was installing the first The Rolls Royce company have given special permission electric street lights in Liverpool. The firm Royce worked for a copy of this record to be made for use in our for was undertaking all kinds of electrical work using this Museum (see figure 10). Later, as his company expanded new technology of electricity, it is known for instance Henry Royce moved from his first premises in Blake that they also undertook the electric lighting of the Prince Street to the next street in Hulme - Cooke Street, and then of Wales Theatre in Liverpool. This particular contract to Trafford Park Industrial Estate in a factory directly was very successful and as a result a new subsidiary opposite Glovers Cables Ltd., (see figure 13). It should company was formed in October 1882 called the be noted that Glovers Cables had invested money in the Lancashire Maxim-Weston Electric Co. Ltd. of Peters Lancashire and Cheshire Telephone Company as early as Lane, Liverpool. 1881 (see figure 12). This of course was the Company At this same time, Robert Hope-Jones was the Chief that Robert Hope-Jones worked for. Could this be Engineer of the Lancashire and Cheshire Telephone another connection between Hope-Jones and Royce? Company and was controlling the installation of It is also significant that Ernest Claremont who was the telephones in Liverpool. We have often wondered, that as Managing Director of Glovers Cables became the brother Henry Royce was involved in laying power cables for in law of Henry Royce so there is not much doubt that street lighting in Liverpool streets and Robert Hope- Royce obtained his wire for winding the Hope-Jones Jones was laying telephone cables also in Liverpool electric action coils from Glovers Cables. It is also fact streets, if they had met each other in this environment? A that Henry Edmunds, who was a major share-holder in possibility still looking for clues. 10 Vox Lancastria
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You can see it - and play it - but and cost, wait for it, £250 but it was 1866. Now Thomas Brassey was an architect and built the house in which you can't hear it Hope-Jones lived and when it came time, in 1894, for the story behind a silent Hope-Jones manual major work to be carried out on the organ Robert Bob Jones Hope-Jones was contacted and he built a third manual, the Choir organ, that was installed by Whiteley, a local Chester organ builder. So here we have an example of Hope-Jones or do we mmmm well not quite well errr I suppose the answer is yes …. but there again …perhaps no…. Until recently there had been four organists only. Over the last few years the Church and another local “twinned” Church have had to rely on a team of visiting organists so for the first 140 years or so there were but four organists and over the last 10 years there has been more like forty-four. About 10 years ago David Wells organ builders from Liverpool carried out an extensive rebuild and presumably on the grounds of cost the Choir organ was not only not refurbished but it was disconnected from the pipes so the manual is there but makes no sound at all. The console does not contain any Choir stops so it is really a one off, I suppose it is a two manual organ with three manuals. The pipes are still there so with money it would be possible to get the instrument working with its Hope-Jones Choir organ. It is the only instrument that I have ever played with a metal swell pedal and sitting at the console I am not convinced that everything is correctly located. I don't normally miss bottom C on the pedal but I did, consistently, on this instrument leading me to believe that the pedal board is not in its standard position. I didn't St Mary the Virgin, Alford Nr Chester have a plumb line to check but as the instrument was built in 1866 this was a long time before the standard Being a member of the Chester and North East Wales positioning of pedal boards was set. With this being a Organists and Choirmasters Association means that I get visit by the organists association there are always a few the opportunity to visit some most interesting, some less queuing up to have a go but the general consensus was interesting and some curious instruments in my part of the that the instrument is a disappointment. The acoustics of world. These range from the occasional blast on the 4 manual organ of Chester Cathedral to small Welsh Chapels from Churches that are acoustically dead to those where the best stop on the organ is the building in which it is situated. The organ of St Mary the Virgin falls into the category of curious, all is not as it appears. St Mary the Virgin, Aldford is situated on the Estate of the Duke of Westminster and is built within a stones throw of a motte and bailey castle. Its parishioners are either estate employee or tenants. The houses are all of the same design with the last one being built in 1897. The Church is quite ornate with one of its most interesting features being the pulpit built out of blue Derbyshire marble with the pews being made out of English oak. The original Church did not have an organ or at least there is no evidence that one was bought and as the Church is adorned with carvings of figures playing individual Remember listening to Joseph Cooper's dummy instruments it is assumed that music was provided by a small group of musicians. keyboard on Face the Music? If you do you'll Thomas Brassey was born within the village and donated recognise the sound of the Choir manual of the the pipe organ to the Church. This was a two manual Hill Organ of St Mary the Virgin.
