The Organ of St. Martin in the Fields

The 1990 West End Organ of J.W. Walker and Sons Ltd was commissioned as a 48- stop instrument that would serve as a concert instrument, provide appropriate accompaniment for the extensive choral programme and lead hymn singing for dozens of carol and other popular services, often packed to capacity. The goal was to fulfil these requirements, avoiding tricks or gimmicks, and to create an instrument of musical integrity, St. Martin’s is much admired for its intimate and immediate acoustic and well known for its suitability for chamber music. However, when filled with 1200 people singing in the hearty style, which is such a feature of St. Martin’s, the new instrument can just hold its own.

The first organ to stand in the west gallery was built by Christopher Schreider, the case design of that organ was probably detailed by James Gibb, the architect of the church. The new case design follows the outline of the Schreider main case, but was somewhat altered from the original design to allow more sound to pass through the fronts. The instrument employs mechanical key- action and electric stop action with an extensive combination action for recital purposes. The coupling is mechanical, with optional electric assits. So remarkable is the touch that these latter have proved to be unnecessary. Interchangeable parallel and radiating pedal boards have been provided. The French stop list was chosen to indicate a consistency of nomenclature rather than identification with any particular period or style. A conscious effort was made to rise above the invention of neo-classicism and to base the instrument solidly on classical principals. Some simple classical balances were adhered to as the basis on which voicing decisions were made.  In the recent past, classical balances often meant that choruses were cold and hard. This instrument shows that these balances can be maintained whilst producing Principals that are warm and rich, yet clear and singing.  

Combined with the classically balanced choruses are French style reeds; a combination which proved so successful in Alsatian organ building. This instrument also draws ideas from the earlier French Classical period, particularly in the form and style of the mutation stops. All this combines to ensure that a scheme, not necessarily devised originally for liturgical work, will nonetheless serve the fundamental requirements of a church organ. The enclosed Récit provides a convincing English Swell effect. This seemingly eclectic combination of styles is actually a well-considered synthesis, united into a style of its own. It has been said that Germanic music suffers less on stops that are broadly scaled and voiced with warmth, than French music played on narrow North German scales. In so far as this is true, the scaling of the organ has bowed to this belief. Voicing techniques employed for polyphonic music serve to best advantage in the French Classical and Romantic repertoires.  

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.