The Organ Podcast

15 Episodes

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Episode 14 - Music therapy and the pipe organ - The organ at the West London Synagogue

2024-08-1545:27

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...

Episode 13 - Pipe Organ Rescue with Martin Renshaw and Pipe-up - Katherine Dienes Williams on pressures facing cathedral organists

2024-08-0147:15

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 OrgansKatherine Dienes Williams talks about her role as President of the Cathedral Organists' Association an...

Episode 12 - BBC Radio 3's Choral Evensong at King's College Cambridge - Gordon Stewart demonstrates the J J Binns organ at Rochdale Town Hall

2024-07-1452:39

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 expla...

Episode 11 - York Minster's Organ - RCO in State Schools - Wayne Marshall's Musical Life

2024-06-3001:02:43

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 2024We hear ...

Episode 10 - Anna Lapwood - Abandoned Monastery Organ - Crisis in Scotland

2024-06-1401:07:08

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/D02316A 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 highlighting...

Episode 9 - The Wurlitzer at Blackpool Tower - Liverpool's St George's Hall Willis Organ - Discovering 17th Century Composer, John Lugge

2024-05-2801:08:14

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.stgeorgeshallliver...

Episode 8 - Richard McVeigh reflects on his YouTube success - William McVicker on the difficulties of organ advising - Anne Marsden Thomas looks back on her teaching career and challenges for women organists

2024-05-1401:00:43

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/videosWilliam 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 care...

Episode 7 - David Briggs on his role at the Cathedral of St John the Divine, New York, improvising and his transcriptions - Daniel Moult talks about the new organs for the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

2024-04-3043:36

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.danielm...

Episode 6 - Liverpool Cathedral's new echo organ - Organic Metal and the pipe organ - Sir Andrew Parmley talks about his role as Chief Executive of the RCO

2024-04-1042:14

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 invo...

Episode 5 - Voicing the Guards' Chapel with Harrison & Harrison - Exploring the National Pipe Organ Register - Thomas Trotter talks repertoire and 40 years at Birmingham Town Hall

2024-03-2553:13

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...

Episode 4 - Improvising at the movies with Darius Battiwalla - The challenge of rebuilding Sheffield Cathedral's Choir - Blind organist David Liddle

2024-03-1147:31

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/ca...

Episode 3 - Bristol Cathedral says 'Goodbye' to its Walker organ - Some extraordinary attitudes faced by women composers for the organ - Richard Gowers talks about his career

2024-02-2851:24

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...

Episode 2 - 1688 Smith Organ at Auckland Castle - Lost Bairstow score - Martin Baker talks about life after Westminster Cathedral

2024-02-1453:07

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 ca...

Episode 1 - Manchester Town Hall's Cavaillé-Coll - Tom Bell records Messiaen - Margaret Phillips talks about her life and collections of historic pipe organs

2024-02-0148:12

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 he...

The Organ Podcast - Trailer

2024-01-2602:40

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/

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Carl Littlejohns