The Organ of St. Martin in the Fields
Since Handel played at the opening recital of the original Schreider organ, the organ at St Martin-in-the-Fields has delighted and inspired generations of worshippers and concert-goers. The current instrument, built by J W Walker & Sons in 1990, is considered one of the finest in London, and was awarded The Carpenters Award for the quality of its casework. The full specification can be found at the bottom of this webpage.
The earliest mention of an organ in St Martin-in-the-Fields dates back to 1526. The first organ to be installed in the new Gibbs church of 1726 was built by Christopher Schreider in 1727 with 3 manuals, pedals and 22 stops. New organs by Gray (1799) and Bevington & Sons (1853) replaced this instrument, but despite numerous rebuildings and modifications, the organ became very unreliable, with almost a third of it in an unusable state by the 1960s. This was finally replaced in 1990 by the current J W Walker & Sons instrument, which is widely regarded as the firm’s flagship organ.
To visitors, worshippers and concert-goers alike, the visual and aural splendour of the organ is one of the glories of St Martin’s. Its liturgical role includes the weekly Sunday services (sung by the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields), Wednesday services sung by our group of young Choral Scholars, and a wide variety of special services throughout the year. Broadcasting is a famous part of life at St Martin’s, and in recent years the organ has been heard on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4, as well as television’s Songs of Praise and a special Christmas broadcast on BBC1. As a concert instrument, the St Martin’s organ has few peers in the capital, and is heard not only as part of our evening concert series (often combined with chamber orchestras for large-scale choral works), but also in monthly lunchtime organ recitals and occasional early evening solo organ concerts.
Organ Project
After the completion of the main building project at St Martin’s, a report was drawn up on the state of the organ by consultant Ian Bell. Although the organ is currently performing well, he identified a number of areas in which work was needed to prevent mechanical problems disrupting the use of the organ in concerts and services in the near future. As well as clearing away over 20 years of accumulated dust, the piston capture system will be updated to current standards, and worn mechanical parts replaced before they start to impact on the functioning of the instrument. Scheduled for summer 2013, this work will stand the organ – and music-making at St Martin’s – in good stead for the coming decades.
As part of the project, St Martin’s will also be commissioning a new chamber organ. This portable instrument will be used several times a week in the concert and liturgical performances of Baroque and Early Music for which this church is world-renowned. We are currently finalising the details of the builder and specification of this instrument, and will be annonucing this very soon. Like the new altar, the two organs together will maintain our tradition of creating great works of art that are both invigorating and functional in the life of St Martin’s.
How you can help – Sponsor a Pipe
Organ pipes vary from a staggering 32 feet in length to ones smaller than a pencil, combining to produce a stunning array of sounds. The idea of ‘Sponsor a Pipe’ is to use donations of any size to either sponsor new pipes in the chamber organ or to clean the existing pipes in our main organ. For the refurbishment of the main organ, sponsor the cleaning of a pipe from as little as £10, or a whole stop from £300. To help fund the new chamber organ, you can sponsor one of the pipes from £25, or sponsor a whole stop from £1000.
Pipe sponsorship can be made ‘in memoriam’, as an unusual gift, in thanks for a special event or simply as a personal donation. Names of donors will be recorded in a book kept in the organ (including any dedications), as well as in the souvenir programme to mark the re-opening of the main organ, and launch of the new chamber organ. Donations above £500 receive a complimentary copy of a CD of the organ and a ticket to the re-opening recital and reception. Donations above £1000 also receive an hour of tuition/demonstration/tour of the organ with the Director of Music or Assistant Organist.
For full details of the ‘Sponsor a Pipe’ scheme, please contact Martin Ford (martin.ford@smitf.org). A special webpage for the scheme will be launched in late December/early January.
Donations can also be made online via the ‘Support us’ section of this website – please specify ‘for the Organ Project’ in the Additional Comments box.
The Organ of St Martin-in-the-Fields
J W Walker 1990
GRANDE ORGUE
Bourdon 16
Montre 8
Flûte Harmonique 8
Bourdon 8
Prestant 4
Flûte Ouverte 4
Doublette 2
Cornet (from a) V
Fourniture 19.22.26.29 IV
Cymbale 26.29.33.36 IV
Trompette 8
Clairon 4
Tremblant
Récit to Grande Orgue
Positif to Grande Orgue
PÉDALE
Montre 16
Soubasse 16
Prestant 8
Bourdon 8
Doublette 4
Fourniture IV
Contra Bombarde 32
Bombarde 16
Douçaine 16
Trompette 8
Chalumeau 4
Tremblant
Récit to Pédale
Grande Orgue to Pédale
Positif to Pédale
RÉCIT EXPRESSIF
Diapason 8
Flûte à Cheminée 8
Viole de Gambe 8
Voix Céleste (from g) 8
Prestant 4
Flûte Conique 4
Nasard 2 2/3
Octavin 2
Tierce 1 3/5
Plein Jeu 15.19.22.26.29 V
Basson 16
Trompette 8
Hautbois 8
Voix Humaine 8
Clairon 4
Tremblant
POSITIF
Bourdon 8
Prestant 4
Flûte à Fuseau 4
Nasard 2 2/3
Doublette 2
Quarte de Nasard 2
Tierce 1 3/5
Larigot 1 1/3
Fourniture 22.26.29.33 IV
Cromorne 8
Tremblant
Récit to Positif
Compass
Manuals: C-c4: 61 notes
Pedals: C-g1: 32 notes
Mechanical action with optional electric coupling; electric stop action and Solid State pistons with 8 memories and independent sequencer. There are 8 divisional pistons for each department and 8 general pistons.
