A Grand Chorus: The Organ of Westminster Abbey

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Think of the term "A Grand Chorus" at Westminster Abbey and what comes to mind? Perhaps the voices of massed choirs, as heard in historic performances of Handel's Messiah, or in the pomp and pageantry of the Coronation Services. But there's another Grand Chorus heard in the Abbey, day in and day out – the 6907 pipes of the 131 stops at the Abbey organ, spread over five keyboards (manuals) and the foot-pedals. Whatever the occasion, the Abbey organ is played – from the daily sung services to those spectacular outgoing voluntaries we have all heard at so many national and royal events. Now, on this recording, we bring you organ music across four centuries, much of which has close associations with the Abbey or has been written by composers associated with this great building. In 1992, Andrew Lumsden was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers at Lichfield Cathedral. He oversaw the complete rebuilding and extension of the Cathedral's Hill organ by Harrison and Harrison which took 21 months to complete. In September 2002, he took up his current appointment as Organist and Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral.