Concert pianist backs organ campaign

INTERNATIONAL concert pianist Steven Hough has given his support to the campaign to keep Warrington’s Cavaille-Coll organ in the town.
Mr Hough (pictured) – who lived in the Warrington area as a boy and attended Thelwall Primary School – is backing the campaign to move the organ from the Parr Hall to St Mary’s Priory School
Describing the organ as a “rare beast” he says it is thought to be one of only two such organs still existing with original, unaltered sound.
The organ was build by the master French organ builder Aristide Cavaille-Coll in 1870 and was installed in the Parr Hall in 1925.
But it is seldom played and the borough council has for some years been trying to find an alternative home to the Parr Hall – most recently in Sheffield Cathedral.
Mr Hough, writing in his Telegraph blog, says: “There is strong feeling in the local community that it should stay in Warrington. I agree, but I don’t think it should stay in the Parr Hall.
“St. Mary’s Church, in the centre of Warrington, has put in a bid to adopt the organ and they have a three-point plan for its use which I think sounds very exciting:
1. The restoration and re-siting of the organ in its original case and condition into St. Mary’s Priory Church;
2. The continuation of the Cavaillé-Coll Organ Supporters’ Group to provide ongoing maintenance and support;
3. The establishment of a Cavaillé-Coll Organ School as an outreach of the parish musical tradition where students might be introduced to the specifics of the French organ tradition, plus the teaching of local young organists.”
Warrington Male Voice Choir is also backing the campaign.
Chairman Barrie Johnson said: “We are encouraging Warringtonians to support the removal of the organ to St Mary’s Priory Church, Buttermarket Street, so that the instrument can be retained in the town for the benefit of future generations, as a cultural treasure for the North West, and to remain available to WMVC and other organisations for use in concerts and recordings.”
Mr Johnson says the organ is used more frequently than recognised. The choir use it as every “home” concert – four or five times a year – as well as for recordings.
A number of other recitals take place each year – usually involving a distinguished organist.
More than 200 people have signed an online petition to move the organ to St Mary’s since warrington-worldwide reported on the campaign last Friday.
The online petition can be found at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/move-the-historic-cavaille-coll-organ-from-the-parr-hal.html