The Organ Podcast

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.danielmoult.com/ One of the world's leading organists and improvisors, David Briggs, talks about his role as Artist in Residence at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York and the 'American sound'. He gives an insight into the art of improvising and how his own style has been informed by transcribing the improvisations of legendary organist, Pierre Cochereau, from hundreds of archive recordings. David also reflects on his work in transcribing large-scale orchestral works for the organ and the resulting ethical dilemmas he has to consider. https://www.david-briggs.org/ https://www.stjohndivine.org/ Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and do get in touch at: theorganpodcast@rco.org.ukhttps://www.rco.org.uk/

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 involved with to bring the organ to new audiences. He explains why the organ is proving to be a success in a growing sub-genre of he heavy metal music, called Organic Doom Metal.www.theguardian.com/music/2024/apr/06/uk-churches-keen-to-host-heavy-metal-bands-after-duet-with-organist-is-a-hit And RCO Chief Executive Sir Andrew Parmley talks about his musical background, his remarkable journey from accidental childhood organist to Lord Mayor of London, and the College's outreach work and vision for the organ in modern cultural as well as spiritual life.www.rco.org.uk/internationalorganday2024.phpSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and do get in touch at: theorganpodcast@rco.org.ukhttps://www.rco.org.uk/

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.pdfAndrew Macintosh, Director of RCO Scotland and Northern Ireland, talks about his work as manager of the NPOR - the National Pipe Organ Register. He showcases some of the features and links this database offers.https://npor.org.ukThomas Trotter talks about how becoming organist of Birmingham Town Hall, 40 years ago,  gave him his 'lucky break' to become one of the leading concert organists in the world. https://bmusic.co.uk/what-we-do/who-we-are/history-1/organGet in touch: theorganpodcast@rco.org.ukhttps://www.rco.org.uk/

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/cathedral-choirBlind organist and composer, David Aprahamian Liddle, explains the process of learning music through braille, and shares some amusing anecdotes of his encounters with Jean Langlais, Olivier Messiaen, André Marchal and Madame Duruflé. http://davidliddle.org/biography.htm Get in touch: theorganpodcast@rco.org.ukhttps://www.rco.org.uk/

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 of the difficulties and extraordinary attitudes faced by women organists throughout the centuries.https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-book-of-organ-music-by-women-composers-9780193562721?cc=gb&lang=en&#:~:text=University%20Press%20Music-,Description,from%20a%20range%20of%20periods.Richard Gowers talks about his experience as a King's College organ scholar, working with Sir Stephen Cleobury, and how he's diversified his keyboard skills to expand his career.https://www.rgowers.com/ Get in touch: theorganpodcast@rco.org.ukhttps://www.rco.org.uk/

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 cardboard box for over 90 years.https://blackburncathedral.com/event/uncovered-treasures-bairstow-in-blackburn/Martin Baker talks about his life since leaving Westminster Cathedral, his musical upbringing and passion for improvising. Get in touch: theorganpodcast@rco.org.ukhttps://www.rco.org.uk/

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/7Tom 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/aboutMargaret Phillips talks about her life and career, and demonstrates some of the instruments in her extraordinary collection of historic pipe organs. http://www.margaretphillips.org.uk/index.htmhttps://www.rco.org.uk/

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 CathedralDavid Pipe - Organist at Leeds Cathedral and Huddersfield Town HallMargaret Phillips  - Concert OrganistProfessor Magnus Williamson - Professor of Early Music at Newcastle UniversityAndrew Caskie - Managing Director of Nicholson Organs LtdThe Organ Podcast - Presented by Mark O'Brienhttps://www.rco.org.uk/