THE ORGAN

Hellmuth Wolff & Associes Ltee, Opus 47, 2005  

The organ is in a free-standing case of solid mahogany and mahogany veneered solid wood. The case has been designed around the rose window of the West Wall of the Cathedral. To carry the load of the windchests, and to provide seismic resistance, the Builder provided a steel structure inside the organ case, in collaboration with the Cathedral Architect and the Structural Engineer. This steel structure is mounted on steel beams installed on the gallery floor.

The divisions of the organ are placed as follows: The central tower and adjacent flats of the great case contain the facade of the Oberwerk. The Hauptwerk stands on either side of the Oberwerk. The Pedal stands on either side of the Hauptwerk at impost level. The Unter- or Schwellwerk is located in the base of the main organ. The Rückpositiv is built into the gallery railing. 

The organ's console is detached from the main case, allowing space for two rows of singers between the console and the case. The manual compass is 58 notes, C a³, with an octave span of 161mm. The natural keys are capped with ox-bone, with arcaded nosings of padouk wood. The sharps are of solid ebony. The pedal compass is 30 notes, C  f1. The pedalboard is flat, centred on d#, with the naturals spaced 60mm apart. The natural keys are of white oak and the sharps capped with rosewood.

Read a detailed article about the organ written by designer Hellmuth Wolff.