David Briggs (organ)
Donal McCann (organ)
Henry Websdale (organ)
Richard Gowers (organ)
Tom Winpenny (organ)
Ashley Grote (organ)
Robert Quinney (organ)
Daniel Moult (organ)

Works

Alain, Jehan

Fantaisie no.2

Bach, Johann Sebastian

Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV582
Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV550

Bingham, Judith

Incarnation with Shepherds Dancing

Bridge, Frank

Adagio in E major

Briggs, David

Improvised Variations and Toccata on the Great Advent Antiphons (O Sapientia)

Dupre, Marcel

Cortege et litanie, op.19b
Esquisses (3), op.41

» no.3 in B flat minor

Howells, Herbert

Rhapsodies (3), op.17

» no.1 in D flat major

Mendelssohn, Felix

Preludes and Fugues (6), op.35

» no.6 in B flat major (arr. Robert Quinney)

Carillon

Stucke fur die Orgel (Pieces for organ) (12), op.59

» no.5 Toccata in D minor

» no.6 Fugue in D major

Vaughan Williams, Ralph

Preludes on Welsh Hymn Tunes (3) for organ

» no.2 Rhosymedre

Vierne, Louis

Pieces de fantaisie (24): Suite no.2, op.53

» no.6 Toccata

Pieces de fantaisie (24): Suite no.3, op.54

» no.6 Carillon de Westminster

Whitlock, Percy

Fantasie Choral no.2 in F sharp minor

Artists

David Briggs (organ)
Donal McCann (organ)
Henry Websdale (organ)
Richard Gowers (organ)
Tom Winpenny (organ)
Ashley Grote (organ)
Robert Quinney (organ)
Daniel Moult (organ)

About

2x DVD plus 2x CD boxset featuring an extensive documentary film detailing the restoration of the iconic 1934 Harrison and Harrison organ of King’s College, Cambridge.

Filmed over more than a year at all stages of the restoration, and presented and narrated by David Briggs, this is the ultimate in-depth portrait of the rebirth of one of the world’s most famous musical instruments.

In addition to the documentary, the boxset includes an extraordinary set of filmed performances, also duplicated over the two CDs, by organ scholars past and present. David Briggs improvises, and Robert Quinney, Ashley Grote, Tom Winpenny, Richard Gowers, Henry Websdale and Dónal McCann play a wonderful range of music by Bach, Mendelssohn, Reger, Vaughan Williams, Bridge, Howells, Murrill, Vierne, Dupré, Alain, Messiaen and Bingham.

Reviews

This film follows the instrument’s journey from dismantling to reinstallation, involving a 400-mile round trip for all its constituent parts – including over 4500 pipes – between Cambridge and Durham. The mind-boggling logistics of the operation, the complexity of the process and the amazing skills involved ... are all vividly conveyed. ... Briggs is a clear and knowledgeable guide, putting both his intimate understanding of the instrument and his improvisatory skills to good use in displaying some of its more unusual features. Marc Rochester (DVD Choice)

Gramophone May 2021