The PipeLine

Journal of the YDOA

July Edition

Patron: Dr Francis Jackson CBE (Organist Emeritus, York Minster)

President: Raymond Sturdy, 01904 693908

Secretary: Philip Paul, 01904 638423

Treasurer: Robert Firth, 01609 779795

The PipeLine Editor: Maximillian Elliott

www.ydoa.co.uk

The York & District Organists’ Association is affiliated to the Incorporated Association of Organists (IAO) and serves all who are

interested in the organ and its music.

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Contents

1. Introduction ................................................................................ 3

2. Previous Event ............................................................................ 4

3. Next Event ................................................................................... 6

4. Upcoming Recitals & Concerts…………………………………………………. 7

5. Gallery……………………………………………………………………………………. . 8

6. Article.......................................................................................... 9

7. Organ of the Month .................................................................. 10

8. The Trivia Section ...................................................................... 12

The Caption Competition .......................................................... 12

9. The People Section ................................................................... 13

10. Next Edition .............................................................................. 13

Note .......................................................................................... 13

11. List of YDOA Presidents…………………………………………………………..14

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1. Introduction

Welcome to the July Edition of 'The PipeLine'. As Editor, it brings me great pleasure to

highlight some of the latest summer activities for musicians in York. The York Minster

'Promenade' Concerts were a great success and showcased the Cathedral Organ to a

diverse public. Now, at the beginning of July, we can start to look forward to the Summer

Organ Festival at the Minster (every Saturday in August). Within the city centre, the regular

series of recitals at Central Methodist Church is now underway, as well as the YDOA-

sponsored series at St Helen's and St Martin's. There will also be regular recitals at the two

All Saints Churches in the city. All Saints', Pavement's recitals continue, as always, on bank

holidays and All Saints', North Street's recitals will be on specific Fridays in the summer. For

more details about any of these concerts please see page 7. It is really pleasing to see so

many organ-related events taking place in the city and I hope that further instruments will

be heard by way of regular recitals, soon!

Details of forthcoming events can also be found within this edition – and we look forward

to you joining us.

Maximillian Elliott

**DIARY DATES** Upcoming Association Events 2013

July Saturday 20th Visit ‘Outing to Coxwold, Easingwold and Helmsley’

August Saturday 24th Visit ‘Outing to Leeds’

September Saturday 28th Visit ‘Outing to Knaresborough’

October Saturday 26th (14:30) Annual Recital followed by AGM and Tea

November Saturday 23rd (14:30) Lecture Recital by Alan Cuckston

December TBC Two Social Evening will be held early in the month

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2. Previous Event

Our June meeting was Visit to Rochdale

Nigel Holdsworth, President, writes:

A small number of us crossed over into Lancashire last Saturday intent on playing two instruments in Rochdale. The weather was kind and beside the usual delay getting through the 50 mph section of the motorway beyond Leeds we arrived on time. St Chad's Parish Church was our first rendezvous where we were met by the organist Philip Lowe who after making us very welcome, outlined the history of the instrument followed by a short recital: Prelude on 'York' Charles Wood Second movement of Sonata in E flat EC Bairstow Philip played these pieces well and they demonstrated many of the original 'Hill' colours to great effect.

Following this we were let loose to do what we had come for. While we enjoyed playing the instrument, tea and coffee appeared and a most convivial time ensued. Philip Lowe has been organist at Rochdale PC for well over 20 years and was in addition, a mine of information about organists throughout the north of England, past and present. The organ at the Parish Church has been totally rebuilt within the last few years by PPO and is indeed a joy to play. With the addition of the new pedal Trombone, the pleno is a very fine sound. The Hill choruses blend superbly and the flutes each have individual characteristics. The Harrison detached console has been fully restored and with everything within easy reach, is very comfortable for the player. The organ case at Rochdale is in an alcove in the north choir aisle (like Wakefield cathedral), and the console is positioned in in the chancel, between the choir stalls and the altar. Whilst it is very easy to hear the balance between a solo stop and the accompaniment at the console, we found that a little way down the nave is a spot where the whole organ blends perfectly. Top marks for both Hill and PPO!

Amongst those pieces we had brought to play at the Parish Church were: Romance sans Paroles Bonnet Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele Brahms Aria A Carter No 4 from of Five Fancies N Ponsonby St Anthony Chorale Brahms Elegy N Rawsthorne Festive Trumpet Tune D German Sortie in E flat Lefebure Wely Prelude and Fugue in D Buxtehude.

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As lunchtime approached we thanked Philip Lowe for his welcome and hospitality and made our way down the steps to the town centre. In the churchyard, Peter Stott identified a number of ancestral grave stones bearing his surname and we identified a statue to John Bright alongside a splendid bandstand in the adjacent park.

