Dr A.L. Peace, who was Glasgow University organist from 1870 until 1880, played his first "Grand Organ Recital" at the New Hall on Monday 24 December. In 1880 he became the first post-Reformation organist of Glasgow Cathedral, where he presided over a fine instrument built by Henry "Father" Willis. Prior to that, he held the post of organist at Hillhead Parish Church from 1876.

Of particular interest, following the 1905 rebuild, the tonal scheme points towards a more "orchestral" concept, while that of 1877 seemed to favour a classical and romantic repertoire. In those days, organ recitals were immensely popular. Many of the concert-going public first heard organ transcriptions of  orchestral works at these recitals. As well as W.T. Best, who is mentioned earlier, Edwin H. Lemare was also a popular transcriber of orchestral music for organ.

Getting back to that disastrous fire of October 26th 1962, I can recall that my father mentioned looking out of the west-facing living room window of our house in Hillhouse Street, Balornock, and that he saw a large  glow in the sky-line to the west of the city. It was probably early in the morning, before daybreak. In recent years I have got round to wondering whether or not  the building and its contents were insured.  Why a great hall,  with an instrument of this magnificence and magnitude, was not replaced by the Corporation of Glasgow, will always remain a mystery to me.

In earlier days, many of the halls in and around Glasgow could boast of having a "Grand Organ".  What is left? There used to be a superb 2 manual and pedal organ by Brindley & Foster in the Pearce Institute, Govan. The case , console and much of the original pipework still survives. The organ was ruined by water cascading in from a leaking roof.  Springburn Public Hall also had a Grand Organ by J.J. Binns, little of which survives. Sadly, this fine building, by the architect William Whitie, has lain derelict for several years, and is becoming more dilapidated as time goes on.

The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall was designed to accommodate a pipe organ. Unfortunately, the combined resources of the Trades Hall and Merchant House could not meet a quote for an adequately large instrument. At the time of writing, the spring of 2004, it would appear that the City Council's capital is tied up not only with with the renovation of the Kelvingove Art Gallery and Museum, but also with refurbishment of the City Hall, Candleriggs; so much so,  that there will no further thought on the matter until 2006 at the earliest.

Photograph of the Organ

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