The Organ in St. Peter’s
First built by the Leeds organ-building firm Frederick Holt in 1865, the original organ in St. Peter’s was revised by Scovell of Edinburgh in 1913, and enlarged by Rushworth and Dreaper in 1958-60. Goldsmith undertook a rebuild in 1986 and Rushworth and Dreaper added more to it in 1997. Working out how much of the original instrument remains is ongoing.
By 2002, the organ was in a bad state of repair. Recognizing this, and with music in all its forms being so integral to worship in St. Peter’s, in 2004 an organ committee was given the task of investigating how best to proceed with refurbishing the organ. After much discussion, deliberation, consultation and debate, it was eventually agreed the church would embark on a major rebuild of the organ, and we were delighted to accept the services of Principal Pipe Organs, York, under the direction of Geoffrey Coffin.
The original organ was completely removed in March 2009, and the newly refurbished one completed in February 2011.
During the enormous and complex rebuild, a new wind system was fitted, all the soundboards and actions were fully restored and the internal pipe layout was completely changed to help improve the tonal projection. The best of the existing pipe-work was cleaned, mended, re-voiced, and returned to concert pitch, and sixteen ranks of pipes were replaced. The team at Penny’s Mill, Wiltshire, made the two new European Oak cases. Although not completely finished in December 2010, the congregation at the Carol Service were the first to hear this large exciting and versatile new sounding instrument.
With choral music being so important in St Peter’s, it was considered appropriate to celebrate its completion with an opening concert consisting of Choral Music from the Church Year, and the choir of St. Peter’s gave this on 25th February 2011. It was conducted by Director of Music, Rupert Forbes, with the Organist, Sheila Robertson, displaying many of the colours now available on the new instrument. It was re-dedicated on May 15th by Bishop Brian, the Bishop of Edinburgh.
There are pictures of the new and old organ in the photo gallery.
The following opening Organ Recital Series is being held once the organ has had time to settle down.
Friday 21st October 2011: John Kitchen, Edinburgh
Friday 4th November 2011: Michael Harris, Edinburgh
Friday 18th November 2011: Michael Bonaventure, London
Friday 2nd December 2011: Susan Landale, Paris
All recitals are free and begin at 19.30.
The Refurbished Organ
St. Peter’s,Lutton Place, Edinburgh
Principal Pipe Organs, York
2009-2011
Compass of manuals: CC-C (61 notes)
Compass of Pedals: CCC-F (30 notes)
Couplers: Great & Pedal Combinations Coupled
Generals on Swell Toe Pistons
Piston capture system: 16 departmental and 96 general memory levels
Both a sequencer and a separate stepper
* Denotes new pipework
Great
* Clarion 4’
* Trumpet 8’
* Mixture (22.26.29) III
Sesquialtera (12.17) II
Super Octave 2’
Twelfth 22/3
Octave 4’
* Flute 4’
Open diapason 8’
Stopped Diapason 8’
Gemshorn 8’
Double Diapason 16’
Swell to Great
Choir to Great
Swell
Clarion 4’
Cornopean 8’
Contra Fagotto 16’
Oboe 8’
*Mixture (19.22.26) III
Fifteenth 2’
Principal 4’
Stopped Flute 4’
Open Diapason 8’
Claribel Flute 8’
Salicional 8’
Voix Celeste (C 13) 8’
Contra Viola 16’
Tremulant
Super Octave
Sub Octave
Unison Off
Pedal
Schawm 4’
Posaune 8’
Trombone 16’
*Sackbut 32’
*Mixture (19.22.26.29) IV
Flute 4’
Fifteenth 8’
Principal 8’
Bourdon 16’
Violone 16’
Dulciana 16’
Open Diapason 16’
Acoustic Bass 32’
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Choir
*Octave Bombarde 4’
*Bombarde 8’
Clarion (Great) 4’
Trumpet (Great) 8’
Clarinet 8’
Mixture (19.22) II
*Tierce 13/5
*Nazard 22/3
*Gemshorn 2’
*Prestant 4’
*Block Flute 4’
*Gedeckt 8’
*Viola 8’
Tremulant
Swell to Choir
St. Peter’s, Lutton Place, Edinburgh
Rushworth & Dreaper, 1997
Console detached, on North side of Chancel
Action: Electro Pneumatic
Compass of manuals: CC-C (61 notes)
Compass of Pedals: CCC-F (30 notes)
Couplers: Great & Pedal Combinations Coupled
Generals on Swell Toe Pistons
8 thumb pistons to Swell
8 thumb pistons to Great
6 thumb pistons to Choir
5 toe pistons to Pedal
4 General thumb pistons
Scope Memory system
8 Level solid-state piston memory with rotary switch
Great
Tuba 8’
Clarion 4’
Tromba 8’
Mixture (19.22) II
Fifteenth 2’
Twelfth 22/3
Principal 4’
Harmonic Flute 4’
Stopped Diapason 8’
Open diapason II 8’
Open diapason I 8’
Double Diapason 16’
Swell to Great
Choir to Great
Swell (Enclosed)
Clarion 4’
Horn 8’
Contra Fagotto 16’
Oboe 8’
Mixture III
Fifteenth 2’
Principal 4’
Wald Flute 4’
Geigen Diapason 8’
Stopped Diapason 8’
Salicional 8’
Voix Céleste 8’
Bourdon 16’
Tremulant
Swell Octave
Swell Suboctave
Swell Unison Off
Pedal
Tromba 8’
Trombone 16’
Open Flute 4’
Octave 8’
Principal 8’
Bourdon 16’
Double Dulciana 16’
Open Diapason 16’
Acoustic Bass 32’
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Choir (Enclosed, but shutters removed by 2002)
Tuba 8’
Clarion 4’
Tromba 8’
Clarinet 8’
Tierce 13/5
Nazard 22/3
Piccolo 2’
Suabe Flute 4’
Dulciana 8’
Lieblich Gedackt 8’
Tremulant
Swell to Choir
Choir octave
Choir Suboctave
Choir Unison Off
St. Peter’s,Lutton Place, Edinburgh
Frederick Holt, 1865
Attached Console
Couplers: Unknown
Great
Tuba Mirabilis 8’
Sesquialtera III
Fifteeenth 2’
Twelfth 22/3
Principal 4’
Flute Harmonique 4’
Stopped Diapason 8’
Gemshorn 8’
Open Diapason 8’
Double Open Diapason 16’
Swell (Enclosed)
Horn 8’
Oboe 8’
Mixture III
Fifteenth 2’
Principal 4’
Vox Humana 8’
Stopped Diapason 8’
Keravlophone 8’
Open Diapason 8’
Double Diapason 16’
Tremulant
Pedal
Trombone 16’
Principal 8’
Bourdon 16’
Open Diapason 16′
Choir
Dulciana 8’
Voix Celeste 8’
Lieblich Gedeckt 8’
Suabe Flute 4’
Glockenspiel II
Clarinette 8’
Tremulant
