Organ news!

THE RENEWING OF ONE OF ENGLAND’S FINEST ORGANS – A MAGNIFICENT REBIRTH

A chance to hear one of England’s Finest Organs, newly restored - at the Masonic Peace Memorial – known as Freemasons’ Hall, probably England’s finest Art Deco building and certainly one of London’s hidden architectural gems.

Henry Willis III directed the construction by his company in 1933 of the superb instrument in the
Grand Temple at the Masonic Peace Memorial building (Freemasons’ Hall), Great Queen Street,
London, WC2B 5AZ

For eighty years and more, this superb instrument has accompanied masonic ritual, public events
and the occasional concert.

With invaluable advice from the world-renowned distinguished organ consultant, Ian Bell, the
organ has been restored throughout by Harrison & Harrison of Durham, with the work completed
by April 2015, but the instrument as installed in 1933 survives entirely without alteration.

A third organ case, brilliantly matching the two original structures has been added immediately
above the dais, together with a new chorus of stops, topped by a Grand Tuba, in order to assist
further with the projection of the instrument into the body of the Grand Temple which, like the
whole building, is one of the very finest examples of the art deco style in Britain.

Dr. Thomas Trotter, Organist of St Margaret’s, Westminster Abbey and to the City of Birmingham,
is to give the opening concert on the newly restored instrument on Wednesday 30 September at
7.00.

Admission is by (free) ticket only and the audience is asked to be seated by 6.40 pm for a
short introductory talk on the restoration.

A commemorative programme will be on sale for £5, all proceeds going to support the work of the Royal College of Organists.

The event lasts just one hour to enable those travelling long distances to return home the same evening, and drinks and light refreshments will be available after the concert. A limited number of tickets is available from https://event.bookitbee.com/3138/inaugural-organ-concert/

Thomas Trotter’s programme is designed to appeal to all musical tastes. Included are Bach’s
Toccata in F, two pieces by Mozart, Freemasonry’s most prominent composer and three works on
a London theme– Eric Coates’s Knightsbridge March, Vierne’s Carillon de Westminster and a
work by the brother of the 1933 recitalist, Reginald Goss-Custard’s evocative Chelsea Fayre.