J. S. Bach’s Orgelbüchlein (BWV 599–644) is a set of 45 short organ pieces that were composed over several decades from 1704 onwards. Bach’s idea was to assemble 164 works in a variety of styles, all based on pre-existing Lutheran hymn-tunes, and arranged according to the Church’s calendar. The collection would serve Bach not only in church services but also in his teaching. Alas, the project remained incomplete at the composer’s death. I made these recordings during the UK’s various Covid-related restrictions of 2020–22. The earlier recordings recordings were made for use as part of live-streamed church services. Although that need is no longer pressing, I continue to work my way through Orgelbüchlein, recording the results here. For some of my other lockdown recordings go to: ‘Exordia ad missam’: my lockdown recordings.
The following exordia ad missam (tr. preludes to the mass) are short and mostly meditative pieces that I recorded during the UK’s various Covid-related restrictions of 2020–22 for use as part of live-streamed church services. Although that need is no longer pressing, I continue to add to this page. For some of my other lockdown recordings go to: J. S. Bach’s ‘Orgelbüchlein’ : my lockdown recordings.
Andrew Pink performs (2022) ‘Musette‘ from Harmonies Religieuses: à l’usage du service divin. (Series ‘Echos des organistes contemporains’ Vol 3 . 1922)
Andrew Pink performs (2022) ‘Prélude pour l’Ave Maris Stella: andantino quasi allegretto’, 1858–63. (No. 28 in Pièces posthumes, ed. Georges Franck, 1905. )
Andrew Pink performs (2020) ‘Voluntary in B-flat‘ (Six Easy Voluntaries. Second set. 1891). ” … for the most part fresh and genial in character […] somewhat suggestive of Spohr in the numerous chromatic progressions.” (Musical Times. Vol. 32, No. 579 (May 1, 1891), p. 297).
Andrew Pink performs (2022) ‘Eventide‘ (from Two Hymn Tune Preludes for small orchestra (1936), arranged for organ (1938) by Herbert Sumsion (1899–1995)
I was recently asked to play the organ for a Sunday morning service at the Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington (London, UK). It is an impressive brick building, replacing an earlier chapel (see below). It was built (1876-81) to a design by James Cubitt (1836–1914), loosely inspired by the rather smaller church of Santa Fosca on the Venetian island of Torcello. The result here is a rather heavy, imposing exterior …
The church of Santa Fosco on the island of Torcello. [Source: Trip Advisor]
The location of the Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, London, UK.
The location of the Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, London, UK.
The Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London, UK. (February 2020)
… while inside is a lofty and broad uncluttered space with seating for more than a thousand people, each with a clear view of the central stone pulpit.
The Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London, UK (c.2015) [Source: ‘Sunday in London’: pinterest.com]
The Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London, UK (c.2015 [Source: alamy.com]
The Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London, UK (c.2015) [Source: ‘whatsoninlondon.co.uk/
Roof detail. Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London UK. [Source: igx.4sqi.net/]
The origin of the Union Chapel dates back to 1799 with the union of local Unitarians and Anglicans who met together in private, having separated themselves from their respective neighbourhood churches. Initially they used Anglican forms of worship in the morning and Unitarian forms in the evening. They eventually developed thier own forms, and in 1847 joined the Congregational Union, a federation of autonomous congregations, to which the Union Chapel still belongs.
The Union Chapel, Islington, London, c1850. Artist: CJ Greenwood (?-?).
The Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London UK (c.1820). Engraving by C. Rivers (?-?). [Source: collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk]
The first purpose-built Union Chapel chapel was completed in 1806 on land leased from Lord Northampton by a property speculator named Henry Leroux who came from nearby Stoke Newington. He added houses on either side of the chapel. The classical-style chapel building was enlarged in 1851 (archtect unknown) and given a new facade. Alas, so far I have found no images of the interior of this former chapel building.
The pipe organ
The organ console in the Union Chapel, Islington, London (UK) c. 2013
The history of the several organs of the Union Chapel was neatly outlined in 1880 by the Chapel’s Rev Henry Allon describing the music at the Union Chapel:
“[About 1842] there was a one manual organ which we sold some years later for forty pounds
[…] In 1852 we had a new organ commissioned from Gray and Davidson, planned by Dr Gauntlett. […] A second organ planned by Dr Gauntlett was built by Holdich under Mr Prout’s direction in 1867. It cost £1,000, inclusive of fitting.
Opening organ recital, Union Chapel, Islington, London UK. [Source: The Musical Times, 13/297 (Nov. 1, 1867)]The old organ was sold to Queen’s Square Chapel, Brighton. […] When the new church was built in 1877 it was found that Holdich’s organ could be made to fit the organ chamber only at an expense that approached the cost of a new instrument. It was therefore decided to sell the organ and Mr Willis built a new one, planned by Prof. W. H. Monk at a cost of £1000.” [‘Studies in Worship Music’]
Pulpit and organ screed (2020). The Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London UK. [Source: iao.org.uk]Today’s Union Chapel pipe organ was installed by the London organ-builder Henry Willis in 1877, fronted by an open stone and metal screen placed behind the pulpit.
