Star Organs of Britain 2007; photographed by Andrew Hayden
available from the author at: 79, The Common, Freethorpe, Norwich, Norfolk NR13 3LX. Tel: 01493 700258.
£13.75 including post and packing within the UK

Andrew Hayden has done it again with his calendar for 2007. Andrew is already well known to readers of The Organ magazine for his excellent ‘Star Organ’ series. The present publication builds on this work, giving us twelve superb illustrations (plus a front cover one), complete with specification details and brief history of the instruments. Many of the organs featured have been awarded the British Institute of Organ Studies’ Historic Organ Certificate. Naturally, many of the organs feature fine cases: St German’s Roath Cardiff; Old Radnor; All Saints, St Ives; Carshalton; The Abbey Church Thorney, St Mary’s Stretton. Others are featured more for the importance of the organ rather than its appearance: Limehouse (featured in the magazine earlier this year) and Usk, the latter with some aggressive looking en chamade reeds! A third group celebrates good, modern British organ building: St Peter, Ruthin and St Peter’s, St Albans (also featured earlier this year). A fourth sub-set intrigues with the unusual: the two illustrations of the barrel organ at St Peter’s Mattishall Burgh and St Peter’s, Arlesey, the latter with an interesting case that seems to owe much to that at Ripon Cathedral.

Andrew’s work is excellent, and he somehow manages to encapsulate the essence of the organ in his illustrations. The original photographs that make up the calendar will eventually be deposited in the British Organ Archive. Given the way Andrew is going, what a wonderful resource that will be in due course. As I have said before, this is a great Christmas present for anyone interested in the organ!

DB