© The British Institute of Organ Studies 2007 (BIOS)
Registered as Charity No. 283936

Composer anniversaries celebrated in 2009

Click to see details of composer anniversaries celebrated in HOSA music.

Introduction to the HOSA project

This unique and ground-breaking project has taken place in East Anglia under the auspices of the British Institute of Organ Studies, aided by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The sounds of some 40 of the area’s most historic organs are now available via the internet to the general public.

The aims have been to record music appropriate for the instrument in question, familiar to composers and players of the time, and to achieve as high a standard of recording as is possible, given the locations and the age and condition of some of the organs. Recordings are made by professional organists under the leadership of Anne Page (Musical Co-ordinator).

As part of the funding package, public educational events have been organised at many of the recording venues, as a means of demonstrating the worth of the instruments to the local community and stimulating the interest of young and old alike in this often neglected part of their heritage.

Recordings of music played on the organ of Adlington Hall in Cheshire have been added to the HOSA project in memory of Noel Mander who restored the organ in 1959.

The organs recorded can be found:

• listed by county,
• listed by town,
• listed by organ builder and date
• listed by composer
• listed by compass and keyboards
• list of those with music scores

Information about the recordings

With 44 organs of historic interest and around 19 hours of recordings this project offers a major new resource for the study of English organs and their music. The organs were chosen from 80 instruments recommended by organists, organ builders and others who know the region. The choice of instruments is neither definitive nor exhaustive as many more could have been included, and there is certainly scope for the extension of the project within the eastern region and beyond. The recordings are a snapshot in sound taken on a particular day - some of the organs are not in good repair but of considerable musical interest, several of which are scheduled for restoration in the near future. The chosen selection results in a survey of organs built between c1750 to just before World War 1, including organs by leading builders of national renown and those whose activities were more local: Hart, Howard, Mack, Miller, Noble and Street. An index to the builders is provided. These organs have for the first time been drawn together via a single access point and the information contained in the recordings can be used in various ways, for example:

• comparing work by different builders working at the same time or in some cases comparing organs from the same workshop.
• tracing some of the radical developments which took place during this period, during which the long-compass organ of the Georgian era was transformed by the impact of continental and other influences which shaped the Victorian instrument - changes which resulted in the type of organ still familiar today.
• using the music recorded as a guide to suitable repertoire for organs of similar style and date.
• taking a virtual tour of the historic organs of East Anglia.

The changes of compass, stop type and sound ideal which occurred over this period were paralleled by the growing importance of the Swell and Pedal divisions through the middle decades of the 19th century. An index has been provided to the number of divisions and their note range to facilitate the study of this development. A particularly interesting type of organ which contains in microcosm many of the effects developed in larger instruments is the single-manual organ with long compass, shifting movement and at least some enclosure of stops: Boxworth, Gooderstone, Thornage, Thurrock and Wymondham are good examples. The range of effects they offer is considerable, including instant changes of registration and dynamic variety under the immediate control of the player.

One of the project’s main objectives is to demonstrate the interdependence of instrument and music. Each player devised programmes which show how the instruments might have been used around the time they were built, displaying their tonal qualities and typical features in appropriate music of the period. An index to the music has been provided. In most cases short notes and registrations are provided with each piece. Unfamiliar works by well-known composers can be found, for example John Stanley’s Concertos Op.2 set for keyboard. Composers with connections to the region are represented, including Beckwith, Burney, Chipp, Crotch and Hook. Pieces by Jonas Blewitt and John Marsh, both important sources for information on late 18th century performance practice, are included.

The project can be used for research by players, historians and organ builders and it is very much hoped that it will promote dialogue between these disciplines.

Participants in the HOSA project

• Project Leader: José Hopkins.
• NPOR Director: Michael Sayers.
• Sound Engineers: Peter Harrison, Gareth Stuart.
• Players: Andrew Hayden, Daniel Hyde, Paul Joslin, Jonathan Lilley, Anne Page (Musical Co-ordinator), David Ponsford, Malcolm Russell.
• Events organiser: Jeremy Sampson.

