The Organs and Organists of St Peter's Cathedral, Armidale
Richard Ward
The
Anglican Diocese of Grafton and Armidale was established in 1863 and the
cathedral church in Armidale was opened in 1875. This was the first building in
the New England region to have a pipe organ, installed by George Fincham and
Sons in 1878 and replaced with a larger instrument by Alfred Hunter and Son in
1896.
The
original St PeterÕs Church, a timber building, was opened in 1850 near the site
of the present cathedral. The foundation stone for the cathedral, designed by
Canadian Architect, Horbury Hunt
, was laid in 1873. The building is of Armidale
blue brick, made from clay dug from Mr F. J. WhiteÕs
property at Saumarez, with New England granite blocks from
Uralla used in the foundations, steps and keystones of the arches.
[1]
The brickwork is some
of the finest to be seen in Australia with special craftsmanship needed in the
laying of the purpose-moulded bricks, the toothed lancet windows, decorated
arches and the construction of the Òscissor-trussÓ roof.
[2]
The cathedral drawn by
Dennis Hope
Even
before the new cathedral was opened on 3rd June, 1875, the need for
a pipe organ was recognised and a concert in aid of Òthe speedy erection of an
organ worthy of the new Anglican CathedralÓ was held on 4th March,
1875.
[3]
Another fund-raising
concert took place on 1st June Òin the presence of, if not numerous,
a select and fashionable audience, capable of thoroughly appreciating the
efforts of those taking part in the performance.Ó
[4]
The
Armidale Express
of 22nd March, 1878 commented that:
ÒIt
had been the subject of general remark for some time that the harmonium in St.
PeterÕs was not of sufficient compass to fill with the necessary volume of
sound the Òlong-drawn aisle and fretted vaultÓ of the Cathedral, whereupon the
members of the Church of England decided to replace the harmonium by an
instrument that should be effective in the celebration of the choral and other
services of the ChurchÓ.
[5]
In
August 1877, a contract was entered into with the firm of George Fincham
of
Melbourne, to supply an organ of one manual and pedals, with 10 speaking stops,
at a cost of £265 at the factory.
[6]
George
Fincham (1828-1910) is recognized as AustraliaÕs greatest organ builder of the nineteenth
century. He came from a family of organ builders in England where he served his
apprenticeship with the London organ builder Henry Bevington
. He emigrated to Victoria in 1852 and set up as
an organ tuner and repairer before establishing his own business
Fincham
organ ( right). Photo: St PeterÕs Cathedral Archives
in
1862 and completing his first pipe organ in 1864. His skill as an organ builder
and businessman enabled him to be very successful, becoming the most prolific
organ builder of his time in Australia.
[7]
He built around 200
organs for cathedrals and churches in Australia and New Zealand.
[8]
Fincham
was
the only nineteenth century Australian organ builder to make metal organ pipes
and he made and voiced these for his own requirements and also supplied clients
throughout Australia and New Zealand. He was later assisted in the voicing of
pipes by his employees Alex Ground
and
George Collings
[9]
though, even in 1900,
Fincham still did practically all the voicing, regulating and finishing of his
organs:
ÒFincham voiced his
diapason choruses with a clear virile tone which was partly due to the type of
nicking he used. This resulted in an instrument with character and brillianceÓ.
[10]
The
Fincham
organ was dedicated by the Bishop of Grafton and Armidale,
The Right Revd Dr James Francis Turner
, on 14th March, 1878 and the Armidale
Express
records that there were 600 people present at the service:
ÒThe
organ was presided over by Mr. Schofield
, whose very talented performance elicited the
full powers of the instrument, both in the full choral service which was
celebrated and in the voluntariesÓ.
[11]
The
organ was transported to Armidale by Alex Ground
by
road. (The Northern Line of the railway was not extended to Armidale until
1882.)
[12]
The wet weather
presented some difficulties near Quirindi:
ÒThe
organ was brought to Armidale from Victoria by Mr. Ground, under very
considerable difficulties, for from the time the cases containing the
instrument reached Warrah the rain set in, and the greatest care and attention
were consequently required to prevent damage. Mr. Ground, since his arrival,
has been engaged in erecting the organ, and that he has most faithfully
completed the work the instrument itself testifiesÓ.
