Leicester & District Organists Association

Leicester & District Organists Association Registered Charity No 508033 Affiliated to the Incorporated Association of Organists Mission Statement: To promote the love of pipe organs and all types of organ music throughout Leicester and Leicestershire region and beyond, being fully inclusive of players and non-players alike. Hon Secretary: President 2013/14 : Hon Treasurer: Phillip J Herbert Qyan Arnachellum Carole W Herbert APRIL NEWSLETTER As the AGM is only a month away, we have yet to fill the vacancy for the incoming President for 2014/15. I know that to the uninitiated, it seems a daunting task to volunteer for this Office. However, the Committee have always as individuals, taken a fully supportive role in making some arrangements for the monthly meetings.( Ian Imlay for example, has arranged the venues for the April meeting, and the visit to Rugby in March was fixed up by our member, Richard Young, who as you may well imagine, has a very busy schedule as one of the country's leading organ restorers.) Would all of you give this vacancy some thought, and perhaps take the plunge and volunteer, as it would be a great help to the Association. Please feel free to phone and discuss this beforehand with the Hon Sec. The Taylor Concert Organ Centenary Demontfort Hall As many of you will have seen in February 19th's edition of the Leicester Mercury, and may have heard on Radio Leicester, the Taylor Concert Organ at DeMontfort Hall was featured quite prominently. Previously, the DMH had emailed the Hon Sec with a view for him to attend a meeting with a reporter from the Mercury on February 17th, to demonstrate how they, ( the management) were looking after the instrument. This invitation had been prompted by the feature article in Mr Leicester's column when it was submitted for editorial consideration. Also, the reporter phoned the Hon Sec on February 13 th and discussed the issue of why there were no organ concerts and the general state of the instrument. The DMH management had in mind, that last year the Hon Sec had emailed the Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, and asked him to find out why the new steam heating system had affected the instrument prior to D'Arcy Trinkwon's concert in January 2013. Finally, the general manager of the DMH, Antony Flint, emailed an invitation to the Hon Sec, who agreed to meet and discuss the issues on a 1-to-1 basis, that had prevented the instrument from being used in organ concerts that were usually programmed for the winter months. This meeting took place on Thursday February 20 th at 9.00am. The Hon Sec, (who by profession is a mechanical and electrical engineer),asked for a detailed overview of the arrangements that had been put in place to stabilise the wild swings in Relative Humidity readings measured in the auditorium and organ chamber. After some discussion, Antony

Flint produced two graphs showing the temperature and humidity fluctuations. The temperature was now monitored by remote sensors in the Auditorium and at various locations within the casework of the organ, and the heating system was adjusted if the reading were too high, ie above 68-70F. In addition, the sensors also measured the Relative Humidity that fluctuated wildly according to the audience numbers, the weather, and was also the effected by the steam heating. The figures ranged from 38% to 82% RH, and the recommendation by the organ builder for comparison is 55%-65%. It soon became apparent, that the humidity cannot be controlled around the midpoint of 60%RH which is the ideal figure, and will continue to be monitored so that the heating can be reduced to off-set the low readings. This is a compromise situation and not a final solution to the issue. Finally, the Hon Sec put the organ through its paces for about twenty minutes, and apart from one of the Great mixtures being a little too strident ( tuning affected by temperature, the instrument was in good voice, including the Tuba! One good thing that has happened is, that the DMH management announced that they will be appointing a Curator to be responsible for the instrument. This will be Dr William McVicker, who is also Curator of the RFH instrument in London. It is envisaged that regular meetings will be held with the organ builder and DMH management, to oversee and supervise the maintenance schedule. There will be an organ concert on Tuesday evening May 2Oth to be given by Nigel Ogden, at 7.15pm, and the week before on Tuesday 13 th May,, there will be an Open Day when the organ will be featured. The following day (14 th ), it is planned to have the organ available for members and others to play, providing they had booked a slot with the DMH Box Office.(Contact DMH directly for this nearer to the date.) Finally, a message from Carole our Hon Treasurer, who is asking members to please, please, please send your subscriptions on or after May 1 st (the due date), or, at the AGM on May 10th, as it makes the job of Treasurer much easier if payments arrive in bulk and not dribble through spasmodically throughout the year. Also it saves posting constant reminders in with the newsletters which can be embarrassing for all, and numerous trips to the bank. As you may have realised, the subscriptions have not increased for four years and are as follows: 18 normal membership ( not retired), 15 retired, 6 associate ( partner), 6 student. If a membership card is required, please enclose a SAE with your fee. Thank you all for your co- operation. - o 0 o - MONTHLY MEETINGS Ian Imlay has kindly made the arrangements for the April meeting to be held on Saturday April 12 th commencing with a visit to Church Langton Parish Church at 2.00pm (3 manual Taylor). Then on to Skeffington for 3.00pm (1 manual Nicholson), finally to Hungerton Parish Church for 4.00pm ( 1 manual Foster & Andrews 1849). The AGM will be on Saturday May 10 th at 2.00pm. Please note the change in time. This will be followed by an organ recital by Kerry Beaumont(Coventry Cathedral) at 4.00pm. Retiring collection in aid of St Margaret's Organ Fund.

