Whitlock: Fanfare from 'Four Extemporisations'

The first recording of the newly-restored 1911 Harrison Organ in St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol.

Restored in 2010, the organ in St Mary Redcliffe is regarded as one of the finest English Romantic organs ever made, and its original builder, Arthur Harrison, regarded it as his greatest masterpiece.

A collection of favourite original organ works and transcriptions for organ, played on this magnificent organ by the church’s own organist, Andrew Kirk.

In keeping with the historic nature of the Temple Church, London, the first mention of an organ there dates back to 1308 – although the organ on this recording, made by Harrison & Harrison, dates only from 1954 (the previous organ was destroyed during the blitz in 1941). The varied programme touches on a multitude of works for organ by English composers, all of which bring out different facets of this versatile instrument. The organist, James Vivian, has been part of the music department at the Temple Church since 1997, working first with the then director of music Stephen Layton, before taking on the role himself in 2006.

This disc is complemented by the release the Temple Church Choir’s The Majesty of Thy Glory: Choral Works by Britten, Elgar, Howells and Purcell, also released this month.