The Organ

 

The original 2 manual,19 stop instrument was installed by the English firm of Norman & Beard in 1904 only 2 years before the Nave was extended. Despite the larger building the organ continued to be in service for over 70 years until the new organist, Dr Donald Davison, arrived in 1977 and engaged Philip Prosser to carry out a complete rebuild of the instrument and enlargement to 3 manuals and 42 stops.
   
     

 

The rebuilt instrument provided for the musical needs of the Parish for the next 35 years until in consultation with Wells Kennedy Partnership Organ Builders of Lisburn (who took over the care of the organ after Philip Prosser’s retirement), Donald Davison approached the Select Vestry with various proposals as the organ’s 1970s Solid State transmission system needed replaced. The SV unanimously approved the largest scheme which included tonal additions and work began in 2010. Unfortunately, the scheme was only partially completed by the time that Donald died in August 2013.

Richard Campbell was appointed as Organist in January 2014 and provided a new proposal to the Select Vestry in consultation with the UK’s leading specialist, Paul Hale, to complete the organ using the remaining budget. Richard also set about raising over £20,000 through a ‘Sponsor a Pipe’ scheme which was very generously supported by parishioners.

Contracts were awarded in June 2015 to Pipe Organ Preservation Co (Ireland) & Phoenix Organs NI and work began almost immediately and took over 1 year to complete.

All additional pipework was second hand and revoiced to suit the building and we were fortunate to source pipework from firms contemporary with the original builder; Harrison and Harrison, Norman & Beard as well as former local builder Evans & Barr. Most notably, we were very lucky to be able to source a Harrison diapason chorus and a Norman & Beard Tuba in the newly extended south transept case.

Two new main blowers were added to replace the original one from the 1920s which had served well and there is also a booster blower added for the big reed ranks.

The organ’s opening recital was given by Dr. Kevin Bowyer on Saturday 24th September 2016. Kevin’s varied and colourful programme is given below.

Grand Choeur Dialogue                                     Eugene Gigout (1844-1925)

 Amazing Grace                                                  Mons Leidvin Takle (b. 1942)

 Toccata on All you need is Love                                    Paul Ayres (b. 1970)

 Star Wars (arr. Markus Rupprecht)                      John Williams (b. 1932)

 From Onze Grands Preludes, Op. 66:                 Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888)

            No. 2, in D minor (Allegro moderato)

            No. 4, in G minor (Moderatamente)

 Fantasia and Fugue in A minor, BWV 561           J S Bach (1685-1750)

 Hymn to Freedom (arr. Takle)                             Oscar Peterson (1925-2007)

 Little Serenade                                                  Ernest Tomlinson (1924-2015)

 Variations sur un Noel                                        Marcel Dupre (1886-1971)

 

 

The Specification

 

Pedal

1          Double Open Wood                   32

2          Contra Bourdon                         32

3          Open Wood I                            16

4          Open Wood II                            16

5          Principal                                   16

6          Subbass                                   16

7          Bourdon                                    16

8          Octave                                      8

9          Bass Flute                                8

10         Fifteenth                                   4

11         Open Flute                                4

12         Rauschquint      12.19.22.26.29   V

13         Contra Bombarde                      32

14         Contra Posaune                        32

15         Ophicleide                                16

16         Trombone (ext. Great)                16

17         Fagotto                                    16

18         Trompette (Great)                      8

19         Swell to Pedal

20         Great to Pedal

21         Choir to Pedal

22         Choir Octave to Pedal

23         Gt & Pedal Pistons Coupled

24         Cymbelstern

 

Swell

25         Lieblich Bourdon                       16

26         Diapason                                  8

27         Gedeckt                                    8

28         Viola                                         8

29         Voix Celestes                            8

30         Principal                                   4

31         Koppel Flute                             4

32         Octave                                      2

33         Koppel Flute                             2

34         Octave                                      1

35         Sesquialtera      12.17                II

36         Sharf                22.26.29            III

37         Contra Fagotto                          16

38         Trumpet                                    8

39         Cornopean                                8

40         Oboe                                        8

41         Vox Humana                             8

42         Clarion                                      4

43         Tremulant

44         Swell Sub Octave

45         Swell Octave

Choir (enclosed)

46         Diapason                                  8

47         Claribel Flute                             8

48         Viole da Gamba                         8

49         Violes Celestes II                       8         

50         West Erzahler Celestes II            8

51         Prestant                                    4

52         Wald Flute                                4

53         Nazard                                      2 2/3

54         Tierce                                       1 3/5

55         Scharf  22.26.29.33                   IV

56         Dulzian                                     16

57         Clarinet                                     8

58         Tremulant

Choir (unenclosed)

59         Nave Diapason                         8

60         Nave Principal                           4

61         Nave Fifteenth                           2

62         Stopped Diapason                    8

63         Chimney Flute                           4

64         Flageolet                                  2

65         Cromorne                                  8

66         Tuba                                         8

67         West Festival Trumpet               8

68         Trompette (Great)                      8

69         Swell to Choir

70         Swell to Great

71         Choir to Great

72         Choir Octave

 

Great

73         Double Diapason                      16

74         Bourdon                                   16

75         Nave Diapason                         8

76         Open Diapason                         8

77         Flute Harmonique                      8

78         Hohl Flute                                 8

79         Chimney Flute                           8

80         Gamba                                     8

81         Nave Principal                           4

82         Principal                                   4

83         Spitz Flute                                4

84         Twelfth                                      2 2/3

85         Nave Fifteenth                           2

86         Doublette                                  2

87         Seventeenth                              1 3/5

88         Fourniture         19.22.26            III

89         Cymbel             24.26.29.33       IV-V

89         Cornet              12.15.17            III

90         Trombone                                 16

91         Trompette                                 8

92         Clarion                                      4

Accessories

10 pistons each to Great, Swell, Choir & Pedal

10 General Pistons

18 Sequencer Pistons with advance & reverse thumb and toe pistons

Reversible pistons to couplers, Cymblestern and 32’ flues & reeds