BIOS Reporter

A sure sign of a ‘new boy’ in any position is an obvious change in style, not least in the world of publishing. With this new editor has come a change in font for the Reporter. It’s not that there is anything ‘wrong’ with Times New Roman, I have even dallied with Century Schoolbook in […] read more

If anything was clear at the recent BIOS Day Conference at St Botolph without Aldgate it was the distinctive voice of the organ. This is not the place to employ vague adjectives to describe the sound, but rather to consider its place in the wider context of the organ. What is the purpose of the […] read more

The relationship between the history of the organ, organ-builder, player and repertoire is the subject of perennial perusal; perhaps some of that attention needs to be transferred to the relationship of all four to the young organ student. Striking a balance between dealing with the organ and its repertoire in a scholarly, sober and weighty […] read more

The Oxford Conference, reported elsewhere in this issue, was considerably more than a pleasant platform for the interchange of information and an opportunity to meet fellow BIOS members. It was certainly intellectually challenging, delving into the context and intricacies of the British organ, its music and usage up to 1600; if the occasional lecturer seemed […] read more

It has been a daunting task to take over the Chairmanship of BIOS from Professor Peter Williams. BIOS is doing so much. The NPOR is a public face which, thanks to Frances Pond, the editors and all the corrections sent in by members, is still improving in accuracy and scope. The Historic Organ Sound Archive […] read more

Discomforting the clergy may seem, at first sight, both a mildly amusing remark and one perhaps a little unfair on that calling. Yet it must surely be an essential task for any organist dealing with church music. At its most constructive, such discomforting should alert the clergy, in a sympathetic manner, to the contribution which […] read more

Last month’s editorial produced several letters, expressing support and disagreement. The general intention was to highlight a perceived problem in contemporary music education in schools, one in which apparent deficiencies might hinder the development of young musicians to the point where they might be unable to contribute to the Aims of BIOS… read more

The quotation turned up in a recent concert programme, almost simultaneously with the news that a major academic publication for music students had eschewed music examples in order to spare the blushes of students who could not read music. Yet again, there is a cause for great concern… read more

The European Union is never far from controversy; two recent moves demonstrate the incredible capacity of that leviathan to threaten the very existence of the pipe organ while, at the same time, proclaiming a commitment to preserving the status and place of the instrument in European culture… read more

As BIOS enters into its thirtieth year, it is worth reflecting on the present condition of the Institute and its Aims. Like any lively organisation, BIOS has grown and matured, suffered setbacks, overcome obstacles, and enjoyed true achievement. Its members have produced much admirable scholarship, exhibiting a catholicity of viewpoint, which has undoubtedly shaped attitudes […] read more