Key to players and venues

• Andrew Hayden: Bergh Apton, Burnham Thorpe, Gooderstone, Hundon, Mundford, Oxborough.
• Daniel Hyde: Sedgeford, Wiveton.
• Paul Joslin: Birchanger, Chelmsford.
• Jonathan Lilley: Bassingbourn, Great Snoring, Little Snoring, Tittleshall.
• Anne Page: Adlington Hall, Badwell Ash, Barton, Boxworth, Cambridge (All Saints), Cawston, Colton, Great Bardfield, Great Wenham, Haslingfield, Hilborough, Hillington, Hingham, Ingrave, Little Bardfield, Norwich (St George Colegate, St Helen’s Bishopgate), Pakenham, Sculthorpe, Thaxted, Thornage, Thurrock, Woodbridge, Wymondham.
• Anne Page and Paul Binski duets: Adlington Hall and Hillington.
• David Ponsford: King’s Lynn (St Nicholas).
• Malcolm Russell: Battisford, Bawdsey, Falkenham, Sibton, Thorpe Morieux, Redenhall.

Index to builders of instruments in the HOSA project

This list is as accurate as present information permits. Organs remain in varying degrees the work of one builder, the full NPOR entry will give more detailed picture of later work.

Abbott & Smith Chelmsford (1909).
Bates & Son Badwell Ash (1860s?), Pakenham (1863).
Bevington Hilborough (1857).
Binns Tittleshall (1897).
Bishop Gooderstone (attributed, c1835), Thorpe Morieux (date unknown), Haslingfield(1846, modern restoration).
Bishop & Starr Battisford (1864), Sibton (1872).
Bridge (attributed to the style of) Falkenham (1750s?).
Davis, James Wymondham Abbey (chamber organ 1810, modern reconstruction).
Denmam Great Snoring (1867).
Elliot Thornage (1812).
England, G.P. Norwich, St George Colegate (Great from 1798). Cawston (1813 rebuilt from an earlier organ by unknown builder).
Forster & Andrews Cambridge All Saints (1864), Hingham (1877).
Gern Birchanger (1884).
Gray, Miller (and Harris) Little Bardfield (1830s? Case and some pipes 17th century).
Harrison & Harrison Mundford (1912).
Hart Bawdsey (1842, modern restoration).
Hill & Son (and Elliot?) Ingrave (1856).
Holdich Redenhall (1843), Wiveton (1851), Boxworth (1857).
Howard Little Snoring (c1800).
Lewis Great Wenham (1860s).
Lincoln, H.C. Thaxted (1821).
Lincoln, J. Woodbridge Quay Chapel (1789 and later).
Mack Oxborough (c1850), Sedgeford (1862 &1893).
Miller Great Bardfield (1860s), Barton (1869 & c1884).
Noble Norwich, St Helen’s Bishopgate (1850s), St George Colegate (Swell 1870s), Colton (1855).
Norman & Beard Bergh Apton (1900).
Russell, H. West Thurrock (1806).
Snetzler Hillington (1756), Sculthorpe (1755).
Street Burnham Thorpe (date unknown).
Unknown restoration builder Adlington Hall (?1693),
Wadsworth Hundon (1899).
Walker Bassingbourn (1867).
Willis King’s Lynn, St Nicholas (1900).

Index to HOSA instruments by number and compass of keyboards

Builder’s name main reference only, the full entry will indicate whether later work has taken place. If there is a Pedal its compass is indicated.

One manual, long compass (GG)

Badwell Ash, ped. GG-c (17) Bates.
Bawdsey, ped.GG-d (19) Hart.
Boxworth, ped. GG-G (13) Holdich.
Falkenham, Bridge (attr).
Gooderstone, ped. GG-G (13) Bishop.
Little Bardfield, ped. GG-c (18) Harris/Gray.
Sculthorpe, ped. GG-C (5) Snetzler.
Thornage, Elliot.
West Thurrock, ped. C-c (13) Russell.
Wymondham Abbey, Davis.

