Specification
For its time, the stop list was opulent, and it still would be. Two full-length 32ft stops, three enclosed departments, expensive orchestral reeds and flues, batteries of heavy pressure reeds, a full 61/32 note compass (quite rare on a Harrison) and more console accessories and couplers than H & H had ever provided before on a tubular pneumatic console. It represents and remains the most glorious expression of the last gasp of ‘high’ Victorian / Edwardian organ-building. It has many delightful and a few rare features.
Most unusually Harrisons supplied a French Horn and a Orchestral Trumpet rank (on the heaviest pressure – 20ins w.g.) on the Solo. The French Horn is a gloriously creamy stop, fully imitative of its namesake, whilst the tone of the Orchestral Trumpet (available at 16 [unique?] 8 & 4) is blisteringly brilliant – a white-hot blaze of sound which takes one’s breath away. Another delight – and just as rare if not unique in H & H’s œuvre – is the two-rank Solo Violes Célestes, both of which ranks go right down to CC. So in the Solo there are three Viole ranks of full compass. In addition there is the somewhat less rare though pretty uncommon 16ft Cor Anglais and a rare 5-rank Pedal Mixture – with two stopped ranks. These stops and all others are supreme examples of the voicing skill of a generation who died out after the Second World War and whose genius has never been reached since – anywhere in the world – let alone bettered. The leading figure of this small band of pipe voicers was W C ‘Billy’ Jones, who spent large parts of his career with H & H and doubtless voiced most of the specialist ranks on this organ. A revered figure to this day, the City Hall organ forms the finest and greatest memorial to Jones and to all he and a tiny band achieved.
For more information please visit [The National Pipe Organ Register] where the full spec can be found
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