I set off early on the morning of Saturday January 25 to drive to Cardiff. I was the ‘guest speaker’ at the South East Wales Organists’ Associations annual lunch at the Radisson Blu Hotel.
Born in Wales and until 7 years ago with a parent still living in Cardiff, this was a drive the car could have managed on its own as I stick to the same route. The A420 between Oxford and Swindon, onto the M4 and then into the City Centre. As I mentioned at the beginning of my talk though, this was the first time as a Welshman living in exile, I did not have to pay for the pleasure of crossing the Severn Estuary to return home.
The South East Wales Organists’ Association Society (SEWOA)
The SEWOA is clearly a busy society as the programme for the 2020 planned events shows. Having myself often tried to visit well know instruments I understand all too well how difficult it is to make contact with the right person and then get diary dates to work. So I must commend the SEWOA management for making all this happen.
![SEWOA - Programme 2020](https://viscountorgans.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/SEWOA-Programme-2020-1.jpg)
The association also produce a bi monthly news letter ‘Stop Press’ which again involves a great deal of work. There is clearly energy in abundance for the organ in South Wales.
The concert series at St John the Baptist Church was also evidence of this, a series I believe put together by the alternative Cardiff Organist Association, but I stand to be corrected on that point.
Many of the members I met had digital home practice organs including the society president David Thomas and an old childhood friend of mine, David Evans whose mother had been my piano teacher. If I might be allowed a little boast they both actually have a Viscount.
![SEWOA - Lunch time Organ Concerts 2020](https://viscountorgans.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/SEWOA-Lunch-time-Organ-Concerts-2020.jpg)
Talking about Cavaillé-Coll and inspiring young organists
David pictured bearing a splendid presidential ribbon and badge of office is the principal organist at Llandaff Cathedral (read about the pipe organ at Llandaff Cathedral) where I have had the pleasure of hearing him most skilfully linking and filling in parts of the service with richly harmonised improvisation on the magnificent Nicholson organ installed 10 years ago.
![David Thomas - SEWOA President](https://viscountorgans.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/David-Thomas-SEWOA-President.jpg)
About 25 or so members stayed on after the AGM for lunch and my ramblings that covered the wonderful instruments of Cavaillé-Coll I had visited in my role of page turner for the Widor recordings made by great friend Dr Joseph Nolan. With time to spare I was then able to enlighten the group as to the work Viscount are doing to make organs available for schools and hopefully get a lot more young musicians engaged with the instrument.
![The guests at South East Wales Organists Association lunch meeting](https://viscountorgans.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-guests-at-South-East-Wales-Organists-Association-lunch-meeting.jpg)
And so after a splendid lunch and a talk whose quality must remain to be judged by others, I found myself by 4.30 pm heading homewards. Quite a long day and even Sunday afternoon had me in the showroom with customers from London so a 7 day week. Although it was worth the effort as the sale was confirmed the following Tuesday!
I have had a passion for church organs since the tender age of 12. I own and run Viscount Organs with a close attention to the detail that musicians appreciate; and a clear understanding of the benefits of digital technology and keeping to the traditional and emotional elements of organ playing.