In order to save the blocking up of a rose window, the instument is built in a concrete chamber below [lower than] the main floor of the building. This position is Mr Willis’s own idea, which he carried out in spite of the evil prognostications of those who considered that he was doing a foolish thing. One great advantage has resulted therefrom. Throughout an oratorio performance, when the building is crowded with people, and the temperature rises very high, the organ is found to be “dead in tune”. [Musical Times (39/663, 1 May 1898)]
In 2012 the Henry Willis organ wa restored by Harrison and Harrison organ builders of Durham (UK) using a grant from the UK National Lottery Fund. The original hydraulic engine that powers the organ was restored to use, although a modern electric powered bellows system was also installed as a back-up.
Coda
The 1852 Gray and Davison organ moved to the Queen Square Chapel in Brighton has subsequently been broken up and destroyed, the building demolished. The 1867 Holdich organ was sold for £600 to a Congregational Chapel in Hinckley in Leicestershire where it remains.
J. S. Bach’s Orgelbüchlein (BWV 599–644) is a set of 45 short organ pieces that were composed over several decades from 1704 onwards. Bach’s idea was to assemble 164 works in a variety of styles, all based on pre-existing Lutheran hymn-tunes, and arranged according to the Church’s calendar. The collection would serve Bach not only in church services but also in his teaching. Alas, the project remained incomplete at the composer’s death.
The following exordia ad missam (tr. preludes to the mass) are short and mostly meditative pieces that I recorded during the UK’s various Covid-related restrictions of 2020–22 for use as part of live-streamed church services. Although that need is no longer pressing, I continue to add to this page. For some of my other lockdown recordings go to: 
Kate Boundy
Luigi Bottazzo
Hedwige Chrétien
William Faulkes
Eugénie-Emilie Juliette Folville (1870–1946)
César Franck
Walter Battison Haynes
Paul HIndemith
Peter Hurford
Jean Langlais
Louis J. A. Lefébure-Wely
Ann Mounsey-Bartholomew 
Max Oesten
Marie Prestat
Blanche Rozan
Léonce de Saint-Martin
Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
Ralph Vaughan Williams
René Vierne![The Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington UK. (c. 2015). [Source: http://www.janeostler.co.uk/]](https://i0.wp.com/andrewpink.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/unionchapel.jpg?w=82&h=126&ssl=1 "union")
![The church of Santa Fosco on the island of Torcello. [Source: Trip Advisor]](https://i0.wp.com/andrewpink.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/chiesa-santa-fosca.jpg?w=82&h=56&ssl=1 "union")
![The Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London, UK (c.2015) [Source: 'Sunday in London': pinterest.com]](https://i0.wp.com/andrewpink.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/e74f31488e0ee731a5c68dd5a0809c10.png?w=166&h=124&ssl=1 "union")
![The Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London, UK (c.2015 [Source: alamy.com]](https://i0.wp.com/andrewpink.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/union-chapel-london-5-x-15-event-where-neil-gaiman-and-david-mitchell-j0x7p1.jpg?w=166&h=138&ssl=1 "union")
![Roof detail. Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London UK. [Source: igx.4sqi.net/]](https://i0.wp.com/andrewpink.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/23795433_hd6xvlphy853xzd_h1agda09x0t8buj_pyrjdk3uszq.jpg?w=266&h=266&crop=1&ssl=1 "union")
![Compton Terrace c.1806 [Source: locallocalhistory.co.uk/]](https://i0.wp.com/andrewpink.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/union-2-1.jpg?w=570&h=423&ssl=1 "union")
![The Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London UK (c.1820). Engraving by C. Rivers (?-?). [Source: collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk]](https://i0.wp.com/andrewpink.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/union2-1.jpg?w=262&h=193&ssl=1 "union")
![Opening organ recital, Union Chapel, Islington, London UK. [Source: The Musical Times, 13/297 (Nov. 1, 1867)]](https://i0.wp.com/andrewpink.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/screen-shot-2020-02-29-at-16.43.00.png?resize=432%2C99&ssl=1)
![Pulpit and organ screed (2020). The Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London UK. [Source: iao.org.uk]](https://i0.wp.com/andrewpink.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/88261183_2987698717953675_6357500343470784512_o.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1)
![Hinckley United Reformed Church, Leicestershire (UK) [Source: http://www.iao.org.uk/]](https://i0.wp.com/andrewpink.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/1603.jpg?w=266&h=355&ssl=1 "union")
![Queens Square Congregational Church Brighton (UK), post 1910, when - according to NPOR - the organ was moved to the chancel. [Source: roughwood.net/]](https://i0.wp.com/andrewpink.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/postcardurl.php_.jpeg?w=566&h=355&ssl=1 "union")
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