Alfred Hollins - Trumpet Minuet: Christopher Matthews (organ)

[issueagent]

Inspiring playing! and great instrument!

[piruffini73]

Bravo! Bellissima interpretazione!!!

[MrTenonSaw]

What a lovely reed, given that it is a chorus one. I think Hollins was blind so I feel a bit inadequate when I play this since the pedal part is quite tricky in places.

[Chesterbarnes1]

I bet I listen to this piece 20 times and still enjoy it. Thanks for posting

[CliveevilCuk]

Lovely, thank you. I find that Hollins' work is harder to play than it looks. Maybe much more practise is required for me.

[ISE65]

What a beautiful tone that trumpet has. I want that stop!

[Chesterbarnes1]

This piece appears to be difficult in the pedal section is it not? I wish I could find the sheet music? Dr. Barnes

[Chesterbarnes1]

Whoever this young man is he is good. I absolutely enjoyed watching his performance on the organ especially his foot pedaling. Bravo! Excellent!!

[anb740]

I think this is the first time I've ever heard this piece played in its entirety without any omissions of segments to make it shorter! Very Nice!

[Chesterbarnes1]

Wonderfully played! Thank you sir!

[EccentricRichard]

If you think these consoles are weird, you should try a Norman & Beard Hollins Special! There's one near me, at a church in West Byfleet (St John's?). You've got conventional stop-knobs, in three segments above the manuals (Pedal on the left, Great in the middle, Swell on the right), in two rows, but, underneath them, are these weird little buttons which either cancel a stop or bring it on (I can't remember which). They're not too awkward to use, but they take some getting used to.

[jk8429]

Such elegant playing... Thanks so much for sharing this performance. I've just ordered the music and we'll see if I do even half as well as you with it!

[golgiapp]

My own church is blessed/cursed with one of those surviving Rothwell consoles. I find it the most awkward I've ever had to play and I've heard of far better organists than me sharing the same opinion (so it's not solely down to my deficient technique!).

Ironically it's the patented playing aids that make the instrument so awkward to play -the composition pedals (though beautifully labelled) overhang the pedalboard excessively and the stop tabs can impede playing, legato especially.

[golgiapp]

I really like your videos and enviably stylish playing, by the way. Proof (if it were needed) that it is indeed possible to successfully negotiate a Rothwell console!

I'd be very interested to know though if it ever gives you problems in your own playing. Personally I think the fact that only a dozen or so survive is rather telling.

[Orgelduedler]

what action has the organ?

[am98101]

Bravo! Excellent playing on what sounds like a fine instrument.

[Christophersmusic]

Thanks very much.

[fluteceleste]

so i assume we are hearing the tuba? fine playing!

[Christophersmusic]

I usued the Great Trumpet, which was more suitable for this piece than the Tuba.

[cromorne]

Are the stop controls underneath the manuals? That's a very oddly designed console, but I assume it's nice when your making registration changes. Very interesting and well played!

[Christophersmusic]

Yes, the stop tabs are positioned above each manual. It is a design unique to Rothwell - who was also responsible for St George's chapel, Windsor, and the Temple Church.

[Christophersmusic]

Rothwell's friend, Walford Davies, was an enthusiastic advocate of Rothwell's system which, as he said, enabled the player "to glide from stop-key to stop-key while still playing, without the slightest break in the musical thought, and without the slightest turn of the head or any irrelevant muscular effort" The organ here at Headstone is earliest remaining, and unaltered of the dozen or so patent consoles still in use.

[cromorne]

When was the organ built?

[Christophersmusic]

1915