Thanks for Completion
Praise the Lord that we now at last have a wonderfully renovated Father Willis organ. It has been a long process but the results are better than I dared hope, and thanks to Michael Farley and his excellent organ-building team we have achieved a great synthesis of old and new. The wonderful romantic sounds from the foremost organ builder of the Victorian period have been retained – now made all the more versatile, dependable and serviceable having been wedded with twenty-first century control technology. I am certain that Father Willis, with his innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, would have thoroughly approved.
As eminent organists both local and from further afield have visited ‘New Father Willis’, I have been pleased to compile a little list of their reactions and comments. ‘Spectacular’, ‘magnificent’, ‘terribly impressive’, ‘beautiful’, ‘jolly good’, ‘very colourful’ ‘very comfortable to play’ to quote a small selection!
Miles Quick
(February 2020)
The Father Willis Renovation Project
- General information about the organ at Taunton Minster.
- An inspirational background article by John Bodiley on the Taunton Minster Organ: ‘From the purring of a cat to the roaring of a lion’.
What work was done?
Following a detailed report from Ian Bell, one of this country’s foremost authorities in these matters, recommendations were made which may be summarised as follows:
- The action was renewed
- The slider soundboards made free of ‘runnings’ and wind leaks
- The console was renewed and updated with modern digital systems of memory for the piston system
- Most of the ageing leatherwork was replaced
- The pipework, all by Willis, was cleaned and repaired
- Minor alterations to the layout and specification to bring out the best in the instrument to meet the demands made on it in the 21st Century
- An upgraded CCTV system giving the organist the ability to see clearly the conductor and other relevant proceedings in relevant parts of the church
- In order to go some way to overcoming the problems with the location and projection of the organ into the nave, a discreet sound reinforcement system was installed. This uses a high quality amplification system.
How much did it cost?
- Approximately £250,000.
FAQs
How does the organ support the church’s work and the community of Taunton – what is it used for?
- regular weekly, Sunday and Festival worship accompanying the large adult and children’s choirs of the church and the enthusiastically-singing congregation
- Civic services incorporating eg 40 Commando, Mayoral & Council inaugurations
- Weddings, funerals
- large-scale events where a large space is needed (Taunton Minster is the biggest capacity space in Taunton easily accommodating 600 plus people)
- Concerts by local choral groups – eg Amici, Phoenix and In Ecclesia choirs, Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir
- Concerts by internationally famous groups eg recently The Tallis Scholars, The Sixteen, The Gabrieli Choir, The BBC Singers (cond. Eric Whitacre)
- The renovated instrument gives great new possibilities for the expansion of teaching young people to play the organ and thus to support the life of the church with their talents. The aim is to attract more people (young and not so young) to learn and increase their skills on ‘the King of Instruments’ (which is what Mozart famously called the organ).
Can I help, even though the renovation work has been completed?
- Yes! The instrument needs ongoing maintenance to ensure that the recently completed renovation work is kept in fine fettle. Regular tuning is essential and, as with any complex instrument, other expert attention is also required from time to time throughout the year.
- Please send a cheque made payable to Taunton Minster PCC (Organ Fund) to The Treasurer, Taunton Minster, Benefice Office, Whirligig Lane, Taunton TA1 1SQ
