Organ database | Complete description

Complete description of the selected organ

Photo: Henrik West. Date: 29 March 2014.

Photo: Henrik West

Cambridge, United Kingdom (Cambridgeshire) - King's College Chapel
Municipal: Cambridge
Address: King's Parade, Cambridge
Website: http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/

Description nr.: 2000544.

Built by: Harrison & Harrison (1934)
The organ contains older material: from 1605 by Thomas Dallam, from 1661 by Lancelot Pease

Year	Builder	Opus	Activity
1606	Thomas Dallam		new organ
1661	Lancelot Pease		enlargement
1675	Thomas Thamer		restoration and enlargement
1710	Renatus Harris		restoration and enlargement
1804	John Avery		maintenance/reparations
1859	William Hill & Sons		restoration
1888	William Hill & Sons		enlargement
1906	William Hill & Sons		rebuild
1934	Harrison & Harrison		new organ in old case
1968	Harrison & Harrison		modify stoplist
2016	Harrison & Harrison		restoration

De orgelkas in King's College Chapel is gemaakt door Chapman en Hartrop uit Cambridge voor het orgel dat Thomas Dallam bouwde in 1605/1606. Lancelot Pease voegde in 1661 een positief toe. Het instrument is hierna gewijzigd en vergroot door Thomas Thamer en later door Renatus Harris tussen 1675 en 1710. John Avery wijzigde het in 1804, en tussen 1859 en 1906 is het verschillende keren door William Hill aangepast aan de wensen en smaken van de organisten. In 1888 voegde hij een Solo Organ toe. Harrison & Harrison bouwde in 1934 een geheel nieuw instrument in de oude kassen. Het is in 1950 en 1968 gewijzigd door dezelfde firma. Het huidige binnenwerk is veel te groot voor de oude kassen, zodat deze een stuk dieper moesten worden gemaakt.
De firma Harrison & Harrison voerde in de jaren 2015-2016 een restauratie uit. De tractuur en opbouw op de windladen is gewijzigd, maar de intonatie is naar het orgel uit 1934 uitgevoerd. Enkele registers zijn vernieuwd, waaronder de houten Wald Flute 4' uit 1934, die is vervangen door een nieuw exemplaar van orgelmetaal.

Technical data

Number of stops per division
- Great Organ	15
- Choir Organ	16 (13)
- Swell Organ	15
- Solo Organ	11
- Pedal Organ	20 (9)
Total number of stops	77 (63)
Key action	Electropneumatic
Stop action	Electropneumatic
Windchest(s)	Slider chests
Wind pressure	76 - 450 mm (3 - 18 inches)

