The Three Manual Organ
At All Saints Oystermouth
Rebuild 1998 of 1916 Conacher instrument - Percy Daniel and Co. Clevedon - Electro Pneumatic action
Parts of the organ at All Saints' date from 1873 and the instrument has been enlarged and rebuilt several times during its history, spanning a century and a half.
SPECIFICATION
Great
Large Open Diapason 8
Small Open Diapason * 8
Clarabella * 8
Dulciana * 8
Principal * 4
Harmonic Flute 4
Fifteenth * 2
Mixture III 19.22.26
Trumpet 8
Clarion (ext) 4
Swell to Great
Choir to Great
Swell
Open Diapason * 8
Rohr Flöte 8
Viole d’ Orchestra 8
Voix Celeste (TC) 8
Gemshorn * 4
Fifteenth 2
Mixture III 15.19.22
Contra Clarinet 16
Cornopean * 8
Oboe * 8
Tremulant
Swell Octave
Swell Sub Octave
Swell Unison Off
Choir
Lieblich Gedacht 8
Principal 4
Nazard 2 2/3
Block Flote 2
Scharf II 26.29
Trumpet (from Gt) 8
Swell to Choir
Pedal
Sub Bourdon + 32
Harmonic Bass 32
Open Diapason * (wood) 16
Violone + 16
Bourdon * 16
Principal (metal) 8
Bass Flute (ext) 8
Fifteenth (ext) 4
Octave Flute (ext) 4
Contra Trombone+ 32
Trombone 16
Trumpet (ext from Gt) 8
Clarion (ext from Gt) 4
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Six pistons to manuals
Eight general pistons
Great and Pedal pistons combined
Eight channels to manual pistons
Eight channels to general pistons
*original pipe ranks from Postill organ 1873
+new digital stops 2009 [Phoenix Organs]
Phoenix Organs in conjunction with Patrick Burns, incorporated three digital pedal stops - 32' Contra Trombone, 32' Sub Bourdon, 16' Violine. These add great depth and definition to the organ bass line. A similar digital system is in Brecon Cathedral.
A Brief History of the Organ
The first organ of two manuals and pedals was installed at All Saints in 1873 by the firm Postill of York. It was a gift of the Crawshay family and cost £590. Many of the original pipes (*) are of such quality that they are still used today in the present organ. Abbott and Smith tonally altered and enlarged the organ in 1890 to a design by Thomas Camidge who was the organist at the time. There was a major rebuild and enlargement in 1916 by Peter Conacher. The instrument then contained 1,674 pipes. Mr David Price, organist at All Saints for over 30 years, supervised an overhaul and electrification in 1951 by Hill, Norman and Beard. J W Walker and Co. were given the task of renovating the instrument in 1972 at a cost of £3,204 when the enclosed Choir Organ was converted into a Positive Organ. In 1997-8 the organ was completely cleaned, rebuilt, renovated and improved by Daniel and Co. with a major grant from the Arts Council of Wales. The work was overseen by Mr. Chris Waring Davies, then Director of Music. The rebuild cost £103,000. It is now a very fine concert instrument with a wealth of sounds. A feature of the present organ is the voicing of the choir organ, which is designed as a Baroque Positive organ that not only provides an alternative chorus to the traditionally voiced Great and Swell, but in combination with them provides a thrilling, powerful and brilliant fortissimo.
In 2010, a purpose-built humidification plant was installed in the organ chamber by Watkins and Watson Ltd, the specialist firm for pipe organ air movement. The organ will now be kept at a constant humidity around 55% to ensure that the instrument is not subjected to the wide fluctuations in humidity within the Church building.
In 2021 we hope to overhaul the organ, replacing the sliders and making some further tonal adjustments. An appeal target of £33,000 has been launched. The appeal fund now stands at £29,000.
You can find out more about what we plan to do by clicking All Saints Organ Appeal on the site menu.
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