One manual, C compass

Barton, ped. C-c’ (25) Miller.
Burnham Thorpe, ped. C-g (20) Street.
Cawston, ped. and Swell disconnected England.
Colton, ped. C-f (18) Noble.
Great Bardfield, ped. C-g (20) Miller.
Little Snoring Howard.
Oxborough, ped.C-c (13) Mack.
Pakenham, ped.C-g (20) Bates.
Sibton (1872), ped. C-e’(29) Bishop & Starr.
Thorpe Morieux, ped.C-f’(30) Bishop.
Wiveton, ped. C-c (13) Holdich.

Two or three manuals, long compass. Swell compass indicated

Adlington Hall, Gt and Ch GG, AA then CC.
Haslingfield, Gt GG, Sw tenor c with Choir bass to GG, ped. C-f’ (modern, with alternative GG coupler.)
Hillington, Gt and Ch GG, (ped. C-f’modern) Snetzler.
St George Colegate, Gt GG, Sw C, (ped. C-f’modern) England Gt, Noble Sw.
Thaxted, Gt and Ch FF, Sw tenor e, ped.FF-c (20) H.C. Lincoln.

Two manuals, C compass Great, short compass Swell.

Bassingbourn, Swell tenor c, ped.C-f’(30) Walker.
Cambridge All Saints, Swell tenor c, ped. C-f’(30) Forster & Andrews.
Hilborough, Swell tenor c, ped.C- c’ (25) Bevington.
Ingrave, Swell tenor c, ped.C-d’(27) Elliot/Hill.
Norwich, St Helen’s Bishopgate, St Helen Bishopgate, Swell most stops tenor g, ped.C-g (20) Noble.
Woodbridge Quay Chapel, Swell tenor g, ped.C-g (20) J. Lincoln.

Two manuals, C compass Great and Swell.

Battisford (1864), ped.C-e’ (29) Bishop.
Bergh Apton, ped.C-f’ (30) Norman & Beard.
Great Snoring, ped.C-f’ (30) Denmam.
Hingham, ped. C-g’ (32 modern) Forster & Andrews.
King’s Lynn, St Nicholas, ped.c-f’(30) Willis.
Redenhall, ped.C-g (20) Holdich.
Sedgeford, ped.C-f’(30) Mack.
Tittleshall, ped.C-f’(30) Binns.

Three manuals, C compass

Birchanger, ped.C-f’(30) Gern.
Chelmsford, St. John, ped.C-f’(30) Abbott & Smith.
Great Wenham, ped. C-e’ (29) Lewis.
Hundon, ped.C-f’(30) Wadsworth.
Mundford, ped.C-f’(30) Harrison & Harrison.

Index of composers

Place names (in italics) allow sound files to be located via the NPOR using the list of HOSA organs sorted by town or by an address search.

