Instruments used for the 2007 festival

The “Father” Willis organ at St Dominic's Priory, London NW5

Henry Willis began work on the organ for St. Dominic’s Priory in 1869 and completed it in time for the opening of the church in 1883. Today, it is among the finest examples of his work to have remained unaltered to the present day, making it one of the most historically important instruments in the country. The tonal variety and impressive impact in the building is a hallmark of the finest craftsmanship – Willis himself thought this organ to be one of his best. The pitch is almost a semitone sharp, and the 35 speaking stops are spread over 3 manuals and pedals; incorporating mechanical (Swell and Choir), Barker-lever (Great) and pneumatic (Pedal) actions. A thorough cleaning and restoration was carried-out in 1960 and again in 1993 by Mander’s. A monthly recital series is now a regular part of musical activities at the church, attracting performers and enthusiasts from around the world to enjoy this unique experience.

Specification

  Sw to Gt; Ch to Gt; Sw Super 8va to Gt; Sw Sub 8va to Gt; Sw to Ped; Gt to Ped; Ch to Ped

  Manuals CC to G, 56 notes. “Willis” Pedal Board CCC to F, 30 notes. Balanced Swell Pedal

  Three combination pedals to Swell; Four combination pedals to Great and Pedal

The 1987 Rieger organ at St Marylebone Parish Church, London NW1

The 1987 Rieger instrument in St Marylebone Parish Church is the product of a unique collaboration between the church and the Royal Academy of Music, whose premises are situated across the road from St Marylebone. The Academy, who contributed to half of the cost of the instrument have a fifty year licence to use the organ for practice and teaching during term time. The installation of the instrument was overseen by the then Director of Music Catherine Ennis and the consultant Geraint Jones.

It is designed in such a way as to play convincingly the widest possible variety of organ repertory, complete with appropriate playing aids to facilitate this. It has mechanical key action allowing the player precise control of the musical details of his/her performance and has a great versatility due to the clever disposition of stops within the framework of the ‘Werkprinzip’ design where each department is housed in a specific part of the case.

Specification

Balanced mechanical Swell pedal.

Six thumb pistons to each division. General combination system (134, divided into channels).

Manuals CC to C, 61 notes. Pedals CCC to G, 32 notes.

The newly-restored 1963 JW Walker & Sons organ at St John the Evangelist, Duncan Terrace, Islington, London N1

The Walker organ in St John the Evangelist was built in 1963 incorporating some older pipework from a previous instrument by Bishop, Starr and Richardson, which once stood to the right of the alter. Walker's conceived their instrument in what they saw as the North European style, having a gallery position with a Ruckpositive that hangs from the front of the gallery. This Ruckpositive was a unique division for the country at the time. The Pedal department also has Walker's first ever voiced Schalmei stop. Tonally, the organ can play music from many periods, partly due to its combination of classical or open-foot-voiced flue work, and French voiced reeds. This style was the most up-to-date and fashionable for the 1960's. The voicing of the organ was undertaken by Dennis Thurlow and Michael Broom, with the reeds voiced by Michael Butler and tonal finishing by Arthur Jones.

The Walker sound today is tonally preserved, while thanks to generous donations in 1992 a Celeste and Vox Humana were placed in the Swell where two spare slides had been left in 1963. An independent full compass 32' pedal reed was also added and given the unique name of a medieval instrument in keeping with others Walker's made at the time such as Serpent, and Sackbut. Keith Bance worked for Walkers in the 1960's, and voiced the new stops in exact sympathy. The renovations in 1991 and 1998 also included the re-leathering of the bellows, and installation of an 8x8 general piston system.

The major 2005/6 restoration including the refurbishment of the Great soundboard and fitting with new longer pallets, re-leathering all seven of Walker's wind stabilizer pans, moving the pedal chests backwards for easier access and re-winding the pedal. Other work included lowering the swell action for maintenance and renewing the manual pull downs. Additional pipes in the exact style were made for the Pedal 4' Nachthorn to give a manual compass of 61 notes. It can now be used as a much-needed Great 8' Flute, while the lovely Great 8' Spitzflute, more of a string stop, has been retained. The Swell fan tremulant has been refurbished while the Positive fan tremulant has been replaced with one that has speed and depth control of the 'dumper' type, because the old one kept shading the pipework and made life very difficult for the tuner. In the spirit of the North European organ a Zimbelstern has been added of high random bells. The Great Octave 4' which was from Walker's 'stock' in 1963, was not a satisfactory pivotal stop for the chorus, and has been replaced with a new spotted metal stop similar to that of the Positive 4' Principal, although much larger in scale. Keith Bance has voiced it in contemporary style with minimal nicking at the mouth.

Specification

Balanced mechanical Swell pedal. Electro-pneumatic action. Wind 3" to 3 1/2" wg.

Reversible pistons for Sw/Gt, Pos/Gt & Gt/Ped. Reversible foot pistons for Gt/Ped. Gt Sub Octave & Tutti (with indicators)

Four thumb pistons to Sw, Gt & Pos. Eight toe pistons to Generals & four to the Pedal. Eight manual general pistons & General cancel. All the departmental pistons are adjustable on a setter board while the Generals are adjustable by means of an eight-channel capture system.

Manuals CC to C, 61 notes. Pedals CCC to G, 32 notes.

The 2001 Klais organ at St Lawrence Jewry, London EC2

The cases were both made by Mander in 1957, with the main organ Choir (RP) added by Klais in 2001. The pipework of 1957 was derived from second-hand organs, not entirely satisfactorily, and the action was causing concern not twenty years later.

As a millennium project, the Vicar (Reverend Prebendary David Burgess) and the parochial church council undertook to deal with the problem. Within the two fine oak cases, Klais has built two organs playable separately or together from the main console. Each has mechanical key action, with electric draw-stop action. Its specification builds on the spirit of the pre- Blitz organ, including the restitution of the choir organ on the main gallery. Catherine Ennis, the church's Director of Music, was the consultant.

The project was made possible by the generosity of many individuals, as well as Livery Companies associated with St. Lawrence Jewry, and by the Corporation of London.

Specification

Balanced mechanical Swell pedal.
Mechanical action; Electro-assisted stop action
Manuals CC to C, 61 notes. Pedals CCC to G, 32 notes.