Mander Organs

St Michael and All Angels Beckenham

Work has commenced on the new organ for St Michael and All Angels Beckenham. The organ is to have two manuals and pedals with fifteen stops. The specification will be:

SPECIFICATION
GREAT ORGAN		SWELL ORGAN
Open Diapason	8	Gedackt	8
Stopped Diapason	8	Principal	4
Principal	4	Chimney Flute	4
Fifteenth	2	Recorder	2
Fourniture	IV	Sesquialtera	II
Trumpet	8	Oboe	8
		PEDAL ORGAN
		Bourdon	16
		Principal	8*
		Trumpet	8*
		* Transmission from Great Organ

19 September 2011

Sacred Heart Wimbledon

The restoration of the famous Walker of Sacred Heart Wimbledon is nearing completion. Once the work which was contracted for had been completed, it was discovered that the coupler and derivation machines would also need restoration, although this did not appear to be the case before the organ was restored. This work will be completed in time for the opening recital by David Briggs on the 21 October 2011. 19 September 2011

St Mary Finchley

Work is nearing completion in the workshops of the somewhat altered Willis organ of St Mary at Finchley. The soundboards are being restored and the organ is being furnished with a new key action and rewiring. the console is being restored sympathetically, retaining its current appearance.19 September 2011

St James Whitehaven

A full restoration of the organ at St Mary's Whitehaven has now been completed after serious water damage. This interesting Norman and Beard instrument was influenced by Colonel Dixon who acted as advisor when it was installed. 19 September 2011

Our Saviour's Church Lagos, Nigeria

Easter Sunday saw the first use of the new four manual and pedal organ with 41 stops. This organ is the first new Mander instrument to employ electric action for over 30 years. 19 September 2011

Pipedreams: sound clips of four Mander organs

Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, Atlanta, Georgia: 2005 | 2007 | 2008

Selections from the PRUMC (2008) Gallery Organ Inaugural concert, 31 August 2009: 2009

St Giles Cripplegate: 1998 | 2000 | 2004

St John's College Cambridge 2003

August 2009

[St George, Botolph Street, City of London]

St George Southall

In 1723, Abraham Jordan built an organ for the church of St George, Botolph Lane in the City of London. William Hill made some additions and alterations in 1862. In the first decade of the 20th century, St George's Botolph Lane was demolished. The organ was dismantled and moved to a new St George's church which was being built in Southall. The organ was moved by Speechly who abandoned the lower part of the case and installed the upper section on a shelf. He also provided a new action and made the Swell full compass.

The organ is now being restored in our works to its original specification with short compass Swell and no pedals. A new lower case has been constructed using this photograph (see left) taken shortly before the church in Botolph Lane was demolished. Considerable research has been undertaken to ensure that the reconstruction is as close to the original as possible. It should be ready for installation into St George’s Southall again in the late autumn.

Cranleigh School

Work has commenced on the construction of a new organ for the chapel of Cranleigh School in Surrey. The organ is to have two manuals and pedals with 31 stops. It is due for completion early in the new year 2010 and is being built on a new gallery which is being constructed in the chapel. The illustration below is our design proposal. The organ will look similar to this, but the design of the gallery has been changed quite considerably.

New CD of music performed on the organ at Adlington Hall, Cheshire

"The organ at Adlington Hall is arguably the most important surviving historic instrument in the British Isles and yet, its provenance is shrouded in mystery. No records survive to provide a definitive date let alone any to define its maker. No organ builder's records give any indication of work undertaken on the instrument either. It remained almost completely unknown until 1958, when Noel Mander was engaged to carry out a restoration of the organ. Amongst the interesting finds were a number of cut up playing cards used to pack the bearers on the soundboard. These were dated by de la Rue at around 1780, which is probably the date the instrument was last worked on."

On this new CD, recorded in September 2007, Anne Page plays 18 pieces - compositions by Byrd, Locke, Purcell, Blow, Croft, Boyce, Walond, Stanley, and Handel - and, with Paul Binski, two "pieces for two to play" (by Tomkins and Carleton). More information on this flyer (.pdf, 390kb). CDs can be ordered on-line from P H Music. Catalogue no. CD2106. October 2008.

Organistas and Creating the Stradivarius of Organs now available to buy on DVD

Organistas is an "impressionistic view behind the scenes into the fascinating world of the pipe organ ... World renowned designers and craftspeople show how the sophisticated, rarely-seen skills of 'voicing' and molten-metal forming are used to make the organ 'speak' with a unique sound. ... Also included is rare filming of a tiny instrument built about 1680 being played in a private office in London, performed especially for the film".

Creating the Stradivarius of Organs is about the Mander organ in St Ignatius Loyola Church, New York, from organbuilder's works in England to the organ loft of the famous New York church, from conception to inaugural recital.

Running time: 27 minutes each. Buy on DVD from Contemporary Arts Media. May 2008.

