This documentary by Fugue State Films charts the development of organ-building in the Netherlands through the 500-year organ history of the Laurenskerk in Alkmaar, a church that includes both an organ from 1511 by Jan van Covelens as well as the world-famous 1646 van Hagerbeer instrument, updated in 1723 by Frans Caspar Schnitger.

The Royal College of Organists has launched a new podcast dedicated to the world of the organ, organists and organ music. Listen to all episodes here.

A new volume from The Orgelbuchlein Project, a 21st-century completion of Bach’s Little Organ Book, has just been published, with a special offer on the price until the end of November 2024.

This film looks at the early life and training of Charles-Marie Widor, and examines his development as a composer in the context of the composers who immediately preceded him.

Historian Christoph Wolff and American organist George Ritchie discuss Bach’s Art of Fugue. They consider how it came to be written, and some of the issues around a performance of the piece.

A film by Fugue State Films exploring the life of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, the greatest organ builder of the 19th century and also probably the most famous of all organ builders. Creator of such instruments as those in St Sulpice, Paris, and St Ouen, Rouen, he devised a new way of building organs that led directly to the development of the French Romantic school of organ composition.

The College promotes an awareness of today’s music through the examination syllabuses, and some of Cecilia McDowall’s organ works have been set for study at ARCO in 2024-5.  The composer reveals her influences, inspirations and motivations in a fascinating interview with RCO Chief Examiner Stephen Farr, who gave the first performance of her First Flight in 2021.

Stéphane Mottoul improvises two pieces in the Early Romantic style and discusses the typical structure and harmonic progressions for this music, and comments on how to create a suitable registration scheme.

The 2023 edition of the College’s research publication, The Journal of the Royal College of Organists, can be downloaded here as a complete edition. It explores the organs of Lincoln Cathedral before 1702, how new organs were commissioned in 19th-century France, the surviving sources of Franck’s Trois Chorals, the solo organ works of South African composer Stefans Grové, and Cecilia McDowall in conversation with RCO Chief Examiner Stephen Farr.

Richard Brasier investigates the sources that are known to have survived of Franck’s Trois Chorals, comparing sketches, engravers’ copies, and fair copies to reveal a wealth of interpretative details.  This article has benefitted from the comprehensive work the author has done to produce a complete edition of Franck’s organ works for Lyrebird Music in recent years.