Spitfire Audio has announced the release of a remarkable virtual instrument which captures the historic pipe organ of the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.
A unique project in collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Shakespeare’s Church Organ brings the magnificent and reverent sound of the organ—where William Shakespeare was baptized, worshipped, and is buried—to music creators.
Originally recorded for the RSC’s acclaimed 2024 production of Twelfth Night, this deeply moving instrument, whose voice has echoed through centuries of church services, can now evoke the poetic spirit of William Shakespeare in your own scores.
The journey of Shakespeare’s Church Organ began with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2024 production of Twelfth Night. The inspiring sound of the Holy Trinity Church organ was brought to the stage at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, played by actor Thom Petty in the role of Curio. The organ underscored the story’s light and dark moments, weaving everything from solemn funeral marches to Ragtime into the fabric of the play.
To achieve this, Spitfire Audio meticulously captured numerous tonal combinations from the organ’s 54 ranks, arranged into five divisions, within the glorious and unique acoustics of Holy Trinity Church. Using three microphone positions (Close, Mid, Far), the recordings offer both pristine clarity and a rich, distinctive sound imbued with grandeur and an ethereal atmosphere that carries centuries of history within its resonance. This process ensures that composers and producers have a comprehensive range of authentic and inspirational organ sounds, equally at home in theatrical underscoring and larger musical arrangements.
The Holy Trinity Church Organ: A Voice Forged Through Centuries
The Holy Trinity Church organ itself is a testament to enduring craftsmanship, with its origins traceable to before the Reformation. Developed and lovingly restored over centuries, it comprises an Upper Organ (housing the powerful Great and expressive Swell divisions, along with foundational Pedal stops) and a Lower Organ (featuring the versatile Choir and a second expressive Swell division, also with its own Pedal stops). This Grade I listed instrument has resonated within the church’s walls for hundreds of years. Now, its vast dynamic range is available to explore, adding unparalleled depth and historical weight to any production.
Shakespeare’s Church Organ features
- Historic Sound Source: Deeply sampled from the 54-rank pipe organ in William Shakespeare’s final resting place, the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.
- Authentic Registrations: 33 meticulously crafted presets, each representing a carefully chosen combination of stops, including:
- 11 Manual Registrations
- 4 Pedal Registrations
- 18 Combination Presets
- Versatile Timbral Palette: From the most delicate whispers to the full majestic power of the organ, equally suitable on the stage in theatrical productions as it is for scoring historical dramas, contemporary soundscapes, and classical compositions.
- Three Microphone Positions: Close, Mid, and Far for complete spatial control.
- Integrated FX: Essential Reverb and Release controls shape the acoustic environment directly within the plugin.
- Dynamics and Expression controls for nuanced and responsive playing.
- Intuitive interface designed for ease of use, quick access to sounds and parameters.
- Download Size: 1.97GB.
Shakespeare’s Church Organ for Spitfire Audio’s dedicated plugin (VST3, AU and AAX) is available to purchase at a 20% intro discount, priced £79 GBP / $103 USD / €95 EUR until June 11th, 2025 (regular £99 GBP / $129 USD / €119 EUR).
More information: Spitfire Audio
