cnr Macquarie & Murray Streets, Hobart
B. 1858 Bishop & Starr, London;
Reb. & enl. 1917 Geo. Fincham & Son (addition of choir organ).
Reb. & enl. 1958 J.W. Walker & Sons, Ruislip, Middlesex.
3 manuals., 54 speaking stops, 12 couplers, electro-pneumatic
From the Cathedral website:
The first organ of St David's Cathedral was a small instrument of one manual built by John Gray of London in 1823. Although the original Georgian cathedral building was not large, the organ was probably soon felt to be inadequate to accompany the hymn-singing of its congregation.
In 1858 it was moved to St Matthew's Anglican church Rokeby (now an eastern-shore suburb of Hobart). This fine instrument, the oldest in the country, retains its original free-standing case and is still playing, modernized only with an electric blower.
Its successor at St David's was an instrument of two manuals and pedals built by another famous London firm, Bishop and Starr. A small amount of its pipework (notably nos. 6, 7 and 10 of the specification below) has been retained in the present instrument.
Moved into the new and larger cathedral church in 1874, it remained unaltered until 1909. In that year, and again in 1916, it was enlarged by the Melbourne firm of George Fincham & Sons.
A third manual was added, the action converted to tubular pneumatic, and most of the earlier pipework replaced. Still, however, written records from the next few decades indicate that dissatisfaction was felt with the organ's ability to lead a large congregation.
In 1958 a major rebuilding was undertaken by J. W. Walker & Sons. The action was converted to electro-pneumatic, a new blower provided, and the console moved from the organ case to the south side of the choir.
Most of the existing pipework was retained unaltered, but there were substantial additions to all departments, including high-pressure reeds available on the Great, Choir and Pedal. The organ now occupied all three bays of the north choir aisle, with a new case-front.
Between 1999 and 2005 substantial tonal renovation was carried out by the local firm of Gibbs & Thomson. The specification is little changed, but much rescaling and revoicing have been undertaken: in particular, the Great and Swell Mixtures and all the Choir pipework have been remodelled, the reedwork revoiced, and the Pedal Open Wood rescaled.
The specification is:
| GREAT Contra Geigen Open Diapason no. 1 Open Diapason no. 2 Geigen Clarabel (Mid. C) Stopped Diapason Octave Principal Flute Fifteenth Quartane Mixture Horn Tromba Trumpet SWELL Open Diapason Stopped Diapason Viola da Gamba Celeste (tenor C) Suabe flute Principal Fifteenth Larigot Mixture Contra Fagotto Oboe Cornopean Clarion Tremulant CHOIR Lieblich Bourdon Gedackt Dulciana Flauto Traverso Gemshorn Nazard Flautino Tierce Clarinet Tromba Trumpet Tremulant PEDAL Open Wood Contra Geigen Bourdon Echo Bourdon Quint Octave Principal Bass Flute Octave Quint Fifteenth Octave Flute Contra Fagotto Trombone Tromba Oboe |
16 8 8 8 8 8 4 4 4 2 II III 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 4 4 2 1-1/3 III 16 8 8 4 16 8 8 4 4 2-2/3 2 1-3/5 8 8 8 16 16 16 16 10-2/3 8 8 8 5-1/3 4 4 16 16 8 8 |
COUPLERS
Sw. to Gr.,
Sw. to Ch.,
Sw. to Ped.
Gr. to Ped.
Ch. to Gr.,
Ch. to Ped.
Sw. Octave, Suboctave & Unison off
Ch. Octave, Suboctave & Unison off.
ACCESSORIES
Thumb pistons: 6 each to Sw., Gr. and Ch.; Sw. to Gr., Sw. to Ped., Gr. to Ped., 3 generals, Gen. cancel.
Toe pistons: 6 each to Sw. and Gr.: Gr. to Ped.; 3 generals.