Master Tallis's Testament- WNC Skinner

[TrompetteHarmonique]

Which organ (console) is Eric sitting at pictured at 0:25?

[TheLaverdaman]

I think the word is sublime, work and instrument, if there is a God, this is it!.

[KozenaFan]

One of my favorite organ pieces. It takes you to a different, better world.

[wurlitzer165]

That's good because I love the Skinner better than one of the two or three organs that are going to be installing at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

Keep the Skinner alive!

[wurlitzer165]

Here is the update:

During the past months in the Cathedrals life it has become clear that the notion of sustaining the Cathedrals organ project is not viable at this time.

The design and development phase, that has been underway for three years, has come to a natural conclusion with the completion of the design. As such, the

Cathedral has determined that work on the project should now be suspended until it finds itself in a more conducive climate for projects of this magnitude.

[1401JSC]

Howells was very influenced by renaissance music and helped Dr Terry with his edition of Tudor Masters, motets services and anthems which were first performed in Westminster (Catholic!) Cathedral.

This accounts for the modal approach and the false relations in this composition.

Renaissance dances however were NOT subject to this degree of rubato!

Multiople swell pedal indications are indeed given, but here the effect is to make me feel seasick.

"ff" is not quite fff. Why draw every stop?

[choirboyfromhell1]

It's an Anglican thing. You wouldn't understand.

[choirboyfromhell1]

Lovely. The ultimate prelude for evensong.

Be thankful you've still got a Skinner there. They completely tore out the one in my cathedral.

Five Stars.

[1401JSC]

What did they replace it with and for what "reasons"?

[choirboyfromhell1]

Flentrop. A small portativ for the choir stalls and three manual in the west. This was back in 1977. They wanted a less "romantic' sound.  What was criminal was taking the Skinner out, which was before my time there.

[1401JSC]

It's very difficult to accompany (generally romantic) service settings and anthems on a Flentrop!

It's very difficult to play Bach on an elecropneumatic romantically voiced Skinner....

the only eclectic organ that seems capable of doing everything is in the Royal Festival Hall in London. It has of course over a hundred stops, and a non-cathedral acoustic.

[choirboyfromhell1]

Correct. It was uneven temperament (Werckmeister II, if memory serves me right) when they got it (since changed), and yes, it's excellent for Baroque music, but it won't make you seasick, as the swell is in the choir (Bovenwerk) division, which is indeed weak. We have used it for many of a Howell's anthems and canticles however.

[topper2142]

Wow..What was the reasoning behind this addidtion/retrofit?

[organist99x]

There's a youtube video somewhere with one of the former organists saying that the organ is "bi-polar", and that there are too many resources that aren't laid out well enough. I've also heard that the singers in the west or back end of the cathedral end up lagging behind those in the front nearest the organ, so the Cathedral wants to add an organ in the back to envelope the congregation with sound.

[choirboyfromhell1]

If it's a choir worth a darn, then they'll sing ahead of the beat so as not to be behind!

[bombarde1701]

Theyre getting a nasty Casavant for the back...ugly ugly ugly

[organist99x]

I'm rather partial to Casavant, they build some great instruments (i think). I'm more worried about the Skinner in the hands of the Dobson people.

[accousticdecay]

Gone? I thought they would enlarge it but please tell me they wont destroy this awesome instrument.

[organist99x]

I certainly hope they don't destroy it either. The Cathedral's website claims that they will be "keeping the best sounds of the current instrument". I think all of the sounds are perfectly fine, the Cathedral really just needs some pipes down the transepts and an antiphonal organ in the back. I'm hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst I guess.

[bombarde1701]

So am I. Thats why I buy every recording of this organ I can find before its too late.

[organist99x]

Yeah, although it seems the project isn't moving along very quickly, so there is still some time left.