Me at my "local" - the Wurlitzer organ at the Theatre Organ Heritage Centre in Peel Green, Manchester playing the beautiful "Autumn leaves". The Wurlitzer organ here is one of the smallest in the country with 6 ranks of pipes (Diapason, Flute, Salicional, Tibia, Vox Humana and Trumpet) and originally built for the Trocadero in Liverpool. Unfortunately I placed the microphone a bit to near to the organ grilles so the sound is a bit harsh in this video. I recommend listening to this on a modererate to loud volume setting and your speakers about 180cm away from you if possible. Being a public place of course there were other visitors in the building so I expected some background noise. My thanks must go to Pete Taylor for allowing me use of this little gem of a theatre organ and for a tour of the museum afterwards! The Lancastrian theatre organ trust must be congratulated on their work in making this organ and all the other artefacts in the museum look like they were only built yesterday.
The legendary Beacon Theatre's rehabilitation project is complete and MSG is giving you an inside look into the history and rebirth of this historic venue. The Beacon Theatre - A New York Legend Reborn. Coming to MSG Network April 9th
Nine year old identical triplets, Sammie, Alex, and Jackie go into a movie theatre and only one, Jackie, comes out. Who took Sammie and Alex? Why? Where are they and when will they be found? And what if they’re never found, or not found alive? And what will happen to Jackie? Booklist: Taut psychological suspense. Learn more about this book: http://bit.ly/cCO25F Learn more about this author: http://patriciagussin.com Thriller
Me at the Burton-on-Trent Wurlitzer theatre organ playing "The first time I saw you" which makes use of the Glockenspiel and Xylophone used together.
The organ was originally installed at the Forum Cinema in Wythenshaw - a suburb of South Manchester - not far from the airport. There are 8 ranks of pipes and as standard on British theatre organ layouts, these are divided into 2 enclosed chambers as follows:
CHAMBER 1: Open Diapason, Flute, Violin, Violin Celeste
CHAMBER 2: Tibia, Tuba, Trumpet, Vox Humana.
And of course there are the usual percussions and novelty sound effects such as Fire Bell, Bird Whistle etc. This instrument does not feature a piano.
Me playing "Summer Nights" from Grease on the 3 manual 17 rank Wurlitzer organ installed at the New Victoria Centre in the village of Howden-le-Wear in County Durham. The organ was originally built in 1930 for the New Victoria cinema in Bradford. It is now lovingly cared for by the North East Theatre Organ Assocation (NETOA). The welcome I received here was perfect! For anyone who sees the keys moving on the grand piano be assured it is not a ghost doing a duet with me - I am playing the piano from the organ!
Traditional Chinese folk dance and song have been passed down generation to generation for thousands of years. A unique opportunity to experience some of these cultural traditions was shared with audiences in Austin, Texas with Treasures of the Yunnan Province. This special one-time cultural exchange performance featuring dancers, singers, magicians and acrobats from the People’s Republic of China, occurred on January 12, 2011 at the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin at 713 Congress Avenue.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/austinchamber/48079/
Planet Battle: The battle returns to Hong Kong with its brutal No Rules mixed martial arts. June 4th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong All you need to know @ http://www.planet-battle.com/
I've played several theatre organs built by Compton and Wurlitzer but never a Christie until today! Im playing "I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts" on the Christie theatre organ at the Social Welfare Hall in Harworth near Doncaster. The organ was originally built in 1934 for the Essoldo cinema in Durham and had 2 manuals and 7 ranks of pipes. It was installed here in the 1960s and had an extra manual and some extra ranks of pipes added. When playing a cinema organ my aim has always been to try and play as they did in your average 1930s surburban cinema. In otherwords - knock out the tune! The emphasis these days tends to be on "orchestral" styling etc.
Me at the organ of St John Vianney Catholic Church in Clayhall, London. Im playing the old tune "If I could help somebody" and using the organs electrostatic melotone unit blended with the Tibia for most of the melody and to round it off I use the Triangle! The organ was originally installed at the Ritz Cinema in Nuneaton and has 3 manuals, 6 ranks of pipes and of course the melotone unit. It was designed by organist Harold Ramsay. When this church was built in the late 1960s, rather than spend large sums of money on a new organ the priest at the time was a cinema organ enthusiast and had this organ brought and installed here. The organ is used for the sunday services, weddings, funerals and other church activities and regular concerts are organised by the cinema organ society.
At the Plaza with "On the Sunny side of the street" played on the 1931 Compton pipe organ. In this video I tried to play exactly how I think a 1930s cinema organist would have done ie I didnt try and sound like another organist or follow a particular style. I simply banged out the tune!!! :-)
The Irish will welcome over 50 majestic Tall Ships from 12 countries, some 1,400 sail trainees and an anticipated 500,000 maritime, music and festival fans to the quays of Waterford City this weekend for the biggest party of 2011.
The Tall Ships Races, which first visited the Viking city in 2005, return this year from 30 June to 3 July with a world-class festival programme capturing the very best of Irish and international acts, street theatre, fireworks, music and food.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/tourismireland/50520/
Me playing my own arrangement of "Time on my hands" on the Stockport town hall Wurlitzer organ. The day before I listened to a recording I made playing this very piece on the Southampton Guildhall Compton organ and was amazed at how similar I made two very different instruments sound particularly between 0:46 and 1:00.
