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Klais
Organ
Over the centuries organs in Bath Abbey
have stood in various different places in the building. In 1914 Sir Thomas
Jackson built a gallery and organ facade in the North Transept for the
Norman and Beard organ; it is still thought that this position provides the
best compromise between the demands of liturgy and acoustics.
The new Klais
Organ (1997) stands on this gallery and the Jackson case, which had already
been supplemented by a Positive case designed by Alan Rome (1972), has been
raised some 18 inches. Carved fretwork replaces the solid panels either side
of the console to allow egress of sound from the Solo division placed
immediately behind.
The case has also been given a back,
sides and roof. Behind the facade the entire structure, action and
windchest are new. The organ has mechanical action with electric coupling.
Approximately half the pipes are built by Klais and the rest are from
builders of earlier instruments (Wm Hill & Son; Norman and Beard; Hill,
Norman and Beard). The organ has 4 manuals and pedals and 62 stops. |
