Henry Willis

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/henry-willis

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Henry Willis born?April 27, 1821
2. When did Henry Willis die?February 11, 1901
3. What is the company legacy?Founded Henry Willis & Sons, which remains a prominent organ builder today
4. What is the notable instruments?Organs at St. George's Hall, Liverpool, and the Royal Albert Hall, London
5. Who was Henry Willis?Henry Willis was a famous builder of huge musical instruments called organs, who lived in the 1800s. He made organs that could play many different sounds and were used in churches and concert halls.
6. Why is he called "Father" Willis?He was called "Father" Willis because musicians and people in the community respected him a lot, and he helped many others learn about organs.

Pneumatic Action: A mechanism in pipe organs where air pressure is used to operate the keys and stops, making them easier to play.
Voicing: The art and science of adjusting organ pipes to produce specific tones, volumes, and timbres.
Tonal Palette: The range and variety of sounds or timbres that a musical instrument, particularly an organ, can produce.