Buzard Opus 7

The Chapel’s solid Anglican choral program, the rich hymnody, and daily Cathedral-style liturgics demanded an organ of some substance; requiring a wide variety of tone colors at Unison pitch, complete development of the various choruses, and characteristics reed stops for the English Swell, a profound pedal, and high volume solo effects.  Although inspired by the great instrument at King’s College, Cambridge, this is not an “English Organ.”  The instrument exhibits classic tonal design, but is voiced with a Romantic cast.  The budget for the organ (and the space available) would not allow for a large 16′ Open Wood Diapason nor an 8′ Swell Diapason. Scaling and treatment of the other Pedal stops and the Swell Salicional have to create the intended effect.

In order to increase the flexibility of what would otherwise be a straight two-manual organ, the Swell has been divided into two smaller expressive divisions, each on its own slider chest, and each with its own expression box and shutters.  The Principals, Strings, and chorus reeds are in Swell “A”, and the Flutes, Cornet, Flute Celeste and Clarinet are in Swell “B”.  This allows, for example, the Swell “A” Oboe to be accompanied by the Swell “B” Flute Celeste, or the Swell “B” Clarinet to be accompanied by the Swell “A” strings.  The dramatic increase in accompanimental flexibility which the “Divided Swell” creates is facilitated by the modern solid-state multiple memory level combination action.  You can literally turn the organ upside down for one small section of an English Anthem accompaniment, then instantly bring the instrument back to a straight two manual by means of the general pistons.