THE ORGAN
The present organ at Exeter College Chapel was completed in 1994 by J.W. Walker & Son Ltd. It retains the Chapel architect Gilbert Scott's case design and façade pipes from the previous Hill organ, but the tonal palette is inspired by French nineteenth-century instruments, in harmony with the Chapel’s aesthetic. It is also the only organ in Oxford or Cambridge to be designed in the style of the great French builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. It employs mechanical key action and electric stop and combination action. The organ possesses a terraced console and the French playing aids ventils and tirasses, which can be used in place of conventional pistons and couplers. The organ acquits itself equally well in the works of Howells, Stanford, Bach, and Mendelssohn as in the music of Widor, Vierne, Duruflé, and Franck. The organ was fully re-conditioned in 2007 and has recently undergone further work to expand and modernise the memory capture system.
UPCOMING RECITALS
Weekly 30 minute organ concerts take place during term on Tuesdays at 1.10 PM. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we regret that the series for Trinity Term has been cancelled. Please subscribe to our email list at the bottom of the page to receive updates when organ concerts at Exeter will resume.
Organ Specification
GRAND ORGUE
Bourdon 16’
Montre 8’
Flûte harmonique 8’
Bourdon 8’
Salicional 8’
Prestant 4’
Flûte 4’
Doublette 2’
Plein jeu IV-VI
Bombarde 16’
Trompette 8’
Trémolo
RÉCIT EXPRESSIF
Flûte traversière 8’
Viole de gambe 8’
Voix céleste (from c) 8’
Flûte octaviante 4’
Prestant 4’
Octavin 2’
Cornet II
Trompette harmonique 8’
Basson hautbois 8 ‘
Voix humaine 8’
Trémolo
PÉDALE
Soubasse 16′
Bourdon 16′ *
Flûte 8’ *
Violoncelle 8’ *
Bourdon 8’ *
Octave 4’ *
Bombarde 16’
Trompette 8’ *
Effets d’Orage
* from the Grand Orgue
ACCOUPLEMENTS
Récit au Grand Orgue
Récit Octaves graves
Tirasse Récit
Tirasse Grand Orgue
COMBINATION ACTION
Six thumb pistons each to Recit & G.O.
Six foot pistons to Récit
Six General pistons (thumb and toe)
Memory levels: 96 general, 16 divisional
Three “Advance” pistons (two thumb, one toe)
One “Retard” thumb piston