Category Archives: News and Views

This category is for news about HOA events or individuals associated with the HOA and other related news items.

National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR) – Appeal for Donations

The Chairman of the British Institute of Organ Studies writes:

The National Pipe Organ Register

Appeal for donations 

You may be surprised to learn that the NPOR’s extensive coverage of British organs, a free public resource set up and managed by BIOS, is unmatched by any other country worldwide.  Dr Mike Sayers set up the database in 1990 and has served it with devotion and technical virtuosity ever since.*  A team of volunteer editors continues to extend and refine the Register with the ultimate ambition of cataloguing every organ in the land.

However, it is becoming a major financial challenge to manage the constant incoming flow of information (a task efficiently performed by the Royal College of Organists on behalf of BIOS) and to maintain the database.  Outside grants, that in the early days helped in getting the NPOR set up and established, are no longer available for the continuing expense of day-to-day running, and after Mike Sayers’s imminent retirement the website will no longer continue to be hosted and maintained free of charge.  BIOS is responsible for all of these annual costs, which are estimated at £8,500 for 2015 and will absorb more than one third of our annual income.

The Register now lists the specifications of over 35,000 organs and each month receives an average of more than 20,000 file searches which bring up a total of over 40,000 surveys.  BIOS is committed to maintaining free access to the NPOR for all users, but its funds are limited and we have to face the fact that these unavoidable costs cannot be sustained beyond the short term. That is why I am writing to ask whether you or your Association would consider signing up to contribute on a regular basis to a new Fund which BIOS has set up to provide finance for the NPOR.  We believe this cause deserves the wholehearted support of all who are involved in the British organ world, especially those who use the Register on a regular basis and who are directly involved in the world of the pipe organ whether as builders, performers or listeners. Single donations will of course be welcome at any time but our greatest need, for the sake of future security, is to find supporters who are willing to take out a Standing Order and donate to the NPOR on a regular basis.  May I invite you to sign up for a regular contribution?

Donations will be gratefully received at any level and should be sent to Adrian Mumford, BIOS Treasurer, using one of the two attached downloadable forms (Standing Order or Single Donation). The address is on the form. It is suggested that local associations might perhaps be able to sign up for £15 or £20 per annum.  Individuals or associations able to offer larger sums will be enrolled annually in the following categories:

Friends (donation £50 or more)

Donors (£100 or more)

Benefactors (£250 or more)

Patrons £500 or more)

BIOS Council will be very pleased to acknowledge such donations by posting on the NPOR website a roll of these major supporters, unless they request otherwise.  If you have any questions about the NPOR or about this appeal, you are welcome to get in touch with the BIOS Treasurer, Adrian Mumford, treasurer@bios.org.uk or the NPOR Manager, Andrew Macintosh, npor@bios.org.uk. I do hope you will feel able to help us keep NPOR alive and moving forward.

Alan Thurlow

Chairman

 

*     Mike Sayers has written an interesting account of the history of the NPOR in BIOS Journal 36:

http://www.npor.org.uk/NPOR1992to2012.pdf

A standing order form is attached below:

BIOS – standing order – 7 – FINAL

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Two inspirational courses for Organists – all ages and standards

 

Places are still available on two inspirational courses organised by the Organ Club:

                                                                                                                                     

 Schnitger and Schnitzels in Hamburg (24 to 27 August)

and

Warmington Organ Weekend in Northamptonshire (11 to 13 September)

 

Two colourful Attachments tell more.

Both are offered at a very competitive price and promise a really warm welcome to organists of all ages and standards.

 

Hamburg – join us in 2015( 1)

join us at WOW!

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Organ Scholarship at Leeds College of Music

Leeds College of Music are offering a scholarship for an organist to study on their  Masters programme, starting September 2015. The deadline for applications to the Masters programme is 31 August 2015. The scholarship is offered in association with St Andrews United Reform Church, Roundhay, Leeds, where the candidate would work as church organist in addition to their studies. Details of the award are available here: http://www.lcm.ac.uk/Documents-Downloads/How-to-apply/Rodney-Green-Organ-Scholarship-2015.aspx

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Donald MacKenzie at St Giles’, Pontefract, 23 May

Saturday 23rd May  -Donald MacKenzie, of the Odeon Leicester Square, London, will be playing at St Giles’ church Pontefract and accompanying the silent film “Steam Boat Bill Jnr” on the church organ.  Click for a  Poster of the event.

 

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Fine Binns’ Pipe Organ For Sale

Redundant Pipe Organ                                                     M0269

 

J J Binns 1901

 

St John’s Methodist Church

Church Street Settle, N. Yorks BD24 9JG

 

NPOR N05076

 

2 manuals and pedals

12 ss

Tracker/ Mechanical action

 

Downsizing of  the church interior has unfortunately left no room for this fine small organ which is in excellent condition.

