Nigel Ogden: The Organist Entertains - 04/08/2009

Have you ever tried to estimate how many pipe organs there are installed in various locations around the world, as well as all the instruments to be found in churches and cathedrals? There are also town hall and concert hall instruments, lots of theatre organs, of course, and quite a number in private residences. It would certainly be interesting to know but I don't suppose we're ever likely to find out. We do know it would take us a fair old time to work our way round them all but we'll carry on trying week by week and it's a few of this country's finest church and town hall instruments which provide our music this evening. We'll hear from, amongst others, a magnificent example of the pipe organ builders' craft at Bath Abbey; the wonderfully restored Hill organ at Birmingham Town Hall; and listen to one of the oldest instruments still being played which is currently residing in St Giles in the Fields in London.