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the Church are very poor. The organ is tucked away and personally I prefer an organ to be out in the open so that it can speak into the Church rather than being built into the side and speaking across the Sanctuary. The action is heavy and inconsistent but the instrument and the Church are of historical interest but whether this is a good, bad or indifferent example of Hope-Jones … well we'll have to wait and see whether the pipes are ever connected to the manual......
The World Around Hope - Jones - Continued from Page 10
Left is part of a document written by John De Looze who was Secretary of Henry Royce's Company.
The document gives proof that Royce supplied Electro-Magnets to Robert Hope-Jones
Right is one of the earliest Electro - Magnets made by Royce for the Hope-Jones organ at St John's Birkenhead
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Glovers Cables, was the person who introduced Henry founder member of the Radio Society of Great Britain. Royce to Charles Rolls and thus created that world Frank went on to invent and patent the Greenwich Time famous company of Rolls Royce. Signal Pips which are still used today as the time signal Earlier in this paper there was mention made of a pipe before the BBC Radio News. An interesting link to Frank rank called the Tibia. It had been generally thought that Hope-Jones is the fact that Lord Egerton of Tatton Hall, Hope-Jones didn’t invent his Tibia until after he Knutsford, Cheshire was also one of the first Radio **********Continued on Page 16********** Amateurs in the country and had contact with several emigrated to America in 1903, however evidence has Radio Amateurs including 6TW - James Noden, the local now come to light to show that was not so. A pipe rank Radio Society of Great Britain representative. Lord called the Tibia had been in use for some time in Europe, Egerton also had interests in radio in London where used mainly by German Organ Builders and was a type of Frank was working. Lord Egerton formed a radio simple flute. Hope-Jones completely changed the format manufacturing Company in Manchester, just about a mile and redesigned the Tibia in 1894. He invented his first from where Henry Royce was working at Benson’s. The Tibia pipes in two forms which were named the “Tibia Company was called “Meta”, believed to stand for Dura” and the “Tibia Plena.” Both names being of Latin Maurice Egerton of Tatton Associates. Also Lord origin, the word “Dura” comes from the Latin meaning Egerton was a pioneer in aircraft flying and used radio to “harsh to the ear” and the word “Plena” from the Latin communicate to his aircraft flying above Tatton Hall in meaning “Plump, Stout, or Thick”, Tibia being the Latin Cheshire. A great flying friend of his was Charles Rolls, for Flute. One of Robert Hope-Jones’ brothers was who of course eventually joined Henry Royce to form Kenyon Hope-Jones, who was a church minister and that famous Company. Latin scholar, so no doubt he helped Robert with the Two interesting events have come to light during our choice of suitable Latin words for the names of these research that show the determination of Robert Hope- organ pipes. The world’s first two original Hope-Jones Jones to get his own way. Tibia ranks have now been located, acquired and are both The first occurred in 1897 when a confrontation took on display in the museum (see figure 9). place between Robert Hope-Jones and the Birkenhead Robert Hope-Jones’ first Company was called “The branch of the Organ Builders United Trades Society, an Hope-Jones Electric Organ Company” and was founded early Trade Union. The incident took place when on 1st July 1892. The factory was made up of a number Hope-Jones wanted to employ female labour in his of cottages at 11-13 Huskisson Street in Birkenhead, not factory but members of the above Trade Society too far from St. Johns Church. It was the intention that instructed its members not to impart any knowledge to the Company was formed to act as consultants and to the girls. It was reported that several members of the licence Hope-Jones organ Patents as well as manufacture work force had been intimidated by members of the pipe organs under its own name. Hope-Jones applied for Trade Society. Eventually Hope-Jones announces that he a number of Patents which ran into thirty plus as is severing all business connections with the Trade provisional Patents, but not all these were granted full Society. Hope-Jones wins his case and several members Patent status. Among the archive material our research leave his employ. A private letter has come to light that has enabled us to acquire, is a copy of a part of the was written by Hope-Jones “To the late Employees of original Patent register from Hope-Jones’ Patent Agent the Electric Organ Company Ltd. who are members of W.P. Thompson and Co. of Liverpool, Founded 1873. the Organ Builders United Trades Society”. This is The copy document was acquired just before the original another instance of Hope-Jones heritage material being was placed in long term storage in a sealed vault. It is a undiscovered for possibly 100 years. A full transcript of hand written record of all the original Patent applications this letter is in the appendix to this paper. made by “Hope-Jones R” between October 11th 1889 and The event was also reported in the local newspaper, The November 20th 1894. Among the Hope-Jones Patents is Birkenhead and Cheshire Advertiser on the 18th one dated April 6th 1891 for a device called a Distance September 1897 as a “Lock-out at Hope-Jones’ Organ Indicator. Maybe this could form another interesting Works”. There was a response on the 25th September in subject for research. Also in this copy register are the a letter to the Editor from Robert Hope-Jones denouncing names of several other manufacturers of the time, notable the report and declaring that there was no Lock-out. is a Patent applied for by “de Ferranti” for electric cables, The second event was of a much less serious nature, but a Company which later became the well known electrical still shows Hope-Jones determination. This second Company (see appendix). incident took place in May 1898 in a letter to the For the Hope-Jones Electric Organ Company’s first year University of Edinburgh. Basically the Electric Organ of operation Robert’s younger brother, Frank Hope- Co. Ltd. had supplied a new organ to the McEwan Hall Jones, was Company Secretary. After the first year Frank used part of the Electric Organ Company premises to start his own work which led to the invention of the ******To Be Continued***** Synchronome, a first electric clock. Frank Hope-Jones was also involved in early Amateur Radio and became a
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In Search of Hope-Jones
“Organ of the Month” A new changing display at the Heritage Centre
Notes on a new feature in the Heritage Centre Museum at Peel Green by Roger Fisher
Now to be seen in the Museum is a new regularly changing information display. Each month one of the approximately 150 organs built or worked upon in this country by Robert Hope-Jones is being featured, with a selection of photographs, specifications, and other information.