 

Width  8 ft

Depth  11 ft 2 ins

Height c.15ft

 

 

Department and Stop list

Pedal Key action Tr  Stop action Me   Compass-low C  Compass-high f1  Keys 30
  1 Bourdon 16  
  2 Bass Flute 8  
 
Great Key action Tr  Stop action Me   Compass-low C  Compass-high a3  Keys 58
  3 Open Diapason 8  
  4 Stop Diapason 8  
  5 Dolce 8  
  6 Principal 4  
  7 Flute 4  
 
Swell Key action Tr  Stop action Me   Compass-low C  Compass-high a3  Keys 58 Enclosed
  8 Geigen Principal 8  
  9 Rohr Flute 8  
  10 Vox Angelica 8  
  11 Salicet 4  
  12 Oboe 8  

 

 

 

 

 

Console

Stop type  White moulded knobs   Label type  Ivory   Pedalboard  Straight and concave

Angled jambs; Wooden slides

 

 

Couplers

Swell to Pedal

Swell to Great

Great to Pedal

 

Details

Blowing Hand

 

 

 

Accessories

Balanced Swell pedal
2 toe pedals to each manual

The organ must be removed by July and is immediately available.

 

All enquiries to the church contact please.

 

Buyer makes all arrangements for removal.

 

Contact:

Dr John Lewis

Mob. 07961 919 481

Tel. 01729 823 629

Email: lewis280@btinternet.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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St Martin’s Church, Brighouse

St Martin’s Church of England, Brighouse, West Yorkshire.

Applications are invited for the post of Music Director and Organist at this well attended and friendly church. Our main act of worship is a 10.45am Sunday service with robed choir.

Extra services as required, especially at Christmas and Easter (see job description for details.)

The principal organ-located in the chancel, built by Conacher, rebuilt and extended by Wood, 3 manuals and pedals, 48ranks. The chamber organ, located in the West gallery, built by Bryceson, rebuilt and extended by Wood, 2 manuals and pedals, 19 ranks.

Closing date for applications: 30th March 2015. Interviews:  23rd  April 2015 from 7pm. Please email in first instance for application form, to andrewdavid@btinternet.com to be posted to the Curate, Revd Andrew Hall,35 Robin Hood Way, Clifton, Brighouse HD6 4LA.

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Re-dedication of the Wellhead Snetzler Organ at Halifax Minster, 1 March 2015

On 1 March, 2015 at 16.00, the 1770 Snetzler chamber organ originally built for John Waterhouse, Churchwarden of Halifax Parish Church, will  be re-dedicated at a service of Evensong with Procession at Halifax Minster. The preacher will be the Archdeacon of Halifax. After the service there will be refreshments and a short recital by Professor David Baker. Further details from info@halifaxminster.org.uk or 01422-355436.  Photography by David Glover.

Well Head Snetzler 058 Well Head Snetzler 059

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William Baker Organ Scholarship at Halifax Minster 2015-16

The William Baker Organ Scholarship at Halifax Minster is available for 2015-16. Details are http://www.halifaxminster.org.uk/about-us/music/organ/organ-scholarship/

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Rothwell Parish Church, Leeds – Organist and Choirmaster Vacancy

Director of Music Details 2014

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Eric Thompson Trust Award 2015

 The

 Eric Thompson

 Charitable Trust

 for organists

 and organ music

 

 

 

c/o 17 Hill Street

St Albans

AL3 4QS

 

Tel      020 3143 3040

Email  info@organtrust.org

 

www.organtrust.org

 

________________

 

 

Vice Presidents

Dame Gillian Weir DBE

Nicolas Kynaston

 

 

Chairman of the Trustees

David Wakefield

 

 

Clerk to the Trustees

Colin Hamling

 

 

Trustees

Dame Glynne Evans DBE CMG

Richard Fisher

David Graham

Colin Hamling

Robin Jéquier

Anne Marsden Thomas MBE

Dinah Molloy Thompson

David Titterington

David Wakefield

 

 

 

Registered Charity No

1026344

NEW ANNUAL AWARD

TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

 

  1. In October 2014 the Trustees of the Eric Thompson Charitable Trust for Organists and Organ Music decided to introduce a prestigious new Annual Award subject to available funding.

 

  1. The purpose of the proposed Award is to broaden the Trust’s reach in the

field of organ music, while raising further awareness of its core aims.

  • Award Value: up to £5,000 p.a.
  • Closing Date: 1st June, annually
  • Interviews: First Tuesday of July, unless otherwise notified

 

  1. The Award will be publicised through the Trust’s networks of prominent musicians and teachers, music colleges, schools, churches and cathedrals.

 

  1. Applications are encouraged from musicians who are passionate about taking on a major project relating to the organ, including candidates in full or part-time study, and those who may have recently embarked on their professional career.

 

  1. The Trustees will consider a wide range of projects, including ones related to study, performance, recording, research and composition. It is intended to attract

a high standard of applications, for example:

  • Organ students who aspire to study at a Conservatoire, in UK or abroad
  • Academics who plan to write a book about the organ or its repertory
  • Composers seeking a commission to write a new piece for the organ
  • Performers in need of support to make recordings of organ music

 

  1. There is no application form however applicants are asked to submit:
  • A written proposal of no more than two sides of A4 that includes:
  1. Applicant’s personal contact details
  2. Reasons for, and concise description of, the proposed project
  3. Relevant costs such as study, performance, travel, research, venue, etc

plus:

  • Two character and background references written by professional people

 

  1. The successful candidate will be selected by interview and/or audition as deemed appropriate, following the receipt of applications by the above deadline.

 

  1. Award recipients will be required to keep the Trustees informed of progress of their project as it develops, and to submit a suitably detailed written report on completion.

 

  1. It should be understood that the support of the Eric Thompson Charitable Trust will be acknowledged in all related material, including programmes, sleeve notes, books, articles and websites.

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