Salisbury Cathedral releases own album of organ music
This is the second CD to be brought out on their own record label.
The 'Organ Prom' CD has been created to replace what should have been a ticketed event at Salisbury Cathedral this summer.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, that can't go ahead, but the Cathedral's Assistant Director of Music, John Challenger, wanted to make it accessible to the public anyway.
The Organ Prom CD features 11 tracks, performed on Salisbury Cathedral's famous Father Willis organ.
Recordings were taken over three days last month to get the final pieces.
John Challenger from Salisbury Cathedral said:
"Our Cathedral's great Father Willis organ, known and loved by listeners around the world, stood through the changes of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In the current pandemic of our own century, we are denied the thrill of live performances of great works in grand spaces, the unforgettable shared musical experiences, the joy of massed crowds. I hope this album might remind us that, despite the loss, trials and uncertainty which currently surround us, it will one day be possible to share memorable musical experiences again, in the glorious and awe-inspiring spaces we know and love.
"We couldn't let this summer pass without marking the return of our great organ from restoration, so I hope listeners will be able to find comfort in these well-known works, and the familiar sounds of this marvellous organ, restored for future generations."
The organ has just undergone a huge restoration programme, costing £700,000 to bring it back to its former musical glory.
The CD is one of our first chances to hear how the restored organ sounds.
Last summer's Organ Prom was hugely popular - with a packed audience of 1,000 people visiting Salisbury Cathedral for the recital.
Salisbury Cathedral launched their own record label in June 2019, with a recording of organ music composed by Cesar Franck.
We can get hold of a copy of the new CD through the Cathedral's website.