This began on August 1st at our Wednesday lunchtime concert, and throughout the month featured the 1893 Choir organ added to the existing Hill organ at Aldford Church, near Chester. September sees a display about his 1898 instrument in Ambleside Church in the Lake District. The display will continue with a different Hope-Jones organ being featured every month.
Alongside this feature is displayed a complete Opus list of all Hope-Jones organs built during the period 1884 up to his emigration to America in 1903. This list should be of interest to many people, and am certain there will be a number of venues, mostly churches, which visitors will be surprised to learn that they contained, and that some still do, a Hope-Jones organ.
It seems to me that the name Hope-Jones only causes amusement to many of our regular local visitors. This is a pity. The further away people live the more they seem to appreciate what we have in the Museum, and the ever on-going research Don and I are doing. Yes, it is an extremely specialised interest, but we should be proud of the fact that the early work of the inventor of the theatre organ began in our own area. There are people all over the world, especially in America, who are envious of the heritage we have here. We should appreciate what is on our own doorstep.
Also in the Museum is our Vintage Sales Stall. This makes available all sorts of unusual items for sale, including LPs, cassettes, books, magazines, newsletters, key rings made from original theatre organ tabs, and even some small organ pipes. Other items come and go with the ever-changing availability of things. Do keep taking a look at the stall, you'll be surprised what you might find.
I append a picture of a happy and enthusiastic Hope-Jones addict, seated at the 1894 Hope-Jones console in the early days of setting up the Museum. Please call in and see what we have here . . . and enjoy!
Log on to the L.T.O.T. website Membership of the L.T.O.T. for all the latest CD releases makes an ideal www.voxlancastria.co.uk Christmas Gift
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Marion Read - Jean - Colin Smith - Mrs Jones - Jack Jones - Roger Fisher - Pam Pierce - Pat Howarth - Frank Read
Two Pictures from the Heritage Weekend
Mr & Mrs Jack Jones with Colin Smith (background)
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Concert News & Reviews
I am sorry to have to tell you that Bill McNally's wife has been very ill and as a result Bill has been unable to provide the copy for his usual spot. An Evening in Chester with Nigel Ogden
The Parish Church of Queens Park High, Glasgow (later named Crosshill Queens Park Church) was the location of a fine three manual pipe organ built in 1926 by the well known Leeds organ builder J.J. Binns. The Church was closed in February 2000 but the organ was rescued and given a new home at St Werburghs Roman Catholic Church in Chester. The instrument was originally tubular pneumatic but on installation at St Werburghs, George Sixsmith and Son, Organ Builders, Ashton Under Lyne, whilst retaining the original windchest pneumatics, converted the action to electro pneumatic. The detached oak console is equipped with all modern playing aids and the solid oak main case housing the Great, Swell and pedal pipes was designed by Andrew Sixsmith and manufactured in the organ builders workshops. The main case is situated at the rear of the Church as you face the altar the Choir division is housed in a redundant coincidence, reading the sports section the Daily confessional on the left with the console on the opposite Telegraph the following day, there was a review of the side. following day's Manchester United v Chelsea game and The Church was built in 1933 and was equipped with an there was a picture of the programme from the equivalent average sized two manual tracker instrument. For some fixture in August 30 1972 - the programme price was 5 reason this fell into disuse and a small electro pneumatic pence now those were the days. I also reminded Nigel that instrument was installed where the Choir division of the I was there when he made his first appearance at Ron current instrument is situated with the console situated Curtis' Paramount Organ studios so I was there at the about three feet away - so at that time there were two pipe beginning and here I am 35 years on not only listening to organs in the Church and this was the case when the the master at work but also writing about it as editor of Binns instrument became available. Vox. A feature of many theatre instruments is one of Now - if you want a programme of light music on an delay between playing the note and hearing sound. The instrument of this versatility who do you ask? Well Nigel delay at Stockport is quite noticeable but this is something Ogden is the first name that springs to mind and it was on that exponents of the instrument have had to master so the 21 September that Nigel paid his second visit to the delay at St Werburghs is of no consequence to a man of Church. I first heard Nigel play when he made his debut at Nigel's experience. With the Choir division being situated the Gaumont Manchester I couldnt remember exactly away from the main case stereo effects are obtained but in when that was but Nigel informed me that it was in 1972 quick passages it doesn't matter which manual you use the when he rose to the strains of Those Were the Days. By delay is noticeable. What also happens is that the larger A True Story
