St Joseph's North Sydney Convent Chapel
also known as
Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel
Mount Street, North Sydney
A. Möser (Munich) 1927 (2/14 electro-pneumatic)
From SOJ February/March 1987 Kelvin Hastie writes:
The organ in the Convent chapel was built in 1927 by A. Möser of Munich to the design of Dom Stephen Moreno, O.S.B. of the Benedictine Abbey at New Norcia, Western Australia. New Norcia has a larger Möser organ of 1923, one of the most fascinating organs ever exported to Australia due to its almost bizarre tonal design (including mutations at 1-1/7 and 8/9). This style is nonetheless very typical of German organbuilding in the 20th century which employed extremes of sonority according to the 'klangfarbe' style. The North Sydney Möser has a most unusual tonal design, unique in our city, and although electrified c. 1960 by S. T. Noad and Son, retains virtually all of its original characteristics. An overhaul was undertaken in 1982 by J. W. Walker & Sons (Aust) Pty Ltd.
The chapel contains the grave of Sister Mary MacKillop, Australia's first Catholic Saint.
The detailed specification is:
| GREAT Open Diapason Concert Flute Dulciana Unda Maris Octave Diapason SWELL Bourdon Amabile Lieblich Gedact Viola di Gamba Viollon d'orchestre Vox Coelestis Pastoral Flute Harmonia Aetheria III Vox Humana Swell Octave Swell Sub Octave Tremulant PEDAL Bourdon Sub Bass COUPLERS Great Octave Swell to Great Superoctave Swell to Great Suboctave Swell to Great Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal |
8 8 8 8 4 16 8 8 8 8 4 2-2/3 8 16 16 |
not listed in original specification not listed in original specification not listed in original specification not listed in original specification not listed in original specification |
OTHER FEATURES
Extra octave of pipes for Swell Stops
Vox Humana in a double swell box
PISTONS (original - no longer present)
Crescendo for all speaking stops and couplers with scale indicator
Handstops off
Crescendo off
Pianissimo
Piano
Mezzoforte
Full organ
All collective combinations off
Wind indicator
CURRENT PISTONS (as noted by MQ Mar 2007)
3 fixed pistons to Swell and Great (Pedal is controlled by Great Pistons)
Great to Pedal reversible Toe Piston
Crescendo pedal with green indicator light
Sister Mary McKillop's grave
Notice the incorrect spellings in the upper row
eg. Bourbon and Leiblick
Foot blowing pedal on left side of organ case
Photos: MQ Mar 2007
Chapel in Spring (Nov. 2007)
Please click here for the sign on organ console for 'Visiting Organists'.
