St Mary's Catholic Cathedral
College Street, Sydney
Organs
- Orgues Létourneau 2000, 4m., 46 sp. st., mechanical and electric
- Ronald Sharp 1960, 2m., 26 sp. st., electric
- Whitehous Bros. 1942, 2m., 27 sp. st., electric
- Bellsham organs 1986, 2m., 9 sp. st., mechanical
- Henk Klop 2017, 1m., 3 sp. st. mechanical
History
Robert Parkinson writes in SOJ Winter 2007:
Graeme Rushworth has published detailed information about instruments in St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney from 1935 to 1942 (1 and 2). Errol Scarlett, one-time cathedral organist, has also written a comprehensive account of music in the cathedral up to 1971 (3). I will attempt to summarise their accounts and complete the story to the present of the 10 organs leased or owned by the cathedral authorities over 172 years. At various times orchestral and band instruments have also played a part in a rich musical tradition.
Instrument 1
In 1834 Mr J. Cavendish, choirmaster and organist, presented the cathedral with a 'Metalaphone' or seraphine (4). Dr Polding, enthroned as Bishop of Sydney in 1835 (Archbishop from 1842) wished to obtain a proper organ and contracted with Bevington in London for the same.
Instrument 2
Before arrival of the Bevington an organ was leased for six months from Frances Ellard, but was considered too unsatisfactory for purchase. A specification is not known although Rushworth lists a similar instrument as:
Great
- 8' Open Diapason
- 8' Stopped Diapason
- 4' Principal
- 4' Flute
- 2' Fifteenth
Swell
- 8' Stopped Diapason
- 4' Flute?
- 8' Hautboy
Pedal
One octave coupled to Great (5)
Instrument 3
The Bevington organ was opened in June 1841, the specification being most likely:
Great
- 16' Bourdon
- 16' Clarabella
- 8' Open Diapason 1
- 8' Open Diapason 2
- 8' Stop Diapason
- 8' Dulciana
- 4' Principal large
- 4' Principal small
- 2-2/3' Twelfth
- 2' Fifteenth
- IV Sesquialtera
- III Mixture
- 8' Trumpet
- 4' Clarion
- 8' Bassoon
- 8' Cremona
Swell
- 8' Open Diapason
- 8' Stop Diapason
- 4' Principal
- 4' Flute
- 2' Fifteenth
- 8' Hautboy
Pedal
- 32' Double Diapason
- 16' Open Diapason
- 8' Principal
- 16' Posaune
Couplers
- Swell to Great
- Great to Pedal
- Swell to Pedal
3 combination pedals to Swell
5 combination pedals to Great (6)
WESTERN TRANSEPT GALLERY
Orgues Létourneau Ltée, op 64 1999 (4/46 mechanical and electric)
Great
- 16' Bourdon
- 8' Open Diapason
- 8' Harmonic Flute
- 8' Chimney Flute
- 8' Violoncello
- 4' Principal
- 4' Waldflute
- 2-2/3' Twelfth
- 2' Fifteenth
- IV Mixture
- III Sharp Mixture
- 8' Trumpet
- Tremulant
Swell
- 16' Bourdon
- 8' Open Diapason
- 8' Stopped Diapason
- 8' Viole de Gambe
- 8' Voix Céleste
- 4' Principal
- 4' Nachthorn
- 2' Fifteenth
- V Mixture
- 16' Double Trumpet
- 8' Cornopean
- 8' Oboe
- 4' Clarion
- Tremulant
Choir (enclosed)
- 8' Salicional
- 8' Stopped Diapason
- 4' Principal
- 4' Koppelflute
- 2-2/3' Nasard
- 2' Blockflute
- 1-3/5' Tierce
- 1-1/3' Larigot
- IV Mixture
- 8' Clarinet
- 8' Tuba
- Tremulant
Pedal
- 32' Contra Bourdon
- 16' Open Diapason
- 16' Bourdon
- 8' Principal
- 8' Bass Flute
- 4' Choral Bass
- III Mixture
- 16' Trombone
- 8' Trumpet
- 4' Clarion