St Alban's Anglican Church,
Brook Street, Muswellbrook
Sw. added later [Charles Richardson?]. Ped. action electrified 1970's Ian D. Brown.
2m., 13 sp. st., 3c., tr. & el.pn. Gt: 8.8.8.4.4.2-02/3.2. Sw: 8.8 divided.8.4.2. Ped: 16.
New organ: (using some old pipework from prev. organ)
Ian Brown & Associates 2005, 2m., 12 sp.st (4 prepared for), tr.
Organ before 2005 Ian Brown rebuild
From SOJ Spring 2005:
Geoff Bock writes:
St Alban's Church was built during 1864-69 to the design of English Architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, under the supervision of E.T. Blackett and John Horbury Hunt, and is unique in that it is the only known church of his design to be built in Australia. In the 1880s the wooden bell tower and the fence, both designed by John Horbury Hunt were added. In 1914 the clock and bells were provided to the tower in memory of Archdeacon White.
St Alban's is a handsome building with some fine stained glass. Although not large, the church has a quite lively acoustic, somewhat unusual in a heavy stone structure of only modest proportions. St Alban's is also unusual in that the parish has endowed an annual organ scholarship in the memory of Fr Geoffrey, later Bishop Parker who was the 12th rector (appointed in 1970) and who greatly valued the use of music in the liturgy and encouraged his organists to strive for the highest standards. The scholarship is in the form of a competition carrying a cash prize of $1,000, a generous amount for a regional parish.
St Alban's first organ was a one manual 6 stop J. W. Walker instrument installed in 1868 in an arched chamber adjoining the chancel. Early in the 20th century the organ was enlarged by Charles Richardson to two manuals and pedal using the Walker pipes and some of the façade. Most of the other original Walker material was destroyed. The instrument always had problems because of its very cramped position under a low arch which made access to some pipes and action parts impossible. Over the years water damage had added to the problems and running repairs were never able to fully compensate for the constant difficulties and the organ eventually became unserviceable.
St Alban's now has a new organ - not a rebuild, restoration or refurbishment since none of the Walker or Richardson material survived - it uses only the extant original pipework. The instrument was built by Ian Brown and Associates of Ballina and attempts to create what J. W. Walker might have conceived if a new organ of 17 stops had been ordered from his firm in 1868. The former cramped location problem with its attendant difficulties has been overcome by placing the new casework further out at ground level and three feet further forward overhead, allowing the Great organ to speak directly into the space and bringing the Swell box right to the front of the arch. The design effect is splendid and one might have supposed that this was how the original architects had intended it to look. The castellated moulding and trefoils of the topside rail are replicas of the original front rail. The large beams supporting the overhang carry the same motif as the end brackets of the original façade. Hand carved work on the music desk, key cheeks and stop knobs have been copied from the Walker style with all of the new casework timber in oak to match the original. Jennifer Brown has refurbished the original display pipe stencilling and its warm rich tones complement the stained glass above and in front of the case.
The suspended mechanical action is crisp, light and responsive and very comfortable to play and although it lacks its prepared-for reeds and mixture, the organ is well up to the task of leading congregational singing and allowing the performance of quite a wide range of repertoire. Given the enthusiasm of the parish for the project, it is hoped that the additional ranks might soon become a reality and provide the icing on the cake.
The specification is:
| Great Open Diapason Wald Flute Dulciana Principal Flute Harmonic Fifteenth Mixture II Swell Lieblich Gedacht Keraulophon Vox Celestes Gemshorn Piccolo Trumpet Pedal Bourdon Principal Cremona Couplers Swell to Great Swell to Pedal Great to Pedal Tremulant |
8 8 8 4 4 2 II 8 8 8 4 2 8 16 8 16 |
W W W W R W P R R R R B P W/R P P |
Mechanical action
W = J.W. Walker 1868
R = Charles Richardson 1895
B = Ian D. Brown 1976
P = prepared for 2005 (mechanism all provided, only pipes to be installed)
(Sept. 2007)
Photos above: Trevor Bunning (Feb. 1968)
Four photos above showing rebuilt organ: David Evans (July 2008)