Two continental organs in a row on CE

[ardcarp]

First at Klais from Bath, next a Rieger from CCO. Comments anyone?

[Finzi4ever]

I infinitely prefer the Klais to that awful box o' whistles at CCO. You'd think after 35 years they'd admit they'd given it a good chance and start to plan a replacement the choir and cathedral deserve. It was particuilarly foul in this week's b/c during the Hylton Stewart (I only new his C major canticles previously and can't claim to know thses C# minor now with that horrible accomp.) On another thread, I've even dared to suggest that rather likes dogs and their owners, the boys are starting to sound like the Rieger ... (I'll be in trouble for that!)
For Heaven's sake, who would make their only Swell reeds a 16' Cor Anglais and 8' Voix Humaine, to say nothing of the weak, f*rty Basson as the only Pedal reed?
(just saying...!). OK, I give in, the case is pretty and better than its over-inflated predecessor, but P-lease!

[ardcarp]

[Vox Humana]

It was particuilarly foul in this week's b/c during the Hylton Stewart (I only new his C major canticles previously and can't claim to know thses C# minor now with that horrible accomp.)

Erm... Do forgive me, Gerald, but I feel it incumbent upon me to draw attention to the evergreen confusion here between Charles Hylton Stewart and Haldane Campbell Stewart. As to who was the more interesting composer... well... seconds out!! :)

For a year I had sporadic lessons from Dudley Holroyd on the old Hill, Norman and Beard at Bath - and what a very fine instrument it was, even if it didn't all speak at the same time. I have no experience of the Klais that replaced it, but, as I understand it, Klais had firm instructions about the sort of instrument required and, because of this and because of the reuse of the HNB pipework, the organ doesn't sound quite like a typical Klais. I have always found Klais instruments on the continent well up to accompanying English cathedral repertoire (apart from a certain paucity of string tone and a lack of English soft solo reeds).

With the exception of Clifton Cathedral, which is small, inoffensive and has some lovely flutes and chorus-work, I have never much liked the sound of Rieger instruments. In particular, their reeds always seems to sound raucous, more so than those of other German firms I have experienced. For me, modern German reeds are an issue. They may be OK when used on their home ground, but they are simply too assertive and strident to suit English cathedral choral music. With care you can "get away with it", but you'll always end up envisaging a better solution. Well, I used to anyway.

[Vox Humana]

OK, I give in, the case is pretty and better than its over-inflated predecessor, but P-lease!

Actually, you know, I'm not sure it is. The old Harrison was physically a bit geriatric to play and it could sound as old-fashioned as it felt, but it could still acquit itself with aplomb, as was evident on the recent archive broadcast of Choral Evensong.

[Finzi4ever]

I meant the old case, VH, with its middle-aged spread, expanding well out on either side of its intended case, not the sound of the old H&H. I remember well the Double Open woods lying in the nave at Tewkesbury for their re-use in the Grove Organ by Bishop's.

[Finzi4ever]

Apols for falling into the well-laid haffalump trap on the CH/HC Stewarts, "ma bad! Doh!

[Vox Humana]

I meant the old case, VH, with its middle-aged spread, expanding well out on either side of its intended case, not the sound of the old H&H. I remember well the Double Open woods lying in the nave at Tewkesbury for their re-use in the Grove Organ by Bishop's.

Oops. My fault for only skim-reading your post. Yes, the Rieger does look better.

[Mr Stoat]

........With the exception of Clifton Cathedral, which is small, inoffensive and has some lovely flutes and chorus-work.

I only had a brief go on Clifton Cathedral a good many years ago, and was quite surprised as to what one could do with it despite the somewhat uncompromising spec on paper. I recall that the Great Mixture virtually doubled the power of the organ.

[Vox Humana]

I liked it very much when I played it. It is quite impressive at the console, but, sadly, much of the sound seems to go straight up into the top of the wigwam, so it has much less impact in the body of the cathedral. Mind you, these are nearly 40-year-old memories!

[Mr Stoat]

I suppose that's why the Mixture is voiced thus.

[ardcarp]

Yes, probably, but it's not very good werk prinzip practice...where each stage of building up to a pleno should be approximately equal. If cash were no object, then a couple of mixtures (the second being a 'scharf' or similar) would put icing on the cake.