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St Michael’s Lunchtime Organ Recital
August 29 @ 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
The St Michael’s lunchtime organ recital is the perfect opportunity to take a break and enjoy the magnificent sound of the Grand Pipe organ while taking in the beautiful surrounds of St Michael’s Uniting Church in Melbourne.
Make an organ recital part of your lunch plans and join us for the St Michael’s Lunchtime Organ Recital this Thursday.
The recital series features St Michael’s organist, Rhys Boak and guest artists.
For over the decade the free organ recitals have brought the joy and beauty of live music to many Melbournians and visitors.
Free event. Doors open at 12:30pm
Recital starts at 1:00pm
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A History of the St Michael’s Organ
The first St Michael’s organ was built in 1866 in England by the famous London firm of Hill & Son (job number 1204).
It was a two manual, mechanical action organ that contained 18 speaking stops. Interestingly, the pipework and some of the wind chests were the basis for the subsequent instruments.
The first organ was erected by George Fincham, Richmond, and opened 19 September 1867 by David Lee.
1920s Remodel
When the original Hill organ needed repair, the Melbourne company George Fincham & Sons built a new instrument in 1923. They used some of the parts from the original. They also included the then popular, tubular-pneumatic action system allowing the organist could be seated away from the organ pipes and allowed them to have a lighter key touch.
1950s Rebuild
The organ was rebuilt and fitted with electro-pneumatic action in 1951.
Prominent English organist and composer Eric Thiman opened the organ.
Current Organ
As the needs of the church outgrew, so the organ needed updating.
The organ you see in St Michael’s today was built in 1958 by George Fincham and Sons (who also built the 1923 organ). This time the builder was George Bowring Fincham, grandson of the original George Fincham who started the company in 1864!
In 1978 the console was moved from its central location beneath the pulpit to the current position. The swell mixture stop was recast in 1979.
The present organ has 3 manuals and pedals, 44 speaking stops and approximately 2225 speaking pipes.
The keys and stop action are still electro-pneumatic.
