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Dr. Weir gave a remarkable insight into each of the pieces, performance practice and matters of registration and control of the body during performance. Thankfully, she also did away with many of the so-called rules on the performance of baroque music.
An audience of about 30 enjoyed a stunning afternoon and all the students found it extremely useful. Dr. Weir closed the class by performing Bach's Toccata in F major, her favourite piece.
Mr. Titterington talked enlighteningly about the music, and transformed the aural expectations of the audience to attain previously unthinkable levels of musicality. Hearing Prelude Fugue and Variation played on the piano was a magical experience - the final nail in the coffin of the view that Franck's music is wholly religious.
The day finished with David presenting historic recordings of great Franck interpreters. This was the perfect finish to an excellent day, and the whole class left with a fresh insight into this marvellous music and eager for Mr. Titterington's next class.
A full obiturary appeared in The Times on Monday January 1st.
Beginning with Alfred Hollins' Trumpet Minuet, Michael displayed the varied palette of the church's Conacher organ through works including Buxtehude's Praeludium, Fuga and Ciacona in C, Prince Johann Ernst's Concerto in G major arranged by JS Bach and a new arrangement of Dvorak's Largo to the New World Symphony by Dr. Noel Rawsthorne.
Michael concluded his recital with a spirited performance of Louis Vierne's Carillon from the 24 Pieces en style Libre. All proceeds go to the Gledholt Methodist Church Organ Restoration Fund.
Huddersfield University organ student, and HOA President, William Kay spent the morning studying the Piece Heroique with David - an exciting and educational experience.
The afternoon session was the first part of a series of three classes being held on Bruhns and Buxtehude, during which David illustrated some of the 'forgotten' registration schemes of the period as recorded by Georg Bohm. These include frequent use of combinations such as 16ft Faggot, 4ft and 2ft Flutes in a whole range of works, including Trios.
Postgraduate student Keith Dale then performed Bruhns' G major Praeludium with David advising extensively on registration matters, articulation and relative tempi.
The next session is scheduled for late March, and will be held at Clayton Parish Church, Manchester on the new two-manual mechanical action organ by Wood of Huddersfield.
Huddersfield University concert organ news
Organisers of the organ lunch hour recitals in St. Paul's Hall have regrettably been forced to rearrange the remainder of the series due to an increasing unreliability in the instrument's performance.
Concerns about the present condition of the organ are shared by both the Music Department and the organ's builder, Wood of Huddersfield. A full survey of the instrument has indicated that the console chassis shows evidence of considerable wear and tear and because of this the soundboard springs are having to be overtightened in order to return the action. This is resulting in an increasingly over-heavy and uneven key action and this is now causing considerable unreliability in performance.
University officials have decided to undertake the repair work to remedy the problems with the key and pedal actions in the forthcoming summer vacation. This would cover the immediate work required and then further maintenance could be carried out in due course.
The condition of the organ has forced the Music Department to alter the remaining organ recital series and the recital by James Lancelot from Durham Cathedral has been postponed. The revised preogramme will include the following:
Keith Jarvis, University organist, who is particularly concerned by the condition of the instrument, said "The St Paul's organ has now had nearly 20 years of sustained use by students, staff and visiting organists during which time the organ has performed magnificently. The instrument holds a special place in the organ world of Great Britain and has considerable international recognition. It is a credt to the local builders, Wood of Huddersfield."
"Philip and David Wood are in the top league of British organ builders and I would like to thank them for their dedicated work over the years," said Keith.
Issued by Huddersfield University Press Office, 15 March 1996.
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The penultimate recital in this year's series of concerts was given last Saturday, May 18th, by Simon Roberts. Simon is a graduate of Huddersfield University, presently studying for a PGCE, and is organist and choirmaster of St. Mark's Church, Connahs Quay in Wales.
Simon began his programme with CS Lang's rechristened Tromba Tune(!) in which the Gledholt instrument sounded better than it has before in recent years. He continued with pieces by Marcel Dupre (Le Tombeau de Titelouze), JS Bach (two chorale preludes from Orgelbuchlein), and his favourite composer Percy Whitlock.
Simon concluded the recital in grand style with Widor's famous Toccata, followed by the ever popular Penguin's Playtime of Nigel Ogden.
The recital showed the Gledholt instrument in good form and it was good to hear Simon playing in Huddersfield again. A retiring collection was held to raise funds for the restoration of the organ.