Adams, Thomas Voluntary 3 in A (1824) Great Bardfield; Voluntary 4 in B flat (1824) Ingrave; Voluntary 8 in B flat (1824) Pakenham; 6 Easy Voluntaries nos 1 & 5 Sibton; 6 Easy Voluntaries nos 2 & 4 Redenhall.
Anon Voluntary (Cornet) Little Bardfield.
Arne, Thomas Concerto no.1 in C Thorpe Morieux.
Attwood, Thomas Dirge for Nelson’s Funeral Sibton; Duet from the Anthem ‘Teach me O Lord’ arr. Novello Pakenham; Teach me O Lord (Anthem for 4 Voices) arr. Novello Woodbridge.
Bach, C.P.E. Sonata in D Wiveton.
Bach, J.S. Preludes and fugues (WTC): Fugue in C minor (Book 1) Cambridge All Saints; Prelude and Fugue in F sharp BWV 858 Wiveton; Prelude and Fugue in C Bk 1 version by George Drummond Bawdsey; ‘Ich will dir mein Herze schenken’ arr. Westbrook Haslingfield; Siciliano (arranged) Gt Snoring.
Batiste, Edouard Andante no.2 in C minor Hingham; Andante no.3 in A Cambridge All Saints.
Battishill, Jonathan Madrigal Hillington; March, Voluntary Little Bardfield; Voluntary 6 in B flat Badwell Ash.
Beckwith Voluntaries 1 & 6 Burnham Thorpe.
Beethoven, L. van Andante from the 1st Symphony arr. Batiste Great Wenham; Adagio movement from Op.13 arr. Hopkins Hilborough.
Bennett, John Voluntary 6 in F Hillington.
Best, W.T. Introduction to ‘O Praise the Lord with one consent’ Redenhall.
Blewitt, Jonas Voluntaries from “A Complete Treatise”: Introduction, Voluntary 1 in F West Thurrock; no.2 in D, no.4 in B flat Thornage; no.3 in G, no. 5 in E flat St Helen Bishopgate, Norwich; no.6 in C Little Bardfield; no.7 in E Great Bardfield; no.10 in C Boxworth; no.11 in C Ingrave; no.12 in B flat Badwell Ash.
Blow, John Double Voluntary Adlington Hall.
Boyce, William Voluntary 1 in D Adlington Hall; Voluntary 2 in G Adlington Hall; Voluntary 3 in C Boxworth; Voluntary 4 in G minor Wymondham; Voluntary 5 in D West Thurrock.
Brahms, Johannes Chorale Preludes from Op.122: Es ist ein’ Ros’ entsprungen, Herzlich thut mich verlangen (1st and 2nd settings), O Welt, ich muss dich lassen (2nd setting), Schmücke dich O liebe Seele, King’s Lynn St Nicholas; Schmücke dich O liebe Seele Cambridge All Saints.
Burney, Charles Fughetta in A, Fugue in F minor, Introduction for the Diapasons Gooderstone.
Buxtehude Durch Adams Fall Berghapton; In Dulci Jubilo Hundon.
Byrd, W. Walsingham variations Little Snoring.
Carleton (Carlston), Nicholas A verse for two to play Adlington Hall.
Cherubini, Ave Maria arr. Novello Ingrave.
Chipp, E.T. Op.11 no.10 Canzonet Hilborough; Op.11 no.13, no.21 Haslingfield.
Clarke, Jeremiah Trumpet Minuet Redenhall.
Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel Arietta in F Hundon.
Corelli, A Largo/Vivace from 8th Concerto arr. Marsh Boxworth; Pastoral movement from 8th Concerto arr. Marsh Ingrave; 9th Concerto arr. Marsh Ingrave; Trio sonata Op.4 no.1 Falkenham.
Croft, William Voluntary in D major (for the trumpet) Adlington Hall
Crotch, William Fugue in F on a chant from Dr Hayes Colton.
Dubois, Theodore Prelude in C minor Hundon.
Dussek, J.L. Trio Op.83 Thorpe Morieux.
Elgar, Edward Cantique Tittleshall; Idylle Chelmsford; Vesper Voluntaries Birchanger.
Faulkes, William Meditation Hundon.
Franck, César Andantino (in A flat), Sortie (in B major) Barton.
Greene, Maurice Voluntary in B flat Burnham Thorpe; Voluntary in G minor Oxborough.
Guilmant, Alexandre Antienne pour le Dimanche de Quasimodo Great Wenham; Berceuse Op.77 no.3 Hingham; Canzone Op.40 no.2 Birchanger; Minuetto Op.77 no.4 Mundford.
