ST ALBANS CATHEDRAL

The original plans for the organ were drawn up by Ralph Downes in association with the Abbey Organist, Peter Hurford, and in consultation with the organbuilders.  It incorporates pipework from the previous organ together with the north and south organ cases of 1908, designed by John Oldrid Scott. However, all of the old pipework was revoiced and the tonal design was completely new. The classical influence of the Royal Festival Hall (1954) is clear, but the Cathedral's liturgical requirements were given equal importance in the design.

The Swell and Great Organs are housed in the north and south cases respectively, on either side of the quire screen. A new case, designed by Cecil Brown, was built for the Choir Organ, placed centrally on the east side of the screen; the console is on the west side. 

Major restoration is due for completion in the spring of 2009. This includes a new console with the addition of a fourth manual. The tonal scheme and voicing style will be preserved, and there will be several additions (marked *). A Nave division will be added later.



 PEDAL ORGAN



GREAT ORGAN










1.
  Sub Bass
32
29.
  Principal
  16
2.
  Principal
16
30.
  Bourdon
  16
3.
  Major Bass
16
31.
  Principal
    8
4.
  Bourdon
16
32.
  Diapason
    8
5.
  Quint
102/3
33.
  Spitzflute
    8
6.
  Octave
  8
34.
  Stopped Diapason
    8
7.
  Gedeckt
  8
35.
  Octave
    4
8.
  Nazard
  51/3
36.
  Stopped Flute
    4
9.
  Choral Bass
  4
37.
  Quint

 22/3
10.
  Open Flute
  2
38.
  Super Octave
    2
11.
  Mixture
IV
39.
  Blockflute
    2
12.
 *Fagotto
32
40.
  Mixture
 IV-VI
13.
  Bombardon
16
41.
  Bass Trumpet
16
14.
  Bass Trumpet
 (from 41)
 16
42.
 *Trumpet
8
15.
 *Fagotto  (from 12) 16
43.
 *Clarion
4
16.
  Tromba
8
44.
  Grand Cornet
(tenor g)
 V
17.
 Shawm 4

X  Choir to Great   XI  Swell to Great

I   Choir to Pedal        II   Great to Pedal


XII    Solo to Great
   

III    Swell to Pedal           IV   Solo to Pedal















CHOIR ORGAN



SWELL ORGAN










18.
  Quintaton
16
45.
  Open Diapason
    8
19.
  Open Diapason
  8
46.
  Rohr Flute
    8
20.
  Gedacktpommer
  8
47.
  Viola
    8
21.
  Flauto Traverso
  8
48.
  Celeste
 (tenor c)
     8
22.
  Octave
  4
49.
  Principal
    4
23.
  Rohr Flute
  4
50.
  Open Flute
    4
24.
  Wald Flute
  2
51.
  Nazard
 22/3
25.
  Larigot
  11/3
52.
 *Octave

    2
26.
  Sesquialtera
  II
53.
  Gemshorn
 2
27.
   Mixture
  IV
54.
  Tierce
  13/5
28.
  Cromorne
  8
55.
  Mixture 
  III

V   Tremulant       VI   Octave       VII   Unison Off

56.
 *Cimbel
  III

VIII  Swell to Choir      IX  Solo to Choir

57.
  Corno di Bassetto 
    16





58.
  Hautboy
    8

ACCESSORIES


59.
  Vox Humana
    8

Sixteen general pistons and general cancel

60.
  Trumpet
8

Eight foot pistons to the Pedal Organ

61.
 Clarion
4
  
Eight pistons and cancel to the Choir Organ


XIII   Tremulant        XIV   Octave

Eight pistons and cancel to the Great Organ


XV   Sub Octave         XVI   Unison off

Eight pistons and cancel to the Swell Organ






         (duplicated by foot pistons)


SOLO ORGAN


Three pistons and cancel to the Solo Organ






Four pistons and cancel to the Nave Organ

62.
 Fanfare Trumpet
8

Reversible pistons:  I - IV, VIII, X - XII, XIX - XXI

63.
 Grand Cornet (from 44) V

Reversible foot pistons: II, XX

64.
 Corno di Bassetto (from 57) 16

Stepper, operating general pistons in sequence


XVII   Octave       XVIII   Unison Off

Combination couplers: Great and Pedal Combinations

XIX   Great Reeds on Solo

                                   Generals on foot pistons






Eight divisional and 256 general piston memory levels





Cimbelstern (drawstop and foot piston) 

                              NAVE ORGAN (prepared for)

Balanced expression pedal to the Swell Organ  

65.
 *Bourdon
 (bass from Pedal)
   16




66.
 *Principal
    8

 * new stops

67.
 *Rohr Flute
8

The actions are electro-pneumatic
68.
 *Octave
 4

Manual compass 58 notes;  pedal compass 32 notes
 69.
 *Spitzflute
    4




70.
 *Super Octave
  2




71.
 *Mixture

IV




72.
*Pedal Sub Bass
16





XX   Nave on Great        XXI  Nave on Solo
  







HARRISON & HARRISON, DURHAM

1962  2009

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For further information, email Mark Venning:
h.h@btinternet.com