MIXTURE: New Music For Organ

About the show

Over the past six months, fifteen composers from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama have worked closely with organists to create new pieces inspired by Union Chapel’s unique 1877 ‘Father’ Henry Willis organ. This annual residency programme, established in 2014 by composer and Union Chapel Music Director Claire M Singer, encourages composers to experiment with writing for the organ — an instrument they rarely have access to. It also offers organists at a similar stage in their careers the opportunity to collaborate and perform newly created works.

“It’s really important to not only embrace the historic organ repertoire but also help it to grow. The Union Chapel organ programme offers opportunities to composers and performers (new, emerging and established) that encourage them to spend time with the instrument, take risks, push the boundaries of the current repertoire and continue to celebrate this wonderful instrument full of endless sonic possibilities. To have the opportunity to build on the organ’s rich history and bring it to the attention of a new generation is incredibly exciting” - Claire M Singer

This series is part of a much wider organ education programme at the Chapel.

Other activities include organ-focused school programmes, interactive organ tours and weekly lessons for local secondary school students.