Specification
Great Organ (C-c''''): Double Open Diapason 16', Open Diapason I 8', Open Diapason II 8', Stopped Diapason 8', Octave 4', Principal 4', Wald Flute 4', Octave 2 2/3', Super Octave 2', Open Flute 2' - 1968, Sesquialtera 3 ranks (17.19.22), Mixture 4 ranks (19.22.26.29) - 1968.
enclosed in Solo Swell Box: Contra Tromba 16', Tromba 8' - Harmonic, Octave Tromba 4' - Harmonic.
Choir Organ (C-c''''): Double Salicional 16', Open Diapason 8', Claribel Flute 8', Salicional 8', Dulciana 8', Gemshorn 4', Suabe Flute 4', Nazard 2 2/3', Dulcet 2', Tierce 1 3/5', Larigot 1 1/3', Twenty-Second 1', Contra Tromba 16' - transmissie van Great, Tromba 8' - transmissie van Great, Dulzian 8' - 1968, Octave Tromba 4' - transmissie van Great.
Swell Organ (enclosed) (C-c''''): Quintatön 16', Open Diapason 8', Violin Diapason 8', Lieblich Gedeckt 8', Echo Gamba 8', Echo Salicional 8', Vox Angelica 8' (TC), Principal 4', Lieblich Flute 4', Fifteenth 2', Mixture 4 ranks (12.17.19.22), Double Trumpet 16', Oboe 8', Trumpet 8' - Harmonics Trebles, Clarion 4' - Harmonics Trebles, Tremulant.
Solo Organ (enclosed) (C-c''''): Contra Viola 16', Viole d'Orchestre 8', Harmonic Flute 8', Viole Octaviante 4', Concert Flute 4', Cornet de Violes 3 ranks (10.12.15), Cor Anglais 16', Clarinet 8', Orchestral Hautboy 8', French Horn 8' - Harmonic, Tuba 8' - Harmonic. Unenclosed, Tremulant - Variable beat.
Pedal Organ (C-g'): Double Open Wood 32' - gecombineerd met Small Open Wood 16', Small Open Wood 16', Open Diapason 16' - transmissie van Great, Geigen 16', Bourdon 16', Salicional 16' - Gecomb. met double Salicional (Choir), Echo Violone 16' - transmissie van Solo, Violoncello 8' - gecombineerd met Geigen 16', Flute 8' - gecombineerd met Bourdon 16', Principal 4' - uit de Mixture, Rohr Flute 4' - 1968, Open Flute 2' - 1968, Mixture 5 ranks (12.15.17.19.22), Double Ophicleide 32' - gecombineerd met Ophicleide 16', Ophicleide 16', Trombone 16' - transmissie van Great, Cor Anglais 8' - transmissie van Solo, Posaune 8' - gecombineerd met Ophicleide 16', Tromba 8' - transmissie van Great, Schalmei 4' - 1968.
Couplers: Choir to Pedal, Great to Pedal, Swell to Pedal, Solo to Pedal, Swell to Choir, Solo to Choir, Choir to Great, Swell to Great, Solo to Great, Solo to Great (Double Touch), Swell Octave, Swell Suboctave, Solo to Swell, Solo Octave, Solo Suboctave, Solo Unison Off, Great to Solo.
Accessories: 3 balanced crescendo pedals, 6 to 8 adjustable combination pistons, 8 general adjustable combination pistons.

Other specifications
Different specifications	De dispositie was van 1934 tot 1968: Great Organ: Double Open Diapason 16', Open Diapason I 8', Open Diapason II 8', Open Diapason III 8', Hohl Flute 8', Stopped Diapason 8', Octave 4', Principal 4', Wald Flute 4', Octave 2 2/3', Super Octave 2', Sesquialtera III ranks, Contra Tromba 16', Tromba 8' (Harmonic), Octave Tromba 4' (Harmonic). Choir Organ: Double Salicional 16', Open Diapason 8', Claribel Flute 8', Salicional 8', Dulciana 8', Gemshorn 4', Salicet 4', Suabe Flute 4', Nazard 2 2/3', Dulcet 2', Tierce 1 3/5', Larigot 1 1/3', Twenty-Second 1', Contra Tromba 16' (Transmissie van Great), Tromba 8' (Transmissie van Great), Octave Tromba 4' (Transmissie van Great). Swell Organ (enclosed): Quintatön 16', Open Diapason 8', Violin Diapason 8', Lieblich Gedeckt 8', Echo Gamba 8', Echo Salicional 8', Vox Angelica 8', Principal 4', Lieblich Flute 4', Fifteenth 2', Mixture IV ranks, Double Trumpet 16', Oboe 8', Trumpet 8' (Harmonics Trebles), Clarion 4' (Harmonics Trebles), Tremulant . Solo Organ (enclosed): Contra Viola 16', Viole d'Orchestre 8', Harmonic Flute 8', Viole Octaviante 4', Concert Flute 4', Cornet de Violes III ranks, Cor Anglais 16', Clarinet 8', Orchestral Hautboy 8', French Horn 8' (Harmonic), Tuba 8' (Harmonic. Unenclosed), Tremulant (Variable beat). Pedaal: Double Open Wood 32' (Gecombineerd met Small Open Wood 16'), Large Open Wood 16', Small Open Wood 16', Open Diapason 16' (Transmissie van Great), Geigen 16', Bourdon 16', Salicional 16' (Gecomb. met Double Salicional (Choir)), Echo Violone 16' (Transmissie van Solo), Octave Wood 8' (Gecombineerd met Large Open Wood 16'), Violoncello 8' (Gecombineerd met Geigen 16'), Flute 8' (Gecombineerd met Bourdon 16'), Salicet 8' (Gecombineerd met Salicional 16'), Super Octave Wood 4' (Gecombineerd met Large Open Wood 16'), Principal 4' (Uit de Mixture), Mixture IV ranks, Double Ophicleide 32' (Gecombineerd met Ophicleide 16'), Ophicleide 16', Trombone 16' (Transmissie van Great), Cor Anglais 8' (Transmissie van Solo), Posaune 8' (Gecombineerd met Ophicleide 16'), Tromba 8' (Transmissie van Great). Koppelingen: 20 combination couplers.