The
organ had mechanical (tracker) action, with a manual compass of 56 notes and a
pedal board of 30 notes. All ranks apart from the Open Diapason and pedal
Bourdon were enclosed in a Swell box. The specification for the Fincham
instrument was as follows:
Manual
|
|
|
Open Diapason
|
8
|
|
Gamba
|
8
|
|
Dulciana
|
8
|
|
StopÕd Diapason
|
8
|
|
Principal
|
4
|
|
Flute
|
4
|
|
Fifteenth
|
2
|
|
Mixture 3 Ranks
|
|
|
Cornopean Treble
|
8
|
|
Cornopean Bass
|
8
|
|
Pedal
|
|
|
Bourdon
|
16
|
|
Coupler
|
|
|
Manual to pedals
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 composition pedals
[13]
|
|
|
The
Armidale Express
reported on the impression that was made by the new organ:
Ò.
. . the open diapason is very full and round in tone; the four-foot flute is
very clear and precise in quality; the dulcimner (sic) very sweet, with the
true Cathedral intonation, and in the concluding voluntary, has a very fine
effect; likewise the gamba, which is of a very reedy quality. The cornopean is
exceedingly powerful, and comes with a grand crash in a voluntary. The pedal
Bourdon is of a deep full quality, and the effect fine when used in conjunction
with the other stops; and the same may be said of the swell. The whole of the
material and workmanship in the organ is Australian. The front of the organ is
very handsomely illuminated, the colours blending harmoniously, and very
materially relieving the somewhat sombre portion of the Cathedral where the
organ is erected. The case or frame is of clear pine, stained and ornamented,
of a light colourÓ.
The
full specification of the organ, as written in the George Fincham letter books
, gives some additional details (below).
Original
specification. Illustration by kind permission of the State Library of Victoria
By
1895, the Fincham
organ was considered to be inadequate for the cathedral and
the specification for a large 2 manual instrument was drawn up by the Cathedral
organist, George Edward Coomber
. The organ was ordered from Hunter & Son
of
London and in his letter to the editor of the Armidale Chronicle of October 1895, giving
the specification for the new organ, George Coomber refers to Alfred Hunter
as
his Òold friend.Ó It is interesting to note that George Coomber requested that
8 ranks of pipes from the Fincham organ be incorporated into the new organ,
presumably to keep down the cost:
ÒI
do not think the Armidale church people can be otherwise than pleased with the
value they are getting for their money. When I sent home this specification, I
hardly expected to obtain all that I asked for, notwithstanding I knew my old
friend Mr. Hunter
would do his best for me. For its size the new organ will be
a most effective instrument, and I sincerely hope it will prove a means of
raising the musical taste of Armidale generally, as well as of improving the
musical portion of the church service at S. PeterÕsÓ.
[14]
At
least 11 organs built by Alfred Hunter
and
his son Robert were imported into Australia during the 19th century.
The firm was established in London in 1827 and continued until 1937 when it was
taken over by Henry Willis & Sons
.
Organs
by Hunter & Son
have traditional tonal schemes with Òbold and lively diapason
choruses.Ó The firm developed tubular-pneumatic actions for their organs at an
early stage and this was used in the organ built for St PeterÕs Cathedral,
Armidale.
[15]
In
March 1896, it was reported in the Armidale Chronicle that the arrival of the
organ in Armidale was imminent:
ÒThe
new organ for St. PeterÕs Cathedral was some weeks ago placed on board the S.S.
Ninevah which is now in Australian waters, and will be in Sydney Harbour in a
few days. As only a portion of the funds necessary to pay for this new
instrument has been provided it has been decided to hold a musical festival in
connection with the opening of it . . . The cost of the organ in London was
£350Ó.