A very good friend of mine goes for an Angiogram - his second so he knows what to expect. There he is lying on whatever he has to lie on and he is, of course, very tense and the conversation goes like this: Consultant “Just relax Mr Smith” Mr Smith “How can I relax with this going on” Consultant “Just think of something nice .. think of your favourite football team”. Mr Smith “Don't like football .. don't have a favourite team..not interested in sport .. I am a musician..” Consultant “Oh that's interesting - what instrument do you play?” Mr Smith “I'm a Church organist” Consultant “Well think of something nice - think of something relaxing - just imagine that you are playing some nice music on the Church organ.Where do you normally play?” Mr Smith “The crematorium”
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pipes, because they need a greater volume of air, take a Green Crematorium where the service was attended by little longer to speak and it is noticeable from the console some of the country’s leading musicians. For almost fifty that, when using a combination of stops including the years Eric Coates had brought pleasure to millions with larger pipes there is another delay the effect being that his gay lilting tunes, bright orchestrations and witty when the note in pressed initially you hear nothing then musical portraiture. you hear the smaller pipes and then you hear the larger Sir Malcom Sargent: ‘Here we had a professional pipes. This all happens very quickly but personally I find musician who did his own orchestrations, who was an this a problem as I am resident at St Francis RC Church, expert, who had that rare quality, a melodic gift, which the Franciscan Friary, in Chester which houses a two hardly exists in modern music. He was a charming and manual Gray and Davison tracker with instant response so most lovable person, was a master of charm and gentle when I deputise on the “other “side of the city at the three beauty in music, while at the same time able to compose manual Binns the delay is apparent and I need a little rousing marches. He has given a great deal of pleasure to practice to get used to it …. but I digress … back to a great number of people, the author of the kind of music Nigel's concert… that makes people happy.’ The whole of the evening's entertainment was centred on anniversaries. Eric Coates is one of my favourite of the Eric Coates composers of British Light Music and with this being 50 years since his death Nigel started with Music Everywhere followed by the third movement of the Three Elizabeths Suite. Nigel explained that the first movement is dedicated to Elizabeth 1st, the second the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and third to the then Princess Elizabeth and known as the Princess Elizabeth Suite but now renamed Queen Elizabeth 2nd. Sir Charles Groves recalls that someone once said that the marches of Sousa would make a man with a wooden leg step out but a man would have to have a wooden heart not to respond to the music of Eric Coates. Born in 1886, Eric Coates was the youngest boy of five children. His father was a local doctor whose home and surgery were on Tenter Hill, Hucknall. As a child Eric would lay awake at Leonard Bernstein night listening to the Hucknall Old Brass Band practising in the nearby Plough and Harrow Inn, and when he was Then followed the 50th anniversary of West Side Story by six he became the proud owner of a violin. Leonard Bernstein, (1918-1990), A composer, conductor, His mother was a fine pianist, his father played the flute, and pianist, Leonard Bernstein was born in Lawrence, and they formed an orchestra that included Eric and his Massachusetts and educated at Harvard University and at three sisters. By the age of ten, Eric was first violin and the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia. He studied within two years was writing in a part for any player who composition under Walter Piston and, after unexpectedly turned up for orchestral rehearsal, no matter encouragement from Dimitri Mitropoulos, conducting what the instrument was - violin, double-bass, cello or under Fritz Reiner and Serge Koussevitzky. In 1943 woodwind. He studied violin and composition in Bernstein made his conducting debut, leading the New Nottingham until, at the age of twenty, he gained a York Philharmonic Society Orchestra in place of the scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London. indisposed Bruno Walter. Bernstein was music director of There he studied composition under Frederick Corder, the New York City Center Orchestra (1945-1948), taught and the viola under the well-known virtuoso Lionel Tertis. at the Berkshire Music Center (1948-1955) and at Brilliant sight-reading ability made up for the pain in his Brandeis University (1951-1956), and directed