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Ally Pally Organ Appeal
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Ally Pally Organ Appeal
Ally Pally Organ in its hayday

“the finest concert organ in Europe”

Conserving a Victorian Masterpiece in Alexandra Palace

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Learn about the rich history of the Organ
Follow the long journey of restoration
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Welcome to the Official website of The Alexandra Palace Organ Appeal.

The Alexandra Palace Organ stands as one of Britain's most significant musical treasures - a masterpiece created by the legendary "Father" Henry Willis in 1875. Once heralded as "The Finest Concert Organ in Europe," this magnificent instrument has survived fires, wars, and decades of neglect to emerge as a testament to Victorian craftsmanship and musical innovation.
Today, the Alexandra Palace Organ Appeal works to restore this remarkable instrument to its former glory, preserving an irreplaceable piece of our musical heritage for future generations to experience and enjoy.
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Organ History

THE GREAT HISTORY OF THE ORGAN

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Organ Restoration

RESTORING A VICTORIAN MASTERPIECE

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Organ Appeal

HELP US COMPLETE THE RESTORATION

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There is no doubt that here is the making of a world class instrument, as indeed it once was

Colin Walsh, Organist Laureate, Lincoln Cathedral, 2007

Ally Pally Organ Alexandrai Pallace

Click below to hear the current organ

Restored and playing for the last 30 years
Organ Sounds

Discover the majestic sounds of the rebuilt 1930's organ and since the continuing restoration from 1990

Discover the sounds of this magnificent organ
read Ivan Barwell words on the Ally Pally Organ
Read the famed book online

The term "The Finest Concert Organ in Europe" was coined by the late Ivan Barwell book, available here to view online for the first time.

Ivan Barwell - A Brief History of The Willis Concert Organ at the Alexandra Palace (London, 1993)

ALLY PALLY ORGAN APPEAL

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“the finest concert organ in Europe”

We hope that you will find the information presented here interesting and that you will wish to support our work by making a donation, attending a future concert, joining the Friends of The Appeal, or following us on Facebook using this link at the bottom of this page.
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1990-2002 Photographs

The blowers, housed in a seperate plant room behind the Organ. From closest to furthest away: Heavy pressure booster, Light pressure, Heavy pressure primary. Top: heavy pressure regulator.
The boot of bottom D and C of the 32ft reed, showing the Willis starter-motor.
The bells of the some of the 32' bases showing the tuning scrolls.
The longest pipe currently in the organ, bottom C of the 32ft reed. This pipe survived from the 1929 instrument and can be contrasted with D, behind it, which was remade.
The Swell box sits on top of the Choir box.
The back soundboard of the Choir. Note the empty holes for the Cor Anglais (2nd from front) and the Contra Viola (back)
The front soundboard of the Choir.
Choir Organ, back soundboard, showing empty Cor Anglais holes.
The back soundboard of the Choir. Note the empty holes for the Cor Anglais (2nd from front) and the Contra Viola (back)
The Console in March 2005
Johnathan Scott at the console in 2001
The 1990 re-opening concert. Note the Phase 1 Swell box in the lower position.
One of the many enchanting voices on the Organ, the Clarabella 8' on the Great.
The frontal aspect of the organ, looking up from the right side of the console.
Frontal view of the organ.
Frontal view of the organ.
Frontal view of the organ.
Great Organ, after recent cleaning.
View beyond the right side of the Great toward the 32ft basses.
Great Organ.
The Great organ soundboard. At present only one of the three is installed. From back to front: Flute Couverte 4', Octave II 4', Octave I 4', Clarabella 8', Open Diapaon I 8', Open Diapason II 8', Quint 5 1/3', Twelfth 2 2/3', Super Octave 2', Mixture III
View beyond the right side of the Great toward the 32ft basses.
Some magnets from the Great.
Great Organ primary action. Note the unusual action sliders.
Great Winding system, two small regulators per side feeding via flexible bags.
Frederic Blanc at the console.
Solo section, prior to the addition of the cross-bracing members currently present.
A later recital, after the work in 1993-5
The old meets the new. A new section of pipe has replaced a very badly damaged section of a pipe in the Pedal Organ.
The contemporary view from the Great passageboards out into The Hall. See here for a similar picture from 1929.
View of the Pedal soundboard from the front of the gallery. From front to back: Super Octave 4', Principal 8', Trombone 16', Bombarde 32'.
View of the trebles of the Trombone 16' and Bombarde 32'.
View of the pedal soundboard looking towards the front of the gallery.
The transformer-rectifier and action.
Side view. Note staircase to Swell.
Looking up from Gallery level towards the Solo, showing the cross-bracing members added as a result of the structural engineer's report referred to elsewhere in this website.
On the Solo level, looking up towards the highest pipes in the organ, the Solo Contra Tromba 16'.
The unenclosed Solo soundboard, looking back towards the Swell.
Unenclosed Solo, showing the Diapason trebles of the Tuba 8' and 4'.
Solo unenclosed soundboard.
The Swell soundboard. As with the Great, this is one of three to install. The Clarion and Cornopean are at the front.
The Swell Clarion.
The other side of the soundboard.
The door of the swell box looking beyond to the Hall far below.
This Whiffle tree swell engine drives the left bank of Swell shutters. The right bank also have their own engine. Two engines running in parallel drive the single bank of Choir shutters.
Switching unit for organ action and the three blowers.
Contra Viola pipes awaiting restoration.
Contra Viola pipes awaiting restoration.
Contra Viola pipes awaiting restoration.
"The Finest Concert Organ in Europe"
ALLY PALLY ORGAN APPEAL

Organ History

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Restoration

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Concerts

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Recordings

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Organ History
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Restoration
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Concerts
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Recordings
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Ally Pally Organ Appeal

The Alexandra Palace Organ Appeal

Registered Charity No.285222, London N22 7AY
The Alexandra Palace Organ Appeal
All material on this site © Alexandra Palace Organ Appeal and supporters 1875-2014
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