BIOS Reporter – Volume 19, No.3 – July 1995

The Scottish Federation of Organists have kindly sent us a copy of this year’s edition of their journal, The Scottish Organist. It is always pleasant to receive the journals of other organological bodies, and we take this opportunity to record our thanks. It is especially pleasant when such journals seem to echo our own characteristic sentiments. Of course, there is quite often considerable overlap between BIOS and these other bodies, many of our members being theirs as well, and we should not therefore be too surprised by such echos. Nonetheless, they are good to read. Dr. John Kitchen, the President of the Scottish Federation of Organists, opens the journal with a Presidential “prologue” which makes extensive reference to last October’s meeting of the Edinburgh Society of Organists, an event arranged by Alan Buchan. It appears that most of the instruments examined on that occasion were from the turn of the century or shortly before. “Until about 25 years ago”, writes Dr. Kitchen, “a rebuilt instrument, invariably electrified, and incorporating the latest tonal modifications and console gadgetry, was what people wanted to see and hear. When … graftedon larigots and electric actions began to be discredited, we moved through a stage when new organs commanded most attention. Now we have, I hope, reached a stage where many (if not all) recognise that a well designed organ from any period has its own integrity”. He goes on to point out that the apparent limitations of small Victorian organs of the kind examined – the paucity of aids to registration, for example – may cause one “to concentrate on really important things like phrasing, articulation and good rhythm”; and he makes an interesting observation about an instrument in which a fifteenth had been substituted for a four-foot flute. “Significantly, those involved now agree that this has been unsuccessful, and there are plans to reinstate the flute, which is fortunately in storage. Lesson: leave well alone”…