TEWKESBURY ABBEY - ORGAN Specification

THE MILTON ORGAN

Tewkesbury Abbey houses three pipe organs - a chamber organ by Thomas Elliot, the four manual Grove organ (built by Michel and Thynne for the 1885 Inventions Exhibition) and the instrument heard on this recording, the so-called Milton organ. The history of this instrument is a long and fascinating one.

In 1631, Robert Dallam built a new organ for Magdalen College, Oxford, where it was erected in an 'organ house' opening on to the south side of the chapel. It was later moved to Hampton Court Palace where the poet John Milton is reputed to have played it. The organ was returned to Magdalen in 1660 and was substantially remodelled by Renatus Harris in 1690.

In 1736 Tewkesbury Abbey purchased the instrument and it was placed on a special stone screen constructed on the site of the medieval pulpitum. A Swell Organ was added by John Holland in 1796 and major rebuilds followed in 1848 ('Father' Willis) and 1948 (J.W. Walker). At this time the Echo and Solo departments were added and a detached five manual console was installed with the intention of controlling the Grove and Milton organs from the same console. (In fact, the Grove was never connected to this console but it was eventually restored on conservation lines by Bishop and Son in 1980-81.)

By the early '90's, the Milton organ was becoming increasingly unreliable and it was clear that major action would need to be taken. In 1997 the instrument was rebuilt and reconstructed by Kenneth Jones of Bray, Ireland, using the best pipework from all periods in conjunction with totally new material. The organ stands behind the south choirstalls on a screen designed by David Graebe and now has four manuals, 68 speaking stops and 4611 pipes. The lower three keyboards have mechanical action, whilst the Solo and (remote) Apse Divisions have electro-pneumatic action.

The inaugural recital was given in May 1997 by Nicolas Kynaston, who also acted as consultant to the project.

SPECIFICATION OF THE MILTON ORGAN (1997)

GREAT ORGAN

 

SWELL ORGAN

  

1.Double Diapason

16'

14.Open Diapason

8'

2.Open Diapason No 1

8'

15.Stopped Diapason

8'

3.Open Diapason No 2

8'

16.Salicional

8'

4.Claribel Flute

8'

17.Voix Celeste TC

8'

5.Principal

4'

18.Principal

4'

6.Wald Flute

4'

19.Open Flute

4'

7.Twelfth

22/3'

20.Flageolet

2'

8.Sesquialtera

III

21.MixtureIII-IV

2'

9.Mixture IV

2'

22.Double Trumpet

6'

10.Cymbale 1/2

II

23.Cornopean

8'

11.Trumpet

8'

24.Hautbois

8'

12.Clarion

4'

25.Clarion

4'
   

Tremulant

  

CHOIR ORGAN

  

SOLO ORGAN

  

26.Stopped Diapason

8'

38.Harmonic Flute

8'

27.Quintadena

8'

39.Violoncello

8'

28.Dulciana

8'

40.Traverse Flute

4'

29'Principal

4'

41.Piccolo

2'

30.Chimney Flute

4'

42.Orchestral Oboe

8'

31.Nazard

22/3'

43.Voix Humaine

8'

32.Fifteenth

2'

44.Horn

16'

33.Flute

2'

45.Trumpet

8'

34.Tierce

13/5'

46.Clarion

4'

35.Larigot

11/3

Tremulant

  

36.Sharp Mixture 1'

IV

    

37.Cremona

8'

    

Tremulant

      
       

APSE ORGAN

  

PEDAL ORGAN

  

47.Cor de Nuit

8'

55.Open Wood

6'

48.Dolce

8'

56.Open Diapason

16'

49.Unda Maris TC

8'

57.Subbass

16'

50.Fugara

4'

58.Pedal Bourdon (Apse)

16'

51.Flute

4'

59.Quint Flute

102/3'

52.Harmonia Aetheria

III'

60.Principal

8'

53.Corno di Bassetto

8'

61.Flute

8'

54.Tuba

8'

62.Nazard

22/3'

Tremulant

  

63.Fifteenth

4'
   

64.Mixture IV

22/3
   

65.Double Horn

32'
   

66.Trombone

6'
   

67.Horn

16'
    68. Trumpet

8'

COUPLERS

Solo to Swell Solo to Pedal Apse Sub-Octave
Solo to Great Swell to Pedal Apse Octave
Solo to Choir Great to Pedal Apse Unison Off
Swell to Great Choir to Pedal
Swell to Choir Choir to Great

The Organ on Guild Music

Page created 14.05.2001