CE Canterbury Cathedral [L] Wed, 14th Oct 2020

[DracoM]

CE Canterbury Cathedral [L]


Order of Service:


Responses: Sanders
Psalms 73, 74 (Smart, Ouseley, Cooke, Turle)
First Lesson: Hosea 14 vv.1-9
Canticles: Stanford in A
Second Lesson: James 2 vv.14-26
Anthem: I was glad (Parry)

Voluntary: Sonata in G major, Op. 28 (Allegro) (Elgar)


David Newsholme (Assistant Organist)
David Flood (Organist and Master of the Choristers)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ncdt

[Finzi4ever]

Something about the music selection (especially the voluntary) suggests this may have been chosen to show off the new Solo stops on the H&H rebuild. Had most of the final voicing happened before the (first) lockdown?

[Roger Judd]

Yes, Andy Scott finished the voicing well before the first lockdown, and the cathedral had started using the organ in services ... then silence. Spare a thought for David Flood, who had worked for many years to get the new organ, and then was robbed of all the opening ceremonies that were planned. I imagine they hope to re-schedule everything to next year, DV. One very bright note ... David was due to retire at the end of the summer term. The Dean & Chapter have un-retired him so he can enjoy his creation for longer, and quite right to, a lovely gesture. Much looking forward to this feast of organ accompaniments, and the Elgar ... should be epic!
RJ

ps. I think that H&H would call this a new organ, with some of the old Willis pipework. Console and all the mechanics and many ranks of pipes are new.

[Finzi4ever]

Apologies if this should be moved to the Organ Forum, but this project was SUCH a long time coming (?2005) after the terrible hatchet job done in the 70s by the now late Manders (not sure who to blame there, but there was v. little room for the old Willis to breathe). I'm delighted to hear DF has been given an extension to contract. I fear Dean Willis (no relation) must be soon to retire as well: we are all now wary of decanal appointments and their consequences on cathedral music and musicians! The Very Revds Robert Willis and successor at Hereford Michael Tavinor will be huge losses in this respect: Gawd help us...

I think we can expect every Solo sound in that Elgar 1st Movt. Good psalms for accomp. too, just a pity it's not one day later.

[Andrew Butler]

I'm not sure that "Hatchet Job" is a fair assessment of the Mander rebuild. The Willis was very boxed in and crammed into the triforium, and there was no Nave division. The Mander, although lacking the flexibility afforded by a 4th manual, could do a convincing job - you could "turn everything round" with the General pistons, and it was extremely comfortable to play.

[Caussade]

I'm not sure that "Hatchet Job" is a fair assessment of the Mander rebuild. The Willis was very boxed in and crammed into the triforium, and there was no Nave division. The Mander, although lacking the flexibility afforded by a 4th manual, could do a convincing job - you could "turn everything round" with the General pistons, and it was extremely comfortable to play.

But the Choir division was basically ill-suited for any normal musical function - that screaming Mixture/Cymbale and 8' Bourdon en chamade in particular - and the removal of the second enclosed division was a miscalculation. I played it several times in recital and accompanimental roles in the 90s, and thought it was a very frustrating and inflexible thing, and lacking in colour. Not quite sure what anyone was thinking, really.

[Andrew Butler]

I used to have a regular annual slot accompanying a visiting choir in the late 80s/90s and got on well with it. The Choir division, being at the east of the triforium (apart from the Tubas) was helpful in hymns if there was congregation east of the stalls And towards the altar. You could use a lot of organ accompanying too.

[DracoM]

Reminder: today @ 3.30 p.m.

[Finzi4ever]

I'm not sure that "Hatchet Job" is a fair assessment of the Mander rebuild. The Willis was very boxed in and crammed into the triforium, and there was no Nave division. The Mander, although lacking the flexibility afforded by a 4th manual, could do a convincing job - you could "turn everything round" with the General pistons, and it was extremely comfortable to play.

I think sawing up the 32ft Double Open Bass close to being a "hatchet job"... quoting from today's Psalm 74:
"they broke down all your carved work with hatchets and hammers."

[Lordgeous]

Shame there was lots of dropouts on the live transmission, otherwise quite enjoyable. Good sounding boys - though they only just made it to the top note in the Parry - and some soloistic tenors! Organ impressive when in top gear!

[jonfan]

Hopefully the recording will be minus the drop outs but a terrific sound from the organ - money well spent! A big sing for the choir and everything attacked with aplomb, except the psalms which didn't have enough variety to hold attention in such long texts. A Christmas Evensong was recorded yesterday so well deserved refreshments are in order. Thank you!!

[Simon Biazeck]

I listened on replay just now and, sadly, the dropouts were there. What a pity - such a fine movement from a wonderful sonata. Gordon Jacob's orchestral arrangement of it is superb.

[Lordgeous]

I think the broadcast is repeated at the weekend (can't remember when) but with or without dropouts will be interesting.

[Edgy 2]

I listened on replay just now and, sadly, the dropouts were there. What a pity - such a fine movement from a wonderful sonata. Gordon Jacob's orchestral arrangement of it is superb.

Yes indeed

[DracoM]

I think the broadcast is repeated at the weekend (can't remember when) but with or without dropouts will be interesting.

3 p.m.