enlarge photo 1871 Henry Willis, 1924-1933 Harrison & Harrison, 2004 Mander organ at Royal Albert Hall in London, England, UK

Pipes at the Proms

…performances from London’s celebrated Royal Albert Hall and its 9,999-pipe Willis-Mander organ, still the largest in England.

Audio Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

Week of August 27, 2007

Links and Resources:

Music played in the program

EDWIN H. LEMARE: Concert Fantasia on British Themes, Op. 91 –Christopher Herrick –Hyperion CD-66258

SIR HUBERT PARRY: Toccata & Fugue (The Wanderer) –Dame Gillian Weir –Priory CD-859

J.S. BACH: Fugue in g, S. 578 –Virgil Fox –RCA CD-7736

MARCEL DUPRÉ: Symphony in g for Organ and Orchestra, Op. 25 –Royal Philharmonic Orchestra /Jahja Ling, conductor; Michael Murray –Telarc CD-80136

SIGFRID KARG-ELERT: Valse Mignonne, Op. 142, no. 2. HOWARD CABLE (arr.): The Brothers Gershwin (medley) –Simon Preston –Signum CD-084

First built by Henry Willis in 1871, played by Bruckner and Saint-Saens and for a brief time the largest in the world, the Royal Albert Hall pipe organ was revised by Harrison & Harrison from 1924 to 1934, and again revived and enhanced in 2002-2004, this time by Mander. Through all the years, this mighty instrument in this iconic auditorium has always thrilled the heart. Click for more information about the BBC Proms, Britain’s biggest music festival.