Edward Wellman, a graduate of Huddersfield University has been appointed Assistant Organist of Chester Cathedal, having previously served as Organ Scholar there.
Edward graduated from Huddersfield in 1994, and since then has led a very musically active life. Our congratulations to Edward on this latest success.
The first printed HOA newsletter for over two years was distributed to members at the meeting on Friday 14th June. Titled The Clarion, the new newsletter replaces the previous event information sheets distributed to members for the past 2 years.
Produced by President Robert Cockroft the
first issue contains articles on our membership survey, the BIOS redundant organs project, the past president's new appointment together with CD reviews and details of forthcoming events.
All members are entitled to a copy of The Clarion which will be produced quarterly. Non-members interested in receiving a copy can contact Robert Cockroft using this quick email form.
Since its launch in December 1995, HOA Online has attracted over 600 visitors from around the world. The server at Webzone provided us with a good service, though uploading pages (which had to be contained in PKZIP files) was a tedious task.
To provide a better service for you, with faster more frequent updating, we have moved to our new home at Netlink. Netlink allow us direct FTP-to-server uploading, as well as supporting imagemaps, full cgi-bin access and much more.
We apologise for any inconveniece our move has caused, but we believe we are now in a better position to serve you than ever before.
The opening concert involving the new 1.2 million pound Marcussen organ in Bridgewater Hall has been delayed because building work on the 2400-seat hall was not sufficiently complete.
Olivier Latry from Paris was to have given the inaugural recital on September 19th; however Wayne Marshall's concert on November 22nd will now reformed into an inaugural event with the Halle Orchestra.
M. Latry will return to Manchester on April 4th to give a solo programme of French music which will also include an improvisation.
David Titterington Masterclass
International Concert Organist, David Titterington, returned to Huddersfield last weekend (24 Feb 96) to give a final masterclass on Cesar Franck.
PRESS RELEASE: Organ failing after years of service
For further information contact Mr Keith Jarvis, +44 (0)1484 422288 extension 2006/2003.
HOA Online and your IP cache
Review: Simon Roberts at Gledholt Methodist Church
Huddersfield graduate appointed at Chester Cathedral
Clarion call to HOA members
HOA Online on the move
UK's largest new organ delayed by bricklayers!
HOA gains first American member
An organ student from the USA has applied to join the association, the first overseas member in its history.
Christian Anthony Schoen from Texas, a student at Southern Methodist University, learned of the HOA through our internet pages. He posted an electronic mail message saying that he would like to become part of the wider musical community and asked if the association would consider him for membership.
Christian brings to seven the number of organists who have applied to join the association recently. They include Gordon Stewart, Kirklees Borough Organist and director of music at Blackburn Cathedral; Dr. Donald Webster of York, formerly assistant organist of Leeds Parish Church; Gordon Balmforth; Lynn Blackburn; Simon Smith; and David Wyld, managing director of Mirabilis Records.
John Lyon is also on the move. He has been appointed co-ordinator of performing arts at Earl of Scarborough School, Skegness from January 1997.
William Kay, HOA webmaster and past president is now in possession of a Norwegian residence permit and enjoying life as organist and music teacher in Stranda Kommune. He is currently putting the finishing touches to the Stranda Kyrkje web site, which will include sermon of the week, hymn of the week and an online version of the church magazine. Regular news updates will be provided by Radio Storfjord, the local radio station.
Anthony Baldery has returned to the south of England following four years of study in Huddersfield. He graduated with a BMus degree in 1995 and topped that with a PGCE this summer. He is currently searching for a full-time teaching position, and looks forward to maintaining his links with HOA whenever possible.
William Kay and David Wood took part in a Radio Leeds broadcast during June. The story followed up reports in the previous issue of The Clarion about organists being threatened by new technology. However, the reporter failed to grasp the matters involved, confusing helpful organ technology with unhelpful recording technology. Despite this stumbling block, the main thrust of the argument - that recorded music can never replace a human being - was successfully conveyed.
A recruitment campaign among new students at Huddersfield University will again take place this year. In the past we have had several members - and committee members - drawn from the student population.
Philip is currently studying for a PGCE at Bretton Hall after leaving Huddersfield with a BMus(Hons) degree last summer. He takes over at Lightcliffe from fellow Huddersfield graduate William Kay, who had held the position for six years.