the New left hand and Eric became principal viola with Sir Henry York Philharmonic (1958-1969), with which he made Wood from 1911 to 1919. Not fit for service in the many recordings, both as conductor and piano soloist. On 1914-18 war,Coates wrote Four Songs of the Air as his retirement in 1969 he was made laureate conductor for testimony to the RFC. By July 19, troubled by neuritis in life. He was instrumental in establishing the modern his left hand and arm, he had to give up the viola and popularity of Gustav Mahler, making the first complete devote himself to composing and conducting cycle of recordings of Mahler’s symphonies, and of performances of his own music. Eric Coates died of a Charles Ives, whose Second Symphony he had premiered stroke aged 71 on December 21, 1957, at the Royal West in 1952. Sussex Hospital. Within hours the BBC was announcing 1907 marked the date of The Merry Widow so we were throughout the world the death of ‘the uncrowned king of treated to the beautiful music of Franz Lehar. There seems light music.’ to be a website for everything so if you want more The funeral took place on Christmas Eve at the Golders information visit www.merry-widow-centenary.com
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Bringing matters a little more up to date Nigel continued introduction, a few bars of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, we with a selection of hits of 1967 including Georgy Girl, were treated to, Top Hat, I Wont Dance, Isnt it a Lovely Matchmaker, If I were a Rich Man, Puppet on a String, A Day then a hint of Singing in the Rain as a modulation Whiter Shade of Pale and the Last Waltz. I think that the into Pick Yourself Up, The Way you Look Tonight, Lets enjoyment of the evening can be measured not only by the Face the Music and Dance and finally Cheek to Cheek. strength of the applause but also involuntary audience Light classics followed with excerpts from Peter and the participation and to hear the gentle humming in the Wolf, Mozarts Rondo a la Turk, Elgar's Salut DAmour background is testament to the quality of the music. I (Elgar born 150 years ago) and Walton's Crown Imperial remember my mother in the 60s complaining about the (Coronation March for George VIth in 1937). music of the day not being a patch on the music of her Nigel closed the evening with Chinatown, Avalon, day. Well there must have been a few good tunes about as Swanee, Windmill in Old Amsterdam, Are you Lonesome proved by Nigel's selection now I must be getting old tonight, Tie a Yellow Ribbon, You were Meant for Me because I feel that there are not the tunes around today to and I Could have Danced all Night. match those that were around when I was young. An old And all without a note of music. ……… musician friend of mine said that the test of a good tune is to be able to play it on the piano, the organ and for it to be played by an orchestra I can't see many organists in 2047 Stockport Town Hall 15 July 2007 playing a selection of hits of 2007 with the audience A joint concert featuring Joyce Alldred and pupils - humming the tune and joining in with the words. Michael Holmes, Mary Ann Wootton, Michael It is amazing what you learn at Nigel's concerts Dame Baron and Ian Gough. Shirley Bassey is 70 this year I was convinced she was This was a very unusual concert with Joyce Alldred and older as she seems to have been around for ever - so we four of her students. Joyce loves teaching Theatre Organ were treated to Goldfinger, As Long as He Needs Me and styling, and has always said that is was her aim to produce Big Spender. quality players, and this afternoon this was put to the test. Nigel ended the first half with a one hit wonder, Richard She opened the show with her signature tune - Another Addinsell died in 30 years ago in 1977 and is remembered Openin’, Another Show, followed by Granada, A by the masses for one piece The Warsaw Concerto Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, and finally a short composed for the film Dangerous Moonlight in 1941 - we selection from one of her favourite shows - Show Boat. were treated to the main theme before retiring for tea or She was followed at the console by Michael Holmes, who something stronger. (For the record Richard Addinsell comes from Stalybridge.Michael presented a very nice studied music in Oxford, Berlin and Vienna, was varied programme, beginning with the March - Folies accompanist to Joyce Grenfell and later he enjoyed a Bergere, and following up with a very nice arrangement of career as a composer of light music and he wrote many Black Eyes, then the Poirot Theme, and ending with a film scores, musical revues and songs.) selection of songs from the film - 42nd Street. Nigel lives in Lytham and started the second half, as he Next came Mary Ann Wootton, aged 13, from Longridge did the first with Eric Coates and The Seven Seas March Preston. (I gave a profile of Mary Ann in the last edition followed by Stranger on the Shore, Donkey Serenade and I of Vox).She made a bright and breezy start with Hey Look Do Like to be Beside the Seaside. Me Over, then Fools Rush In (the Set Piece for the Now to