The organ in Paisley Abbey

THE ORGAN IN PAISLEY ABBEY

In 1872 Aristide Cavaillé-Coll built a two-manual organ in the nave. In 1928, when the quire of the Abbey was restored, the organ was rebuilt and enlarged by Hill, Norman & Beard and was installed in a large chamber on the south side. There were four manuals and 65 stops; all of the Cavaillé-Coll pipework was retained, though with some changes in its character. The new organ case was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer.
In 1968 the organ was rebuilt by J. W. Walker with a completely new tonal structure, planned by Ralph Downes in association with the Abbey organist Dr George McPhee. Once again the Cavaillé-Coll pipework was retained, the reeds regaining much of their original quality. Three of the manual departments are arranged vertically behind the quire case, with the Swell at the top, then the Positive, and the Great at the lower level; the Bombarde speaks westwards into the south transept. The console is in the south choir stalls.
The organ was restored by Harrison & Harrison in 2009, when a new, traditional wind system was provided and a 32ft reed was added.




 PEDAL ORGAN



SWELL ORGAN










    1. Contrebasse
 (from 2)
 32
43.
 Chimney Flute
   8
    2. Contrebasse
16
44.
 Gambe
   8
    3. Principal
 (from 58)
 16
45.
 Céleste
 (tenor c)
    8
    4. Sub Bass
16
46.
 Principal
   4
5.
 Salicional
16
47.
 Flute Octave
  4
6.
 Octave
8
48.
 Nazard
 22/3
7.
 Gedackt
8
49.
 Gemshorn
   2
8.
 Choral Bass
4
50.
 Tierce
13/5
9.
 Open Flute
2
51.
 Plein Jeu
  IV-VI
  10.
 Mixture
VI
52.
 Cimbel
III
  11.
 Contre Bombarde
 (2009)
 32
53.
 Corno di Bassetto
16
  12.
 Bombarde
16
54.
 Hautboy
8
  13.
 Bassoon
16
55.
 Voix Humaine
8
14.
 Trumpet No 1
8
56.
 Trumpet
8
  15.
 Trumpet No 2
8
57.
 Clarion
4
 16.
 Shawn
4

Tremulant











POSITIVE ORGAN



BOMBARDE ORGAN

17.
 Traverse Flute
8
58.
 Principal
16
18.
 Bourdon
8
59.
 Octave
8
19.
 Salicional
8
60.
 Harmonic Flute
8
20.
 Unda Maris
 (tenor c)
 8
61.
 Prestant
4
21.
 Principal
4
62.
 Quartane
II
22.
 Chimney Flute
4
63.
 Plein Jeu
VI
23.
 Nazard
22/3
64.
 Cornet
 (tenor g)
 V
24.
 Doublette
2
65.
 Bombarde
16
25.
 Wald Flute
2
66.
 Trumpet
8
26.
 Larigot
11/3
67.
 Clarion
4
27.
 Sesquialtera
II




28.
 Mixture
IV

COUPLERS

29.
 Cremona
8

I   Positive to Pedal                 VI   Swell to Positive

Tremulant



II   Great to Pedal                    VII   Positive to Great






III   Swell to Pedal                   VIII   Swell to Great

GREAT ORGAN



IV   Bombarde to Pedal           IX   Bombarde to Great
30.
 Bourdon
16

V   Bombarde to Positive        X   Bombarde to Swell
31.
 Montre
8




32.
 Spitzflute
8

ACCESSORIES

33.
 Bourdon
8

Eight general pistons and general cancel
34.
 Prestant
4

Eight foot pistons to the Pedal Organ
35.
 Stopped Flute
4

Eight pistons to the Positive Organ
36.
 Quint
22/3

Eight pistons to the Great Organ
37.
 Octave
2

Eight pistons to the Swell Organ
38.
 Blockflute
2

  (duplicated by foot pistons)
39.
 Mixture
IV-VI

Eight pistons to the Bombarde Organ
40.
 Cornet
 (middle c)
 IV

Reversible pistons: I - IX
41.
 Bassoon
16

Reversible foot piston: II
42.
 Trumpet
8

Piston couplers: Great and Pedal Combinations coupled






                         Generals on Swell Foot Pistons






64 general and 16 divisional memory levels






Independent sequencer

The manual compass is 61 notes; the pedal 32 notes

Balanced expression pedal to the Swell Organ

The actions are electro-pneumatic













THE WALKER ORGAN

restored by

HARRISON & HARRISON

2009

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