092626 Ying Quan, organ recital

An event to celebrate the completion of organ repairs on the Casavant Opus 550/2350 Plymouth Suite - Percy Whitlock (1903-1946) Allegro risoluto (00:03) Lantana (05:46) Chanty (08:38) Salix (11:28) Toccata (14:48) Cortège et Litanie - Marcel Dupré (1886-1971) (19:34) Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue - Healey Willan (1880-1968) Introduction (26:13) Passacaglia (29:34) Fugue (37:49) The Organ In 1914, this organ was installed at St. Paul’s Bloor Street as a donation from the Blackstock family to add to the newly completed building. At the time it was known as the largest pipe organ in Canada. The instrument itself is made by Casavant Frères, and in 1956 enlarged under the direction of Charles Peaker (Organist and Choirmaster); today it has 112 stops and 7,461 pipes. At the same time a new 4-manual console was given by H. J. Cody - this is the console being used today, 70 years later, with the original console stored in the gallery. The organ is tonally English, with Great and Swell chorus reeds made by Harrison and Harrison, Frank Wesson, and W. G. Jones in England. During the enlargement in 1956, the Pedal division received significant additions, which, together with reworking of the Great and Choir principal chorus, allowed for more support during hymn playing. The highly prized Tuba division, including the characteristic Tuba Mirabilis, remained largely unchanged. Equally kept was the Echo division, which has the most number of original pipework from 1914. The instrument displays remarkable versatility, offering a wide spectrum of sonic possibilities in concert settings and an equally compelling presence in the Anglican worship experience. The latest repair project began in January 2026 to fix issues that resulted from general wear and tear. These include leather replacement in the Orchestral, Pedal, and Great divisions, which fixes dead notes. The console received new solenoid magnets to replace the old pneumatic system, as the leather in the old system had begun to disintegrate, causing delays in response when playing. The addition of solenoids restores normal console controls and offers an easier maintenance option; it also extends the lifespan of this console and prevents having to replace it altogether. Organ maintenance and repair work was carried out by the brilliant Robert Hiller and dedicated colleagues from Alan T. Jackson - many thanks to these unsung heroes for keeping this beastie alive and well. More of my program notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HkFq...