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The Organ |
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St
Matthew's is home to arguably the finest parish church
organ in the country. The fine four manual organ was
built in 1895 by the firm J W Walker and Sons and
is now of great historical importance. In 2005/6 the
organ underwent a major restoration project costing in
excess of a quarter of a million pounds.
The organ is one of the church's many artefacts donated
by the Phipps family. Various members of the
family gave generously, including the original
benefactor's widow, Mary, who provided the Organ.
Contemporary accounts referred to the instrument as one
of the twelve best to be built in the country around
that time. Today, the
St Matthew's organ is one of only a
few Walker instruments of the period to remain in their
original form and may be favourably compared with such
instruments are those in Bristol Cathedral and St Mary's, Portsea, Portsmouth.
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No
significant changes were made to the instrument between
its completion in 1895 and 1971. At that date the
actions and console were replaced. No other changes were
made, which is a cause for great satisfaction as the
structure and pipework survive in their entirety.
In 1978 the church installed a forced-air heating system
and the organ was fitted with a humidifier shortly
afterwards. In 1980 a new blowing plant was installed,
replacing the previous equipment dating from the 1920s
and in 1982 tuning slides were fitted to the pipework to
protect it from damage. In 1990 the Solo Organ actions,
reservoirs and tremulant were fully overhauled and
re-leathered.
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Organ Restoration |
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During the 1990s and early part of this
century the organ became increasingly
unreliable and difficult to maintain. The
decline of the instrument has been
accelerated by the damaging effects of the
forced-air heating system. The new system,
installed at the same time as the organ was
rebuilt, is designed to greatly minimize
these effects benefiting the organ and
fabric of the church generally.
It gradually became apparent that the
instrument was in fundamental need of
complete restoration. To this end, in
January 2004, Harrison & Harrison of
Durham were invited to inspect and report on
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condition and draw up proposals for its
restoration. After due consideration of the
many aspects of such an undertaking, the
Parochial Church Council commissioned this
work to be carried out from May 2005. The
work, carried out jointly by Harrison &
Harrison and Kenneth Tickell &
Co may be summarized as follows:
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To rebuild and restore the four manual 1895
Walker organ, as detailed in the report and
proposals of Harrison & Harrison, Durham
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All pipework work to be repaired, cleaned
and set to correct speech, the action to be
fully overhauled and a design defect
modified, the soundboards to be fully
overhauled, grouted and re-palleted
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The wind system to be re-leathered and
overhauled and 'breakdown' reservoirs
reinstated in the crypt
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The 1971 console to be remade in the style
of the original with new manual keyboards
and drawstops, the electrical systems will
be renewed
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The Pedal Trombone to be extended to 32ft
pitch
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The entire organ cleaned, all parts
adjusted, and any minor repairs carried out
so as to leave everything in first-class
condition
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The extremely comprehensive proposals have
been carried out to the highest standards
with utmost regard for the original builder's
intentions. No other tonal alterations have
been made, except the extending of the
Trombone rank, and all original components
retained and repaired. The organ is
acknowledged as an outstanding example of
the organ builder's art and has responded
well to sympathetic restoration. The
instrument has been restored to first-rate
performance and equipped with contemporary
playing aids, greatly increasing its
versatility.
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"There can be no question about the organ's superlative quality and
historic value. Its impressive tonal structure and
physical layout remain unchanged, and command respect.
It has a monumental integrity, and is ideally suited to
the church."
(From a report by Mark Venning,
Managing Director, Harrison & Harrison of Durham)
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Further history of the Organ can be found in
the excellent new St Matthew’s PCC
publication, The 1895 Walker Organ of St
Matthew’s Church, Northampton. Priced at
only £5 the book gives a detailed account of
the Organ’s life from 1895 to the present
day. Copies may be obtained by
contacting
the Parish Office.
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Organ Specification
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Pedal
Organ |
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Swell
Organ |
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1. |
Double Open Diapason |
32 |
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29. |
Contra Gamba |
16 |
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2. |
Open Dispason (Wood) |
16 |
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30. |
Open Diapason |
8 |
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3. |
Violone (Metal) |
16 |
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31. |
Stopped Diapason |
8 |
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4. |
Bourdon |
16 |
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32. |
Violin Diapason |
8 |
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5. |
Principal |
8 |
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33. |
Echo Gamba |
8 |
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6. |
Flute |
8 |
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34. |
Vox Angelica (Tenor C) |
8 |
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7. |
Contra Trombone |
32 |
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35. |
Principal |
4 |
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8. |
Trombone |
16 |
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36. |
Flute |
4 |
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i |
Choir to Pedal |
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37. |
Fifteenth |
2 |
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ii |
Swell to Pedal |
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38. |
Mixture |
III |
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iii |
Great to Pedal |
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39. |
Vox Humana |
8 |
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iv |
Solo to Pedal |
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40. |
Oboe |
8 |
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41. |
Contra Fagotto |
16 |
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Choir Organ (unenclosed) |
42. |
Horn |
8 |
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9. |
Lieblich Bourdon |
16 |
43. |
Clarion |
4 |
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10. |
Gamba |
8 |
ix |
Tremulant |
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11. |
Lieblich Gedact |
8 |
x |
Octave |
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12. |
Dulciana |
8 |
xi |
Sub Octave |
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13. |
Dulciana Principal |
4 |
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14. |
Flute |
4 |
Solo Organ |
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15. |
Harmonic Gemshorn |
2 |
44. |
Harmonic Flute |
8 |
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v |
Swell to Choir |
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45. |
Harmonic Flute |
4 |
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46. |
Harmonic Piccolo |
2 |
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Great Organ |
47. |
Clarinet |
8 |
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16. |
Double Open Diapason |
16 |
48. |
Orchestral Oboe |
8 |
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17. |
Open Diapason No.1 |
8 |
49. |
Tuba (Unenclosed) |
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18. |
Open Diapason No.2 |
8 |
xii |
Tremulant |
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19. |
Open Diapason No.3 |
8 |
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20. |
Wald Flute |
8 |
Combination couplers |
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21. |
Principal |
4 |
Great and Pedal pistons Couples |
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22. |
Wald Flute |
4 |
Generals on Swell foot pistons |
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23. |
Twelfth |
2 2/3 |
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24. |
Fifteenth |
2 |
Accessories |
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25. |
Mixture |
III |
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Eight general pistons and general cancel
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Eight foot pistons to the Pedal Organ
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Eight pistons to the Great Organ
* Eight pistons to the Swell Organ
(duplicated by foot pistons)
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Five thumb pistons to the Choir Organ
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Five thumb pistons to the Solo Organ
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Reversible pistons: i - viii
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Reversible foot pistons: ii, vii, 1,7
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Eight divisional and 64 general piston
memories
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Balanced expression pedals to Swell
and Solo
Organs |
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26. |
Double Trumpet |
16 |
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27. |
Trumpet |
8 |
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28. |
Clarion |
4 |
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vi |
Choir to Great |
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vii |
Swell to Great |
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viii |
Solo to Great |
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* The
actions are electro-pneumatic
* Manual compass is 61 notes; the
pedal
30 notes |
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Become A Chorister |
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The Director of Music, Thomas Moore, is
looking to recruit BOYS from school year 4
to 7 and GIRLS from school year 5 upwards
who are keen to sing and eager to learn. |
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See poster for details... |
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