The second South Yorkshire Organ Festival returned last week, offering people in the region the chance to discover and play the historic instrument. Workshops and activities were held at a range of historic venues including Doncaster Minster, Sheffield Cathedral, and St Marie’s Cathedral, open to guests of all ages and musical abilities.
James Mitchell and the South Yorkshire Organ Festival
The festival kicked off on Saturday at Doncaster, where guests had the opportunity to play on one of the largest pipe organs in Yorkshire. James Mitchell, organist and director of keyboard studies at Sheffield Cathedral, was part of organising this year’s events. He says he looked forward most to revisiting Doncaster Minster, which hosts the significant organ:
“It’s a very special organ. It had a big influence when it was built a few hundred years ago, and it’s had a big influence nationally. Not just in Yorkshire, but all the way across the UK.”
Mitchell was the innovator behind the first festival, which successfully launched last May. The popular event was attended by families and individuals alike. He told us: “Given that we managed to start one last year and that we managed to get another one back up this year, I hope we can keep it going on the regular tradition.”
St Marie’s Cathedral event
He was also involved in this year’s St Marie’s Cathedral event, where ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) examination candidates and pianists could try out the historic 1875 Lewis organ. This year marks the much-loved instrument’s 150th birthday.
Each event across the region was open to people of all ages and musical experience, whether beginner or seasoned musician. Sheffield Cathedral closed the festival with a ‘play the organ’ drop-in session.
Two of this year’s events were held at Barnsley’s Astoria Centre. Guests could experience the traditional tea dance as well as hear classic film scores played by renowned Barnsley organist Kevin Grunill.
The Mighty Compton cinema organ
The Mighty Compton cinema organ was played to visitors, an attraction which has been restored and maintained by Grunill and the Penistone Cinema Organ Trust.
“The cinema organ is the only instrument that was designed to entertain the public and it played such an important part of our social history between 1925 and 1965. Occasionally words to songs would be projected onto the cinema screen for the audience to join in – the first Karaoke really,” Grunill says.
Grunill is founder and chair of the Trust, which is made up of volunteers who help restore cinema organs. The volunteers are from different backgrounds and musical experiences, contributing their individual skills to perform this vital role.
“I’d long held a desire for our organisation to have our own venue and headquarters, where people can not only listen and experience the thrilling sound of a cinema organ but have the opportunity to play one or learn more about the technical side of the instrument and what makes it work. Along with a wonderful group of volunteers, we set about creating a unique venue right here in Barnsley.”
Margaret Nelson, from Huddersfield, attended the ‘Mighty Music from the Movies’ event, with iconic film soundtracks ranging from James Bond to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. She says: “The organ and organist certainly gave us all its finest sounds in all the items. It was very enjoyable.”
A noteworthy instrument
Grunill advocates that those interested in picking up the instrument just give it a go.
“Although it seems a complex instrument, it isn’t really,” he says. “It’s just multiples of the same thing when you put it in simple terms. No other instrument has the dynamic range and sonority that the organ does and it’s great fun to be able to explore its various tone colours. “I’d say listen to as much music as possible and then think whether it can be adapted to work well on the organ. You’d be surprised at how much different music works.”