[16]
When
the organ arrived in Armidale in April 1896, it was found that some building
alterations needed to be made:
ÒThe
new Organ for St. PeterÕs Cathedral has arrived and most of it was placed in
the old wooden schoolroom on Wednesday last. The cases containing it were
exceedingly bulky and filled three of Wright HeatonÕs large lorries. The
consignment weighed six tons. On opening the cases the contents were found to
be in excellent condition . . . In order to accommodate this fine new
instrument it has been found necessary to make some alterations in the
Cathedral, and the archway in which it will stand is being raised two feet six
inches and has also to be widened eighteen inchesÓ.
[17]
The
alterations were speedily completed and the Armidale Chronicle of 2nd May
reported that:
ÒThe alterations to
brick work in St. PeterÕs Cathedral have been finished by Mr. G. Nott
, under the supervision of Mr. W. H. Lee
, Architect, and the organ-builder, Mr.
Richardson
of
Sydney, who arrived on Thursday morning, has commenced the work of erecting the
new instrument, which will probably be completed within a fortnightÓ.
[18]
The
opening and dedication of the new organ by the Primate, the Most Reverend Dr
Saumarez Smith
, took place on Sunday, 17th May,
1896.
Hunter
Organ, St PeterÕs Cathedral. Photo: St PeterÕs cathedral Archives
A
description of the erection of the new organ is given in the Armidale
Chronicle:
ÒThe
work of erection was entrusted to Mr. Charles Richardson
, organ builder, of Sydney, who has performed
his portion of the work to the entire satisfaction of the organist and the
executive committee. Mr. Richardson has shown himself a perfect master of his
art, by his skilful adaptation of the instrument to the all too limited space
in which it has had to be placed, some important alterations in the arrangement
of the different parts having been found necessary. For nearly three weeks Mr.
Richardson and his very promising and youthful assistant, Charles Leggo
, have been engaged in the work of erecting,
adapting and tuning the organ, spending on an average about 15 hours a day at
their work, and wasting no time either. Mr. Richardson
informs us that the organ, which is built on the most modern
and effective system of tubular pneumatics, by Messrs. Hunter and Son
, of London, and supplied with the builders
patent pneumatic coupling chamber, is fully worth £100 more than the price
charged for it in London, and that in all respects it is a first-class organ.
He particularly praises the excellent quality of the Horn and Voix Celeste
stops and thinks that the specification drawn up for it by Mr. Coomber
does that gentleman credit. He adds that the instrument is
such that the greatest care need be exercised in tuning it, for if this work
should ever be entrusted to inexperienced hands, a very undesirable and
regrettable state of affairs would certainly be the resultÓ.
[19]
The
Armidale Chronicle
report further gives the following details of the organ:
ÒThe organ as now
complete consists of two manuals and pedals, with 22 sounding stops, and 6
couplers, 1 tremulant, 7 combination pistons, etc.
ÒThe following are the
names of the different stops with number of pipes to each, and the speaking
length of the largest pipe. Those marked* are taken from the old organÓ.
GREAT ORGAN - 9 STOPS
|
|
|||||
|
|
Feet.
|
Pipes.
|
|
||
1.
|
Large Open Diapason
|
É 8
|
56
|
|
||
2.
|
Small Open Diapason
|
É 8
|
56
|
|
||
3.
|
Gamba
|
É 8
|
56
|
|
||
4.
|
Stop (sic)
|
...8
|
56
|
|
||
5.
|
Dulciana
|
É 8
|
56
|
|
||
6.
|
Principal
|
É 4
|
56
|
|
||
*7.
|
Flute
|
É 4
|
56
|
|
||
8.
|
Fifteenth
|
É 2
|
56
|
|
||
9.
|
Clarionet
|
É 8
|
44
|
|
||
SWELL ORGAN – 9
STOPS
|
|
|||||
1.
|
Lieblich Bourdon
|
É 16
|
56
|
|
||
2.
|
Violin Diapason
|
É 8
|
56
|
|
||
3.
|
Viol di Gamba
|
É 8
|
44
|
|
||
4.
|
Voix Celestes
|
É 8
|
44
|
|
||
5.
|
Lieblich Gedact
|
É 8
|
56
|
|
||
6.
|
Gemshorn
|
É 4
|
56
|
|
||
7.
|
Mixture 3 ranks |
168
|
|
|||
8.
