John-Paul Buzard
Organbuilders, Inc.
Opus 20

Built during the restoration of the Cathedral, the Buzard Pipe Organ is a wonderful part of the Cathedral's top-notch music program. The Buzard website includes a detailed description for anyone who cares to read more about this fine instrument, while those who would like to hear the organ should listen to the recordings below, with the organ played by Canon Musician H. Scott Raab:

Click below for Music Clips:
1.  Wir glauben all an einen Gott, BWV 680 - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
(We believe in one God) - Bach's collection known as the Cathechism Hymns present chorales associated with doctrinal aspects of the Lutheran Church. This chorale tune is used to sing the Creed.

2.  Prelude No. 22 in B-Flat Minor, BWV 867 - Johann Sebastian Bach
This Prelude from the Well-Tempered Clavier could be played on any keyboard instrument and sounds lovely on the 8' Wood Gedeckt of the Antiphonal organ.

3.  Von Gott will ich nich lassen, BWV 548 - Johann Sebastian Bach
(From God shall naught divide me) - From the Great Eighteen Chorales, this setting presents the melody in the pedal (4' Choral Bass)  while the manuals provide a delicate embellishment.

4.  Fugue in B Minor, BWV 544 - Johann Sebastian Bach
The monumental fugue drives forward with relentless energy until it reaches its logical conclusion with a bright major chord.

5.  Sonata in C, K 255 - Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
A nearly exact contemporary of Bach's, Scarlatti composed music of a completely different sound world. Scarlatti's music looks forward to the Classical era. Like Bach's Prelude from the Well-Tempered Clavier  (above), this composition could be played on any available keyboard and works very well on the organ.

Dreissig Spielstuecke - Hugo Distler (1908-1942)
This collection of 30 unnamed pieces is a delightful showcase for the organ's many colors.
6.  No. 8
7.  No. 2

8.  Lento - Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
This lovely piece uses some of the organ's softest stops including the Wood Flute Coelestis.

9.  Master Tallis's Testament - Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
Howells spoke to many people about his irresistable urge to identify with the Tudor age. He wrote Tudor music in a contemporary vein such as the clavichord Suites, the Playford dances for piano and Master Tallis's Testament, composed in 1940 as No. 3 of Six Pieces for Organ. The Master Tallis referred to is Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585) who, with William Byrd, was granted a monopoly by Queen Elizabeth I for the printing of music in England. The theme, heard at the outset, is treated in many and various ways before building to a climax. The music then ends on the softest sounds of the organ.

10.  Trumpet Voluntary in the style of Jeremiah Clarke - William Rowan (b. 1951)
The Major Tuba gets a major workout in this lighthearted, march-like piece.

11.  Prelude and Variations on "Adoro te devote" - Gerald Near (b. 1942)
Gerald Near is one of America's leading composers. This set of variations on the much-loved Communion hymn Humbly I adore thee is interspersed with stanzas of the hymn sung by the men of St. Paul's Cathedral Choir accompanied by handbells.