In June I showed a photo of the new Gloucester Cathedral organ console, just winched into place. Here is another view, taken at the start of July, just before the organ was completed. Notice the lustrous glow of the 1665 organ case woodwork – every inch of the oak hand polished by the Nicholson team.
And here is another view, the nave just appearing beyond the console, which stands on a wheeled plinth so its position can be adjusted for Quire or Nave use.
In 2014 I had the pleasure of working with David Wells (organ-builders) on the rebuilding of the Willis II / J.W. Walker organ in Manchester University’s Whitworth Hall, Little could I imagine then, that twelve years later, our son, Morgan, would be receiving his PhD under that very organ – which was played very well indeed before and after.
This took place on 14th July, in front of Morgan’s very proud parents.
The morning following Morgan’s PhD ceremony it was back to work for me, visiting the RNCM, which is helpfully adjacent to the University. I am advising the College on a thorough overhaul of the fine 1972 51-stop Hradetzky organ in the concert hall. Rieger are replacing the entire key and stop action, much of the wind system, the blowers and the electrics. They are refurbishing the console with new controls, rendering access into and around the inside of the organ far safer, restoring the pipes and undertaking detailed regulation. This should be finished before next term begins.
On Saturday 18th I took a group of Organ Club members to see the fine 3-manual organ in St John the Evangelist parish church, Chipping Barnet. This is an 1884 Hill, rebuilt by Rothwell in 1924 then by Mander in 1967 (from when the console dates) and again in 1986/7. By 2024 it was in considerable need of restoration and of some pretty thorough re-organisation as both Rothwell and Mander had made significant areas of the organ impossible to reach for tuning – never a good idea!
The work was carried out impeccably by Henry Groves & Son (Jonathan Wallace) of Nottingham.
After Barnet parish church, the group visited St John’s URC, New Barnet, where they were unexpectedly delighted by a very successful early Peter Collins organ, having mechanical key action and electric stop action, laid out in three shallow tone cabinets as can be seen in this striking case design.
The console is very ‘early 1970s’ and quite similar to that Grant, Degens and Bradbeer made for Peter Hurford’s first house organ.
One of my current projects – the chapel of Blundell’s School – needs a replacement organ. At the same time, the University of Ulster has left its 1960s buildings for a new campus nearer the centre of Belfast, so its Binns / HNB organ needs rehoming (for the second time). I inspected it on 22nd July.
The pipework is magnificent – Binns (c.1920) at his best, augmented by HN&B (1966) at their best, the blend between old and new skilfully managed.
The pipework and solid 1966 console of this organ will work splendidly in Blundell’s School Chapel, where its bold tone will be perfect for leading the hearty singing of the school.
No space here to tell you all that should be said about this wonderful play (performed by a starry case at the Playhouse Theatre in Nottingham) – and why it was written. Please look it up on the Nottingham Playhouse website, having first read <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yzz3l0nx1o >
Saturday 25th saw the start of the 8-day Gloucester ‘Three Choirs Festival’, which proved from the very start to be one of the finest Three Choirs anyone could remember – playing (even my talk about the new Gloucester organ!) to full houses. No room here for a concert by concert review, but doubtless there are plenty of those to be read elsewhere.
On Friday 31st we had a day off from the Festival and drove to Chippenham for a most delightful al fresco tea party with four of our dear friends. This proved a much needed interlude after such musical richness at Gloucester, including a brilliant recital by Thomas Ospital which – happily – displayed the new Nicholson cathedral organ to great effect. The audience left – even the previous ‘doubters’ – wreathed in smiles!
