| Acoustics | Sir Edward Maufe's original design for the Cathedral appears to have failed to
take into account the need for an organ. Legend has it that the original intention was
for the Cathedral to be a “temple of the spoken word”; there was to be no choir and a
portable organ only, which would be wheeled into position to accompany
congregational singing. If this is true, it would explain why the authorities later had so
much difficulty in finding locations for choir and organ. It may also explain why the
inside of the Cathedral was cunningly covered in a thick layer of acoustic plaster to
reduce what was reputed to have been a marvellous natural acoustic.
(A late 1970's plan to have this plaster “surgically removed” was abandoned for
reasons of cost. Thankfully, though, the original acoustic of the building is gradually
returning as the plaster dries out, although whether it will ever return to its natural
state is a matter for conjecture.) |
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| Positioning | The choir stalls at Guildford are not favourably placed, being the furthest apart of any British cathedral. The Organ is divided into two sections sited about 200 feet away from each other. The Main Organ (consisting of Solo, Swell, Great, Choir and Pedal) is tucked away around the corner in the North Transept Gallery, making it almost useless for accompanying the choir, since the singers can hear very little of it.
The Positive Organ, which was added in 1962 (see photos), is more successful in this respect, mainly on account of its position. | |  
The Organs as seen from Decani |
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| It is housed in a specially built gallery in the first North Chancel Arch, above the Cantoris side of the choir. It consists of ten speaking stops somewhat reminiscent of a baroque organ, the 8' and 4' flutes being much used to accompany the choir. Also found here is the famous “broken glass” stop (to understand this reference you'll have to get hold of the book “The Beat Is Irrelevant”). The Positive does not have
a separate manual of its own but can be coupled through. Each section of the Organ
has its own blowing apparatus and each can therefore be used independently of the
other. |
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The organ console above Decani | | The four-manual console is mounted in specially built gallery opposite the Positive
Organ, i.e. above the Decani side of the choir.
This is a successful arrangement because the organist can hear the choir clearly from this position. He can even see the conductor, thanks to a strategically placed mirror. (Some organists have actually been known to use this facility from time to time.)
The tasteful curtains are a more recent addition. Whether Sir Edward Maufe, the architect, would have approved is not certain! |
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| Contents | The Guildford Cathedral organ comprises 4,398 pipes with exactly 100 drawstops,
including 76 Speaking stops, 22 Couplers and 2 Tremulants, and 63 thumb and toe
pistons. Nearly 50 miles of wire is used throughout the entire instrument, of which 24
miles is in the console, and there are 12,056 silver contacts and approximately 33,000
soldered connections. |
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| Summary | On the whole, playing the Guildford organ is a surprisingly pleasant experience,
despite the feeling of dragging both the Great and the Swell along with you. The
Positive — happily nearby — can be used as a sort of artificial aid for playing in time.
The instrument is quite flexible and the Positive and Solo sections have a good array
of "special effects". |
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 | Specification of Main Cathedral Organ |
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 | Details of Ardeton Organ in Lady Chapel |
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 | The Cathedral Organs sometimes feature in our RealAudio selections |
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 | The organ has been recorded as a solo instrument on the following discs: |
