Spitfire Audio has introduced Union Chapel Organ – a new virtual instrument, based on the the organ at London’s Union Chapel.
The organ was built by Henry Willis in 1877 specifically to match the size and acoustics of the building and is one of the finest in the world. Willis also built the organs for the Royal Albert Hall and St Paul’s Cathedral.
The organ has three manuals, Swell, Great, Choir, and a full pedalboard.
Here’s a quick preview of the Union Chapel Organ virtual instrument in action:
The Organ is presented with multiple mic perspectives, with Close, Stereo, Ambient and Outriggers, and included stops are SWELL – ContraGamba 16, Open Diapason 8, Salcional 8, Vox Angelica 8, Flote 4, Mixture; GREAT – Open Diapason 8, Stopped Diapason 8, Flautodolce 8, Trumpet 8, Principle 4, Clarion 4, Mixture 3, Principle 2, Fifteenth 2; CHOIR – Claribel Flute 8, Dulciana 8, Concert Flute 4, Clarion 4, Piccolo 2; PEDAL – Bourdon 16, Open Diapason 16.
Pricing and Availability
Union Chapel Organ is available now for £149.
There is something incredibly powerful about those big, real pipe sounds.
Real pipe organs are expensive to build and maintain. And the people who are qualified to do that work are few and far between. It is worthwhile that some special instruments are being sustained and maintained in the world.
I don’t think sampled versions threaten their existence. I think people have a genuine appreciation of that sound– it’s also nice to have access to those sounds out of a church environment– for those of us who don’t roll that way.
Beautiful and a great price also. Will definitely look into this more
Sounds great. Personally I’m using the Skinner dry organ with Hauptwerk. I’ve also built a four manual console for it and imported a 32 note AGO pedalboard for it from USA. Many churches are installing Hauptwerk systems these days. Some use it in addition to real pipes and some rebuild their consoles to only use Hauptwerk. All due to the costly maintenance of the real thing.