The Town Hall This is either a gem of a building or a hideous Victorian-gothic monstrosity depending on your point of view. It is certainly impressive. Last weekend was a festival celebrating the history of the co-operative movement and the piazza was decked out with bunting, bouncy castle, face painting, stalls, produce and numerous raffles. The ground floor was a hive of activity. We made our way up the grand staircase into the Great Hall. If you have not been before, the scale of this room is certainly impressive; Adrian Crawford describes it as "Awesome". It is certainly that with its stained glass windows, patterned walls and ceiling, and a hammer-beam roof complete with angels. Pevsner describes the room as "of great splendour", and it does have a wonderful acoustic. There is a Mural of the signing of the Magna Carta covering the wall at one end - and the four-manual Binns occupies central position on the platform at the other. The full-organ sound is simply stupendous! We settled down on the cushioned bench along the side wall, lunches were unpacked and the music flowed. "Once you've found Swell to Great, you're alright" Thank you Adrian! This stop takes some finding as it is engraved with the additional word unison (as opposed to octave or sub octave). Some of us used the reversible thumb piston to make it show itself.... I have to confess that it took me ages to spot it. Binns built this organ exactly 100 years ago and it was opened on 9 July 1913 by King George V and Queen Mary. Walkers completely rebuilt it in 1979. The only alterations were the provision of additional pistons with a capture system and a new electro-pneumatic action. Tonally, it sounds today pretty much the same as it did when Binns finished it.

From our 'Town Hall' repertoire, we performed: Festival March Arthur Ingham The Dambusters March Eric Coates Bolero de Concert Lefebure Wely Erbarme dich, mein Gott J S Bach Toccata from the Suite Gothique Boellman Toccata Widor Elfes Bonnet Piece heroique Franck Despite the size of the instrument, the console is surprisingly comfortable. The biggest challenge to the visiting player is the bench. It is somewhat high off the ground and although adjustable, it is quite a step up to get on....and quite a step down to get off. Although there is a handrail, one almost needs a ladder! Thank you to everyone who attended and brought such varied and interesting pieces. It was as they say - 'A great day out'

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3. Next Event

OUR NEXT EVENT: Saturday 20th July - Outing to Helmsley, Coxwold and Easingwold

Philip Paul writes:

We shall arrive at the All Saints' Church, Helmsley for 11:00. The organ is a 2 Manual Harrison and Harrison.

Parking is available in the Market Place.

The next stop will be St Michael's Church, Coxwold for 13:30. The organ is a 2 Manual Nigel Church (More

information about this organ is available in the 'Articles' Section). There will probably be enough time to

partake of light refreshment, before we get to the church, in the nearby Faucenberg Arms for those who

wish to do so.

The Final stop will be at St John and All Saints' Church, Easingwold for 14:30. The organ is a 2 Manual Abbott

and Smith.

The afternoon will be concluded by 17:00.

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4. Upcoming Recitals & Concerts

Locally

York

Here is a selection of recitals taking place in York:

All Saints’ Church, North Street (13:10): Fridays - 2nd August Maximillian Elliott, 23rd September John Bradbury.

Central Methodist Church (12:30): Thursdays - 4th July John Bradbury, 18th July John Pemberton, 1st August Matthew

Atherton, 15th August Philip Paul, 29th August TBC, 12th September Nicholas Page, 21st September John Scott Whiteley, 26th

September Edmund Aldhouse.

St Helen’s Church (13:10): Wednesdays - 10th July Nigel Holdsworth, 7th August Philip Paul, 4th September TBC.

St Martin’s Church (13:10): Thursdays - 22nd August Philip Paul.

York Minster: Saturdays - 3rd August Andrew Millington, 10th August David Pipe, 17th August Gordon Stewart, 24th August John

Scott Whiteley, 31st August Robert Sharpe.

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5. Gallery

The photos in this month’s gallery come from the June Visit to Rochdale.

Top Left: Alan Hardwick at the Town Hall organ.

Top Right: Peter Stott at the Town Hall organ.

Centre: Trombone 16’ at the Parish Church.

Bottom Left: Adrian Crawford at the Town Hall organ.

Bottom Right: Alan Hardwick at the Parish Church organ.

Thanks to Nigel Holdsworth for these photographs.

