St Andrew's College

St Andrew's College (Presbyterian)
University of Sydney
Carillon Ave, Newtown

First organ: E.F.Walcker & Cie 1958 (1/6 mechanical)
removed 2015

Present organ: Davis and Laurie 1962
Installed in present location by Darrell Pitchford 2015 ex St Paul's Uniting Church, Deepdene, Vic
2 mans & ped, 3 ranks ext, plus repeating 3 rank Mixture. Oboe added 1982 Fincham

August 1965

The new organ in Andrew's chapel (Dean Yates 2015)

New Organ for Andrew's

by Darrell Pitchford (SOJ Autumn 2015)

In recent months we have been installing a new (second hand) pipe organ in the chapel of St Andrew's College at the University of Sydney.

The access to the original organ, a 1958 E. F. Walcker & Cie, six stops, one manual and pedals was by way of a three metre vertical ladder. Occupational, Health and Safety regulations prohibit such access without a harness and so it was decided to remove the existing gallery and relocate the Walcker to the floor of the chapel.

Whilst we were discussing the work required to move the organ, it became apparent that there was little interest in the tonal capabilities of the Walcker. At that time, we suggested that there were a few small extension organs available around the country. We recommended a redundant 1962 Davis & Laurie that had been removed from St Paul's Uniting Church, Deepdene, Victoria and was being stored in the factory of Australian Pipe Organs Pty Ltd.

It was agreed to purchase the Davis & Laurie organ and install it on a purpose built cantilevered gallery at the rear of the chapel. The console is a fixture on the chapel floor. The gallery measures 3 metres width X 2.8 metres depth.

In the book, Steve Laurie, Organ Builder; His Life and Works, the author, Mr Robert Jefferson, has reproduced Laurie's brochure. It reads:

"The Chorale organ is a traditional instrument with two full compass manuals and a thirty note radiating and concave pedal board. Choice of stops and individual voicing enable each organ to be exactly matched to its surroundings, whether these be a large parish church, a small chapel or even a home or music room.

"Built by men who have made this craft their vocation, the Chorale embodies all that is best in the art. The pipes are made by (our) pipe makers, using materials and methods identical to those of the great organ builders of the past. At the same time, full use has been made of proven modern materials and techniques to produce an instrument which is easy to play and reliable even under the widest possible range of climatic conditions.

"The design and construction of the Chorale is the outcome of more than thirty-five years practical organ building experience. It is compact without being cramped and its simple yet impressive appearance will add dignity to almost any environment.

"The Series comprises three basic models of progressive size, the smaller models being designed so as to permit their being easily added to at a later date. All models employ electro-pneumatic action which, whilst being acknowledged as the best form of non-mechanical action, also permits the pipe work to be used in a wider variety of registers.

"This type of action facilitates installation in otherwise impossible situations where, for example, the organ may have to be bracketed off a wall and the console placed on the floor, perhaps even being made mobile.

"A particularly interesting feature of the Chorale organ is the manual Counter Bass stop. This useful device enables the effect of the pedals to be achieved whilst playing on the manuals only, by coupling the Bourdon 16' to the lowest of any notes being played of the first two octaves of Manual One.

"Maintenance and upkeep of the Chorale is negligible and each organ is comprehensively guaranteed for twenty-five years. Unlike so many of today's products, a pipe organ will never become obsolete but will in fact appreciate with the passage of time."

Davis and Laurie manufactured three models of the Chorale organ. Model H consisted of two ranks of pipes; Principal and Flute. The Model J with three ranks; Principal, Flute and Spitz Gamba and the largest in the range Model K which consisted of Principal, Flute, String and a three rank repeating Mixture.

The console (Dean Yates 2015)

The Davis and Laurie pipe organ at St Andrew's is a Model K with an Oboe 8' added by Fincham in 1982. Thirteen "dummy" pipes and a grill make the front case. The current specification is as follows:

Great
Open Diapason
Gedeckt
Salicional
Principal
Twelfth
Fifteenth
Mixture 19.22.26
Oboe
Contra Bass

Swell
Open Diapason
Gedeckt
Salicional
Flute
Nazard
Flautino
Acuta 19.22

Pedal
Bourdon
Principal
Bass Flute
Fifteenth
Oboe
Great to Pedal

8
8
8
4
2-2/3
2
III
8

8
8
8
4
2-2/3
2
II

16
8
8
4
4

Pipes
61
61
61
12
-
12
75
61
-

-
-
-
12
-
-
-

12
-
-
-
-

A
B
C
A
A
A
M
D
-

A
B
C
B
B
B
M

B
A
B
A
D

From SOJ February/March 1990, Winter 2001:

The organ in the small chapel of St Andrew's Presbyterian College, of the University of Sydney, is located in a small rear gallery, accessed by a ladder. The organ was built in 1958 by E.F. Walcker & Cie, Ludwigsburg, Germany and was one of several to be imported to Sydney.

The Walcker organ (removed 2015)