|
Horn
|
É 8
|
56
|
|
||
9.
|
Oboe
|
É 8
|
56
|
|
||
PEDAL ORGAN – 3
STOPS
|
|
|||||
1.
|
Open Diapason
|
É 16
|
42
|
|
||
*2.
|
Bourdon
|
É 16
|
42
|
|
||
3.
|
Violoncello – 8
ft., pipes borrowed from the Open
|
|
||||
4.
|
Bass Flute – 16
ft., (sic) borrowed from the Bourdon
|
|
||||
COUPLERS, ETC.
|
|
|||||
1.
|
Great to Pedals
|
|
||||
2.
|
Swell to Pedals
|
|
||||
3.
|
Swell to Great
|
|
||||
4.
|
Swell Octave
|
|
||||
5.
|
Swell Octave to Great
|
|
||||
6.
|
Swell Suboctave
|
|
||||
7.
|
Swell Tremulant
|
|
||||
3 pneumatic pistons to
Great Organ
|
|
|||||
3
|
do.
do.
to Swell Organ
|
|
||||
1
|
do.
do. acting on coupler 1.
|
|
||||
NUMBER OF PIPES
|
|
|||||
|
Great Organ É
|
É 492
|
|
|
||
|
Swell Organ É
|
É 592
|
|
|
||
|
Pedal Organ É
|
É 48
|
|
|||
|
|
_____
|
|
|||
|
Total
|
1168
|
(sic)
|
|||
Although
this report indicates that only 2 ranks from the Fincham
organ were incorporated into the Hunter
organ, George CoomberÕs Letter to the Editor of 16th
October, 1895 stated that Hunter had accepted his specification and that 8
ranks Òwould be taken from the old organ.Ó
[20]
There has been much
speculation on this point and Dr Warren Newman
convincingly argues that Coomber
persuaded his Òold friendÓ Alfred Hunter to allow for the use
Òalmost all Òof the Fincham pipes in the new organ. This would account for the
low cost of the organ (£350 in London). Dr Newman points out that, in addition,
Alfred Hunter
and
George Fincham were close friends as they served apprenticeships together with
Henry Bevington
in
London, and Hunter would have been aware of the high quality of FinchamÕs
pipework and happy to utilize this in his organ.
[21]
The
value of the organ at the time of its opening was stated to be £650
[22]
but this figure would
have included shipping costs, the cost of the services of organ builders
Charles Richardson
and
Charles Leggo
in
erecting the organ, and the value of the Fincham pipes used.
The
opening and dedication of the Hunter organ was followed by an organ recital:
ÒAfter the close of the
service an organ recital was given by Mr. Coomber
, the programme including the following : -
1.
Overture
in F
(Morandi)
2.
Ave
Maria (Schubert)
3.
RienziÕs
Prayer
(Wagner)
4.
Andante
in G
(Batiste)
5.
Offertoire
in D minor
(Batiste)
ÒThe
recital gave an opportunity of showing the power, variety, sweetness and
excellence of combination of the organÕs tones, while exhibiting for the first
time here the marked ability possessed by Mr. Coomber
in
dealing with an organ so infinitely superior to that which this noble
instrument has replacedÓ.
[23]
In
1904, repairs to the organ were necessary and the Armidale Chronicle reported that:
ÒThe re-opening of St.
PeterÕs Cathedral organ will take place on Sunday to-morrow. The organ has been
in the hands of Mr. Richardson
, organ-builder, for about six weeks undergoing
repair, and is vastly improved in tone and mechanismÓ.
[24]
By
1910, major work was necessary and Charles Richardson
was
called on to make an inspection after which he reported that:
ÒThe
Instrument requires a thorough overhaul, some of the draw stops do not act
properly owing to the pneumatic connections not working – causing some of
the Stops to remain on when the Stop is drawn and others do not go off, and
some only work half way so that many of the pipes do not get sufficient wind
and therefore do not give off their proper tone and are badly out of tune and
having a terrible effect on other stops . . . The Water Engine was found to be
working very badly, and sometimes the Organ could only be used when playing
very softly . . . The pneumatic action on the pedal Organ is very imperfect. Many
of the notes are not sounding . . . The Key pneumatic action throughout wants
attention and also the pneumatic action to the front pipesÓ.