Phil's appointment is good news for Lightcliffe - he is a fine organist and a noteable choir director. In his final year at Huddersfield he was director of the Music Department's St. Paul's Singers. Our congratulations and best wishes to Phil on this new success.
Gordon Stewart, Kirklees Borough Organist, welcomed everyone at 9.30 and followed that with a short recital. From 10am the 4 manual Willis was available for visitors to try out together with Gordon. David Wood, of Wood of Huddersfield Organ Builders then spoke briefly about the town hall organ - its mechanism, stops and history.
The previous evening, a gathering of about 40 had enjoyed dinner at The Three Acres Inn at Emley, which is fast becoming the traditional venue for our Annual Dinners. The guest speaker for the occasion was the organist of Leeds Parish Church, Simon Lindley, who spoke about his life steeped in church music.
Two instruments have been stripped of metal pipework in recent months and there are fears there could be links with similar thefts in the past. In the most recent incident, thieves painstakingly stole pipes from a disused instrument in a Holmfirth chapel which is still in weekly use for worship.
The three-manual Conacher at Lane Chapel had been out of action for some years and was boarded off from the body of the church. But when Wood of Huddersfield went to inspect the organ in late October they found that there was nothing to inspect. Metal pipes have also been stripped recently from the three-manual Conacher in the redundant Bentley Street Chapel, Lockwood. Display pipes were left in position but everything behind them had been removed.
In recent years, pipework has been stolen from a church in Barkisland and, notoriously, from All Souls, Haley Hill, Halifax. "Someone knows what they are doing and one tends to think it might be the same team," says Philip Wood, who has warned churches to be watchful. "These people knew what they were looking for and what to do. They had gone to great trouble to get these pipes out.
"The ends which they go to are unbelieveable for the low financial reward
if they go for scrap. The pipes could have been reused. It's sickening
really."
New work from HOA past president
The premiere of a new composition by HOA past president William Kay took place on December 29th... though perhaps as far from Huddersfield as some could imagine.
Confitemini Domino was written for the local TenSing children's choir in Stranda, Norway where our past president is currently busily employed as organist and music teacher. It comprises a simple 3-part choral setting together with parts for piano and flute.
In addition, there is a demanding solo soprano part which was sung on this occasion by the Norwegian soprano Grethe Kielland (pictured). Kielland is employed as full time districts musician in a neighbouring county and is a talented artist.
Copies of the score are available as Sibelius 7 files or printed (for a basic charge) from William Kay.
Wood of Huddersfield win Marcussen maintenance contract
The contract for tuning and maintenance of the new 71-stop mechanical action Marcussen organ in Manchester's Bridgewater Hall has been won by Wood of Huddersfield.
This is a major coup for the Huddersfield firm, and one of which they are rightly proud.
The Bridgewater instrument is the largest new mechanical action organ in the country, built at a cost of over £1 million. However several leading organists have expressed concern at the instrument's overall impact. These include HOA President Robert Cockroft, who has played the instrument. "The great is polite to an alarming degree," he reports.
Read more in our online magazine TheClarion.
New appointment at Lightcliffe Church
Huddersfield University music graduate Michael Smith has been appointed Organist and Choirmaster of St. Matthew's Church, Lightcliffe following the departure of Philip Evans. Michael, who comes originally from Cumbria, is the student representative to the HOA Committee and begins a one year PGCE course at the University's Holly Bank annex this September. Michael follows in the footsteps of former HOA president William Kay who was resident at Lightcliffe from 1990 to 1996 and Phil Evans, both Huddersfield graduates. We wish Michael every success in his new appointment.
Contest to go ahead
The threat to the Mrs. Sunderland organ classes has been lifted though the intervention of the association.
Organizers, dismayed by the poor response in recent years, had said that the three classes would be withdrawn if no competitors came forward for 1998.
The story was taken up by our secretary Rowan Morton Gledhill at Radio Leeds. When committee member Michael Smith heard of the plight of the contest he rounded up fellow students at Huddersfield University. Now eight are entered for the February event.
Gillian Weir at St.Paul's Hall
Dame Gilian came to Huddersfield 20 years ago to give one of the first recitals on the newly built Wood of Huddersfield
organ in St.Paul's Hall at the University.
In 1987 she returned with an all-Bach programme for the 10th anniversary recital. In November she was therefore the natural choice to celebrate its 20th birthday.