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6. Article

A Trip to Coxwold

By Helen Roberts

Last September Max and I visited St Michael's Church, Coxwold and spent a pleasant afternoon playing

the organ. I had previously visited the church whilst on a “Garden Crawl” in the village. The organ was

built by Nigel Church & Co in 1978, a gift from Captain Malcolm Wombwell and replaced the Denman

organ. It is 2 manual and pedals and situated in the west gallery. St Michael's Church has many interesting

features including an octagonal tower and a curved altar rail. The village has some lovely buildings

including Shandy Hall which was the home of Laurence Sterne the writer. There is also a tea room.

Specification

Great Chimney Flute 8

Salicional 8 (missing on NPOR)

Principal 4

Mixture III

R’positiv Gedackt 8

Flute 4

Principal 2

Sesquialtera II

Pedal Subbass 16

Couplers Gt - R’positiv

Gt - Pedal

R’positiv - Pedal

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7. Organ of the Month

'The Organ of the Month' consists of a series of articles looking at different local instruments and this

month features the organs in:

All Saints’ Church, Pavement

Current Organ

Builder: Wood Wordsworth & Co.

Year: 1964

3 manuals and pedals

Phillip Sangwine (Director of Music) writes:

The current church dates from the 14th century and has been much

altered due to the city council constantly widening the streets in front of

it and either side of it over a period of two hundred years.

The first known organ was installed in a loft possibly in the quire of the

church and “various repairs to the organs were made between the years

1568 and 1584.” I have not been able to ascertain if it was on a quire

screen or to one side of the quire. As the following information about

this organ is limited to an incident in 1656 when the “organ loft [was]

removed due [to] south isle collapse and some of the pipes sold.”

When York surrendered to Parliamentary troops in the Civil War a

condition of the surrender was that the Cathedral and Parish Churches

were not to be damaged afterwards. If the organ was in the quire and

with services mainly being undertaken in the nave it is possible if the

organ was small that it may have been left alone if it was not being

used. It is interesting to speculate as to what happened to the rest of

the organ as there is a receipt in the churchwarden accounts for 1707

stating “for organs and backboard 00:01:00” but at this time I cannot

find any other evidence regarding its existence.

We do know that an organ was erected in 1791 and “a Snetzler

instrument from Hazelwood Castle was erected.” This organ was given

to the church as a gift and Hazelwood Castle can be found near

Tadcaster. The organ was installed after a faculty was obtained from the

diocese and the organ was placed on the gallery at the west end of the

church under the tower. Two of the pews were removed from the

gallery to allow the organ to be situated there; the gallery on which the

organ was situated was semicircular and extended across the whole of

the west end of the church. The size of the organ is unknown as it had

come from a private dwelling but at a lecture by George Benson given at

All Saints during 1914 he stated that “The organ, which, when erected in

1812[Wrong date] was then considered a finer one than that at the York

Minster, for it was furnished with a double diapason – a stop which the

Minster Organ, though in other respects a fine instrument, is in want

of.”

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This could mean that the organ was of some considerable size and contemporary pictures of the chapel at Hazelwood Castle show that the building is

quite large; one stop on the current instrument is believed to come from this organ. The organ was moved from its original position in 1848 when the

church was comprehensively reordered. The reordering “removed the whole of the galleries” and “also to place the organ on the floor of the said

church near to the said font and adjoining the vestry.” This means that the organ was placed at right angles to its previous position and placed facing

northwards beside the font that sat in the middle of the church under the tower.

1855 – Organ rebuilt and moved to the end of the south aisle of the chancel by Joseph Bell who had been an apprentice to Robert Postill. Rebuild

included the introduction of pedals.

1900 – Organ rebuilt and put into the new organ chamber by the firm “Thomas Hopkins and Son” by this point the firm was run by Walter Hopkins.

Instrument expanded to a three manual at this point.

1963-64 – Organ removed from the chamber as the chamber was to be demolished to widen the road. Instrument split into two cases and enlarged

again by Wood Wordsworth of Leeds.

1992 – Renewal of action and solid state memory added. Principal Pipe Organs.

1996 – Full strip down and clean by Principal Pipe Organs after a bungled church restoration by a now defunct building / cleaning company.

Specification (Note all the flue work on the Great and Swell are straight. Other parts of the organ are also straight or are of extension.)

