A moment of musical history
Stephen Parsons MBE, Chair of Bristol Cathedral Trust, recently attended a special preview of the refurbished organ being played. Here, he shares a report on this magical experience…
“Michaelmas Term typically marks the start of the academic term and this year on September 1st it also marked the first notes to be played on the Bristol Cathedral Organ as the great refurbishment project was completed.
Mark Lee, the renowned Organist and Director of Music for Bristol Cathedral, and Paul Walton, the Cathedral’s Assistant Organist, invited the trustees of Bristol Cathedral Trust to hear the first notes being played.
A moment of musical history was witnessed, and the outcome of the extensive refurbishment project was wonderful, with this classical romantic heritage instrument sounding very much as it would have sounded in its prime.
The result is that Mark and Paul are now playing an organ in which all the pipes are singing, which has not been the case for at least 20 years!
The organ case has also been cleaned, and the fine detail of 17th century carvings are now visible for all to see. The colour of the case was deliberately not changed as we are all familiar with its rich tone; and the pipes are of a muted pewter colour.
The original organ stops have all been retained and 10 new stops added. The keyboard and console are new, as is the peddle board; and the original mirrors have been retained.
Mark was grateful for Harrison & Harrison’s attention to detail, even creating a font called Bristol.
Paul Walton then played the organ, and we were treated to a magnificent sound that was so bright and clear. The trustees listened to Bach’s Preluded in A Minor, then Stanford’s March Heroica which demonstrated that the romantic tonal quality of our organ had been perfectly preserved. A marvellous musical moment had been witnessed.”
Stephen Parsons MBE, Chair of Trustees
