st martins killara

THE CHOIR

The choir sings at the Choral Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month (except January) at 8.30 am, with a rehearsal the preceding Thursday and at 7.30 am on the Sunday, and of course at Easter and Christmas in addition.
The choir’s credo is always to give of its best in the service of the Lord, and in the knowledge that worship without music does not easily soar. New members are always welcome!
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THE ORGAN

The Wilkinson organ was installed at St Martins in October 2007, after several years of searching for a replacement for the previous electronic organ by our Organist and Choirmaster, David Alexander.   David has provided the following history.
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THE WILKINSON PIPE ORGAN

The present instrument was built in 1908 by the eminent English builder, Wilkinson & Son of Kendall, UK, for the Methodist Church, Ambleside, in the Lake District, UK and is of outstanding provenance. Its specification is given below.

The organ was built and installed by Wilkinson at a final cost of STG250 pounds. In 1934 the organ was overhauled and cleaned, when the original tracker action was replaced with a pneumatic action.

In 1987, a similar task by the highly regarded English builder Nigel Church cost almost STG8,500 pounds, when the pneumatics were returned to tracker with a mechanical action by the German manufacturer Laukhuff.

In the opinion of the current restorer, Mr Peter Wood of Harrogate, UK, himself a descendant of a long established firm of organ builders, Wilkinson organs are second only to those built by the greatest English organ builder of the 19th Century, "Father" Henry Willis. Indeed at the 1987 restoration, the shallots of the Great Trumpet and the Swell Cornopean, were changed to the French type, with the result that these reeds are now very fiery, after the French style, and not unlike "Father" Willis chorus reeds.

The Specification is ideal for the purposes of the Parish, including a Great Trumpet stop, so useful for the many weddings celebrated at Saint Martin's. Moreover, three additional stops were added, to increase the versatility of the instrument, namely, a Swell Tremulant, and a Pedal Fagotto/Horn unit. The instrument responds well to a wide-ranging repertoire.

The restorer was given a free hand to restore the organ "in a proper and tradesmanlike manner and in accordance with the industry standard for high class work by master organ builders". Thus, measures were taken to ensure that the instrument is fully playable in adverse weather conditions and especially, in hot, dry weather, which is expected to become even hotter and drier, with climate change.

From the outset, it was agreed that a reed rank would be added to the Pedal Division, to complement the comprehensive Manual Specification and support the enthusiastic singing of the congregation. The lowest 12 pipes of this reed were newly made by Terry Shires of Shires Organ Pipes Ltd of Leeds, in spotted metal (half length) and with the remaining pipes (full length) coming from a spotted metal T C Lewis Horn rank from an organ formerly in Glasgow.

The facade pipes were painted blue with gold leaf applied to the mouths, to match the Saint Martin's logo. Brass candle sconces were attached to the console, for use on special occasions! An historic hand carved, solid oak screen from Ripon Parish Church, has been attached to form the screen to the main aisle.

Specification
Mechanical action throughout, except for the Pedal Fagotto/Horn unit, on electro-pneumatic action.
MANUAL COMPASS: 56 Notes CC to g
PEDAL COMPASS: 29 Notes CCC to e

SWELL ORGAN (enclosed)           8 Stops        GREAT ORGAN           9 Stops
OBOE (TC)                                  8 ft               TRUMPET                    8 ft
CORNOPEAN                              8                  MIXTURE                     ll Ranks
FIFTEENTH                                  2                  FIFTEENTH                 2
GEMSHORN                                4                  TWELFTH                    2 2/3
OPEN DIAPASON (G B )              8                FLUTE                         4
SALICIONAL                                8                  PRINCIPAL                  4
GEDACHT                                   8                   STOPPED DIAPASON  8
TREMULANT (1)                                              DULCIANA (S.D.B.)       8 
                                                                            OPEN DIAPASON          8

PEDAL ORGAN 4 Stops

BOURDON (2)                           16-ft                  COUPLERS:
BASS FLUTE (2)                         8                     Swell to Great
FAGOTTO (3)                            16                     Swell to Pedal
HORN (4)                                    8                     Great to Pedal
3 Composition Pedals to Great; 2 Composition Pedals to Swell
Centrally positioned balanced Swell Pedal; BOB Organ Blower

NOTES:
(1) New 2007
(2) New Nigel Church 1987,41 note unit 16/8, mechanical action
(3) New 2007,42 note unit 16/8, electro-pneumatic action
(4) Spotted metal T C Lewis pipes from Glasgow organ.

DAVID W ALEXANDER 11 February 2009