Martin Renshaw and his team have caught the public imagination by placing a pipe organ on a London station concourse for anyone to play. This is part of a project called Pipe Up for Pipe Organs, to stem the loss of pipe organs by getting them cared for, played and heard. The London Bridge organ is a mid-19th-century instrument by Henry Jones, and it’s available to the public (in Stainer Street, SE1) as long as the station is open. (And in case you’re worried, the blower is on a time switch!)
The fight to save pipe organs around the country, featuring Martin Renshaw’s work, has been documented in a film by James Dawson, which will be touring the UK throughout 2022. More details here: Organ Stops: Saving the King of Instruments
My thanks to Elaine Hughes @Elaine_Lawyer on Twitter for the picture above of former Cambridge Organ Scholar Matt Walters being recorded playing the instrument for UK music station Classic FM. And bravo Network Rail and the management team at London Bridge Station for their participation in the project.
What a great idea ! I hope it attracts many players and audience. I’m not from the UK, but when I will have the chance to visit London I will definitely go there. Another hope is that the organ will not be vandalized. I have heard stories about pianos at railway stations which were severely damaged.
I believe it’s in a part of the station that is not accessible when the station is closed – and also there is CCTV everywhere on public transport in the UK now. But still a worry.