Other specifications

Different specifications

De dispositie was van 1934 tot 1968:
Great Organ: Double Open Diapason 16', Open Diapason I 8', Open Diapason II 8', Open Diapason III 8', Hohl Flute 8', Stopped Diapason 8', Octave 4', Principal 4', Wald Flute 4', Octave 2 2/3', Super Octave 2', Sesquialtera III ranks, Contra Tromba 16', Tromba 8' (Harmonic), Octave Tromba 4' (Harmonic).
Choir Organ: Double Salicional 16', Open Diapason 8', Claribel Flute 8', Salicional 8', Dulciana 8', Gemshorn 4', Salicet 4', Suabe Flute 4', Nazard 2 2/3', Dulcet 2', Tierce 1 3/5', Larigot 1 1/3', Twenty-Second 1', Contra Tromba 16' (Transmissie van Great), Tromba 8' (Transmissie van Great), Octave Tromba 4' (Transmissie van Great).
Swell Organ (enclosed): Quintatön 16', Open Diapason 8', Violin Diapason 8', Lieblich Gedeckt 8', Echo Gamba 8', Echo Salicional 8', Vox Angelica 8', Principal 4', Lieblich Flute 4', Fifteenth 2', Mixture IV ranks, Double Trumpet 16', Oboe 8', Trumpet 8' (Harmonics Trebles), Clarion 4' (Harmonics Trebles), Tremulant .
Solo Organ (enclosed): Contra Viola 16', Viole d'Orchestre 8', Harmonic Flute 8', Viole Octaviante 4', Concert Flute 4', Cornet de Violes III ranks, Cor Anglais 16', Clarinet 8', Orchestral Hautboy 8', French Horn 8' (Harmonic), Tuba 8' (Harmonic. Unenclosed), Tremulant (Variable beat).
Pedaal: Double Open Wood 32' (Gecombineerd met Small Open Wood 16'), Large Open Wood 16', Small Open Wood 16', Open Diapason 16' (Transmissie van Great), Geigen 16', Bourdon 16', Salicional 16' (Gecomb. met Double Salicional (Choir)), Echo Violone 16' (Transmissie van Solo), Octave Wood 8' (Gecombineerd met Large Open Wood 16'), Violoncello 8' (Gecombineerd met Geigen 16'), Flute 8' (Gecombineerd met Bourdon 16'), Salicet 8' (Gecombineerd met Salicional 16'), Super Octave Wood 4' (Gecombineerd met Large Open Wood 16'), Principal 4' (Uit de Mixture), Mixture IV ranks, Double Ophicleide 32' (Gecombineerd met Ophicleide 16'), Ophicleide 16', Trombone 16' (Transmissie van Great), Cor Anglais 8' (Transmissie van Solo), Posaune 8' (Gecombineerd met Ophicleide 16'), Tromba 8' (Transmissie van Great).
Koppelingen: 20 combination couplers.

