Stanley, J: Voluntary Op. 5 No. 5 in D major

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.

The new Mander East organ at St Giles Cripplegate was built in 2008.

Here international virtuoso, Thomas Trotter (described by BBC Music Magazine as ‘one of the greatest living organists’), who gave the opening recital on the new organ in April 2008, demonstrates the range of this marvellous new instrument and the astonishing wealth of colour that can be obtained from its mere 15 stops in a programme of music from the sixteenth to twentieth centuries.

‘…Panache to burn…’ BBC Music

‘Trotter’s choice of stops is well nigh perfect, his dexterity formidable’ Andrew Macgregor, BBC Radio 3 CD review