News of English Organists

New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 347, 15 February 1946, Page 19

News of English Organists

Pa EWS of what some of the N organists, heard frequently over the air in New Zealand, are doing in England comes from Finlay Robb, formerly a ZB announcer and organist, who left a month or two ago for London. In letters to his home in Wellington, Mr. Robb mentions well-known players such as Reginald Foort, Reginald Dixon, Sandy McPherson, and Al Bollington. He

is taking lessons from Foort with the idea of improving his pedal-work, but is equally interested in the performances of the others at the console. Foort, he says, does his playing at Bangor, North Wales. From there he broadcasts for the BBC. And many other organists present their recitals from this spot. Foort does no theatre work nowadays, but "often gives recitals on church organs, for he was a _ church organist for 11 years, His own instrument is a five-manual one, very powerful but pleasant to listen to, Foort has in mind a smaller one, which he pro-. poses to take on a tour of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa before long. Reginald Dixon has just been demobilised from the Air Force and intends to tour England until June. Mr. Robb is apparently giving up most of his time to organ lessons and practice, and attending symphony concerts, but English prices for everyday goods have given him a shock. The BBC, he says, has an excellent canteen, providing good three-course meals for 1/742, compared with very ordinary hotel meals at 5/-. Irish linen handkerchiefs cost 13/2 each, ties from 10/- to £1 for very poor quality material, socks start at 7/6 a pair, and a woman’s housecoat, nothing out of the usual, costs her £27. And when it comes to buying grapes at 35/- a pound, he just isn’t interested. He mentions in his letters that he is receiving great help from the top-flight performers on the organ, but that he is determined not to play professionally again until he has mastered every phase of the instrument,