YouTube trailer for Creating the Stradivarius of Organs:

The Organistas is featured on the Flypmedia site. (Requires Flash player.)

Mander Organs Open Day: Saturday 24 November 2007

[Local travel map to Mander Organs, .pdf 29kb]

Mander Organs is holding an open day on Saturday 24 November. Various operations will be demonstrated including pipe metal casting. Our workshops will be open from 9:00am till 3:00pm.

As on previous occasions, tickets will cost £5, all proceeds to go to St Joseph's Hospice in East London.

To apply for tickets, please send a stamped addressed envelope together with a cheque made out to St Joseph's Hospice to cover the number of tickets requested. Alternatively, you can request a ticket by e-mail to OpenDay@mander-organs.com and one will be put aside for you to purchase on the day. October 2007.

Noel Mander Remembered in Fulton, Missouri

As part of the annual Kemper Lecture held at the Winston Churchill Memorial Foundation on Sunday 25 March 2007, a plaque to Noel Mander was unveiled by four of his children. The ceremony took place in the Wren church of St Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, which was transported to Fulton Missouri as a memorial to Sir Winston Churchill and his famous Iron Curtain speech held there on 4 March 1946. Read more. April 2007.

Creating The Stradivarius of Organs

A remarkable collaboration between dozens of artists and artisans on two continents resulted in the largest tracker organ installed in New York City since the 19th century. Standing over 45 feet high and weighing more than 30 tons, this 5000 pipe instrument at St Ignatius Loyola was built upon the same principles as the oldest organs of Europe. The full length film, produced and directed by Bert Shapiro (Pheasant's Eye Productions), lasts 24 minutes.

"Unlike other instruments, the organ is designed, built and voiced for a specific space. This film beautifully highlights the unique symbiosis between the instrument and the building and the instrument and the performer. I salute this inspiring tribute to the King of Instruments at St. Ignatius Loyola." Joseph Colaneri, Staff Conductor, Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, NYC Director, Opera Program, Mannes College of Music, NYC. November 2006

Malcolm Wechsler -2006

It is with great sadness that Mander Organs has to announce that their North America representative, Malcolm Wechsler, died peacefully in his sleep earlier today, 16 November 2006. Malcolm had represented Mander Organs in North America since 1988. November 2006

Memorial Service for Noel Mander MBE FSA

A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Noel Mander, founder of Mander Organs, will be held on Thursday 28 September 2006, 11.00am, at St Giles Cripplegate. The Right Reverend David Stancliffe, Bishop of Salisbury, will officiate; and the address will be given by The Reverend Canon Dr Nicholas Thistlethwaite, Precentor of Guildford Cathedral. September 2006

"The Organistas" - a new film about organ building

Bert Shapiro of Pheasant's Eye Productions has produced a film about organ building entitled "The Organistas". In order to make this film, Bert Shapiro visited a number of organ builders (including Mander Organs) and also watched whilst builders were working on organs in churches and concert halls. Details of the film can be seen at www.pheasantseye.com "The Organistas" won the Directors Choice Award at the prestigious 2005 Black Maria Film Festival. August 2006

Memorial Concert for Noel Mander MBE FSA

Noel Mander, the first patron of the East Anglian Academy of Organ and Early Keyboard Music, will be remembered in a memorial concert organised by the Academy, to be given at St Michael's Church in Framlingham, Suffolk, on Saturday 17 June 2006 at 8.00pm, by organist Malcolm Russell. Read more. May 2006

Noel Mander 1912-2005

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Noel Mander, founder of Mander Organs, at the age of 93. After a full life he passed away peacefully on 18 September 2005. He will be much missed by his family, friends and colleagues. Read more. September 2005

Nigawa Gakuin School, Japan

Our seventh instrument for Japan is currently in the works. It is a two-manual and pedal organ of 25 stops in a double case for a cleverly designed school chapel that also serves as a theatre. The Great and Swell organs are housed in the right hand case, the Pedal in the left. The key and pedal actions are to be mechanical with trackers for the pedal running beneath the stage. Delivery is anticipated for September of 2005. Read more. March 2005

St Peter, St Albans, Hertfordshire

A new 39-stop organ is to be built for St Peter’s Church, St Albans. It is to be a three-manual and pedal instrument with mechanical key and pedal actions and electric drawstop action. This instrument will feature in the International Organ Festival in St. Albans in years to come. Delivery is anticipated in time for Christmas of this year. Read more. March 2005

The Grand Organ at the Royal Albert Hall, London

The refurbishment of the Grand Organ at the Royal Albert Hall was completed in the first half of 2004 and opened with a wonderful gala concert on Saturday 26 June 2004. Further events followed on the next day, and the instrument had a great deal of exposure during the 2004 BBC Proms season. Read more. August 2004

Sydney Grammar School, new organ

The new organ for Sydney Grammar School was completed in May 2004. Read more. August 2004

The Welte Philharmonic Organ at David Salomons' House, Tunbridge Wells

Read more 28 January 2004