The Wren Chapel Organ
The original organ (installed in the very early part of the 18th Century) was built by Renatus Harris, and the front of whose it still houses the current instrument. It was renewed in 1817 by William Gray, with the addition of an octave of then new "German Pedals". By the 1920s it had fallen into disrepair and was replaced with a new extension organ by Compton in 1934, who also enlarged the organ case by moving it forwards.
During the 1970s there were general improvements in musical standards at the Royal Hospital and the tonal limitations of the Compton organ became a serious constraint. In 1978 it was agreed that Hill, Norman & Beard should install a completely new tracker action organ, with a specification in the style of a late 19th Century Hill. Tonally this proved to be hugely successful. However, by 2003 the action had become worn and unreliable.
In 2005 Walkers installed a brand new action and the organ was also cleaned thoroughly and overhauled. This work also included a few minor tonal adjustments. the re-ordering of the mixture stops and the relocation of the swell clarion to the pedal. 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
16 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
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. 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 and 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 two 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. His daughter, Frances (Fanny) Burney, was a celebrated novelist and lived with her father until her marriage to the French exile, General Alexandre D'Arblay, in 1793.
During the 19th Century the Royal Hospital appears to have adopted the custom of appointing women as organists. This was common in churches in the City of London during the 18th Century, though the post-holders' resignation was always expected (indeed insisted upon) in the event of their marrying.
The current Organist, Ian Curror, who has been in post since 1974. He directs the Chapel Choir, helps to administer the popular Royal Hospital Concerts series and supervises the Organ Scholar. He is also a professor at three of London's conservatoires where he does much to promote organ playing, both as a soloist and accompanist, and the development of keyboard and style-related skills. He is a Fellow and former Council member of the Royal College of Organists and Chairman of the Church Music Society.
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 the practical skills of church music and allowing access to professional standards at an early stage in a student's career. Its unique feature is that Scholars may, within limits, choose what activities they wish to concentrate on during their one-year term in post. They receive regular feedback, on which they may build their skills in a structured and positive way.
The Organ Scholars, all of whom are all now pursuing successful careers, have been:
1999 Michael Cayton
2000 James Duddle
2001 Noel Charles
2002 Gabriele Damiani
2003 Jonathan Bunney
2004 Lewis Brito-Babapulle
2005 Timothy Wakerell
2006 Stephen Moore
Further details of the Scholarship are available here.
The Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital
An informal Choir was probably been formed in 1729 by the girls of the Royal Hospital School. The first formal Royal Hospital Choir, of six In-Pensioners was formed in 1834. When the Royal Hospital School closed in 1862 boy choristers were trained by the Organist. Ladies were introduced in 1940 when the boys were evacuated from London.
Today, the Chapel Choir is a professional group of 4 sopranos, 2 altos, 2 tenors and 4 basses, who are chosen for their vocal quality, 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.
The Choir's wide and varied repertoire reflects all musical periods and styles by a range of European composers: from Renaissance polyphony to 20th Century classics, 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 are now being added to the repertoire.
The choir has sung in several broadcasts of the popular BBC Television programme Songs of Praise, Sunday Half Hour and BBC Radio's Choral Evensong. It has recorded for Guild Music (Remembrance and Resurrection), Creature Music (O Perfect Love) and recently produced a CD (for the Royal Hospital Appeal) entitled Valiant Hearts. This features the Requiems by Fauré and Rutter and is available from the Royal Hospital Shop.
The choir's concerts at the Royal Hospital and as part of the Chelsea Festival are always popular sell-outs. In 2006 they gave a memorable performance of the Requiems by Duruflé and Rutter. For 2007 season the Choir will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of Elgar's birth in a concert of English choral music. In the 2007 Chelsea Festival they will be presenting music that would have been performed at the Ranelagh Pleasure Gardens and also Mozart's Vespers and Haydn's Little Organ Mass. The Chapel Choir is available to perform at concerts and other events outside the Royal Hospital.
The Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea have produced a CD entitled Valiant Hearts. You can purchase CD's here from the online shop.
By clicking the link below you can download and listen to a track from the CD.