Panelists: Dominic Gwynn of Goetze & Gwynn organ builders; and John Brennan of Positif Press
This event is the first in an occasional series dealing with the complicated instrument with which we spend so much of our time. Many of you will one day be in charge of a music programme where you will have to make a decision about the organ: is it a good instrument, in good shape? What does “good” mean? Is it in good nick but you don’t like it because it doesn’t play the repertoire you want? Is it in terrible condition and you have to make a decision about repairing or replacing? Is it possible to “upgrade” a perfectly good instrument so that it can “play the repertoire” you want it to?
These are expensive decisions, and you are likely to be the only “expert” on the ground. It is only right that you be as educated about the options as possible so that you can act responsibly and well.
This first talk will lay some context about some specific organs in Oxford. What was the organ in these chapels before the current organ, and why did the colleges decide to scrap the old one and bring in the new? How did they decide what builder to ask?
And a related question:
How does one view an organ aside from the repertoire that it plays? What is the organ builders perspective?
There will be time for discussion
Please register your interest with K. Pardee when the email announcement of this class goes out, so that a big enough room is reserved.