Literature

King's College Chapel Cambridge : The Organ : Harrison & Harrison Ltd. 1934 & 1950. - [Durham] : Harrison & Harrison Ltd. - Informatieblad van de firma Harrison & Harrison.
The Orchestral Organ / John Wells. - In: Organists' Review, vol. 67 no. 2, May 1982.
Het orgel in King's College Chapel te Cambridge. - In: De Orgelvriend, jrg. 25 nr. 7, juli 1983.
Berühmte Orgeln : Meisterwerke europäischer Orgelbauer / Ursula und Ulrich Rüge. - Hamburg : Nikol Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, 1994.
Harrison & Harrison Organbuilders Ltd. : Afl. 6 (slot): Twee parels aan de kroon / Hendrik Jan de Bie. - In: De Orgelvriend, jrg. 47 nr. 5, mei 2005.
The organs of Cambridge : An illustrated guide to the organs of the University and City of Cambridge / Nicholas Thistlethwaite. - Oxford : Positif Press, 2008.
Het orgel van de King's College Chapel Cambridge (I) / Hendrik Jan de Bie. - In: De Orgelvriend, jrg. 60 nr. 3, april 2018.
Het orgel van de King's College Chapel Cambridge (2) / Hendrik Jan de Bie. - In: De Orgelvriend, jrg. 60 nr. 5, juni 2018.
Het orgel van de King's College Chapel Cambridge (3) : De restauratie van het orgel in 2015-2016 / Hendrik Jan de Bie. - In: De Orgelvriend, jrg. 60 nr. 6, juli/augutsus 2018.

Recordings

Duruflé : Complete Organ Works / Thomas Trotter. - King's College Recordings KGS0053 (CD). - 2021.
Messiaen : La nativité du Seigneur / Richard Gowers. - KGS0025 (CD). - 2018.
The King of Instruments : A Voice Reborn / Stephen Cleobury. - KGS0020 (CD) - 2017.
Liszt Reubke Mendelssohn Organ Works / Stephen Cleobury. - KGS0010 (CD). - 2015.
The Grand Organ of King's College, Cambridge / Stephen Cleobury. - Priory Records PRDVD 3 (DVD). - 2008.
Christmas Organ Music from King's College, Cambridge / Daniel Hyde. - Priory Records PRCD 884 (CD). - 2007.
Stephen Cleobury plays the music of Sir Edward Elgar on the Harrison and Harrison Organ of King's College Cambridge / Stephen Cleobury. - Priory Records PRCD 6010 (CD).
Sir Edward Elgar : Complete works for organ / John Butt. - Harmonia Mundi HMU 907281 (CD). - 2002.
Organ Classics from King's / Stephen Cleobury - Regis RRC 1012 (CD). - 2000.
French showpieces from King's / David Good. - KM 1021 (CD).
The Organ Music of Herbert Howells : Volume 1 / Stephen Cleobury. - Priory Records PRCD 480. - 1993.
The splendour of King's / Stephen Cleobury. - CD. - 1993.
The King's trumpeter : Music for trumpet and organ from King's College, Cambridge / Crispian Steele-Perkins, trompet en Stephen Cleobury, orgel. - Priory Records PRCD 189 (CD).
Stephen Cleobury plays the organ of King's College, Cambridge. - Priory Records PRCD 185 (CD). - (Great European Organs ; 1).
British organ music from King's / Stephen Cleobury. - Priory Records PRCD 005 (CD). - (Celebration ; 5).
Organ Voluntaries from King's College / Philip Ledger. - EMI ASD 4093 (LP). - 1982.
Organ Music from King's / Philip Ledger. - EMI HQS 1356 (LP). - 1976.

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Photo: Henrik West	Photo: Henrik West	Photo: Henrik West	Photo: Henrik West	Photo: Henrik West	Source: Postcard
Source: firma Harrison & Harrison