The Cathedral of Saint Thomas More News:

The Great Organ

The Cathedral of St.Thomas More features one of the largest pipe organs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The present organ was originally built in 1961 by M.P. Moeller as a 3 manual instrument with 28 ranks of pipes. It was rebuilt and augmented in 1980 by Robert Wyant, retaining 3 manuals, but with electro-magnetic action and 53 ranks of pipes, including two sets of En Chamade reeds.

In 2016 the Great Organ was further enhanced with replacement of the console with a 4 manual, state of the art console from the Schantz Organ Company and the addition of cornet ranks.

Specifications

  • Original Manufacturer: M.P. Moeller, Inc. – Opus 9552, 1951
  • Additions: Robert Wyant, Organbuilder – 1978
  • Console and Assitions: Schantz Organ Company, 2016
  • Electro-magnetic Action
  • Four Manual drawknob console
  • Stops – 57; Ranks – 53
  • Pipes – 3,070
  • Great: 866 pipes
  • Positiv: 598 pipes
  • Solo: 307 pipes
  • Swell: 915 pipes
  • Pedal: 284 pipes

Organ Stops. Couplers and Combinations

Great

  • 16’ Geigan Principal 61 pipes
  • 8’ Principal 61 pipes
  • 8’ Geigan Octave 12 pipes (from 16’ Geigan)
  • 8’ Bourdon 61 pipes
  • 4’ Octave 61 pipes
  • 4’ Harmonic Flute 61 pipes
  • 2’ Super Octave 61 pipes
  • IV Fourniture 244 pipes
  • III Cymbale 183 pipes
  • 8’ Trompete 61 pipes
  • Great 16
  • Great Unison Off
  • Great 4
  • Chimes

Postiv

  • 8’ Holz Gedeckt 61 pipes
  • 8’ Flute Celeste II (Swell)
  • 4’ Koppelflöte 61 pipes
  • 2’ Prinzipal 61 pipes
  • 1’ Octave 12 pipes (from 2’ Principal)
  • II Sesqui Altera 98 pipes
  • III Scharf 183 pipes
  • 8’ Clarion Brilliante (from 4’ Clarion Brilliante)
  • 8’ Krummhorn 61 pipes
  • 4’ Rohr Schalmei 61 pipes
  • Positiv 16’
  • Positiv Unison Off
  • Tremolo

Solo

  • 16’ Tuba Magna (from 8’ Trompeta)
  • 8’ Trompeta 61 pipes
  • 4’ Clarion Brilliante 61 pipes
  • 8’ Trompette (from Great)
  • V Cornet

Swell

  • 16’ Rohrbourdon 12 pipes (from 8’ Rohr Gedeckt)
  • 8’ Viole De Gamba 61 pipes
  • 8’ Viola Celeste 49 pipes
  • 8’ Rohr Gedeckt 61 pipes
  • 8’ Flute Celeste II 110 pipes
  • 4’ Principal 61 pipes
  • 4’ Nachthorn 49 pipes (1-12 from Rohrflöte)
  • 2⅔’ Nasard 61 pipes
  • 2’ Blockflöte 61 pipes
  • 1⅓’ Larigot 12 pipes (from 2⅔ Nasard)
  • III Plein Jeu 183 pipes
  • 16’ Fagott 61 pipes
  • 8’ Trompette 61 pipes
  • 8’ Oboe 12 pipes (from 16’ Fagott)
  • 4’ Clairon 61 pipes
  • Swell 16’
  • Swell Unison Off
  • Swell 4’
  • Tremolo

Pedal

  • 32’ Contra Bourdon 12 electric
  • 16’ Prestant 32 pipes
  • 16’ Geigan Principal (Great)
  • 16’ Bourdon 32 pipes
  • 16’ Rohrbourdon (Swell)
  • 8’ Octave 32 pipes
  • 8’ Geigan Octave (Great)
  • 8’ Hohl Flute 32 pipes
  • 4’ Octave 12 pipes
  • 4’ Flute 24 pipes (from 16’ Bourdon)
  • 2’ Wald Flute 24 pipes (from 8’ Hohl Flute)
  • IV Mixture 128 pipes
  • 32’ Kontra Posaune 12 pipes
  • 16’ Posaune 32 pipes
  • 16’ Fagott (Swell)
  • 8’ Trompete 12 pipes
  • 4’ Klarine 12 pipes
  • 4’ Rohr Schalmei (Positiv)

Couplers

  • Great to Pedal 8
  • Swell to Pedal 8
  • Swell to Pedal 4
  • Positiv to Pedal 8
  • Solo to Pedal 8
  • Swell to Great 16
  • Swell to Great 8
  • Swell to Great 4
  • Positiv to Great 16
  • Positiv to Great 8
  • Positiv to Great 4
  • Solo to Great 8
  • Swell to Positiv 16’
  • Swell to Positiv 8
  • Swell to Positiv 4
  • Solo to Positiv 8

Combinations

  • Swell 1-2-3-4-5-6
  • Great 1-2-3-4-5-6
  • Positiv 1-2-3-4-5-6
  • Pedal 1-2-3-4-5-6
  • Solo 1-2-3-4
  • General 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14