The Willis Organ | An Organ for Glasgow

AN ORGAN FOR ST MARY'S

Why is a Willis organ so special?

A magnificent instrument built by one of the greatest British organ builders of all time, a Willis organ will powerfully lead and enhance our worship, our choral music and our congregational singing, bringing warmth, passion, colour and vitality.

An extraordinary gift

In an incredibly generous ecumenical gesture, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow has gifted us the organ that used to grace their cathedral down on the banks of the Clyde. We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift.

An opportunity not to be missed

The organ is built with the innovations developed by Henry Willis (27 April 1821 – 11 February 1901), also known as ‘Father’ Willis, who is regarded as the foremost organ builder of the Victorian era. His son, also called Henry, built this organ to his father’s design. Henry Willis & Sons are still active as organ builders today. They will restore not only the fabric of the organ but its authentic ‘voice’. It will sound the way it did in 1902: and as it was originally intended to be heard.

By restoring this organ instead of buying a new one, which would cost three times as much, we not only save an irreplaceable organ for future generations, but also we save costs, materials and energy, making the decision to restore the most economical and sustainable approach.

What makes a Willis organ special

Steven McIntyre, Organist, St Mary’s Cathedral talks about the Willis organ. “This is the last organ mentioned in a letter in the hand of the great ‘Father’ Willis. The letter was never posted due to his unexpected death. He indicated in that letter that he was going to visit Elgin Place Church in Glasgow, the organ’s original home, to do some detailed planning. Since then this organ has never left Glasgow and many good organs currently being played here are reckoned to be ‘copies’ of the Willis organ. It’s the real thing: an organ of unequalled quality of sound.”

What’s wrong with our current organ?

Frikki Walker Musical Director of St Mary's comments, 'There is a mismatch between our choir and musicians and the organ: the organ’s voice is erratic and uneven. The organ emits sounds at random. Notes stick, or simply don't play." St Mary's current organ is near the end of its life... It is losing its voice. Music is essential to to worship and the choir, yet every week the musicians must handle it with care, never knowing what its condition will be at the next service. Its sound is growing weaker and more erratic. Only the musician's playing skill hides its condition. The winding system leaks so that the pipework is not supplied with sufficient air. This means that when the church is full, the organ’s voice is not powerful enough.

The organ was originally built by William Hill & Son, 1871. Later, Harrison & Harrison extended the organ into what was, at the time, the largest three-manual organ in Scotland, and one of biggest in Britain.

An ineffective grafting together of components from 1871 to 1990 is combined with inevitable wear and tear. As a result the instrument is sluggish and uneven. The system for controlling the piston action is obsolete, unreliable and erratic. Some pipes have been altered so often that they are now beyond the point of repair. Kelvin Holdsworth, Provost of St Mary’s Cathedral summarises the situation,“We need to replace the organ. The time is now.”

How our current organ lost its voice

The organ today sounds very different from how it did when it was built. In 1967 Hill, Norman & Beard rebuilt and radically altered the instrument, completely transforming it from an organ in the High Romantic style, to one in the Classical-Baroque style, as was the custom in the late 1960s and 1970s. The organ was further rebuilt in 1990, but without returning the instrument to the Romantic style and voicing. Our new organ will be voiced in the Romantic style typical of the Willis organs, which are known for their mellow beauty of tone, and for their fire and excitement. Willis organs offer an unmatched range of musical colour, from exhibiting vigour and thrilling power to the tenderest soft tones.