Maybe you saw these photos and stories about organ music being played Salisbury Cathedral as people were receiving vaccinations. It was reported on a number of news outlets such as CNN. The Telegraph, The Guardian and the BBC.

Here’s what was reported by The Guardian: Graham Turner, 88, a chaplain at Salisbury Cathedral, wore his cassock to receive his vaccine. He described the music as marvellous and praised staff as terrific. Local GPs invited a group of patients to be vaccinated and the cathedral organised a programme of music, which was played on its 19th-century Father Willis organ. The Very Rev Nicholas Papadopulos, the dean of Salisbury, said the cathedral was delighted to be helping. “We are proud to be playing our part in the life-saving vaccination programme, which offers real hope in these difficult times,” he said. “This place has stood here for 800 years to give glory to God, and to serve the city and the region. What better way could there be of doing that than hosting Salisbury’s stage in the vaccination programme. It is absolutely wonderful.” He described the vaccines as “a real sign of hope for us at the end of this very, very difficult year”. “I doubt that anyone is having a jab in surroundings that are more beautiful than this so I hope it will ease people as they come into the building,” he said.

Dr Dan Henderson, the co-clinical director for the Sarum South Primary Care Network, said about 1,000 patients and staff would receive vaccines on Saturday.“I doubt that anyone is having a jab in surroundings that are more beautiful than this so I hope it will ease people as they come into the building,” he said. “It is a bonus to be in such an iconic, wonderful place. It’s great to be getting the vaccine out there and getting them in people’s arms and knowing that this is hopefully the start of some sort of normality again.”

As an organist, my question is: What repertoire was played? What is the organ like?

As seen in the quote above, the organ is by Henry Willis, and has recently undergone a restoration. Here’s what I found on the Salisbury Cathedral website:

Our Father Willis Organ is one of the Cathedral’s great treasures. It is still fulfilling its purpose over 140 years after it was installed. Renowned for its exceptional sound quality, it is an irreplacable and important part of the country’s musical heritage. It was built between 1876 and 1877 by ‘Father’ Henry Willis. He was responsible for building some of the very finest pipe organs in the country and across the world. The organ, built at a cost of £3,500, was a gift of the great local benefactor Miss Chafyn Grove. The original console was situated on the north side, within the organ chamber. In 1934, Henry Willis III installed the current detached console in a separate loft on the south side, with electro-pneumatic action and additional couplers and pistons. A few tonal additions and several carefully-considered transfers of stops were made, and the Solo Organ became enclosed in its own separate expression box. The organ was renovated again in 1969 by Willis.

This famous organ has now come to the end of a comprehensive, fourteen-month long restoration by renowned organ builders and restorers Harrison & Harrison of Durham, who have had the care of the organ since 1978. Over 2019 and early 2020 they completely dismantled the instrument. Every pipe and component has now been cleaned, repaired and reassembled. The organ was brought back into use for Evensong on 24 February 2020, and it is hoped that the return of the instrument may be celebrated with performances in 2021.

In case you’re interested in the specifications, you can download them here.

[UPDATE: The BBC reported that the organist played repertoire by Bach, Handel and Pachelbel. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-55692690]

I couldn’t find any information about what music was played, but I had the opportunity to play for such an occasion, I would have chosen the music of Olivier Messiaen (b. 1908, d. 1992), for me the epitome of mystical music even though some of the dissonances may be jarring for some. I especially love “Le verbe” from the Nativity Suite, as played here by my friend, Jonathan Dimmock, at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, CA. (I actually have had the privilege of hearing Jonathan play the whole suite live at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles, CA.)

And can’t you just feel the explosion of emotions as expressed in “Dieu parmi nous” (God among us), the final moment?! I think that when I finally am able to get my vaccination (the Jab!), I’m going to have this music in my mind!