22nd Annual UK Organ Tour Led by Leslie Peart Janice Feher The 2010 Peart UK organ tour participants after the sung Eucharist at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London obert Noehren impressed me with The 121-rank 1855 “Father” Willis organ R his concern that organists should in St. George’s Hall, Liverpool spend more time listening to music. I think he would have approved of the Leslie Peart organ tour of 2010 that in- cluded organ concerts, an evening at the BBC Proms, and choral services. We heard some impressive sacred and Last “Father” Willis organ, St. Bees secular music in Scotland and England, Priory as well as sharing memorable meals of representative local cuisine. The 2010 Scotland and England or- gan tour—July 13–26—began with a welcome luncheon at the Ramada Mt. Royal Hotel in Edinburgh. This hotel is located on Princes Street, above shop- ping and restaurants, and it provided a great base for visiting the varied organs of Edinburgh. We began by playing the 1989 Collins organ at the Greyfriars Church, followed by the fi ne Willis or- gan at the Episcopal Cathedral. That evening we enjoyed a generous amount 1989 Collins organ, Greyfriars Church, of time playing on the wonderful 1992 Edinburgh St. Giles Cathedral organ, built by The largest organ in England today, the Rieger Orgelbau of Austria. 1926 Willis organ in Liverpool Anglican The next day, Scottish rain and chill Cathedral failed to dampen our spirits as we ex- plored Queen Elizabeth’s yacht, Royal Brittannia. We were treated to lunch at St. Mary’s Metropolitan Catholic Ca- thedral, where concert organist Simon Nieminski is music director. Afterward, we played the large 2007 Copley organ in the church. Next we visited historic St. Cuthbert Church, which has a large organ by Lewis organ enlarged by Harrison & Robert Hope-Jones, dating from 1899. Harrison, Ripon Cathedral The 93-register organ was extensively reconstructed in 1997–98 by J.W. Walk- We toured the Willis organ factory, er & Sons Ltd. of Brandon, Suffolk. We where we were impressed with the qual- found an unexpected treat in the Free- ity of their current instruments and the masons’ Hall of Edinburgh, where historic Rolls-Royce that David Wyld, there is a 1913 vintage Bridley & Foster the new owner of the company, had pipe organ that has been preserved in driven to work that day. Our Liverpool original condition by Forth Pipe Organs adventures were capped by an evening of Edinburgh. The day concluded with visit to the dramatic Metropolitan Ca- a memorable organ recital at St. Giles, 1901 T. C. Lewis organ, Kelvingrove thedral of Christ the King, where a One-half of the split-case Kenneth Tick- played by the cathedral’s director of Museum, Glasgow 1967 Walker organ is installed. ell organ (2004) in Worcester Cathedral music, Michael Harris. The last few days fl ew by with visits An early arrival before the public at for Brideshead Revisited, where we to play many organs, including those at lows manual control of timing; slideshow the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow played the organ in the castle’s beauti- Coventry Cathedral; Rugby School, is automatic. Locations are identifi ed gave us time to see and play the historic ful chapel. where the game of rugby originated; above or below the pictures.) Lewis organ from the 1901 International Our host in Liverpool was concert art- Worcester Cathedral, with its wonder- The twenty-third annual England Exhibition. Later, we joined the public ist Ian Tracey, who helped us discover ful 2008 organ by Kenneth Tickell; and Choral, Castle, and Organ Tour will be for the lunchtime concert played by our the impressive Willis organs of Liver- the military academy, Sandhurst. July 12–25, with four days in London, fellow tour members, Bob MacDonald pool. “Father” Henry Willis founded his On our way to London, we realized we three at the Southern Cathedrals Festi- and Dene Barnard. pipe organ fi rm in 1845 in Liverpool. He had visited a total of 28 instruments in val at Winchester Cathedral, and many Notable experiences in northern Eng- contributed much to the science and art England and Scotland! other organs and castles along the south land included visiting Keswick in the of organbuilding, and he was regarded as A special memory of our London visit shore of England. For more information, beautiful Lake District, where we stayed the leading English organbuilder of the was the sung Eucharist at St. Paul’s Ca- go to <www.organtours.com>, or contact at the Country House Hotel and cruised Victorian era. Willis organs were placed thedral, where we had reserved seats Leslie Peart at <[email protected]>, on Lake Windermere—England’s largest in town halls and churches throughout under the dome for Mozart’s Mass in C phone 217/546-2562. ■ lake. We were warmly welcomed at St. the UK. Many remain today, includ- Minor with orchestra, organ, and solo- Bees Priory, which has a historic 1899 ing the 121-rank 1855 “Father” Willis ists. The service concluded with the Fan- Janice Feher is organist in residence at First organ built by “Father” Willis that is es- organ in St. George’s Hall, Liverpool. tasia in F Minor on the organ. Sunday Presbyterian Church, San Diego. She holds a sentially untouched. It was the last ma- Ian Tracey, Liverpool’s city organist, has afternoon Evensong at Westminster BM from Michigan State University and an MM from the University of Michigan, and she jor instrument he personally supervised. great enthusiasm and concern for the Abbey was followed by an organ recital is a Colleague of the AGO. Her teachers in- The original programmable pistons (the maintenance of this historic organ. by Christian Lane, assistant university cluded Corliss Arnold, Leslie Spelman, Don- fi rst in England) are still in place. A second great Willis organ is located organist at Harvard. ald Sutherland, Robert Noehren, and Marilyn On Sunday we enjoyed the sung Eu- in the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, We fl ew home from London well Mason. She and her husband, Bela Feher, charist accompanied by the historic Wil- where Ian Tracey is cathedral organist. rested, with great memories and new published two photobooks as part of an ongo- lis organ at Durham Cathedral. After It was the largest musical instrument friends, and thankful for exposure to ing project on pipe organs of Europe—Sacred playing the organ at Ripon Cathedral, ever conceived when dedicated in 1926. such wonderful and diverse organs. Spaces of Germany and Denmark (with Mari- we traveled to York Minster for Even- Today it is the largest organ in the UK, If you are interested in seeing the lyn Mason) and Sacred Spaces of the Austro- Hungarian Empire (available from Blurb.com song in the large Gothic cathedral. even larger than Royal Albert Hall, with highlights of our UK organ tour, visit <http://Blurb.com>). The highlight of the next day was recent additions. It is playable from two <gallery.me.com/janbela#100052> for touring Castle Howard, the location matching fi ve-manual consoles. a 24-minute slideshow. (Note: Grid al- Photo credit: Bela Feher 20 THE DIAPASON Mar 2011 pp. 20-21.indd 20 2/11/11 11:24:48 AM.