The Organ Podcast

Donald MacKenzie showcases the historic Compton organ at the Odeon cinema in London's Leicester Square. As one of Europe's leading theatre organists and accompanist of silent films, Donald demonstrates the art of film improvisation and brings to life the history and rich tradition of the cinema organ. Donald MacKenzie Odeon Organ Specification - NPOR The Musical Museum Brentford Gordon Stewart looks back on his long career as an international recitalist, conductor, broadcaster, town hall...

William Whitehead talks about his major international project aimed at completing Bach's Orgelbüchlein (Little Organ Book) - The Orgelbüchlein Project. With 118 missing chorale preludes, where only the chorale titles have been penned by Bach, William plays examples of the newly finished compositions which he has commissioned from leading composers all over the world. Orgelbüchlein Volumes & Scores William Whitehead Tom Bells reveals his passion for English Victorian organs as he demons...

William McVicker talks about the impact and legacy of one of the most significant revolutions in organ design - the Organ Reform Movement. Explaining the historical context out of which the movement grew (lead by German polymath and organist, Albert Schweitzer), William demonstrates the musical results at the console of a 1968 German-inspired reform organ at the church of Our Lady of Dolours, in London. William McVicker Organ of Our Lady of Dolours (NPOR) Ben Bloor, Organist at the Londo...

In this episode Ian Tracey, Organist of Liverpool Cathedral, demonstrates the newly installed Echo organ and showcases the extraordinary sounds and power of the UK's largest pipe organ. With a total of ten divisions, located in organ cases around the cathedral, this new echo organ completes the tonal design of the organ, which began in 1923 under the craftsmanship of Henry Willis III, and the cathedral's first organist, Harry Goss-Custard. Liverpool Cathedral Organ Specification Jeremiah ...

In this episode, Richard Brasier talks about some of the startling discoveries he made whilst researching for his new edition of the organ and harmonium works of Cesar Franck. He also plays an unpublished work by Franck for the first time. After five years' work, having studied previously lost manuscripts, Richard explains the approach to registration and performance based on historic evidence and the organs Franck played. https://richardbrasier.com/education/cesar-franck/ Christopher Stok...

In this episode, Harrison & Harrison Head Voicer and Managing Director, Andy Scott, takes Mark O'Brien on a tour round the workshop in Durham to highlight the importance of apprenticeships in sustaining the skill and craft of organ building. Andy also talks about his experience at Harrison's, having started as an apprentice himself, aged 16, before becoming London Tuner, Head Voicer and Managing Director. Harrison & Harrison International concert organist, Katelyn Emerson, talks abo...

In this episode, Mark O'Brien visits the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, where the recent restoration of a 1938 Robert Spurden Rutt pipe organ has opened the door to the instrument being used for therapeutic purposes and wellbeing. Mark talks to a Consultant Neurologist about the therapeutic qualities of music and the possible use of the hospital pipe organ - and hears the organ being used by Christopher Batchelor, a former managing director of Harrison and Harriso...

In this Episode, Mark O'Brien joins Martin Renshaw, from the organ charity, Pipe-up for Pipe Organs, as he and a team of volunteers remove an organ from a closed-down Baptist chapel in Hertfordshire. Mark also has a look around Martin's warehouse, where several historic organs are lying in storage, waiting for a new home in the UK - or about to be transported to Europe. Pipe Up for Pipe Organs Katherine Dienes Williams talks about her role as President of the Cathedral Organists' Associatio...

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of a live broadcast of BBC Radio 3's Choral Evensong from the chapel of King's College, Cambridge. We hear from the programme's Producer and Sound Supervisor, as well as from the Director of Music at King's - Daniel Hyde. The Choir of King's College, Cambridge BBC Sounds - Choral Evensong Gordon Stewart demonstrates the famous J J Binns (1855 - 1928) organ at Rochdale Town Hall. Showcasing the distinctive Binns sound and tonal design, Gordon...

In this episode, Robert Sharpe, Director of Music at York Minster, gives a tour of the sounds and colours of the organ at York Minster. Following the major restoration undertaken by Harrison & Harrison from 2018 - 2021, Robert explains why they looked back to the golden era of Arthur Harrison and Sir Edward Bairstow for their tonal inspiration, and demonstrates the astonishing results that have been achieved. York Minster Organ Specification York Minster Summer Organ Recitals 2024 We...

In this episode, Mark O'Brien is joined by organ builder David Wood as they engage in some organ archaeology whilst exploring an abandoned organ in an old monastery chapel in Staffordshire. https://www.woodofhuddersfield.com/ https://npor.org.uk/survey/D02316 A crisis is facing the pipe organ in Scotland as hundreds of churches are earmarked for closure. We talk to Chris Bragg, from Sowne of Organe, who is leading a team campaigning to save many of Scotland's most historic organs by highligh...

