New organ for Westminster Abbey

[Martin Cooke]

No, not a replacement for the grand organ, but BBC Music Magazine announces in the January issue that the Lord Mayor of London is presenting a new Mander Organs two manual organ to the abbey to be located in lady chapel. It is planned that it should be ready by Christmas next year but it will first be installed in the Mansion House for a number of fund-raising recitals. Sorry if this is old news - certainly a new one on me!

[Guest Geoff McMahon]

It is a present to HM the Queen from the Corporation of London in celebration of the Jubilee. It will be delivered to the Mansion House early in January and to the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey towards the end of 2013. It is a compact 2 manuals and pedals instrument, neither department enclosed.

[ptindall]

And so what will happen to the Vincent Novello organ: the Russian-Doll Snetzler?

[pcnd5584]

And so what will happen to the Vincent Novello organ: the Russian-Doll Snetzler?

 

Please could you tell me where this instrument is situated currently?

[ptindall]

Well, the last time I saw it (about two years ago), it was in the Henry VII or Lady Chapel, where it has been for many years. The last time I heard it played was many years ago, and it sounded fine. But then Harry Bicket is a very good player.

I have heard people grumble about its condition in recent times.

 

It was given to the Abbey by the Vincent Novello Society in the 60s to replace a memorial window which was blown out in the war. It is, I believe, the guts of one Snetzler chamber organ, inserted into the (very splendid) case of another, found in Great Barr Catholic church near Birmingham.