After the last two years working with Ralph Allwood and the Trinity Laban Choir at the Old Royal Naval Chapel (ORNC) in Greenwich, we once again returned to St Margaret’s Church in North Oxford for a filming session concentrating exclusively on organs. Showcasing the Ensign range of new Physis Plus organs recently launched in the UK market.
We retained a small link with Trinity Laban as our performer for the day was Jonathan Eyre. He is the organist at the ORNC and a somewhat prodigious publisher on YouTube of organ playing on our instrument in the chapel.
Showcasing four Physis Plus organs
On the day we set up 4 instruments from the new range, 3 Ensign models and the larger and more expensive Regent 361 which played through 4 external speaker cabinets and a sub bass set up in the choir stalls behind the console.
Our trusted Audio and Visual team
In front of camera Jonathan was joined by our regular presenter Francis Rumsey Organist of St Mary’s Witney. Sound recording was as ever managed by Adrian Lucas and behind the camera lens was our regular video photographer James Atkinson. So experienced is this team that the days come together easily, enabled of course by prodigious advance planning by Francis.
Performances to sample features and sounds
We had on show an Ensign Compact 35 which is the new entry level 2 manual instrument, 2 manual Ensign 42-FV and 3 manual Ensign Compact 45.
Jonathan performed:
- Bach C Major Prelude & Fugue BWV 545
- Jeremiah Clarke Trumpet Voluntary
- Stanley Cornet Voluntary
- And an unpublished piece by Reginald Tustin Baker on the Regent 361 called Elegy.
Each piece is preceded by a brief run through of the main features of the instrument and a brief discussion of the changes Physis Plus brings to the Viscount instruments. Look out for the first of this series to be released in March.
I have had a passion for church organs since the tender age of 12. I own and run Viscount Organs with a close attention to the detail that musicians appreciate; and a clear understanding of the benefits of digital technology and keeping to the traditional and emotional elements of organ playing.