Pedal Violone 16’ Great Bourdon 16’

Bourdon 16’ Open Diapason 1 8’

Dulciana 16’ Open Diapason 2 8’

Quint 10, 2/3’ Hohl Flute 8’

Principal 8’ Principal 4’

Violoncello 8’ Harmonic Flute 4’

Bass Flute 8’ Twelfth 2, 2/3’

Fifteenth 4’ Fifteenth 2’

Flute 4’ Mixture III

Trombone 16’ Double Trumpet 16’

Contra Fagotto 16’ Trumpet 8’

Cornopean 8’ Clarion 4’

Trumpet 8’ Swell Open Diapason 8’

Clarion 4’ Lieblich Gedact 8’

Choir Contra Dulciana 16’ Salicional 8’

Spitz Flute 8’ Voix Celeste 8’

Lieblich Gedact 8’ Principal 4’

Dulciana 8’ Stopped Flute 4’

Gemshorn 4’ Nazard 2, 2/3’

Stopped Flute 4’ Fifteenth 2’

Nazard 2, 2/3’ Mixture III

Piccolo 2’ Contra Fagotto 16’

Flach Flute 2’ Cornopean 8’

Tierce 1, 3/5’ Oboe 8’

Larigot 1, 1/3’ Clarion 4’

Dulciana Mixture III Tremulant

Trumpet 8’ Swell to Pedal, Swell to Great, Swell to Choir, Swell octave, Swell Sub-

octave, Swell unison off, Choir to Great, Choir to Pedal, Great to Pedal.

Cornopean 8’

Clarion 4’

Tremulant

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Remember this?

The captions received were from:

‘This is not funny now...who moved the

stairs?!” (Maximillian Elliott)

‘Don't jump John, the tuning is not that

bad!!!’ (Phillip Sangwine)

‘John turns his back on eighteenth-century organ

building!’ (Maximillian Elliott)

The new Caption Competition image is:

What is going on here?

Captions to

tubamagna@hotmail.co.uk

by the 20th July, please!

8. The Trivia Section

Previous Caption Competition

Next Caption Competition

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Vacancies

There are no known vacancies at the moment.

If you know of any vacancies in the area, please contact Maximillian Elliott on

tubamagna@hotmail.co.uk for inclusion in the next edition.

9. The People Section

10. The Next Edition

The next edition of ‘The PipeLine’ Journal will be the August Edition (published on the 1st of August).

Any articles you would like to contribute to the next edition, in addition to any photographs for the

‘Gallery’ section (perhaps of events past and present), or any candidates for the ‘Organ of the Month’,

would be most warmly welcomed for publication. Please pass on to Maximillian Elliott at

tubamagna@hotmail.co.uk by the 20th of July and NO LATER.

Note

This publication was produced by Maximillian Elliott on behalf of the York & District Organists’

Association. (All third party information is printed in good faith and the editor cannot be held responsible

for any inaccuracies).

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11. List of YDOA Presidents

1980s

1980-1 Robert Hall

1981-2 Michael Latham

1982-3 Richard Crosby

1983-4 Peter Maw

1984-5 Eric Grewer

1985-7 David Templeman

1987-8 Lloyd D Smith

1988-9 Geoffrey Coffin

1989-91 George Pilling

1990s

1991-3 Douglas Heath

1993-4 Nicholas Page

1994-5 David Simpson

1995-6 Alan Aspinal

1996-7 Peter Whitehead

1997-8 Maureen Murfitt-Swindells

1998-9 Jean Pilling

1999-2000 Edmund Cooke

2000s

2000-1 Alfred Boddison

2001-2 Cynthia Wood

2002-3 Edmund Cooke

2003-4 David Simpson

2004-5 Philip Paul

2005-7 Phillip Sangwine

2007-9 Andrew Roberts

2009-11 Adrian Crawford

2010s

2011-present Raymond Sturdy

Founded in 1945

1945-6 Edward Cuthbert Bairstow

1946-7 Reginald Shephard Rose

1947-8 Archie W Sargent

1948-9 Francis Alan Jackson

1949-50 H Reginald Mason

1950s

1950-1 Frederick Waine

1951-2 Reginald Rose

1952-3 E Stanley Walton

1953-4 Benjamin Dawson

1954-5 Benjamin Summerton

1955-6 W A Bean

1956-7 G J Stacey

1957-8 Joseph Samuel McElheran

1958-9 Walter Hartley

1959-60 Benjamin Dawson

1960s

1960-1 Bernard J Porter

1961-2 Ronald Perrin

1962-3 William Addamson

1963-4 Alec C Cooper

1964-5 Evelyne G Bowmer

1965-6 George L Baggaley

1966-7 Tom Ward

1967-8 Alec Brodie

1968-9 Michael Minns

1969-70 Avena Norfor

1970s

1970-1 Lloyd D Smith

1971-2 Colin McGarritty

1972-3 Michael Phipps

1973-4 Jack Judson

1974-5 Alfred Alcock

1975-6 A Austin Winterbottom

1976-7 Peter Whitehead

1977-8 Ruth Smith

1978-9 Maureen Murfitt-Swindells

1979-80 Geoffrey Hunter