Manchester Cathedral are undergoing a major programme of works as you can see from the list below taken off their website. I am not sure if it is by accident or by design that the new organ heads the list. Perhaps it is just the most expensive item on the list!
Their planned works are as follows…
- A new organ;
- New facilities for the arts, community outreach and a new social space;
- Installation of a newEast Window;
- Opening up of the Cathedral’s East Door;
- New lighting scheme;
- New sound scheme;
- Fabric repairs, including repairs to the south aisle roof, external masonry and bell tower;
- Fabric refurbishments, including works to the Cathedral toilets and Cathedral office;
- Heating repairs, including the installation of underfloor heating and ground source heat pumps (now complete);
- Re-ordering of the Cathedral Visitor Centre
We are delighted to have been chosen to supply our Envoy 350 FV instrument (pictured above) to cover the interlude when the pipe organ will be silent. The Cathedral has purchased the instrument but chosen to hire the comprehensive amplifier and speaker system that it plays through (pictured below).
The nave of the Cathedral is frequently used for functions so the organ has to be easily moved almost daily. As you see it is set on a mobile plinth. It is connected to the amplifier bank using a single umbilical cable.
Speakers are set up on two low rise platforms to north and south of the nave. The connecting wiring runs in cable ducts that were prepared under the new floor so the building is prepared for the needs of future developments. The expensive marble floors will not need to be pulled up when inevitably wiring changes or additions need to be made. So much easier than working in medieval buildings although Manchester Cathedral actually has Saxon origins but due to much remodelling in Victorian times evidence of this is today hard to see.
This is of course a large installation but we also provide much smaller options for temporary instruments to cover pipe organ rebuilds, mostly hired but some sold.
These recently include:-
- Llandaff Cathedral Custom Build Draw Stop
- Selby Abbey Regent 356
- St Mary’s Finedon Envoy 23-S
- Dean Close School Cheltenham Envoy 35-FV
- St Peter-ad-Vincula Coggeshall Envoy 350-FV
- Merton College Oxford Regent 235
- St Paul’s Church Brighton Envoy 35-F
- Whiston Parish Church Envoy 35-F
- St Mary the Virgin Ware Envoy 35-FV
- Holy Saviours Church Tynemouth Envoy 35-FV
- St Mary’s Church Swanage Envoy 35-FV
- St Leonards Hastings Envoy 350-D
If you are interested in hiring one of our instruments, please feel free to contact me on 01869 247 333 or by email.
I have had a passion for church organs since the tender age of 12. I own and run Viscount Organs with a close attention to the detail that musicians appreciate; and a clear understanding of the benefits of digital technology and keeping to the traditional and emotional elements of organ playing.
