The Grand Organ
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Australian Flora | Sydney Town Hall History | The Grand Organ
During the 19th century in England, it was customary for civic halls in England and the colonies to be provided with grand organs, imposing symbols of a city's pride and its aspirations. It is therefore not surprising that plans for Sydney Town Hall included an organ of very grand dimensions.
The original plans for the organ were drawn up in 1879 under the direction of Messrs. William Hill and Son of London. Their design provided for an instrument of fifty nine speaking stops, at a cost of £5,000 but was considered too modest for the city.
An Organ Committee of Sydney was then established to supervise the preparation of specifications and tendering. Their recommendation called for an instrument of unprecedented proportions with five manuals and pedals and one hundred and fifty stops.
William Hill and Son submitted the successful tender for the manufacture of the organ, its freight and installation and twelve months maintenance, at a cost of £14,241. Their design included a new feature of a full length 64 foot pedal stop, never previously attempted. When the organ was completed, a number of prominent organists were invited to test it, including the organist of Westminster Abbey, Dr Bridge, who considered it to be "the finest organ ever built by an English organ builder". The organ was then dismantled and sent by ship to Sydney.
The organ case was also designed by William Hill and Son to complement the architectural character of the Town Hall, despite opposition from the City Architect who believed that the case should be modern in design. Hill's design however ensured that Sydney would have an organ which in splendour, beauty and tone, could be compared with the greatest organs in the world.
The opening of the Grand Organ was held in Sydney Town Hall on Saturday August 9, 1890 before an audience of 4,000 prominent guests. Mr W.T. Best, the City Organist of Liverpool, considered to be the finest concert organist in the world, was invited to play at the opening. Best stayed on to play a at eleven further public recitals, thrilling his audiences with classical and operatic pieces, selections from Bach's organ works and his own compositions.
The concerts were a resounding success and the organ hailed by the Sydney Morning Herald as "the special attraction of the city right now". A City Organist, Auguste Wiegand, from Belgium was appointed. His successor, Arthur Mason, was appointed in 1901, beginning a long tradition of Australian organists to hold the post. The current City Organist, Mr Robert Ampt has held the position since 1978.
In 1973, the Council undertook a major restoration program to restore the Grand Organ which had begun to experience mechanical problems. The firm of R H Pogson Pty Ltd was appointed to manage the project and their craftsmen worked tirelessly for almost a decade to return the organ to its former splendour and tone.
Today, free organ recitals are held throughout the year for visitors to Sydney Town Hall to enjoy. Information about performance times can be obtained by calling Sydney Info on 02 9265 9007.
Downloads
- The Grand Organ Brochure | PDF 114Kb
- Town Hall Organ Program 2007 | PDF 223Kb
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Last Updated: Tuesday 2 February, 2010
