Bristol H&H organ restoration completed

[Roger Webb]

No, I haven't seen Morning Roger for years, last when he was working in the CD shop, long closed, which was just behind the Council House (now called City Hall!). He was also verger just along the road in the cathedral.

Yes, he was still verger at the cathedral last time I met him (Gloucester Three Choirs ten years ago...he came aboard my boat in the docks after the concert for dinner!). I know he took his organ lessons at St Mary's Redcliffe. I know he applied to Worcester for the verger's job there, but don't know the outcome. I suppose John Pickard would know, but I never see him, although he lives near Ross O W somewhere.

[french frank]

Hello and welcome ASB. No I don't think you would have remembered him - in '87 he was still at school! He didn't start to work for me until about 1990, I think. The only person (at least those contributing to this Forum) that might be in touch with him is French Frank.

No, I haven't seen Morning Roger for years, last when he was working in the CD shop, long closed, which was just behind the Council House (now called City Hall!). He was also verger just along the road in the cathedral.

[Roger Webb]

Sorry. Only just seen this. I wonder if I know your former colleague? I was a volunteer welcomer at the cathedral until moving away in 1987.... I've remembered the organist - George Garlick.

Hello and welcome ASB. No I don't think you would have remembered him - in '87 he was still at school! He didn't start to work for me until about 1990, I think. The only person (at least those contributing to this Forum) that might be in touch with him is French Frank.

When I showed the above photo to my wife, she said immediately that we used to sit in the front row of the balcony for concerts and was surprised I didn't remember the organ! (a lot of things surprise me about my memory!)...I do now remember the wood panelling to our right, and there were usually a couple of students sitting on the organ bench at concerts.

[ASB1956]

I think St. George's did overlap for a while in the early days (mid 70s to perhaps mid 80s) as a church as well as a concert hall. The person in Bristol who is all-things-organ and would know about a possible organ in St. Georges used to work for me in my CD shop, he later went on to work at the Cathedral, unfortunately I lost touch with him when I moved from Bristol, but it's possible French Frank may see him occasionally and be able to ask him. 'Afternoon Roger' as French Frank calls him (I was Morning Roger!) also assisted Andrew Keener with equipment when he was recording at St. Georges, so could have contacts there still.

Welcome to the Forum by the way!

Sorry. Only just seen this. I wonder if I know your former colleague? I was a volunteer welcomer at the cathedral until moving away in 1987.... I've remembered the organist - George Garlick.

[Roger Webb]

This may be of interest to readers of this thread.

Organ Stops: Saving the King of Instruments: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001gmv3 via @bbciplayer

BBC 4 7.00pm UK time.

Edit: it was a repeat.

[french frank]

I played the organ in St George's, Brandon Hill for a couple of live R4 Daily Services with the Queen Elzabeth Hospital School Choir. As I recall, it was quite a clumsy old 'bus, but with a bit of experimentation the right noises could be found. I also had the distinction of playing for the last wedding solemnised in the church before it was decommissioned. BBC Bristol housed its lovely Steinway 'D' there, too. This was during the period 1982-4.

Welcome Claroman - nice anecdote. It sounds as if the old organ would have been quite hard to give away free. Perhaps the bits were recycled ...

[Claroman]

I played the organ in St George's, Brandon Hill for a couple of live R4 Daily Services with the Queen Elzabeth Hospital School Choir. As I recall, it was quite a clumsy old 'bus, but with a bit of experimentation the right noises could be found. I also had the distinction of playing for the last wedding solemnised in the church before it was decommissioned. BBC Bristol housed its lovely Steinway 'D' there, too. This was during the period 1982-4.

[Roger Webb]

Following up on the Mystery of the Missing Organ from St George's, Brandon Hill, I found this Facebook reference to the final religious service in 1984 (my brother says he was there, so I expect he was). It says the church paraphernalia was then 'dismantled' with 'items' transferred to other local churches. The organ didn't go to either of the churches mentioned. I wonder if the St George's archives say anything about the disposal of the organ?
https://www.facebook.com/stgeorgesbr...00211905/?_rdr

Interesting. When I first started to visit St. George's late 70s, the church 'paraphernalia' was still there - it had a dias with a stone (if I remember correctly) balustrade along the front, and the altar was still in place.

There's a picture of the organ here!!!

[french frank]

Following up on the Mystery of the Missing Organ from St George's, Brandon Hill, I found this Facebook reference to the final religious service in 1984 (my brother says he was there, so I expect he was). It says the church paraphernalia was then 'dismantled' with 'items' transferred to other local churches. The organ didn't go to either of the churches mentioned. I wonder if the St George's archives say anything about the disposal of the organ?

https://www.facebook.com/stgeorgesbris/photos/did-you-know-the-last-religious-service-was-held-at-st-georges-in-1984a-last-ser/10158527000211905/?_rdr

[Roger Webb]

... your score differs from the original manuscript?

I don't have a score, I asked Google AI...don't know where they/it/he/she got it from.

It's here though...4.33 incl. the intervals....shame Qobuz don't assign a track number for each movt.

https://open.qobuz.com/album/5411867361176

[vinteuil]

Well, my middle movt. is 2'40"

... your score differs from the original manuscript?

[Roger Webb]

... wiki, quoting the Woodstock ms has "three movements, lasting 30 seconds, two minutes and 23 seconds, and one minute and 40 seconds, respectively"

That gives us the 4' 33" - but I still want the gaps between the movements (applause ad lib )

.

Well, my middle movt. is 2'40", which includes the intervals at either end, so subtracting your 2'23" gives 17" of intervals....how apportioned I don't know!

[vinteuil]

Curiously, although the conductor has autonomy over where to put the breaks in the three movements, the 'accepted' length of the movements is, 30 secs, 2 mins 40 and 1 min 40, making 4 mins 50..... this must include breaks between movts. not accounted for in the 4'33".

... wiki, quoting the Woodstock ms has "three movements, lasting 30 seconds, two minutes and 23 seconds, and one minute and 40 seconds, respectively"

That gives us the 4' 33" - but I still want the gaps between the movements (applause ad lib )

.

[Roger Webb]

... what about the intervals between the three movements?

(I always encourage applause... )

Curiously, although the conductor has autonomy over where to put the breaks in the three movements, the 'accepted' length of the movements is, 30 secs, 2 mins 40 and 1 min 40, making 4 mins 50..... this must include breaks between movts. not accounted for in the 4'33".

[vinteuil]

And I suppose it's always exactly 4'33" because you discount any incidental silence just before and just after the actual piece.

... what about the intervals between the three movements?

(I always encourage applause... )