The Wren Chapel Organ
The original organ (installed in the very early part of the 18th Century) was built by Renatus Harris, and it is his case which still houses the current instrument. The organ was renewed in 1811 by Gray, with the addition of an octave of the then new "German Pedals".
By the 1920s it had fallen into disrepair and was replaced with a new extension organ by Compton, who also enlarged the organ case and moved it forwards.
The development of musical standards at the Royal Hospital during the 1970s revealed the limitations of the Compton organ as a serious constraint so, in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Hill, Norman & Beard installed a completely new tracker action organ in 1978, with a specification in the style of a late 19th century Hill instrument. Tonally this proved to be hugely successful, though by 2003 the action had become worn and unreliable.
In 2005 Walkers installed a brand new action and the organ was also thoroughly cleaned and overhauled. There were also a few minor tonal adjustments which included the re-ordering of the mixture stops, relocation of the swell clarion to the pedal and, to take its place, the creation of a very beautiful 4' harmonic flute. Together with the addition of three carefully voiced digital stops on the pedal, the organ has been greatly enhanced, not only for playing repertoire but also for colourful psalm accompaniment and vigorous hymn singing.
Specification of the organ, as restored by Walkers in 2005
Couplers
Swell sub-octave
Swell to Great
Swell to Pedal
Great to Pedal
Aids to registration
6 Swell thumb pistons 6 Pedal combination pedals
6 Great thumb pistons 6 Swell combination pedals
6 General thumb pistons Swell to Great combination pedal
Great to Pedal thumb piston Great to Pedal combination pedal
Swell to Pedal thumb piston Stepper forwards combination pedal
Swell to Great thumb piston Stepper backwards combination pedal
Stepper forwards thumb piston Piston coupler Great/Pedal
Stepper backwards thumb piston Generals on swell combination pedals
General Cancel
Setter
12 channels of divisional settings
96 channels of general settings (stepper availability)
Mechanical key and pedal action
Electric stop, coupler and piston action
Standard RCO radiating and concave pedal board
Adjustable stool
Drawstops on 45 degree jambs
There is also a continuo organ built by Peter Collins, used for renaissance and baroque music in services and concerts, and a 3-manual Makin digital organ in All Saint Chapel in the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary.
Organists
There have been only fourteen organists since the Hospital's foundation in 1692. Of these the most prominent was Dr Charles Burney, holding the post between 1783 and his death in 1814, a period in which Enlightenment ideals had become established throughout Europe. Burney was an accomplished figure in literary and musical circles: his fame rests on his General History of Music, published between 1776 and 1789, which revealed an extraordinary breadth of knowledge, much of which was gained on extensive travels in Europe. He was an accomplished astronomer whose acquaintances included Sir Isaac Newton and William Herschel, the discoverer of Uranus. Burney himself published a pamphlet on the minor comets. He was a friend of Haydn, who stayed in the Organist's apartments at the Royal Hospital during his two major London visits, and it was through Burney's recommendation that Haydn was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Oxford in 1791. Frances (Fanny) Burney, was a celebrated novelist and lived here with her father until her marriage to the French exile, General Alexandre D'Arblay, in 1793.
During the 19th Century the Hospital appears to have adopted the custom of appointing women as organists. This had been prevalent in churches in the City of London during the 18th century, though the post-holders' resignation was always expected (and insisted on) in the event of their marrying. Apart from a short period in the 19th century the Royal Hospital Organists continued to live in the apartments formerly occupied by Burney, their salary being supplemented by official quotas of coal and gas during the late 19th and early 20th century. It was only in 1989 that these quarters were re-allocated.
The current Organist, Ian Curror, is a part-time employee of the Royal Hosptial whose duties include directing the Chapel Choir and helping to administer the RHC Concerts. He is a Fellow and former Council member of the Royal College of Organists.
Church Music (Organ) Scholarship
For many years the Royal Hospital has encouraged the talent of young musicians: to formalise this policy and to mark the new Millennium, an Organ Scholarship was established in 1999. This has since proved a successful way of developing students' practical skills in church music and allowing access to professional standards at an early stage in their career. The unique feature is that Scholars may, within limits, choose what activities they wish to concentrate on during their one-year term of office. They receive regular feedback, on which they may build their skills in a structured and positive way.
Past Organ Scholars, all of whom are all now pursuing successful musical careers are:
Michael Cayton (1999)
James Duddle (2000)
Noel Charles (2001)
Gabriele Damiani (2002)
Jonathan Bunney (2003)
Lewis Brito-Babapulle (2004)
Timothy Wakerell (2005)
Stephen Moore (2006, 2007)
Benjamin Horden (2008)
Peter Holder (2009)
Matthew Fletcher (2010)
Full details of the Scholarship for prospective applicants are available from the Organist at iancurror@chelsea-pensioners.org.uk
The Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital
The Chapel Choir is a professional group (4 sopranos, 2 altos, 2 tenors and 4 basses) who are chosen not only for their vocal quality but also general musicianship and team skills. They are drawn from a wide variety of musical backgrounds and much interest is shown by London's community of singers when a vacancy arises. Many of its members sing with other small famous choirs.
The choirs wide and varied repertoire reflects all musical periods and styles by a range of European composers, from Renaissance polyphony to 20th century classics and including the contemporary composers John Tavener, Jonathan Dove, James Macmillan and Judith Bingham. The most frequent service is Choral Matins, though an increasing number of mass settings is now being added to the repertoire.
The choir has sung in several broadcasts of the popular BBC Television programme Songs of Praise and BBC Radio's Sunday Half Hour and Choral Evensong. It has recorded for Guild Music (Remembrance and Resurrection), Creature Music (O Perfect Love) and produced a promotional CD (for the National Appeal) entitled Valiant Hearts. This featured the Requiems by Fauré and Rutter.
This choir's concerts at the Royal Hospital are always popular sell-outs: it is available for concerts and other events outside the Royal Hospital.
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