Unveiling our refurbished organ
Trinity College’s rich history is reflected through its architecture, and the Chapel and its organ are no exception. Student Tallulah Thorrowgood uncovers the story behind our historic organ’s recent refurbishment, ahead of the concert timed with its unveiling in May.
The organ is a curious and complex instrument. Dating back to approximately 250 BC, the organ functions as both a keyboard and a wind instrument. Played with both the hands and feet, it’s unique in the sense that the sound of each note is projected through separate pipes, and an organ’s pitch can extend to both the upper and lower limits of the human ear.
Trinity College is lucky enough to have its own organ in the Chapel. The instrument was first installed in 1923, six years after the Chapel opened. Valentine Leeper, daughter of Trinity’s first warden, contributed to the funding of the project, along with numerous alumni.
The organ’s first alteration came in the 1950s, and it has seen three further restorations since then, with the most recent beginning in July 2021. Almost two years later, the refurbishment is now complete, and in May 2023, we’ll be pleased to unveil a new-look organ, which has been split in two to allow more natural light to filter into the Chapel.
The recent restoration was managed by Australian Pipe Organs, a Melbourne-based company that has been operating since 1980.
Managing Director Daniel Bittner was involved in the project’s design, layout, voicing and tonal work, and explains here what is involved in an organ restoration (read: a lot).
‘A typical organ restoration begins with the removal of the existing instrument, and an establishment of the final design for the new organ. The specific layout of the organ is then organised, with each of the new components being produced, including bellows, windchests, and a new four-manual console.
Following this, the organ is set up in the factory, where the case is fitted before testing and finely adjusting each component. The pipes are then individually fitted in the windchests, and then they are revoiced. Voicing involves making sure every pipe speaks correctly and is at the correct volume to match and blend with the tonal scheme of the instrument.
Before the organ is installed, everything is cleaned and checked for correct adjustment. The organ is then installed, followed by tonal finishing in the building, where every pipe is adjusted for correct balance and volume, and then fine-tuned.’
All things considered, it’s easy to see why restorations take so long.
As part of the current project, the college organ had new windchests made, with individual note actions, meaning every pipe has its own pallet that opens when a note is played. This is arguably the most complex aspect of the restoration.
‘The advantage of this is that the pipe will always get the same amount of wind every time, ensuring tuning stability and fast repetition,’ says Daniel.
The most noticeable aspect of this project was how, by dividing the organ, the space within the Chapel has opened up, and improved the acoustics and natural light throughout the building.
The decision was made to reuse much of the pre-existing pipework of the old organ, as well as all the carvings.
There are now pipes in the instrument from the 1960s and 1950s organ, plus some that are brand new.
There are also three collections of pipes originally from England, which were installed in Manchester Town Hall in about 1910.
‘An organ is like an orchestra,’ says Trinity’s Director of Music, Christopher Watson. ‘If you imagine an orchestra on a stage, what we’ve done is give them new chairs, put them in a new position on the stage and replaced some of the instruments.’
In its refreshed state, Christopher says the organ has made an extraordinary difference to the building and has ensured that the choir has much more flexibility with what they can sing, enhancing the scope of repertoire that can be performed.
Of course, the organ is also instrumental in initiating worship in our Chapel, given the grand instruments have served as the focus of church services since the commencement of religion, and will also be used for teaching.
The Trinity College organ is used by organists both from Trinity and outside the college (including Trinity’s own organist and internationally renowned organ virtuoso Thomas Heywood).
Daniel notes that many of the organists his company knows have contributed to the college and the organ in some way, whether that be through exams, personal practice, or their work as an organ scholar.
‘It was an honour to be chosen to work on an instrument in such a high-profile venue,’ he says.
The refurbished organ will be unveiled at the Trinity organ concert on 20 May 2023 in the Chapel.
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