ORGAN-IZING

One o'clock is organ recital time in Glassgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Recitals and concerts are given by a rotating list of organists who continue this long tradition in the city. Listeners on the balconies can sit on the benches in the alcoves or have a coffee in the open area below.



The organ is essentially a concert organ as distinct from a church organ. The gallery's website has historical and technical information about the organ here.

"It was played extensively prior to the First World War, and during the inter-war years when evening recitals and Saturday afternoon promenade concerts seem to have been popular.

In the spring of 1941, during an air raid, a land mine falling in Kelvingrove Park caused havoc in the vicinity and the Art Gallery and Museum sustained extensive damage to glass and parts of the structure. The organ was rendered unplayable and, in due course, repair work had to be carried out.

No attempt was made to rebuild although this was the fashionable procedure at that time and it would have resulted, without question, in ‘modernisation’. It is fortunate indeed that this instrument escaped any such treatment, remaining today entirely as intended by its builder and ideal for the authentic performance of the late 19th century recital repertoire."

And not forgetting: "the polish on the handles of the big front doors".