Gerard Smith c.1716
State of preservation: After numerous renovations up to 1949 only the case, front pipes and one inside stop (Open Diapason) original. Restoration/reconstruction and addition of a swell by Goetze and Gwynn in 1995.
This organ was only a few miles apart from Cannons,the stately home of James Brydges Duke of Chandos, where Georg Friedrich Händel was resident composer from 1717 to 1719 when the organ was built; he is said to have played the organ occasionally while in Cannons.
Therefore the instrument received growing interest for the interpretation of Handel's organ music during the 19th century which, however, did not keep it from being frequently repaired and modernised. When restored in 1995 it was attempted to recreate the 18th c. design of the Great.
Musikbeispiel:
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759): organ concert, op. 7, no. 3
played by Paul Nicholsen
Manual G’, A’, C, D-d3 (short octave); pedal C, D-d1
Great Organ:
Open Diapason 8’
Stopt Diapason 8’
Principal 4’
Flute stopped 4’
Twelfth 22/3’
Fifteenth 2’
Sesquialtera (B) 3f.
Cornet (D) 3f.
Swell:
Open Diapason 8’
Stopt Diapason 8’
Principal 4’
Nason Flute 4’
Fifteenth 2’
Cornet (D) 2f.
Trumpet 8’
Pedal:
Bourdon 16’
Manual coupler, pedal couplers
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