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

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

related links St Giles Cripplegate
The Right Reverend David Stancliffe
The Reverend Canon Dr Nicholas Thistlethwaite

"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

Mander team goes to Atlanta

Read more  

Noel Mander celebrates his 90th birthday

Read more May 2002

Mander Organs wins Queen's Award for Enterprise

Read more 2002

Christmas 2001 party

Read more December 2001

New entry in Portfolio page: Peachtree Road UMC, Atlanta, USA

Read more

Work in progress: the Royal Albert Hall

Read more 2001, updated June 2003

New organs for Australia

Read more 2001