The Organ Console
The 1966 Mander Organ
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The History of the Organs of
Sheffield Cathedral At the
suggestion of Francis Jackson, Organist at York Minster, at the time, the organ in
Sheffield Cathedral was built and installed by N. P. Mander Ltd of London.
Dr. Jackson gave the opening recital on 30th
April 1966. The organ at the time lacked a Nave Division. The Cathedral Organist, Graham
Matthews, gave a recital on 14th October 1969 to mark the addition of the Nave Division.
The organ contains some pipe-work from an
1877 Father Willis organ, originally in St Paul's Church, Bow Common, London. It is of
interest that the prospect pipes of the Nave Division are of pure tin.
As with so many
English organs, this particular instrument represented a compromise and after many years
of excessive use it was thought in 1997 that major work would need to be carried out to
keep the instrument in working order. For a number of years the condition of the 1966
Mander organ had been deteriorating, and it became clear in 1998 that the organ could not
continue to be used in that condition. The only acceptable way forward was to replace it
with a new pipe organ.
The digital organ has recently
undergone significant modification by Phoenix Organs. This work is
designed to take us through the next few years in anticipation of the
commissioning of a first-class pipe organ for the Cathedral and City. The
work has enhanced the instrument’s capabilities and overall
tonal scheme, and has included the addition of new stops and
accessories.
For details of the organ specification please click here. |
