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    Frederik Magle
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Bach at Liverpool...

Krummhorn

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Indeed it is, Corno Dolce ... haven't yet been there, but it's on my list of places to visit.
Strange console - don't think this is the permanent console as it looks movable - wonder why it is encased like it is ... seems as if it would hinder the organs sound for the ears of the organist. Just curious why the enclosure has high walls and a ceiling.

I have a LP recording of Noel Rawsthorne at Liverpool, probably made during his 25 years there as organist. Awesome sound and organ.
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hi Krummhorn,

I've never gotten around to enquiring why the moveable console is encased but I will guesstimate that this is a form of protection for the organ console. There probably is a door that is either fittted to that case and hidden from view or one that is put in place after use.

Why it is so tall? That's a good question dear sir. I f I may add, there seems to be a goodly number of British organ consoles which are tall - may one(non-pejoratively) call it a design quirk? The British don't seem to mind about tall consoles. I prefer terraced consoles a la Cavaille-Coll myself but if one get's to experience such organbuilding magnificence as at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, one would tend to look beyond the design of the console.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
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Touche' Corno Dolce :tiphat:

I do appreciate the overall organs tonal prowess over what controls the organ. After playing for 47+ years in a highly liturgical church where eye contact is a necessity for service playing and continuity, I wonder how they manage this.

Indeed though, thanks to the perfect acoustical properties of Liverpool, it would hardly matter what kind of box would surround the organist - he or she would certainly hear the instruments grandeur much the same as a parishioner in the nave.

I wonder if they let outside people play this instrument - like visiting organists on vacations abroad - not to play a concert, but just to have the experience and thrill. I remember still to this day the experience of having played the Mormon Tabernacle and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome years back. Etched in my memory forever. <sigh>
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Wow - Krummhorn - you da man! :up::up::up: - Playing at Mormon Tabernacle and at St. Peter's Basilica? WooHoo - now that would be a singularly exalting experience. You have been greatly blessed dear sir.

Humbly,

Corno Dolce

p.s. I would guesstimate a kindly letter and a phone are all what's needed to access the lovely gem at Liverpool.
 

pcnd5584

New member
Hi Krummhorn,
... Why it is so tall? That's a good question dear sir. I f I may add, there seems to be a goodly number of British organ consoles which are tall - may one(non-pejoratively) call it a design quirk? The British don't seem to mind about tall consoles. I prefer terraced consoles a la Cavaille-Coll myself but if one get's to experience such organbuilding magnificence as at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, one would tend to look beyond the design of the console.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

This console (like its twin up in the loft) is tall, simply due to the number of draw-stops which it has to accommodate. Arguably, the preference in England is for draw-stops, not rocking tablets or stop keys. I am afraid that I find stop key or rocking tablet consoles ugly.

I know that there is an opinion which maintains that stop keys (for example) are easier to control. Personally, I have never had a problem managing even large draw-stop consoles. However, with larger stop key consoles (or even those with a row of rocking tablets for the couplers below the music desk) I find myself wasting time searching (often in vain) for the stop(s) which I require.

I have had the privilege of playing on some of the largest instruments in the UK; for example, those at the RAH, Westminster Abbey and Saint Paul's Cathedral, London. All are controlled by conventional draw-stops. In no case did I find this to be inconvenient.

To give one further example, towards the end of this August, I was called upon to play for a visiting choir at Norwich Cathedral, at short notice. I had never played this organ before (for that matter, neither had previously I seen the music for, or played at least two of the items which were performed that week-end). The organ of Norwich cathedral is both large and complex. Although it has only four claviers, the lowest two of these each control two divisions. These various sections may be transferred to other claviers, at the will of the player. In total, there were in excess of 130 draw-stops. I found that the console had been well-designed and was fairly easy to manage. In fact, my only criticism was with regard to the piston layout.

With regard to terraced consoles, such as those favoured by Aristide Cavaill
é-Coll, I assume you refer to those in which he arranged the stops not just in terreces, but also in quadrants - for example, as at S. Suplice, Sacré-Cœur and (formerly) Nôtre-Dame de Paris. I would say that these consoles do have a certain elegance; however, they are less than practical. At S. Sulpice, two registrants are engaged to manage the stops, one on each side of the console. Generally, it is necessary for them also to rehearse with the performer. Of course, at least one of the French nstruments listed above falls within the category of 'Monuments Historiques', and cannot simply be rebuilt with a modern console, electric action or a convenient piston system.
 
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Krummhorn

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I have that DVD, Bill ... bought it at Liverpool when there in 2010. Absolutely a wonderful sound to hear in person - caught the tail end of an organ concert while there.
 
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