Author Archives: OrganistA

A recital in the Mexican Festival of Baroque Organs by our former Chair, Marilyn Harper

Sunday, November 15th  A recital in the Mexican Festival of Baroque Organs by our former Chair, Marilyn Harper, broadcast on YouTube. The link is here (or click the photo).  Marilyn writes:   “The Mexican organs are well worth hearing, and spectacular to look at. The first recital is given by Gustavo Delgado Parra, the organiser, and the second by him and his wife Ofelia. Explanations as to how the organs work and have been restored are given in Spanish but the gist can be gleaned. The temperaments are far more extreme than the chapel organ so by the time you hear the Dulwich organ it will sound as smooth as a calm lake!  Please give it a thumbs up! Thanks!”

Choral Aspects of the Work of Church Musicians, a Zoom meeting

Saturday, October 17th, 2020   Following two highly successful online events over the summer, we had a discussion (on Zoom) on choral aspects of the work of church musicians. Members were invited to talk about their experience of running church choirs and singing groups, musical repertoire, recruitment, mixed ability (and ages) within choirs, and how they and their churches have managed recently. All SSLSO members received a link to join the discussion and members of other local societies were also invited to join if they wished. A note of the event is here.

Favourite Organs – August 2020

Hello Folks,

I have great pleasure in launching the first in our ‘favourite organ’ series, here (and see the accompanying specification here).

Our true and trusty chairman, John Webber, and committee member Norman Harper have opened a window into their favourite instruments, and Norman has included mp3 recordings of part of a recital that he gave at King’s College, Cambridge: Tranchell and Reger.

These two offerings are full of interest and I hope some more of you will come forward with some news and views of your favourite organs, to share with members of the society in September/October.

I also welcome news of forthcoming recitals and their programmes.

Enjoy!

Richard

Online Meeting, Saturday 06/06/2020

On Saturday 6th June an online meeting, entirely informal in nature, was offered as a substitute for the day-trip to Thaxted and Saffron Walden parish churches, which sadly had to be postponed for the usual current reasons. A real shame, as the two towns and churches are very attractive, and in fine weather are glorious to behold. The organs, of course, are very special.

So instead, all members were sent a message via email, asking if they would like an invitation and link to take part in Saturday evening’s  meeting, which took place using the zoom app.  Please find a note of the meeting here.

Southwark and South London Society of Organists newsletter June 2nd, 2020

Welcome to a roundup of information and links, which is a way of keeping in touch with members, not only while Life is Weird, but something to do in any case, to keep us together.

Miscellaneous:

1. I have attached the quiz form the last newsletter, with the answers (here).  This was just for fun, to keep you on your toes; some will have found it easy and others will have had to research.

2. Remember that the Royal School of Church Music and the Royal College of Organists have been providing regular e-mails not only to members and affiliated groups, but to anyone who wants to have frequent contact with, e.g. daily and weekly hymns and services, tuition online and so on.

3. Our own website (at sslso.org) has plenty to read: views, facts, past and future meetings  –  and you can hear sixty organ pieces played by our members.   Another word of thanks to Martin Callingham for looking after the website for several years now; the baton (or whatever) has been passed to Sam Gover, or will be within the next few days.

4. BBC Radio 3 has had to rethink its schedule recently, with loads of cancelled concerts.  Two positive things now: the last two weeks of the Prom Concerts will take place (i.e. early September) with reduced forces performing and, I imagine, with no live audience.  Also, from yesterday (Monday, June 1st.), live lunchtime concerts (1p.m. for an hour) are being broadcast from the Wigmore Hall in Mondays to Fridays during June.

June and July meetings:

1. Saturday, June 6th was to have seen our outing to Thaxted and Saffron Walden in North Essex, which both sound like a dream to visit just now!  We certainly aim to try again to include events which have been postponed and your Committee will meet (virtually) later this month to consider what can be done.   In place of the trip to Essex, we had a discussion on Zoom at on Saturday, led by Norman Harper and hosted by Ashley Valentine.  Please see a note of the event here.

2. The meeting on July 4th, with Richard Pilliner, has been postponed and we’ll let you know about this and other planned events as time goes by.

Links to sundry pieces of music:

1. I received this from Reg Boulton from the Bexley Association:  https://youtu.be/A_i8qdfW5u8

2. From Charlie Warren, former SSLSO members and a one-time student of mine:  some observations, followed by a performance of two Brahms Chorale Preludes: Op.122, No.2 here, and here.  Then Op.122, No.3 here and here.

3. An interesting take on Ravel follows here.

You are welcome to offer your own links and thoughts and I’ll send another letter out in a few weeks.  If you want to record a piece of music and send it to me, do!

Best wishes, John