my favourite item on the evenings programme. A.T.O.S. Young Organist Competition 2006, which she Nigel entitled it Back to the Future, it was Yesterday won, playing the 3/19 Wurlitzer at Woking), contrasts (Lennon and McCartney) and Tomorrow (from Annie). Quando Quando and Song of the Rose, and lastly the The arrangement of Yesterday was outstanding. One Waldteufel Waltz, Estudiantina. All presented very minute we had the melody singing forth and then a professionally. seamless transition into a classical mode contrapuntal “a la Michael Baron from Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, took his J S Bach” and played on a substantial Church Organ in tip place at the Wurlitzer and presented an unusual top condition - absolutely superb! programme - Belle of the Ball, (an unusual and very nice Following on from Nigel's excellent arrangement of The arrangement) the Adagio from the Guitar Concerto by Teddy Bears Picnic and the Ascot Gavotte the Tromba Rodriguez, (I have never heard this done on Thetre Organ stop was coaxed into providing some rather un-Church before, but golly, it worked!) Polly, the sentimental Folks like raspberry sounds in the Elephant's Tango. Who Live on the Hill, and finally a very interesting Back to the educational part of the evening we were arrangement of Swannee. informed that Fred Astaire had died 20 years ago and Ian Gough from Stockport was the final organist and he combined with the music of Jerome Kern and Irving began his programme with That’s Entertainment, (one of Berlin, Nigel celebrated that fact by playing the evergreen the pieces he played when winning the A.T.O.S. favourites that will always be associated with the man with Competition) followed by Bird Song at Eventide (a lovely those most famous feet. I seem to remember hearing arrangement which appealed very much to the audience), someone recall the story that Fred Astaire had been Pretty Little Black Eye’d Suzy and Cry Me a River (really described in his younger days by one agent as something “blue-sy”) and to conclude - a very enjoyable selection of like “…cant sing but can dance a bit …”. Following the Fiddler on the Roof. 22 Vox Lancastria
The Monday Scene
October brought Robert Rowley back to the console of the Stockport Wurlitzer. I have known Robert for a few years now and I first met him when my local organists association paid a visit to the Granada Studios and I was reunited with the Gaumont Wurlitzer, an instrument for which I have great affection and the one on which Robert cut his organ playing teeth. Robert started with that superb march Down Your Way by Haydn (pronounced Hay-den) Wood. The correct title of the piece is in fact Horse Guards Whitehall but I think we all recognise it as the opening piece of the famous radio programme. I always look on Haydn Wood as being second to Eric Coates but that it is really unfair it is perhaps unfortunate that both were at their peak at the same time. We were then treated to a bouncy jazz arrangement of Somethings Got to Give followed by a touch of Strauss and the Voices of Spring this is, in parts, a particularly tricky piece excellently performed with interesting use of the Chrysoglott as Robert's hands flitted between the manuals. Robert is keen on performing his own orchestral arrangements of film themes and today we were treated to Hook, Superman and Star Wars with a hint of Jaws (a gentle nibble rather than a complete bite your leg off) on the pedal organ as a link between pieces. Now there are selections and there are selections. Some are simply pieces linked together with modulations as the performer moves from key to key but Roberts orchestral arrangements are something else and when you couple that with knowledge of classical music the results can be, and in this case, were impressive. Finger bustin was Robert's description of Smash and Grab made famous by Jimmy Leach and his Organoleans, who were regulars on Music While you Work (so my granddad told me). Following on from this demonstration of the art of syncopation Robert then put his fingers back in their sockets and treated us to a superb rendition, full of feeling, sentimentality and second touch counter melodies, of There's a Place in my Heart for You proving that organists, in this case Lyn Larson, can be pretty good composers. Robert is actively involved in pipe organ restoration/maintenance and is spending quite a bit of time working in and around the London area. When he is down there, if possible, he tries to fit in a show so it was the Stockport Wurlitzer in classical mode as we went to the Opera the Phantom of the Opera. We had the sheer power of the Wurlitzer in straight organ mode, chimes, untremulated Voxes and again the classical element as Robert used the pedals for the melody with broken, toccata like, chords on the manuals in the manner of the Final from Louis Viernes First Symphony. The penultimate item was the ballad Not While I'm Around from Sweeney Todd and to end the programme an organ transcription of Finlandia. All in all a superb concert full of variety and, believe me, hours and hours of preparation. Thanks Robert, see you again soon.