CONCERTS and RECITALS LUNCHTIME RECITALS AT ST. MARGARET S Parish Church Leicester Thursday, 10 th April Thursday, 8 th May Thursday, 12 th June Iain Harvey Organ Anne de Graeve Harpsichord Ian Imlay Organ All performances, unless otherwise stated, will commence at 1 pm until 1.30 pm (approx.). Admission free. Tea and coffee will be provided. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mountsorrel Methodist Church Sundays at 8.00pm April 13 th - David Crick ( United Reformed Church Hinckley) May 18 th - Domonic O'Connor-Robinson ( Kent organist) June 15 th - Ian Orr (St Thomas' Wigston) Monday Lunchtime Recitals at Leicester Cathedral 1.00pm -Admission free. 14 th April Simon Headley ( Cathedral organist) 5 th May RCO 150 th Anniversary Concert ( See enclosed flyer) HINCKLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH The Borough, Hinckley LE10 1NL Organ recital to be given by Simon Headley (Leicester Cathedral) on the historic 1867 Holdich Organ Saturday 14th June at 7:00pm Admission: 5; Under-18s: Free SOUTHWELL MINSTER Organ Recitals Wednesday's at 7.30pm Admission 8 ( 6 concessions) at the door June 18 th James Davey (Chelmsford Cathedral) July 16 th - Barry Jordon ( Magdeburg Cathedral) August 13 th Nathan Laube ( New York USA ) September 17 th - David M Patrick ( Exeter ) Bank Holiday Mondays at 3.30pm (Nave) Admission free. Retiring Collection April 21 st Benjamin Morris ( Jesus College, Cambridge) May 5 th Richard Hills ( London) May 26 th Simon Lindley ( City Organist, Leeds) August 25 th Simon Hogan Southwell Minster) Friday 17 th October at 7.30pm Saint Cecilia Concert with Southwell Cathedral Choirs Conducted by Paul Hale Organists Simon Hogan & David Quinn Tickets on sale at the Cathedral Shop during the summer (01636 812933)

Southwell Music Festival 22 nd 25 th August. Further information can be obtained from The Liturgy & Music Office, Minster Centre, Church Street, Southwel,l Notts. NG25 0HD, or, www.southwellmusicfestival.com St. Mary the Virgin Knox Road, Wellingborough 2014 Recitals Recitals to Celebrate the Centenary of the William Hill Organ 1914-2014 Simon Bland Pamela Rawlinson Saturday 31 st May 7.00pm Recital of Piano Music Assistant Director of Music on the 1899 Broadwood Grand St John s School, Leatherhead Saturday 31 st May 7.00pm Saturday 26 th April 11.30am Lee Dunleavy Director of Music All Saints Northampton & President of Northampton Organists Association including the Premier of his St Mary s Organ Suite Saturday 14 th June 7.00pm --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Trotter Organ Centenary Recital International Recitalist and City of Birmingham Organist Saturday 12 th July 7.00pm -------------------------------------------------------------- Organ Recital Members of Northampton & District Organists Association Saturday 20 th September 3.00pm ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ben Giddens Assistant Director of Music, Reading Minster Saturday 27 th September 7.00pm ------------------------------------------------------------- Coffee Recital The Organists of St Mary s, Wellingborough Saturday 4 th October 11.30am Light refreshments from 11.00am