[25]
Richardson
felt that the problems with the pneumatic action were caused
by the Òclimatic influenceÓ during the enlargement of the building. (The chapter
house and vestry were built during this time.) The problem with the hydraulic
engine could be eliminated by bolting it down to a Òsufficiently heavy stone
bed placed on the earthÓ and by replacing the connector rod between the engine
and rocking shaft.
Over
the years, the organ continued to provide music for the services though
affected at times by drought, flood and fire. In 1920, a shortage of water
meant that the hydraulic engine could no longer be used:
ÒThe failure of the
Armidale water supply has brought all sorts of unpleasant consequences in its
train. It supplied the power to blow the Cathedral organ. Now man-power has to
take the place of hydraulic power and the stream of water which had hitherto
flowed through the pipes finds its counterpart in the stream which trickles
down the faces of the men at the lever of the bellows! More honour to them for
their voluntary and self-denying labours! Such a state of things cannot go on
for ever. The Cathedral Council has had before it a suggestion to establish an
electric plant of sufficient power to both light the church and supply power to
blow the organ. The cost might be £300 to £400. But the money could no doubt be
borrowed; and, if so, the work need not be long delayed. There is no other
solution of the difficulty at present in sightÓ.
[26]
Hunter
organ, St PeterÕs Cathedral. Photo: Richard Ward
It
was not until 1924 that an electric blower could be installed:
ÒThrough
the generosity of Mr. F. J. White
and
Mr. Blaxland
, a great improvement has been effected in the
working of our organ by the installation of an electric rotary blower. Hitherto
we have been the victims of a rather restricted water supply, and for months at
a stretch the beautiful organ has been voiceless. To celebrate the latest
victory over nature, Mr Denniss
gave a recital on May 15th, which was much
appreciated by a large audienceÓ.
[27]
The
electric blower was installed in April 1924 by Whitehouse Bros
of
Brisbane at a cost of £135.
[28]
By this time,
Whitehouse Bros had the tuning contract and continued to tune and maintain the
organ until the 1970s.
A
number of times, over the years, overflowing roof drainage has caused much
water damage to the organ. In 1925, it was recorded that heavy rainfall caused
flooding in the organ:
ÒDuring
last year flood rains got into the organ and inflicted considerable damage.
Neither in that case could repairs be postponed and the Council had to find
over £100 to effect them. Additional precautions were also taken to render the
roof water-tight, and we believe that the organ is now as safe as it can be
madeÓ.
[29]
Again,
in 1939, water damage occurred and £152 was paid for repairs to the organ on 31st
March.
[30]
In
1942, the organ was out of action for some time due to a fire in the organ:
ÒMisfortune
overtook the Cathedral organ on 16th October, when a short circuit
on the control switch caused a fire, damaging the motor of the blower.
Fortunately, the fire was discovered in the day time and was extinguished by
the fire brigade without damage to the organ itself. The musical recital
arranged by Mr. Pritchard
for
the following Sunday had to be cancelled. It will be several weeks before the
motor can be restoredÓ.
[31]
By
the 1960s, the organ was Ònot as good as it could beÓ
[32]
and in 1967 a rebuild
was considered at the cost of $12,000, along with the possibility of moving it
to a loft at the western end of the cathedral.
[33]
It has been a point of
argument, many times over the years, that the organ does not sound its best
because of its location in an enclosed chamber. Only a few ranks of pipes from
the Great stand in front of the chamber. There is no doubt that the organ would
give a bigger sound in a less enclosed space, however, this could not be
achieved in the present building without destroying the integrity of the
instrument.
In
1978, Whitehouse Bros
carried out major repair works and in May 1982 a new blower
was installed by Peter Jewkes, working for J. W. Walker & Sons, who had
taken over tuning and maintenance of the organ.
[34]
During
the following years there was further deterioration of the organ and in the
late 1980s an Organ Committee was formed to consider a full restoration of the
organ.
