BIOS Reporter

The invention in 1904 of the thermionic valve has had far reaching consequences for the development of radio, television, and, indeed, the entire twentieth century. Its successors, the transistor in 1948, and the integrated circuit in the mid-sixties, underline the rapid pace of change and the almost explosive penetration of electronics into every facet of […] read more

The exercise of restoring an important organ to its original form is a daunting challenge. In the case of the Schulze organ at St. George’s Church, Doncaster, there can be no doubt of its excellence -“the noblest work of organbuilding art that England has ever heard or seen” was the enthusiastic comment by a contemporary […] read more

Bernard Edmonds’ question posed in the July 1997 Reporter focuses on an important point. Given the close association between the organ and worship, and the fact that most organists play for services, what do worshippers make of organ and church music in general?… read more

The availability of money for the organ from the National Lottery has provided a new impetus for the repair and restoration of many ailing instruments and the construction of new, exciting designs. Some churches will not use such money on the grounds that it is derived from gambling, others have no such scruples. Where there […] read more

We make no apology for returning to the perennial controversy over the responsibilities of organ design and building. Elsewhere in this Reporter we reprint an article written in 1928 by Aubrey Allen, which coincidentally but providentially illuminates the recent creation of the Institute of British Organbuilding. This new venture recognises that British organ building needs […] read more

It gives the Chairman great pleasure to report that the Revd. Bernard Edmonds and Frank Fowler, Esq. have accepted the Council’s offer of Honorary Membership of The British Institute of Organ Studies… read more

Most of us would assume that the path taken by youngsters aspiring to be organists includes some kind of association with the Church. Young people may well have been worshippers at a local church and have been exposed to the organ as a musical instrument in the course of a service and possibly at recitals […] read more

Imagine the following situation: you have been asked to give a recital at a local church and in some Kafkaesque twists of fate, the programme has been dictated to you – all you have to do is play it. Most is staple fare with the exception that several items are usually heard played on a […] read more

As we contemplate the year 2000, it is an instructive and perhaps cautionary exercise to try to place oneself in the position of organists and organ-builders of the 1890s and to try to imagine their thoughts and expectations as the year 1900 drew closer. In particular, one wonders what sort of view they took of […] read more

For the editors, the January edition of this journal is a preoccupation at the time of year which reminds one that the significance of Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876) is twofold. His tune for Mrs. Alexander’s ‘Once in royal David’s city’ seems to underline that what is most durable is not necessarily what is most elaborate […] read more