Giant Möller Concert Organ

Reginald Foort was staff organist for the BBC, leaving in 1938 to tour the UK’s theatres with his five-manual concert organ until wartime conditions made it impossible to continue. His Möller Concert Organ was then sold to the BBC who had it installed in the small Jubilee Chapel in Hoxton, London, where it was used for broadcasts by all the well-known organists of the day including Foort.

Reginald Foort’s performances for the BBC on the Möller Concert Organ were not retained in the BBC archive and were preserved only on 78s issued in the 1940s. Foort made skilful use of the short playing time available on each side of a 78 record, his range varying from light folk songs to more serious classics. His varied choice of music and lively arrangements were especially cheering to listeners as he encouraged them to “keep smiling” during the dark days of World War II.

Phoenix Historic Records has now produced a series of CDs making Foort’s popular recordings on the Möller Concert Organ available once again to the wide audience they deserve.
Volume 1; volume 2; volume 3; volume 4; volume 5.

Foort left the UK in 1951 to spend the rest of his life in the USA. He continued to record prolifically well into the 1970s.

In 1964 the BBC decided that they no longer needed a pipe organ and sold the Möller Concert Organ to a radio station in Hilversum, the Netherlands, where it was again installed in a church. It was infrequently used, however, and in 1973 was sold to an American businessman and taken back to the factory, where it was rebuilt with additional units. It was then installed in a pizza restaurant in San Diego, California.

In 1980 the Möller Concert Organ was again sold and was moved permanently into the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, California. Foort himself was present at the opening, and was reputedly moved to tears. Foort died soon afterwards, but his Giant Möller Concert Organ still remains in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium today.

Phoenix Historical Records featuring the recordings of Reginald Foort

Reginald Foort at the Concert Organ.	Giant Möller Concert Organ Reginald Foort was staff organist for the BBC, leaving in 1938 to tour the UK’s theatres with his five-manual concert organ until wartime conditions made it impossible to continue. His Möller Concert Organ was then sold to the BBC who had it installed in the small Jubilee Chapel in Hoxton, London, where it was used for broadcasts by all the well-known organists of the day including Foort. Reginald Foort’s performances for the BBC on the Möller Concert Organ were not retained in the BBC archive and were preserved only on 78s issued in the 1940s. Foort made skilful use of the short playing time available on each side of a 78 record, his range varying from light folk songs to more serious classics. His varied choice of music and lively arrangements were especially cheering to listeners as he encouraged them to “keep smiling” during the dark days of World War II. Phoenix Historic Records has now produced a series of CDs making Foort’s popular recordings on the Möller Concert Organ available once again to the wide audience they deserve. Volume 1; volume 2; volume 3; volume 4; volume 5. Foort left the UK in 1951 to spend the rest of his life in the USA. He continued to record prolifically well into the 1970s. In 1964 the BBC decided that they no longer needed a pipe organ and sold the Möller Concert Organ to a radio station in Hilversum, the Netherlands, where it was again installed in a church. It was infrequently used, however, and in 1973 was sold to an American businessman and taken back to the factory, where it was rebuilt with additional units. It was then installed in a pizza restaurant in San Diego, California. In 1980 the Möller Concert Organ was again sold and was moved permanently into the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, California. Foort himself was present at the opening, and was reputedly moved to tears. Foort died soon afterwards, but his Giant Möller Concert Organ still remains in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium today.
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