Kevin Bowyer at Blackburn Cathedral

[Rheinlander95]

Absolutely spellbinding. How does he do it? Must have a digital mind or something.

The organ is fantastic, pity  they couldn't afford a case. The minimalist look is so, so, so Minimal!

Kevin, if you ever read this , I virtually shake your hand.

[EccentricRichard]

Actually, given the chance, I'd tear down quite a bit of the Cathedral. That flying saucer on the side of the building would be the first thing in the skip, followed swiftly by that ghastly lantern thing. I'd also raise the clerestory and roof and insert a triforium - the cathedral looks very wide for its modest height. But yeah, a new tracker-action French organ at the West end, incorporating all of the existing pipework, and a new/redundant English Romantic organ in the Quire would be good.

[EccentricRichard]

What wonderful music and what a wonderful sound! However, I'm afraid to say that, given the chance to start with a clean sheet at Blackburn, I'd bin the Walker organ (except for the pipework) and build a new organ with proper casework at the West end and bring in a redundant Norman & Beard or Binns or Willis or somesuch as the 'Cathedral' organ in the Quire.

[gilesgilbertscot]

Downes did not have a hand in designing the Met organ. It was actually designed by a senior Priest o the staff of the cathedral whose name I cant remember! However I remember being told that the great Noel Rawsthorne then organist down Hope Street at Liverpool Cathedral had an unofficial hand in it as well!

[codeman2008]

I love this piece! I've never heard of him before, but now I'm going to have to look into the music of Mr. Leidel's music!

[jakeallinson]

I'd just like to plug the (re)builders of this fine Walker instrument; Wood of Huddersfield. I helped in the rebuilding of it in the summer of 2002. The mastery of David Wood's voicing, and the pipe maker (who's name escapes me) are perhaps one of the finest pairings of minds in UK organ building. I take great pride in knowing I played a part in rebuilding this organ. The tracker-like touch of the keyboards and the console as a whole is also something to be marvelled at.

[pjdonagh]

Your pride in your work on this instrument is justified by the truely magnificent result; one of the country's very best organs!!

[Reaper978]

This is a great work and a great performance.

[kapariz44]

Great stuff. I was trying to see if KB's performances of the Hindemith sonatas were on Youtube, but didn't fine 'em. They were really good. And the accompanying Schoenberg sonata fragments ... What a pity Schoenberg didn't complete that work - my tongue was hanging out for more when the fragments ended.

[4candles]

What are people's opinions of the organ in Coventry Cathedral? I have Bowyer's recordings of Charles-Valentin Alkan's organ music made in Blackburn Cathedral. Great sound, underrated and underappreciated music too. This also sounds great. Definite influence of Messiaen. Also sounds a little like the improvisations of fellow German organist/composer Ansgar Wallenhorst.

[AARONFOLWELL]

Coventry Cathedral since i play it 4 times a week. The organ in the cathedral is a wonderfull french and english sound to it In deed. The organ at blackburn cathedral i have played 3 times and is amazing organ to be played on but yes coventry cathedral is the most amazing organ i have played on with the reveb of the cathedral make it a fine console and pipes and sound to the cathedral give it colour. So there is my opinions

[Contrubas]

I Love Coventry's organ!

[braders01234]

whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooo toooooooooooo blackburn cathedral (im in the cathedral choir)

[moller11739]

Fantastic sound!

[a55b47]

Next to the organs in the 2 Liverpool cathedrals, this is my favorite British instrument. I was under the impression that Ralph Downes had a hand in the development, which would sort of explain its attraction to me: Downes designed (I think) the superb organ at Liverpool Metropolitan. Lammas Records has (or, if you're British, have) made a series of recordings at Blackburn, featuring (primarily) David Briggs.

[JFSnail]

I have the Briggs Lammas CDs from Blackburn, wonderful stuff, might post the improv one day, not sure Downes had a hand in the Liverpool Met or Blackburn cathedral organs tho. Perhaps he inspired them?

[EccentricRichard]

@a55b47 - good as it is, it's still no Father Willis (and neither are the two in Liverpool's cathedrals). As an English Cathedral organ, instruments like those at Durham and Lincoln make much more sense. Having said that, I must admit, this is a very fine concert instrument, probably wonderful for Messiaen. It's just a pity it's such a horrid eyesore.