Monthly Archives: October 2016

THE LONDON ORGAN COMPETITION – 29 DECEMBER 2016

THE LONDON ORGAN COMPETITION

ST CLEMENT DANES, LONDON

THURSDAY 29 DECEMBER 2016 – 2:00 PM

PROMOTED BY THE ORGAN CLUB IN ASSOCIATION WITH

THE NORTHERN IRELAND INTERNATIONAL ORGAN COMPETITION

Further details on the following link: london-competition-header

or e-mail The Organ Club at:  cegb36@gmail.com

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Redundant Binns Organ: St James, Castle Eden – M0293

From the Diocesan Organs Adviser

Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches

Webpage:   http://www.duresme.org.uk/doa.htm

St James, Castle Eden: Organ – MO293

The organ was designed and built in 1896 by James J Binns, organ builders of Leeds, then with growing renown and significance, in the same year as their magnum opus at St Aidan, Roundhay Road, Leeds.  
             
St James’s organ occupies a compact rectangular footprint in a spacious chamber south of the chancel, with ample egress for sound forwards via the rounded arch to the chancel and a subsidiary opening to the south aisle of the nave.  The main case in pitch pine, with the attached console with zinc pipe array in 3 flats above, is on the north front; the rear corners of the organ are marked with tall castellated posts, matching the 4 front posts; the sides and rear of the organ are enclosed by tongue and groove boarding to impost height, hiding and protecting the interior.  

The organ-builder’s estimate books survive (in private hands) in Huddersfield.   However, the organ appears to have been built new in 1896, with 8 stops on 2 manuals and pedals, and a mechanical key and stop action – a nice example of small organ in then fashionable Romantic style.  The Great has no proper chorus, but has lovely distinctive Flutes at unison and octave pitch, a firm sounding Dulciana, and the Open Diapason for volume, whilst the Swell contains softer enclosed flutes (at 8ft and 4ft) and a pungent string rank. Even with such a limited number of stops the organ has variety and sings out clearly and effectively into the building accommodating perhaps 250 persons. The organ has been used in concerts, having many accompanimental possibilities, as well as for church services.

Some maintenance has been undertaken through the organ’s lifetime, although probably very little other than tuning, since the interior surfaces are evidently quite dirty with dust. It has not been possible to remove any side panelling to have a close view of the working parts of the organ. Nevertheless, at the console all seemed to be working well, with well-adjusted mechanical actions and couplings to the manuals, and free movement of the stops. There is little if any wind noise from the organ itself, and, knowing Binns’ quality of work, the leather-work on the bellows should be sound for a while yet.  A routine cleaning and overhaul would certainly leave the organ in excellent state for continued service.

As the church building has closed and this organ is no longer required at Castle Eden, proper recognition should be given to its compact yet useful design and quality of construction by a worthy organ maker. It would readily dismantle, transfer and could be restored and re-erected economically, and would serve the modest musical needs of another user for many years to come.  Every effort should be made to find this deserving organ a new home where it can continue to be used and be appreciated.

 Richard Hird

10th October 2016
Organ in St James, Castle Eden   (National Pipe Organ Register ref. G00344)
Built by James J Binns, Leeds (1896).   A brass plate above the console suggests
the organ was a gift to the church by, or in memory of Rowland Burdon.

Stoplist
Great (58 notes)
1. Open Diapason      8     [basses in front]
2. Gedact                    8
3. Dulciana                 8        [gr. bass]
4. Flauto Traverso         4

 Swell to Great

Swell (58 notes)
5. Lieblich Gedact     8        
6. Gamba        8     [gr. bass]    
7. Lieblich Flote         4        
 
Pedal (30 notes – parallel/concave)
8. Bourdon              16          
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal

Manual key and stop actions mechanical, pedals key action tubular pneumatic;
Balanced Swell Pedal;   diagonal jambs; ivory stop knobs; sliding doors.
Casework – 3 flat pipe rack front of zinc pipes with side posts and cross rail, over pine panelling.
T+G boarding to sides and rear.
Discus blower sited to rear left of organ.