In
1989, an inspection was carried out by historic organ consultant Ray Holland
, who reported on the significance of the organ:
ÒAs
one of the six surviving instruments by A. Hunter & Son
in
New South Wales, this is one of the best preserved. It is unique in that
pipework by an Australian organbuilder (George Fincham
) is incorporated into an organ by an English
builder. Its historic value is further underlined by the following
characteristics:
1.
All
of the original pipework is present except for one pipe of the Great Fifteenth.
2.
The
original case has been retained with minor alteration.
3.
The
original console has been retained, an includes many components typical of the
Hunter style, such as stopknobs, keyboards, keyboard cheeks, composition
pedals, nameplate of builder and organ bench. The original stop labels are not
typical of the other Hunter organs in NSW, being photoengraved in the style of
Bevington
.
4.
All
of the original key, stop and combination actions have been preserved.
5.
The
original double-rise bellows has been retained.
6.
Original
cone tuning has been retained on most of those metal flue pipes which are not
slotted.
7.
The
craftsmanship of the entire organ reflects the excellence of organbuilding
technique usually associated with this firm.
[35]
A
submission was made to the NSW Heritage Council in 1989, through the efforts of
Dr Lionel Gilbert
, and this resulted in the offer of a grant of
$40,000 on a dollar-for-dollar basis for restoration of the organ.
In
1993, the Cathedral Parish Council called for three quotes and on the 8th
December, 1994 a contract for $95,825 was signed with Peter Jewkes
Pty
Ltd of Sydney.
The
Organ Restoration Appeal was launched in August, 1994 with a fortepiano concert
in the Ursuline Chapel with conductor and soloist Geoffrey Lancaster
. Other fund-raising activities included
concerts, luncheons, street stalls, a coach tour, a melodrama, a garden tour
and a craft display and the final result was a sum of $112,000 for the
restoration.
The
organ was dismantled in January, 1996 and a full restoration was carried out in
the workshop of Peter Jewkes
in
Sydney. Work included:
á
Cleaning
and repair of pipework.
á
Overhaul
of windchests and soundboards.
á
Restoration
of console including re-covering of keys with synthetic ivory resin and repair
to the damaged stop-knob inserts which were re-engraved from the remaining
originals.
á
Overhaul
of mechanical and pneumatic action couplers, pneumatic key and pedal actions,
pneumatic drawstop actions and primary note actions.
á
Re-covering
of bellows and overhaul of wind ducts.
á
Re-fitting
of Swell box louvres to give maximum crescendo and diminuendo.
á
Repair,
stripping and re-polishing of the organ case.
[36]
Celebrations
to mark the restoration of the organ included a recital by Warwick Dunham
of
the Music Dept at The Armidale School on 18th September 1996, a
recital by Terry Norman
of
the Music Dept at the University of New England on 20th, and a Grand
Organ and Choral Concert with Christopher Dearnley
(formerly organist of St PaulÕs Cathedral, London) and
conductor Mrs Wendy Huddleston
of
Armidale High School on 21st. These were followed by a service of
re-dedication of the organ on 22nd September.
The
disposition of the organ today is identical (some of the stop names differ
slightly) to that described in the Armidale Express article of 20th
May, 1896:
Great
|
|
|
Open Diapason (Large)
|
8
|
|
Open Diapason (Small)
|
8
|
|
Gamba
|
8
|
|
Stop Diapason
|
8
|
|
Dulciana
|
8
|
|
Principal
|
4
|
|
Flute
|
4
|
|
Fifteenth
|
2
|
|
Clarionet
|
8
|
from C
|
Swell
|
|
|
Lieblich Double
|
16
|
|
Violin Diapason
|
8
|
|
Gamba
|
8
|
from C
|
Voix Celeste
|
8
|
from C
|
Lieblich Gedact
|
8
|
|
Gemshorn
|
4
|
|
Mixture 3 rks
|
|
|
Horn
|
8
|
|
Oboe
|
8
|
|
Tremulant
|
|
|
Pedal
|
|
|
Open Diapason
|
16
|
|
Bourdon
|
16
|
|
Bass Flute
|
8
|
*
|
Octave
|
8
|
+
|
* Derived from Bourdon
|
||
+ Derived from Open
Diapason
|
||
Couplers, etc.
