Organ The Cathedral Organ was built in 1962 by Harrison & Harrison of Durham to a design by Peter Hurford (then Master of the Music) and Ralph Downes. It contains over 4,500 pipes, spread across keyboards (manuals) and pedals. The instrument was revolutionary: it was the first cathedral instrument to be voiced and built on neo-classical lines. It includes certain ranks of pipes – radically re-voiced – from earlier instruments. The logical internal layout and the clarity of speech of the pipes enables a good balance between stops well-suited to solo music, choral accompaniment and congregational singing. The two facing organ cases were designed by John Oldrid Scott in 1908: the smaller central case dates from 1962. In 2007–9 the organ was comprehensively refurbished by Harrison & Harrison. The organ is the centrepiece of the biennial St Albans International Organ Festival and Competitions, founded by Peter Hurford in 1963. A large number of recordings have been made on the organ. You can experience the Cathedral Organ regularly as part of our daily worship. The monthly Service & Music List details choral services and organ voluntaries throughout the year. The organ can also be heard in concert through our Lunchtime Live series, a programme of free, short Monday concerts featuring Cathedral musicians, guest artists and young performers. In addition, the Summer Organ Festival offers an evening recital series given by the Cathedral’s resident organists, providing an opportunity to hear the instrument in extended programmes that explore its full range of colour, power and expressive possibility in a relaxed and welcoming setting. Photo © Chris Christodoulou Manage Cookie Preferences