Dimensions:      Front width – 2.65m;   
 Depth – 2.3m + pedals/organist space [35cm] in front;
 Height – estimate floor to top of central pipe – 5.3m (the maximum height
 internally, to top of Swell box, approx. 4.2m)

For further details or information please contact:
Bill Heslop [Diocesan Churches Officer], 
Cuthbert House,
Stonebridge, 
DURHAM DH1 3RY
Tel. 01388 660001

 

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Young (and Potential) Organists’ Opportunities – Oxford – 9 November 2016

Organ For All Event
Wednesday 9 November 2016
An opportunity for young musicians to enhance and broaden their opportunities – see event details attached:  
 
There is a considerable programme of Organ Scholarships (as well as Choral Scholarships and a variety of music scholarships and bursaries) at the different colleges which make up the University of Oxford. Jesus College, Oxford is working with the Royal College of Organists, music teachers and church musicians to help communicate that it is more than possible for anyone to take up the organ (they really don’t need to be at schools boasting their own organ or their own organ teacher!), and to convey the many opportunities that learning the organ can bring. 
Jesus College wants to enthuse young musicians and broaden their aspirations, to learn about a great instrument, to find one nearby, to find a teacher nearby, and to access a great musical tradition. They are welcoming students of all ages 11+ to come along, and will be catering for both youngsters and sixth-formers; all teachers are also very welcome to attend, to find out more.
 
 Admission is free of charge (with sponsorship offered especially from Jesus College, New College, and Exeter College; we are inviting donations from anyone who wishes to attend or who wishes to sponsor a further place or two for prospective organists from low-income backgrounds).
 
                                                                     
  The Revd Dr Megan Daffern 
  Chaplain, Jesus College
Turl Street, Oxford, OX1 3DW
T: +44 (0)1865 2-79757

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THE BERT ALLWOOD ALEXANDRA PALACE ORGAN SCHOLARSHIP

THE BERT ALLWOOD ALEXANDRA PALACE ORGAN SCHOLARSHIP

The Trustees of the Alexandra Palace Organ Appeal are appointing an Organ Scholar. The famous Willis 1873/1929 Grand Concert Organ is the last major concert organ in London awaiting restoration;  the Trustees organise a series of fund-raising concerts and silent film accompaniments in the Great Hall.

The Organ Scholar will assist at four main concerts each year, and will be able to use the four manual organ, with 49 (out of 98 eventual) speaking stops, for regular practice.  Someone with easy access to North London will be given preference. Candidates will undertake to do their organ practice at Alexandra Palace an average of at least once a fortnight.

Actual duties are few, and include helping at the four concerts and films each year, where they would be expected to turn up well beforehand to help up set up screens and projectors. They would be expected to take a general interest in the welfare of this extraordinary instrument. The Scholarship will be worth £500 plus reasonable expenses.

The Scholarship is given in memory of Bert Allwood, who regularly used to walk from Hampstead to hear the organ in the 1930s, when it was at its most magnificent.

For more information on the organ visit www.allypallyorgan.org.uk

Please send CV and 2 Referees to Hugh Macpherson <hughamacpherson@yahoo.co.uk> Flat 11 Forrest House, 42 Rochester Row, London SW1P 1BU.

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ORGAN RECITAL AND LIVE LOOPING AT ST THOMAS, HEPTONSTALL

AFTERNOON TEAS WITH ORGAN RECITAL

AT ST THOMAS’ CHURCH, 

12 BECKETTS CLOSE,  

HEPTONSTALL, HEBDEN BRIDGE, HX7 7LJ

On Sunday 23rd October 2016 from 2.30pm afternoon teas will be available at St Thomas. At 3.00 pm Pam Hulme will be playing the organ and live looping “Melody <-> Rhythm”.  
For more information go to www.urbanorgan.org or via Facebook: Metamorphosis: Urban-Organ.
Admission is free with a retiring collection.
 
Revd Howard Pask
Vicar of Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall
T: 01422 842138

 

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OCTOBER COURSES FOR YOUNG ORGANISTS – RCO ACADEMY

AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A FEW DAYS IN EDINBURGH AMIDST THE AUTUMN COLOURS

AND THE SUPERB ORGANS

RCO Academy in Edinburgh at autumn half-term 2016

LIFELONG LEARNING AND ACCREDITATION FROM THE

ROYAL COLLEGE OF ORGANISTS

YOUNG ORGANISTS IN TRANSITION

OCTOBER COURSES FOR YOUNG ORGANISTS

IN A RELAXED HALF-TERM ATMOSPHERE

sign up for

FIND YOUR FEET!

(early steps in organ playing – ideal for young people age 8 to 15 –

especially pianists who’d love to try the pipe organ)

and

BUILD YOUR SKILLS!

(ambitious teenage organists develop Style and Technique)

Friday 28 to Sunday 30 October 2016 in Edinburgh

INFORMATION AND EASY ONLINE BOOKING AT

https://www.rco.org.uk/events.php?eventid=461

Please see attachment:  book-for-fyf-and-bys-2016-1

(James Parsons: 07887 537773)

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