Broadcasts of European Organs

[Alain Maréchal]

I am prompted by a thread about cassettes on the Techie Board to wonder if anybody recalls with regret the regular R3 broadcasts of organ music. I have quite a few cassettes of these, and I have just played a recital by Wim van Beek (who died in June at the age of 87, having retired the previous year) playing at Groningen. There were many others, including the Dallam organs in Brittany, and Susan Landale playing Franck on appropriate organs. There is something about a broadcast recital which improves over a CD - possibly the idea of a recital put together by the performer, rather than a complete run of Bach, Bohm or Bruhns as on CD.

(I am trying to work out the era - they were off-air so must have been during one of my work sojourns in England. Late 80s - early 90s? I ought to have dated the tapes).

[ardcarp]

There is something about a broadcast recital which improves over a CD - possibly the idea of a recital put together by the performer,

Agreed. A live broadcast is even better, but something of a rarity.

[Frances_iom]

Agreed. A live broadcast is even better, but something of a rarity.

the Beebs favourite Organ stop is that labelled Noli me tangere - as it is the King of instruments any audience, generally exceeding small in my experience except in France , must be the elite of the elite and thus should be satisfied with incompetent presenters and a recital maybe once or twice a year and at that at Easter or Christmas

forgot to add - think the broadcasts were late 70s + early 80s

[Petrushka]

I am prompted by a thread about cassettes on the Techie Board to wonder if anybody recalls with regret the regular R3 broadcasts of organ music. I have quite a few cassettes of these, and I have just played a recital by Wim van Beek (who died in June at the age of 87, having retired the previous year) playing at Groningen. There were many others, including the Dallam organs in Brittany, and Susan Landale playing Franck on appropriate organs. There is something about a broadcast recital which improves over a CD - possibly the idea of a recital put together by the performer, rather than a complete run of Bach, Bohm or Bruhns as on CD.

(I am trying to work out the era - they were off-air so must have been during one of my work sojourns in England. Late 80s - early 90s? I ought to have dated the tapes).

Wonder if this is the broadcast by Wim van Beek that you recorded http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9035a4eb9...453a68b027fddd

The BBC Genome (link on the left side panel on main Forum page) is an invaluable resource for questions like yours and a bit of diligent searching should give you the dates of your other tapes.

[Dafydd y G.W.]

I am prompted by a thread about cassettes on the Techie Board to wonder if anybody recalls with regret the regular R3 broadcasts of organ music.

Indeed I do. There was even a year-long series in the 1980s devoted to an historical survey of the organ and its music, "Music for the Iron Voice".

[Alain Maréchal]

Wonder if this is the broadcast by Wim van Beek that you recorded http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9035a4eb9...453a68b027fddd

The BBC Genome (link on the left side panel on main Forum page) is an invaluable resource for questions like yours and a bit of diligent searching should give you the dates of your other tapes.

Yes it is, thank you. I took the opportunity to edit the item for clarity.