Improvisation: Triptyque Symphonique sur deux thèmes (Father Willis Organ of Salisbury Cathedral)

Описание: Improvisation: Triptyque Symphonique sur deux thèmes - live in concert at Salisbury Cathedral, Saturday 8th October 2022

It was a fantastic privilege to be invited to take part in the series of concerts to celebrate the re-opening of the famous 1877 Father Willis organ at Salisbury Cathedral, back in early October. My three days in the close coincided with some quite stunning early-autumnal weather, as you can see the photographic evidence in this video. Salisbury must surely be one of the most radiantly beautiful cathedrals in the UK, with its remarkable uniformity of style, and sweeping, slender vistas which literally take your breath away.

I remember getting to know the famous 1877 Father Willis in the late 80’s when I played for a highly memorable RSCM Cathedral Course, directed by the late, great, Lionel Dakers. Lionel adored Salisbury and lived there in retirement, with Elizabeth his wife. I remember how proud he was to have been recently named a Lay Canon of the cathedral. He knew how to make every singer feel important, at whatever level - quite a remarkable gift. Even though he died a couple of decades ago, he is only just round the corner, in more senses than one. His ashes are interred just outside the east end of the cathedral. For the duration of the course, I remember being allowed 50 minutes rehearsal on the Willis every morning, directly after the morning Eucharist. Being alone in that totally inspiring building, flooded with light, marked my inner self a lot. Of course I fell in love with the instrument, even then, despite its sharp pitch. I remember getting a lot of mileage out of this with the friendly RSCM course members, as it gave me a remotely plausible excuse for my wrong notes!

The restoration by Harrison and Harrison in 2020 is an absolute triumph and the organ now speaks with a unique voice which is movingly poetic and supremely powerful, in equal measure. Now that the Great Reeds have had their felts removed (Sir Walter Alcock added these, to smooth out the tone in 1934) they are liked a caged lion being suddenly let out of its cage - take cover, all those who are in the firing line! Both the action and winding have been massively improved, the instrument is extremely responsive to even the most sensitive gesture. It feels like you are driving a Ferrari - polished and refined, but with enormous reserves of power when needed. (Not that I have ever driven a Ferrari, I hasten to add…)

As is my usual wont, I concluded my concert with a large scale improvisation - this time a Symphonic Triptyque based on two contrasting themes which I came up with immediately before the concert. Things seemed to flow quite well so I asked for permission to post the recording (made by my good friend Pete Guppy from Gloucester) and am very grateful to David Halls and John Challenger, the resident Organists, for permitting this. If you get the opportunity, do go and hear the Salisbury Willis in the flesh - it’s quite thrilling and the organ now fills the space in a way which it didn't before.