The Organist Entertains is back for the thirteenth series! Enjoy the music of the historic Lewis Organ in Ayr Town Hall every Monday.
In 1902, the Organ Sub-Committee of Ayr’s Town Council were unanimous in their resolve to once again engage Lewis & Co. of Brixton to provide a worthy replacement to the celebrated instrument they had completed in 1881, only to perish in the devastating Town Hall fire of 1897.
Complete by the Autumn of 1904, the Lewis firm created an instrument of considerable musical resources from a modest twenty-seven speaking stops, and as an unaltered example of Edwardian organ building these qualities continue to be appreciated by players and listeners alike. The organ’s significance was further recognised in 2013 with the awarding of a Grade I Historic Organ Certificate by the British Institute of Organ Studies.
After well over a century at the heart of music making in Ayrshire, the time is now approaching when this outstanding instrument will require thorough and painstaking restoration. In this, the thirteenth series of The Organist Entertains, we take the opportunity of introducing audiences to instruments from our diverse local pipe organ heritage, through a kaleidoscopic breadth of repertoire, and once again featuring performers from the United Kingdom and continents beyond.
