Alphorn  Birthday (Verbier 2013)

The historic restoration of our 1889 J.W. Walker & Sons Ltd. pipe organ in St Mary's Church, Portsea, began in October 2020, undertaken by Nicholson & Co Ltd. of Malvern, with expert guidance from Dr. William McVicker, and funding support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. At Easter 2022, our restoration programme completed, and we welcomed visitors to St Mary's Church for a Dedication Festival in July 2022, including an Inaugural Recital given by Thomas Trotter.

Thomas Trotter is one of Britain's most widely admired musicians, reflected in Her Majesty The Queen awarding him The Queen's Medal for Music on St Cecilia's Day 2020. He has had a special relationship with the City of Birmingham in England since he was appointed City Organist in 1983 after Sir George Thalben-Ball based at the city's renovated historic Town Hall where he is also Resident Organist of the magnificent Klais organ in Symphony Hall. Earlier in his career he was organ scholar at King's College, Cambridge, and he later continued his studies with Marie-Claire Alain in Paris where he took the Prix de Virtuosité in her class.

Encore - Pomp And Circumstance March Number 1 - Elgar

Saturday 16th July 2022 at 4pm - a Service of Music & Dedication

Angel Voices - Dedication Service Hymn

We have captured the character of the 1889 J.W. Walker & Sons pipe organ at St Mary's Church, Portsea, following a historic restoration, inaugurated in July 2022. The track lists matches the recording of heritage pre-restoration, in October 2020: soundcloud.com/theorganproject/sets/pre-restoration-heritage-recording.

Our National Lottery Heritage Fund capital works programme has inevitably changed the sound of the organ in St Mary's Church, Portsea. A wholly positive renewal for heritage - reaffirming the Victorian character of the instrument. Our Restoration Policy can be viewed here: theorganproject.org/restoration-policy.

To ensure that we capture the diverse soundscape of this 1889 instrument, we have been extremely fortunate to welcome back Richard Moore (Sub Organist of Guildford Cathedral and ex Organ Scholar of St Mary's Church, Portsea) to perform a varied programme of pieces, professionally recorded by Adaq Khan (Recording Engineer).

Invokation - Max Reger (1873-1916)

Service of Nine Lessons and Carols

The Organ Project has been established to interpret, restore, enhance and celebrate the heritage associated with 130 years of music-making in St Mary’s Church, Portsea.

The unique 1889 Walker pipe organ is at the heart of life within the Parish but is now in a critical condition where interim repairs are no longer sufficient to keep this nationally significant instrument from being lost.

We will engage with local communities, develop volunteer skills and enthuse visitors with an exciting programme of activities; interpreting the organs history, science, sound and function, and sharing its undoubted awe.

By restoring this organ to its original Victorian character, we will inspire a new generation of musicians, students and audiences, and further extend the outreach of a less-privileged, but dedicated Parish church, to the diverse inner-city community in Portsmouth and beyond.

The Organ Project will make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities.

Encore - Pomp And Circumstance March Number 1 - Elgar

The Organ Project

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