Handel, G.F. Concerto Op.4 no.1, Hallelujah Chorus (duet) arr. Marsh Hillington; Concerto Op.4 no.2 Wymondham, Op.4 no.2 1st movement, March from ’Occasional Oratorio’ Birchanger; Concerto Op.4 no.5 , Fugue 3 in B flat Falkenham; Fugue in F arr. Parker, Menuet from Berenice arr. Best Bassingbourn; March in D Battisford; Adagio from the 7th Concerto arr. Mailly Hingham; Choruses (Messiah) ‘And the Glory of the Lord‘, ‘For unto us a Child is born’ arr. Smart Great Wenham; from Messiah ‘He was despised’ arr. Hopkins, ‘He trusted in God’ arr. Nightingale Hilborough; Overture to Athalia arr. Hennig Cambridge All Saints; Overtures to Otho, Radamisto Cawston; Fugues in F major (no.10) and D minor (no.9) from Clementi's Practical Harmony Adlington Hall.
Haydn, Josef Pieces for Flute-clock 1793 set no.19 Cawston; nos 11,17,23 Burnham Thorpe; nos 21,25 St Helen Bishopgate, Norwich; various pieces for Flute-clock Little Snoring; ‘Mass Voluntary’ no. 3 arr. J.C. Nightingale Pakenham; Quartet no.5 arr. Hiles Thorpe Morieux; Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Dona nobis from the First Mass arr.Novello Ingrave; ‘The heavens are telling’ arr. Nightingale Haslingfield.
Heron, Henry Voluntary 1 in D, Voluntary 8 in G minor Thaxted; Allegro from Voluntary 1 Battisford.
Hook, James Voluntaries Op.146 nos 3 & 9 Gooderstone; Op.146 nos 5 & 10 Wymondham; Voluntary in C minor (dedicated to Wesley) Colton.
Joslin, Paul Grand Choeur in D Chelmsford.
Kirkman, J. Voluntary 6 Little Snoring.
Kirnberger, J.P. Fuga and Polonoise in F Wymondham.
Karg-Elert, Sigfrid Op.65 no.9 Mit Ernst, O Menschenkinder, no.10 Vom Himmel hoch Hundon; Op.65 no.21 O Welt, ich muss dich lassen, no.30 Nach einer Prüfung kurzer Tage Berghapton; Op.65 no.29 Mach’s mit mir, Gott Mundford; Op.65 no.59 Nun danket alle Gott, no.5 Freu dich sehr, O meine Seele, Legend Op.141 no.1 King’s Lynn St Nicholas.
Lefébure-Wély, L.J.A Andante in E flat Cambridge All Saints.
Lemmens, Jacques-Nicholas Triumphal March Cambridge All Saints.
Locke, Matthew For the Organ (in A minor) from Melothesia Adlington Hall.
Long, Samuel Lessons and voluntaries complete: Lesson 1in A, Voluntary 1 in G minor Woodbridge; Lesson 2 in C Great Bardfield; Lesson 3 in C minor Sculthorpe; Lesson 4 in E Hillington; Voluntary 2 in D minor Pakenham.
MacDowell, E.A. Maestoso AD 1620, Pastorale to a wild rose Chelmsford.
Marsh, John Voluntary 6 from ‘18 Vols for the use of young practitioners’ St Helen Bishopgate, Norwich; Largo (1781) Sibton.
Martini, Padre G. Sonata 1 in F minor Colton; Gavotta from Sonata 1 Hilborough.
Martini, J.P.E. from Ecole d’Orgue Ch.6 no.4 St George Colegate, Norwich; Ch.3 no.4 St Helen Bishopgate, Norwich
Mendelssohn, Felix Sonatas Op.65 no.2 Sedgeford; Op.65 no.5 Haslingfield; Op.65 no.6 Great Wenham; Adagio from Sonata no.1 Bassingbourn; Lied ohne Worte no.4 in A arr. Calkin Hilborough.
Morley, Thomas ‘I heard a voice from heaven’ arr. Novello Boxworth.
Mozart, W.A. Andante in F K616 Gt Snoring; Cantabile in E flat arr. Marsh St George Colegate, Norwich; Motet ‘Deus tibi laus et honor’ arr. Hopkins Hilborough; Movement in G arr. Marsh Boxworth.
Nares, James Introduction & Fugue in F Oxborough, Little Snoring.
Novello, Vincent various arrangements Ingrave; Boxworth; Pakenham; Woodbridge.
Paradies, P.D. Aria Gt Snoring.
Parratt, Walter Prelude in C sharp minor Cambridge All Saints.
Parry, C. Hubert Elegy (1913), no.1 from ‘A Little Organ Book’ King’s Lynn St Nicholas.
Pleyel, Ignaz Movement in G from 1st Quintetto arr. John Marsh Badwell Ash.
Prout, E. Prelude (in F) Chelmsford.
Purcell, Henry ‘Halleluja’ arr. Novello Boxworth; Voluntary for Double Organ, Voluntary in G major Adlington Hall.