|
||
Great to Pedal
|
||
Swell to Pedal
|
||
Swell to Great
|
||
Swell Octave
|
||
Swell Octave to Great
|
||
[Swell] Sub Octave
|
||
6 combination thumb
pistons
|
||
1 reversible thumb
piston Gt/Ped
|
||
Compass: 56/30
|
||
Mechanical/pneumatic
action manuals
|
||
Pneumatic action to
pedals
|
It
is remarkable that this organ has survived in such an unaltered state for over
110 years. The integrity of the organ has been kept by resisting the pressures
to move or rebuild it. It is also significant that the instrument preserves
much of pipework (now 130 years old) made by the Australian organ builder,
George Fincham
, even though the organ itself was built by
Alfred Hunter & Son
of
London.
Organists
at St PeterÕs
Mr
Schofield
[37]
(mentioned in article
of 1878 when Fincham organ was installed)
George
Edward Coomber
1890s-1900s. Member of the College of Organists. Provided
design specification for the Hunter organ installed in 1896.
[38]
Gave numerous organ
recitals.
[39]
[40]
Albert
Wright Denniss
(1892-1959)
[41]
Organist 1921-1937
during which period he was also Music Master at The Armidale School (TAS). He
was also a lecturer in music for the Sydney University Tutorial Classes
1927-1934, a teacher of organ, piano and singing and a conductor of various
choirs and instrumental groups in Armidale. A. W. Denniss gave organ recitals
[42]
and also drew up the
design specification for the organ installed at NEGS in 1936
[43]
and acted as
Òsuperintending architectÓ for the organ installed in St PaulÕs Presbyterian
Church in 1929.
[44]
Charles
Arthur Jarman
(1882-1968)
[45]
Organist 1937-1940. Dr
Jarman was previously a well-known Sydney organist who had visited Armidale
during the 1920s to give recitals on the cathedral organ.
[46]
Formerly (1909-1919)
organist at All SaintsÕ Anglican Cathedral, Bathurst. Provided design
specifications for a number of organs including that built 1912 by The British
Pianoforte Depot Ltd for The Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Orange.
[47]
Clarence
Pilgrim Gould
1941 for 4 months.
[48]
(Also organist at
Wesley Methodist Church up to 1937)
T.
I. Pritchard
August 1941 –
1944. Formerly organist and choirmaster at Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton for
more than 20 years and an Associate of the Royal College of Organists. Studied
at the College of the School of English Church Music.
[49]
He left to become
organist at All SaintsÕ Cathedral, Bathurst.
[50]
C.
A. Jarman
1944 for 5 months.
[51]
Roland
Pullen
March 1945 – 1946.
Lucie
Poggioli
LRSM 1946 – 1972.
[52]
Warren
Newman
1972-1973.
[53]
David
OÕNeill
1973-1977.
[54]
David
Reeves
(appointed 1 Sep 1977). Music Master at TAS.
Margaret
Senior
1980s for 20 years.
Ross
Dawson
early 1990s.
Terry
Norman
early 2000s. Arrived in Armidale in 1992 to take up the
position of Director of Music at NEGS.
Joan
Monty
(2003 to present)
Lena
Schmalz
(present organist – evening service)
[1] Newall, J. 2008, St PeterÕs Armidale, NSW (Church Leaflet).
[2] Reynolds, P., Muir, L., & Hughes, J. 2002, John Horbury Hunt: radical architect, 1838-1904, Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales.
[3] Armidale Chronicle, 11 Mar 1875, ÔOrgan fund concertÕ.
[4] Armidale Chronicle, 3 Jun 1875, ÔConcert in aid of St. PeterÕs organ fundÕ.
[5] Armidale Express, 22 Mar 1878, ÔOpening of the new organ, St. PeterÕs Cathedral, Armidale.Õ
[6] Fincham, G., Letter Book 2, spec. p. 25, State Library of Victoria.
