OHS convention: 2023
2023-07-21 - Around 1906 Breckels & Matthews built a pneumatic-action chancel organ of about 29 ranks. Acting on Willan’s request, in 1931 L.E. Morel electrified the action and moved the console to the gallery. Later came the addition of an English-built Tuba at 16ʹ–8ʹ–4ʹ, and Franklin Legge unified the Choir Flute to sound also at 4ʹ pitch. The Healey Willan Memorial Fund was established in 1971, and a rebuilding of the organ began that same year under the organist Giles Bryant. The initiative drew upon volunteer help and the builder David Legge. The renovations proceeded from 1973 to 1980 using Casavant chests and pipes. Installation and tonal finishing were by Alan T. Jackson, who worked on a time basis to allow for a diminishing volunteer force. -- *2023 OHS Handbook* -Paul R. Marchesano
2023-07-21 - The organ at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene was built in 1906 by the Toronto firm of Breckles and Matthews, and originally contained around 27 stops. The firm was founded in 1900 by two workers from the D.W. Karn company of Woodstock, Ontario. In 1931 the action of the organ was electrified, and the console was moved to the gallery under Healey Willan’s direction so that he could both play and conduct the choir. The Tuba rank, which speaks directly into the St. Joseph’s chapel, was also installed during Willan’s tenure, but apart from that the organ retained its original voice until after Willan’s death. By that time the instrument needed a thorough restoration; a complete rebuild, enlargement and modernisation of the organ was carried out. Today the organ is much larger, having grown to 51 stops. The work was started in the early 1970’s by David Legge and Willan’s successor Giles Bryant. Additional work was carried out by Alan T. Jackson and company, the local Casavant representatives, and in 1980 the organ was rededicated as the Healey Willan memorial organ. Casavant windchests were provided throughout the instrument, except for the separate pedal Subbass and Open Wood chests, which remain original. New pipes (marked with an asterisk in the specification below) were provided by the Casavant factory in St. Hyacinth Quebec, and some second-hand material was used to form other new stops from the Warren organ dismantled at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on King Street. Some of the original pipework was revoiced, but much of it still speaks with its original and very British sounding character. The console was rebuilt in 2017 by John Struve with new keyboards of exceptional quality from P&S in Suffolk, England, and a new memory level system was added. The electrical relay, which had become sluggish and unreliable with age, was replaced with a new solid-state system, refining the playing capabilities of the instrument immensely. -- Church website -Paul R. Marchesano
Source: 2023 OHS Handbook
I. CHOIR ORGAN (61 notes, C–c4, enclosed) Gedackt 8, Dulciana 8, Unda Maris 8 (49 pipes, flat, t.c.), Chimney Flute 4, Spire Principal* 2, Larigot* 1⅓, Cymbal III* ½ (183 pipes), Cremona 8 (Clarinet), Tuba 8 (unenclosed), Tremulant, Choir 16, 4
II. GREAT ORGAN (61 notes, C–c4) Double Open Diapason 16 (ext. Open Diapason II), Open Diapason I 8, Open Diapason II 8, Stopped Diapason* 8, Gamba 8, Octave 4, Nason Flute* 4 (open metal Spitzflöte), Twelfth 2⅔, Fifteenth 2, Mixture IV* 1⅓ (244 pipes), Cornet V* 8 (185 pipes, from c1, mounted), Trumpet* 8, Clarion* 4, Great 4
III. SWELL ORGAN (61 notes, C–c4, enclosed) Lieblich Bourdon 16, Stopped Diapason 8, Salicional 8, Viola da Gamba 8, Vox Angelica 8 (49 pipes, sharp, t.c.), Principal 4, Suabe Flute 4, Nazard 2⅔, Flageolet 2, Tierce 1⅗, Sharp Mixture IV* 1 (244 pipes), Bassoon* 16 (half-length), Trumpet† 8, Oboe† 8, Shawm† 4, Tremulant, Swell 16, 4
PEDAL ORGAN (32 notes, C–g1) Sub Bourdon 32 (resultant, wired from Open Wood 16ʹ and Subbass 16ʹ), Open Metal 16 (Gt. Double Open Diapason 16ʹ), Open Wood 16, Subbass 16, Lieblich Bourdon 16 (Sw.), Octave 8, Flute 8, Fifteenth 4, Recorder 4, Mixture IV* 2⅔ (128 pipes), Ophicleide† 16, Bassoon 16 (Sw.), Trumpet 8 (Gt.), Clarion 4 (Gt.)
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