The organ of St. Michael’s Catholic Cathedral, Wagga Wagga | Toccata in F, BuxWV 157 – Buxtehude

The organ of St. Michael’s Cathedral, Wagga Wagga, is positioned in the rear gallery by Laurie Pipe Organs (1999). It was the creation of Samuel Lewis, a former apprentice and foreman of George Fincham, going back to 1864. Initially, it was designed for the Dorcas Street Presbyterian Church in South Melbourne and featured two manuals with 17 speaking stops. In 1911, it was moved to the Presbyterian Church on Denbigh Road, Armadale. The instrument underwent a transformation in 1939 by C.W. Andrewartha who transitioned the mechanical action to tubular-pneumatic, providing a separate console. It’s likely that the casework, with its carved transom rails, dates from this period as well. In 1975, Laurie Pipe Organs refurbished the instrument, restoring the manual actions to mechanical, electrifying the pedal and stop actions, fitting a new attached drawstop console, and adding new Mixtures to the Great and Swell, a Trumpet 8ft, and the pedal upperwork.

Many thanks to my former high school friend, now Fr. Sean Byrnes, who is the Administrator of the Cathedral for the coffee, catch up and opportunity to record on our Diocesan Cathedral organ. I hope to be back in the not too distant future to play at Mass or perhaps a recital when the instrument has been tuned and looked over (unfortunately, a few things not so happy on my visit today).

Business enquiries: [email protected]

To support my channel or for further information: https://linktr.ee/james_flores