The Organ Today

The Chapel Organ is located in the central West gallery of the Chapel, with the console in the south gallery (above the south ante-chapel), consisting of forty-two speaking stops and fifteen couplers (making a total of fifty-seven stops). J W Walker & Sons built the original organ in 1886. The organ was rebuilt in 1978 by Harrison & Harrison of Durham and was overhauled by them in 2003.

Previous organ scholars include John Scott Whiteley (Organist, York Minster), Mervyn Cousins (Director of Music, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral), Mark Wardell (Assistant Organist, Chichester Cathedral), Scott Farrell (Director of Music, Newcastle Cathedral) and Teilhard Scott (Organist, Oakham School).

The specification is to a design by Thomas G Duncan MA, B.Litt, of St. Andrew's University, and Lionel J Pike MA, D.Phil, of the College, in consultation with the organ builders. Stops marked with an asterisk (*) contain pipework from the previous instrument by J W Walker & Sons Ltd.

Pedal Organ
13 Stops, 3 Couplers

1 *Principal 16'
2 *Bourdon 16'
3 *Quint 10 2/3'
4 *Octave 8'
5 *Flute 8'
6 *Principal 4'
7 *Flute 4'
8 *Mixture III
9 Bombarde (en chamade) 16'
10 *Fagotto 16'
11 Trumpet (en chamade) 8'
12 *Bassoon 8'
13 *Schalmei 4'

I Choir to Pedal
II Great to Pedal
III Swell to Pedal

Choir Organ
10 Stops, Tremulant and 1 Coupler

14 Chimney Flute 8'
15 Prestant 4'
16 Gedackt 4'
17 Nazard 2 2/3'
18 Quarte de Nazard 2'
19 Tierce 1 3/5'
20 Cymbale III
21 Cromorne 8'
22 Trumpet (en chamade) 8'
23 Clarion (en chamade) 4'

IV Tremulant
V Swell to Choir

Combination Couplers:
XIV Great & Pedal Combinations coupled
XV Generals on Swell Foot Pistons

Great Organ
10 Stops, 4 Couplers

24 *Bourdon 16'
25 Principal 8'
26 Stopped Diapason 8'
27 Octave 4'
28 Open Flute 4'
29 Principal 2'
30 Mixture IV-V
31 Cornet III
32 Trumpet (en chamade) 8'
33 Clarion (en chamade)

VI Choir to Great
VII Swell to Great
VIII Swell Octave to Great
IX Swell Sub Octave to Great

Swell Organ
9 stops, Tremulant and 3 couplers

34 Bourdon 8'
35 Salicional 8'
36 *Celeste (TC) 8'
37 Principal 4'
38 Cornet III
39 Mixture IV
40 *Contra Fagotto 16'
41 *Hautboy 8'
42 *Trompette 8'

XV Tremulant
XI Swell Octave
XII Swell Sub Octave
XIII Swell Unison Off

Accessories:
Six general pistons
Six foot pistons to the Pedal Organ
Six pistons to the Great Organ
Six pistons to the Choir Organ
Six pistons to the Swell Organ (duplicated by foot pistons)
(The pistons are adjustable by setter)
Reversible foot pistons: II, VII, 9
Reversible pistons: I, II, III, V, VI, VII, XIV
Pedal cancel foot piston
General cancel piston
Balanced expression pedals to Choir and Swell Organs

Notes:
The manual compass is CC to C, 61 notes; the pedal CCC to G, 32 notes
The pitch is C= 523.3 (A =440)
The action is electric, the combination and coupler action being on a solid-state system
The blowing equipment and humidifier are by Messrs. Watkins and Watson of Wareham, Dorset

Further notes on the organ from the designer, and information about the opening recital by Dame Gillian Weir, can be found here.