By Friday 18th July some 200 delegates had
arrived in
Since space does not permit me to write at length about the nine organs, which were included in the Souvenir Handbook, I thought I would mention some which I had not previously heard and perhaps are less well known to members.
The organ in
The organ at Beverley Minster still contains 16 stops from what was John Snetzler’s largest instrument. It was rebuilt and enlarged by William Hill & Sons in 1885, and modernised by Hill, Norman & Beard in 1962/3. More work was carried out by Wood of Huddersfield in 1995, and this included the addition of 5 new registers and the cleaning of the beautiful case which was designed by Arthur Hill and erected in 1916. The organ now has 72 stops (Great 15, Swell 17, Choir 11, Solo 10, and Pedal 19). Dr Alan Spedding MBE has been organist of the Minster since 1967, and he demonstrated the unforced chorus work and colourful individual stops of this lovely organ in a programme which included the first performance of Recuerdos (Remembrances), a suite of seven pieces which the IAO had commissioned from him. We also heard the fine Forster and Andrews/T.C. Lewis/Rushworth and Dreaper/Principal Pipe Organs 4 manual 73-stop organ in St. Mary’s, Beverley.
A highlight of Congress was our visit to York Minster, where the magnificent organ is so well known through the many recordings available of it that it needs no further description from me. In the Chapter House Geoffrey Coffin, Founder-Director of Principal Pipe Organs and a former Assistant organist of the Minster, demonstrated a versatile two manual extension organ, which can be moved in sections. As this was the “end of term” and several choristers and choral scholars were leaving the choir, Choral Evensong was held in the Nave in order to accommodate the large congregation of family and friends. The setting was Howells – Collegium Regale, and the anthem Parry – I was glad, complete with Vivats – all splendidly sung under the direction of Philip Moore, Organist and Master of the Music. John Scott Whiteley, Organist and Director of the Girl Choristers (at one point sporting dark glasses!) spoke about the recently televised series in which he played the complete organ works of J.S.Bach, and finished this memorable visit by playing Joseph Jongen – Sonata Eroica.
Monday was an action packed day, which started at Howden Minster (3 manuals 40 speaking stops/ Rushworth and Dreaper), followed by Selby Abbey. Dr. Roger Tebbet, Organist and Director of Music, who included the Liszt – Fantasia and Fugue on B.A.C.H in his programme, played the noble William Hill organ of 1909 (4 manuals 72 speaking stops). As well as three recitals, we had also heard three lectures by Andrew Fletcher, Malcolm Archer and Dr. Simon Lindley during the course of the day.
After dinner in
On Tuesday
Congress ended with a visit to