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3
Historic Organs
Cathedral
Organ Halmshaw & Sons 1878
Installed
first in the former Church of the Blessed Sacrament,
and from 1904 in the Cathedral, (first
in the northern gallery transept, next in a corner
of the west gallery, then in the centre) the main
organ has been kept in substantially original condition. During
a sensitive restoration by the South Island Organ
Company in 1977-8, 4 new pedal stops were added,
but the layout and appearance of the instrument
is virtually unchanged. It has bright, clear tonal
qualities, enhanced by its placement. Although
little is known of the makers, they were obviously
good craftsmen following traditional design practices,
and the resulting organ is adaptable to a wide
repertoire.
Great O. Diapason
8’, St. Diapason 8’, Dulciana
8’, Principal 4’, Twelfth,
Fifteenth 2’, Mixture IV, Trumpet
8’
Swell Bourdon
16’,
O. Diapason
8’,
St. Diapason
8’, Principal
4’, Fifteenth
2’, Mixture
IV, Horn 8’,
Oboe 8’ (encl.)
Choir St.
Diapason 8’,
Dulciana 8’,
Wald Flute 4’,
Celestina 4’,
Cremona 8’ (unencl.)
Pedal O.
Diapason 16’,
Bourdon 16’,
Principal 8’,
Octave 4’,
Mixture IV, Trombone
16’
Sw to Gt, Ch to Gt, Gt to Ped, Sw to Ped, Ch to Ped, Sw Trem. (1910)
Ch Trem. (1978)
Cathedral
Organ - Halmshaw (Birmingham) 1878
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Earthquake Damage
At December 2012, the historic Halmshaw organ remained inside the ruined cathedral.
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St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral
While CBS Music is based at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, the original pipe organ has been coupled to a 4 manual Rodgers Platinum digital organ, providing a versatile resource for accompanying, and a spectacular recital instrument.
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Continuo
Organ Unknown Maker e.g.
1825
The
maker and early history of this intriguing instrument
are unknown. Its original extended G keyboard compass
and elegant carved decoration reflect eighteenth century
practice. It was apparently bought in a Pimlico warehouse
around 1905 by Christchurch lawyer and businessman T.G.
Russell, who was moving from his original home now called “Holly
Lea” in Fendalton Rd, to a new property on Papanui
Rd, where the organ would grace an alcove in his study.
On his death in Calvary Hospital in 1936, it was given
to the nuns who had cared for him, and installed in their
chapels. In 1969 it was moved to St Mary’s Anglican
Church, Halswell, until purchased for the Cathedral of
the Blessed Sacrament in 1991, at which time it was placed
upon a mobile platform, so that it could be moved anywhere
downstairs to accompany singers or instrumentalists.
Great O. Diapason 8’,
Claribel 8’, Dulciana 8’, Principal
4’, Flute 4’, Fifteenth 2’,
Cremona 8’
Swell O. Diapason 8’,
St Diapason 8’, Principal 4’, Hautboy
8’ (Vox Humana pipes)
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Cathedral Organ Retrieval
In December, 2020, the organ was retrieved from a demolished cathedral and moved to storage by the South Island Organ Company.
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St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral
NZ Organists' Association Congress Recital 2016 |
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Sanctuary
Organ Bevington, London, 1870
Erected
in 1870 in the original St Mary’s Merivale Anglican
Church, this organ was to become the first instrument
in the new Oxford Terrace Baptist Church on its completion
in 1880. In 1915 it was transferred to Kaiapoi Presbyterian
Church, and then in 1976 it was bought by the Cathedral
of the Blessed Sacrament Choir and mounted on wheels
in the sanctuary gallery, from where it could be moved to
either end of the southern gallery. It is in virtually
original condition, with a short flat pedal board.
Manual O. Diapason 8’,
St. Diapason 8’, Dulciana 8’, Principal
4’ (encl. except O.D.)
Pedal Bourdon 16’ (13 pipes,
permanently coupled to manual) |
Earthquake Damage
At December 2012, the historic Bevington organ had been winched out of the cathedral gallery, and taken for safe storage to the South Island Organ Company.
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Nicholas Dillon Guest
organist 1999 - 2002 |
St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral
Nicholas Sutcliffe Associate Organist 2019 - |
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