Michael Baron and Ian Gough
Following on from Joyce Alldred's report of the joint concert with her pupils she has kindly provided the following pen pictures :-
MICHAEL BARON
Michael Baron was born in Oldham, and received his early education there. He was a talented pianist, and was very interested in music generally. Michael went on to Leeds University where he studied Composition and Harmony with James Brown, and also Classical Organ, with Piano Accompaniment as a second instrument, obtaining a B.A. (Hons Degree in Music. Subsequently he went into teaching at schools and colleges, including the Royal Forest of Dean College, and was Director of Music at Bournemouth School amongst others. At present Michael is Head of Music at the 6th Form College in Pontefract in Yorkshire, whilst living in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. Recently he was featured at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall at their Open Day, playing Piano with the Andy Long Orchestra; Andy, who is Assistant Leader of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, came to Peel Green to support Michael at his first joint concert with Ian Gough. Michael also does the orchestral arrangements for the Andy Long Orchestra. He held the prestigious post of organist at Holy Trinity Church, Hull for some time, and has been featured at Bodelwyddan Castle, North Wales, the Pump Room at Harrogate, and for many years was accompanist to Joyce Sharples, who, along with her husband used to be in the max Jaffa Orchestra at Scarborough, and the Spa Players, who were based in Hyde, but travelled the country. Michael played for the heats of the Brass Section of the Young Musician of the Year in 1992 at St. George’s, Brandon Hill, and also at Cardiff, for the B.B.C. and also accompanied the semi-finalists at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester in May 1993. From his very young days, Michael had always had a yearning to learn to play the Theatre Organ, but had steadfastly stuck to his classical playing in order to ensure a secure future. However, late in 2005, he was browsing on the internet when he came across the Joyce Alldred Web Page, decided to
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take the bull by the horns and rang me regarding lessons on Theatre Organ Styling. We sorted a system out for lessons - the odd full day during College holidays, and between, by using e-mail and telephone to work out arrangements. (Yes, we play and sing to each other down the phone!! - It is surprising what can be done when needs must!) It has worked well, and Michael is now an accomplished Theatre Organist; he has been featured in several joint concerts with Ian Gough at Peel Green, and has also given solo concerts there; he has been featured at the Plaza Theatre, Stockport, where he has proved to be very popular, playing just the right type of music from his enormous repertoire, for the programmes. He played at Stockport Town Hall in July, when his tutor, Joyce Alldred, went into more-or-less retirement from full length concerts because of hand and wrist problems, but who is still able to play half-an-hour or so without a break. He was featured along with Joyce, Ian Gough, Michael Holmes and Mary Ann Wootton. His arrangements on the Wurlitzer were most enjoyable, and are often not only appealing, but interesting and intriguing, and his dexterity is breathtaking. Michael’s wife Chrissie, supports him wholeheartedly, and his mother and father, Margaret and Bill, and his sister Margaret are very proud that he has at last achieved his ambition and always support him at his concerts. It is a privilege to have Michael as a student as I know he always gives 100%, whilst still enjoying his playing. If you have never heard him play, do watch out for his appearances and if possible, go and listen to him - I am sure you will not be disappointed.
IAN GOUGH.
Ian went to school in Lichfield, and at that time played Bassoon, up to Grade 6; he was in the school windband and orchestra, and also played with the Staffordshire Youth Orchestra. He is very proud of the fact that whilst at school, he wrote a piece of music for the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra, and this was performed in public at the Town Hall. He also was awarded the over-all prize at school for Musical Achievement. Ian also reached Grade 7 on Home Organ, and gained G.C.S.E. and A Level Music. When he went to University he gave up his musical activities; he studied Geography at Manchester University, gaining a B.A. (Hons) Degree, and from there, went on to Salford University to study H.R. Management. At present he works for British Gas. Ian, like Michael Baron, had always wanted to learn to play the Theatre Organ. Whilst browsing on his computer, he found the Joyce Alldred WebPage on the Internet, and contacted me to see if I would teach him Theatre Organ Styling. He has made good progress and is enjoying arranging and presenting light and popular music on the Theatre Organ. He has played solo concerts at Peel Green, and also joint concerts with Michael Baron. He, like Michael, played at my “semi-retirement” concert on 15th July at Stockport Town Hall, in which I show-cased several of my students, and he presented a very varied and enjoyable programme, and handled the large Wurlitzer very well. Ian often plays at the Plaza Theatre, Stockport, where he is very popular with the patrons. Early this year, he submitted a CD, featuring a “curtain-raiser” (That’s Entertainment), a ballad (Bird Songs at Eventide) and a Show Selection (Singin’ in the Rain) in compliance with the rules laid down by the American Theatre Organ Society for the Amateur Adult Competition. The adjudicators were very complimentary about his programme and awarded him First Prize, and he received a lovely wooden plaque, suitably inscribed. If you get the change to hear Ian play, do go along; I am sure you will enjoy his
NEW MEMBERS The Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust has great pleasure in welcoming the following new JUNIOR member:- Craig Mann of Astley, Manchester.