Rheinberger, Josef Op.162 no.5 Andante Amabile Berghapton; Op.165 no.10 Con Moto Hundon.
Richardson, J.E. Interlude (in A) Chelmsford
Rinck, J.C.H. Preludes Op.25: nos 2,3,6,7 Great Bardfield; from Rink’s Practical Organ School no.161 St George Colegate, Norwich; Theme with 9 Variations and Finale Barton.
Russell, William Voluntary 2 (1804) West Thurrock; Voluntary 6 (1804) Woodbridge; Voluntary 10 (1804) Little Bardfield; Voluntary 11 (1804) Thornage; Voluntary 3 (1812) Haslingfield; Voluntary 7 (1812) Thaxted.
Salomé, T.C. Grand Choeur (in G) Chelmsford.
Silas, E. Melody Tittleshall.
Smart, Henry from the Organ Book (12 pieces) no.2. Andante, no.12 Allegro Pomposo Hingham; Air with Variations and Finale Fugato Sedgeford; Postlude in C Bassingbourn.
Stanford, C.V. 6 Short Preludes Op.101 nos 1, 6 Berghapton; Postlude no.6 Set 1 Op.101 Tittleshall; 6 Short Preludes & Postludes 2nd set Op.105 nos 5 & 6 Mundford.
Stanley, John Concertos Op. 2 arranged for keyboard (complete): no.1 St George Colegate, Norwich; no.2 West Thurrock; no.3 Cawston; no.4 Badwell Ash; no.5 Little Bardfield; no.6 Thornage; Voluntary Op.7 no.9 in G Sculthorpe, Thorpe Morieux; Voluntary Op.7 no.6 in F Redenhall.
Steggall, Charles Allegretto Pastorale Battisford.
Storace, Bernado Ballo deglia Battaglia Redenhall.
Tomkins, Thomas A Fancy for two to play Adlington Hall.
Walond, William Voluntary Op.1 no.4 in D Great Bardfield; Op. 1 no.5 Thorpe Morieux; Voluntary Op.2 no.1 in E, Op.2 no.3 in G Thaxted; Op.2 no.5 in C minor Adlington Hall; Voluntary Op.2 no.9 in E flat, Op.2 no.10 in A minor Sculthorpe.
Watts, John Voluntary in C minor no.23 Burnham Thorpe
Weldon, John ‘Hear my crying O God’ arr. Novello Colton.
Wesley, Charles Prelude and Fugue in G minor Oxborough.
Wesley, Samuel Voluntary Op.6 no.1 St George Colegate, Norwich; Op.6 no.2 St Helen Bishopgate, Norwich; Op.6 no.3 Bawdsey; Op.6 no.6 Gt Snoring; Op.6 no.11 Boxworth; Op.6 no.12 Thaxted; Fugue KO 629, Air KO 647, Fugue in D no.39, Voluntary KO 639 Oxborough; 12 Short Pieces KO 617 nos 1,2 &6 Wiveton; 12 Short Pieces KO 617 nos 1,2,4,5,6,7,11,12 & 13 Redenhall; Two short pieces Battisford; Voluntary 5 (from 2nd Harding set), ‘Glory be to the Father’ arr. Novello Woodbridge; Air and Gavotte (arrangement with pedal), Prelude in A (arrangement with pedal) Bassingbourn.
Wesley, Samuel Sebastian Andante in E Gt Snoring; Andante in G (no.1 of Six Pieces) Bawdsey; Introduction and Hymn ‘London New’ Sibton; Larghetto (no.5 of Six Pieces), Choral Song Battisford; Verse to ‘O Praise the Lord with one consent’ Redenhall; Voluntary: Grave and Andante Hingham.
West, John E. Allegro Pomposo Berghapton; Easter Morn Mundford.
Zipoli, Domenico Pastorale (arranged) Bassingbourn.

List of organs where musical scores are available

For some recordings, a pdf image of the music score is available.

Haslingfield   Haydn
Hillborough   Beethoven, Handel, Mozart
Pakenham    Haydn

Acknowledgements

BIOS is most grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund (Eastern Region) for financial support for this project.

Thanks are due to the staff at the British Library and the Cambridge University Library, the late Robin Langley of the Royal College of Organists Library and the owners of private collections for access to scores; to churchwardens, incumbents and others who provided access to the churches and hospitality; to organists, organ builders and others who advised on the selection of instruments.

Anne Page and José Hopkins
January 2007