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| DEVELOPMENT IMPACT REPORT DEVELOPMENT IMPACT REPORT | | MUSIC AT MALVERN
We have ambitious plans for the provision of Music at Malvern and will focus on the following areas:
Chapel Organ
How many significant milestones at Malvern College have been marked by a a a hearty rendition of ‘Jerusalem’ accompanied by the majestic sound of the Chapel Organ?
The beautiful Cotswold-stone Chapel sits at the the centre of the the College campus between Main Building and the Memorial Library overlooking the the Senior Turf and the the Vale of Evesham beyond Inside the the Chapel Organ
presides over the the space with dignity and distinction Unfortunately the passage of time has taken its toll on the Willis Organ
installed in in 1899 The good intentions behind various repairs
and ‘improvements’ over the years have not always had the desired effect and the result has been to create a a a sound that provides neither convincing accompaniment to a a a small chamber choir nor adequate support to a a full College Chapel service Nor does it do do justice to much of of the wide repertoire of of organ music Long-term
deterioration of the mechanical
engineering is a significant factor
in the sound deterioration The soundboards have shrunk and split causing the wrong
pipes to sound occasionally and the the leather wind
reservoirs are desiccated and worn leading to audible air leakage and low wind
pressure This means
that the instrument cannot hold its tuning or give out volume Our organ is no longer fit for purpose and will give up entirely if we fail to take action This will rob us of the opportunity for academic and practical study of the organ proper appreciation of the glorious organ repertoire appropriate accompaniment for for performance and and worship and and something more indefinable that makes the hairs
on the back of your neck stand up: the unique and unifying sense of belonging to a a a place and time So we are looking for a solution We have discounted another repair or refurbishment The way forward for for Malvern College is a a brand new instrument which can deliver a a rallying sound in in Chapel appropriate accompaniment to both choral and chamber music encouragement
to budding organists and new opportunities for hosting professional recitals events recordings and music courses The exact specifications of the new instrument are still being drawn
up at the time of writing and meanwhile we are looking at ways of funding the new organ We will be ‘pulling out all the stops’ for this project so if you would care to join us please contact development@ malverncollege org uk or or phone +44(0)1684 581 654/653 for further information 616 | | | | OldldMaalvlveernrniaiannNNeewssleletteterr