Membership Details
Life: £250, Ordinary - £16.50, Junior - £7.50, Associate - £4.
Membership application forms can be obtained from the Membership Secretary, Michael Holmes at the address shown on page 1. Remember "Phone a Friend". The more members we have the better we can meet the aims of the Trust and help to preserve this major part of our Heritage. Please remember the gift aid forms.
NB If any member's address details are incorrect on the posting of Vox can you please send a correction to our Membership Secretary at the address shown on Page 1
24 Vox Lancastria
Tony Fenelon
Tony Fenelon - a great supporter of the Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust was taken ill recently and had to have an emergency operation.
We are pleased to report that what could have been very serious has been dealt with successfully and Tony is well on his way to making a full recovery.
He was in the UK a few weeks ago and following a visit to Peel Green said
"I was amazed at Peel Green! What a difference! And it's great to see just how much everyone enjoys being there. It's like a big happy family! You've all done wonders!
"Farny Wurlitzer Remembers" - the missing section
Further to Roger Fisher's transcription of Mr. Wurlitzer's 1964 speech, it seems a crucial section concerning the events leading up to Hope-Jones' death, was missed out between the two instalments. To put the record straight the missing part is below. For continuity this section should go between those previously published in issues 23 and 24 of “Vox”.
(Continuing on from “Vox” number 23) ...... He could talk you into believing that black was white, and I think he succeeded sometimes! Well, at the end of this period of time we decided that the only way we could make a success of the business, was to have Hope-Jones stay out of the factory and have nothing to do with the actual manufacturing operations. And we talked to him and also wrote him a letter, and told him that he no longer had permission to come into the plant, that we would continue to pay him, just as the contract provided for, and he had a percentage of any sales price on all the organs that we sold. And we told him that as soon as the business was profitable, that we would then establish an experimental shop for him, where he could do the experimental work, but would not interfere with the current work going through, because you just cannot manufacture and make every instrument different than the last one that you built. And that, unfortunately, with his inventive mind, was the only way that he could manage it. So that discouraged Hope-Jones, that he could no longer come into the plant. It discouraged him that he no longer was in the public eye as much as he had been before, and as many of you know, he committed suicide on September 13th, 1914. It was a great pity. Had he believed in us he would have been well compensated because a little later on the business grew prosperous. His wife was, in my opinion, a very wonderful woman. Very kind, and she did much for all of the employees that she had known for years. Most of these people had come over from England with Hope-Jones. We had many many problems, many serious problems in those early days because the loss that we had was a big one for us. But throughout it all we never lost faith in what the Hope-Jones organ was, and what he had done. We believed in his work, and we believed that we could be a success in it, and we were. The first outstanding organ, (it isnt by any means the first organ we built in a theater), was the one that we sold to the Liberty Theater in Seattle. We shipped that in late 1914. That was a tremendous success. The theater was built especially as a motion picture theater. They had no provision for an orchestra. They depended entirely on our organ for music, and the theater was quite original. You see, up to that time nearly all other theaters were remodelled theaters. And they had one feature that at that time was unusual, was a ramp to go up to the balcony instead of having stairs. Well the theater was such a tremendous success at the start I'm not exaggerating in telling you this that for three weeks the Seattle police had to take care of the crowds that stood for three blocks waiting their turn to get into the Liberty Theater.
Well that, of course, was a great help to us ...... (concluded in “Vox” number 24) Vox Lancastria
Diary Dates 2007 STOCKPORT TOWN HALL 2-30 p.m.
Sunday 25th November Anniversary Concert Nigel Ogden Sunday 27th April 2008 Phil Kelsall Sunday 20th July 2008 Nicholas Martin
HERITAGE CENTRE - PEEL GREEN
Showcases each Wednesday, featuring the the Wurlitzer Pipe Organ with guest artists at the Console. A list of Organists will appear on the Theatre Organ Heritage Centre Web page Ticket price £2-50p 1-00pm to 2-30pm. As seating is limited to 80, advance booking is highly recommended. Contact Colin Smith for further details. Lunchtime Events at Stockport Town Hall SMBC Events start at 12.00, £1.50 at the door Refreshments available from 11-30am.
3rd Dec Andrew Nix 7th January 2008 Matthew Bason 4th February 2008 Chris Powell 3rd March 2008 Byron Jones 7th April 2008 Nicholas Martin 12th May 2008 Peter Jebson