In an ambitious piece of planning, the extensive restoration of the organ, funded by lottery cash, prompted not one, but two celebratory recitals a week apart.
In case anyone was unclear of here attributes as a performer, she gave what amounted to a masterclass in technique and musicianship.
Her blend of authority and poise, rhythmic strength and grace of phrasing were evident in a programme that found something new and fresh to say in each piece, from Mozart to Bach and Jongen.
Member stars in Summer Wine wedding
Keen-eyed viewers may have noticed a familiar face in the BBC1 christmas special edition of Last of the Summer Wine.
As the programme reached its climax with a wedding scene, the cameras panned over Helme Parish Church. Seconds later, as Compo and Clegg entered the church, strains of Wagner's Bridal Chorus were heard. They were followed by a shot of our man at the Conacher, beaming HOA member John Bailey.
"The first thing I knew about it was when I got a phone call the night before filming. I was there for 5 hours for about 1 minute of music," he says.
New Nunc setting premiered in Norway
A new setting of the Nunc Dimittis for SATB choir, soprano soloist and organ/piano, written by past president William
Kay, was given a positive welcome at its first airing at a concert on 1st February.
Blending old and new traditions, the work was written at the suggestion of Norwegian soprano Grethe Kielland. One of several choirs based in Stranda (where Kay is employed as cantor), Synzygus, joined Kielland in the performance of the new work.
Plans are underway for a further concert, hopefully in Sandane were Kielland is distriktsmusiker, which will include the work.
Although written with Norwegian (nynorsk) text, it should be possible to adapt the work for performance with English lyrics. Copies of the score are available from William Kay as Sibelius 7 files.
Sibelius broadens his horizons
Sibelius
Software, renowned for their music processing package Sibelius
7 have announced plans for a new multi-platform version of the award
winning system.
The new program, entitled Sibelius VMP (virtual manuscript paper) will be available for Acorn RiscPC, Apple Macintosh and Wintel systems.
The switch from programming in assembler to C++ means the base system requirements for Sibelius have increased somewhat. In Acorn terms, a Digital StrongARM based system is likely to be a prerequisite whereas Windows users hoping to use the new system should be courting with the fastest Pentium processors.
A host of new features over the latest version of Sibelius 7 3.5 are promised so this is clearly something to look forward to. More details can be obtained from Sibelius Software in either the UK or USA.
University organ stunning after rebuild
The concert organ of Huddersfield University is stunning visitors to the
current lunchtime recital series following an extensive rebuild last Autumn.
Wood of Huddersfield, the organ's original builders, carried out a major restoration project, funded largely by lottery cash, which included a new console chassis, new action, upgraded sequencer system and 2 new stops.
A new 8ft flute has been added to the Swell, together with a splendid Cornet on the Great. The 32ft Pedal reed has been revoiced and the Positive Cimbel remodelled.
The new specification, with a history of the development of the organ, can be found at this location.
Armley Schulze Organ Restoration Appeal
Information from David Elliott
At the moment the church is having great difficulty in persuading the Heritage Lottery fund that the cause of restoring this great and significant instrument is a worthy one. Our problem is not so much the organ restoration, but the restoration of the church building in which it stands. A new under-floor heating system is proposed as well as the substantial work required to secure the roof, all of which are essential to maintain the correct environment for the organ. With the maximum Lottery funding (£625,000) the church still needs to raise a further £310,000, but it is likely that this figure will be inversely proportional to the size of the Lottery grant. Perhaps any readers of your pages via the net. could send a letter of encouragement to the Heritage Lottery Commission, via the church:
The Rev. T. Lipscombe,
The Vicarage,
Wesley Road,
Leeds
LS12 1SR
UK
New CD of Huddersfield Town Hall organ released
Information from Bernard Martin
The new recording of Gordon Stewart playing the organ of Huddersfield Town Hall is now available. Contact details through Gordon or Bernard Martin (OxRecs DIGITAL) on +44 (0)1865 300347.
West of England Organ Academy goes online
Information from Ian Ball
Please may I draw your attention to the launch of our new Web Site, containing details of staff, courses, workshops and forthcoming events at The West of England Organ Academy.
Please bookmark this URL for regular updates: www.weoa.bristol-uk.com
Thank you,
Ian Ball.
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© Huddersfield Organists' Association 1999 |