[7] Rushworth, G. D. 1988, Historic organs of New South Wales. Hale & Iremonger, Sydney, pp. 179-180
[8] Henwood, J. 1972, ÔFincham, George (1828-1910)Õ, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 4, Melbourne U p. 167
[9] Matthews, E. N. 1969, Colonial Organs and Organbuilders. Melbourne University Press, p. 29
[10] ibid. pp. 64-65.
[11] Armidale Express, 22 Mar 1878, op. cit.
[12] Armidale & District Historical Society, Journal & Proceedings, Railway Issue No. 20 January, 1977, p. 55.
[13] Fincham, op. cit.
[14] Armidale Chronicle, 16 Oct 1895, ÔThe new organ for S. PeterÕs Cathedral,Õ Letters to the Editor.
[15] Rushworth, op. cit. pp. 290-291.
[16] Armidale Chronicle, 25 Mar 1896, ÔSt PeterÕs new organ.Õ
[17] Armidale Chronicle, 25 Apr 1896, ÔNew organ.Õ
[18] Armidale Chronicle, 2 May 1896, ÔSt PeterÕs new organ.Õ
[19] Armidale Chronicle, 20 May 1896, ÔThe Primate at St PeterÕs Cathedral. Opening of the new organ.Õ
[20] Armidale Chronicle, 16 Oct 1895, op. cit.
[21] Newman, W., 1995, ÔHistory of St PeterÕs Cathedral organ, Armidale, New South Wales,Õ Sydney Organ Journal, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 23-26.
[22] Armidale Chronicle, 20 May 1896, op. cit.
[23] ibid.
[24] Armidale Chronicle, 29 Oct 1904, ÔSt PeterÕs Cathedral.Õ
[25] Richardson, C, 1910, St PeterÕs Cathedral Organ, Armidale, September 23, 1910, Report on the Organ by Charles Richardson, Organ Builder, Church Hill, Sydney. (Manuscript in St PeterÕs Cathedral Archives Centre.)
[26] Diocesan News, Jul 1920, Parish Notes, p.15.
[27] Diocesan News, Jun 1924, Parish Notes, p. 15.
[28] Whitehouse Ledger Books, 1/177.
[29] Diocesan News, Apr 1926, p. 12.
[30] Whitehouse Ledger Books, 1/490.
[31] Armidale Parish Gazette, November 1942, ÔFire in the cathedral organ.Õ
[32] Fisherman, Feb 1962.
[33] Fisherman, Apr 1967.
[34] Jewkes, P., personal communication 7 Jul 2008.
[35] Holland, R. 1989, St PeterÕs Anglican Cathedral, Armidale, NSW, Standard documentation of pipe organ built by A. Hunter & Son 1896 (report in Cathedral Archive Centre).
[36] Jewkes, P., Quotation 3 Mar 1994 (copy in Cathedral Archive Centre).
[37] Armidale Express, 22 Mar 1878.
[38] Armidale Chronicle, 16 Oct 1895, op. cit.
[39] Armidale Chronicle, 20 May 1896, op. cit.
[40] Armidale Chronicle, 29 Oct 1904, op. cit.
[41] Dennis, D. 1997, Albert Wright Dennis 1892-1959. (Biography in Cathedral Archives Centre).
[42] Diocesan News, June 1924, p. 8.
[43] Diocesan News, September 1936, p. 3.
[44] Armidale Express, 16 Dec 1929, ÔSt PaulÕs Presbyterian Church, re-opening ceremonyÕ.
[45] Australian Dictionary of Biography – Online Edition www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140638b.htm accessed 13/08/2007.
[46] Note in file ÔDr C. A. JarmanÕ, (Cathedral Archive Centre).
[47] Rushworth, op. cit. p. 153.
[48] Diocesan News, September 1941, p. 22.
[49] ibid.
[50] Armidale Diocesan News, December 1947, p. 16.
[51] Diocesan News, December 1944, p. 26.
[52] Newman, personal communication, 1 Sep 2007.
[53] ibid.
[54]
ibid.
The
Cathedral drawn by Douglas Pratt
The Journal gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the Cathedral authorities, especially the Dean and his secretary and the Archivist in the provision of illustrations for this article.