In this episode Phil Kelsall, organist at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool, showcases the world famous Wurlitzer organ - and his own world famous playing technique! https://www.philkelsall.co.uk/ Ian Tracey talks about the history of the Henry Willis organ at Liverpool's St George's Hall. As a new appeal has been launched to help raise fund for its restoration, Ian demonstrates some of the distinctive Willis sounds, and some of the areas in desperate need of repair. https://www.stgeorgeshalll...

In this episode, Hauptwerk genius and YouTube star, Richard McVeigh talks about the rise of his channel 'Beauty in Sound' as a platform to live-stream hymns to a global audience, as well as recording some of the UK's finest pipe organs and organists. https://www.youtube.com/@beautyinsound/videos William McVicker gives a glimpse into his role as one of the country's leading pipe organ consultants. Whilst working on an historic organ in Southeast London he explains how organ advisors need to ...

In this episode, Daniel Moult, Head of Organ at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, demonstrates how a series of new, historically inspired organs that he's commissioned, will transform the musicianship of his students, not just from an authentic approach to early music but across the board in organ playing technique. He also talks about the career and musical aspirations of young organ students today. https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/music/departments/keyboard/organ http://www.dan...

In this episode we visit the largest cathedral organ in the UK to follow the organ builders from David Wells as they begin installing a new echo division to the main organ at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral. As one of the largest cathedrals in the world, the building has its own micro climate which impacts the tuning of the organ. https://liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/cathedral-music/organ/ www.dwob.org/ David Pipe, organist at Huddersfield Town Hall, talks about the collaborations he gets ...

In this episode we get a first look at the new Harrison & Harrison organ at the Guards' Chapel in London. Harrison's Head Voicer, Andy Scott, talks about the Harrison & Harrison sound while he demonstrates voicing the organ. https://www.harrisonorgans.com/ https://www.harrisonorgans.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/London-Guards-Chapel-2023.pdf Andrew Macintosh, Director of RCO Scotland and Northern Ireland, talks about his work as manager of the NPOR - the National Pipe Organ Regist...

In this episode we hear Darius Battiwalla improvising to a 1920 silent horror film called 'The Cabinet of Dr Caligari. Sitting at the console of the 1972 Hradetzky organ at the Royal northern College of Music, Darius demonstrates some of the musical techniques he uses when improvising to silent films. http://www.dariusbattiwalla.com/ Tom Daggett, Director of Music at Sheffield Cathedral, talks about the work he's doing to rebuild the cathedral's choir. https://www.sheffieldcathedral.org...

In this episode we join Mark Lee, Director of Music at Bristol Cathedral, as he gives a quick demonstration of some of the distinctive 'Romantic' sounds of the 1907 Walker organ - just before it gets taken away for a major restoration by Harrison and Harrison. https://bristol-cathedral.co.uk/news/work-begins-on-our-organ-restoration-project/ Anne Marsden Thomas and Ghislaine Reece-Trapp talk about their recently published Oxford Book of Organ Music by Women Composers, and discuss some ...

In this episode, Professor Magnus Williamson explores the sounds and history of the 1688 Smith organ in the private chapel at Aukland Castle, near Durham. Reflecting on the political and religious landscape of England during the 16th and 17th centuries, he reveals how close England came to abolishing church organs altogether. https://aucklandproject.org/venues/auckland-castle/ We meet the man who discovered two unpublished original manuscripts by Sir Edward Bairstow, that had been left in a...

In this episode, we get a behind the scenes look at the start of the historic reconstruction of the 1877 Cavaille-Coll organ at Manchester's Town Hall with Andrew Caskie, Managing Director of Nicholson Organs. https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500354/our_town_hall/7676/heritage_and_art/7 Tom Bell talks about his latest project of recording Oliver Messiaen's 18 movement 'Livre du Saint Sacrement' at Blackburn Cathedral. https://www.tombell-organist.net/about Margaret Phillips talks ab...

The Organ Podcast - from February 1st - available wherever you get your podcasts. This trailer features the voices of: Martin Baker - former Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral David Pipe - Organist at Leeds Cathedral and Huddersfield Town Hall Margaret Phillips - Concert Organist Professor Magnus Williamson - Professor of Early Music at Newcastle University Andrew Caskie - Managing Director of Nicholson Organs Ltd The Organ Podcast - Presented by Mark O'Brien https://www.rco.org...