| Location | ‘A’ Queen Street, Singapore 188533 |
| Builder | Bevington & Sons, UK Diego Cera Organbuilders, Inc., Philippines |
| Year | 1912/2016 |
| Last surveyed | 2017 |
| Status | Playable |
Built from 1844-1847, the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Singapore. It is the seat of the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Singapore. In 1973, it was designated a national monument by the National Heritage Board. The Cathedral completed a three-year building restoration project in November 2016.
The choir loft organ was built in August 1912 by Bevington & Sons (1794-1955), one of the oldest pipe organ builders in London, at the cost of £5,894.61. The two-manual organ was dedicated on 20 October 1912, 4.30pm by His Lordship, the Right Rev. Emile Barillon, Bishop of Malacca. In 1984, the organ was restored by Robert Navaratnam and subsequently re-dedicated on 17 December 1984 by Rev. Fr. Robert Balhetchet.
In November 2016, Diego Cera, an organ building company led by Cealwyn Tagle and based in the Philippines, concluded a complete restoration of the organ. The 28-rank organ uses tracker action, and is also playable via remote console in the south transept of the church.
Technical Specifications
1912-1984
Stoplist
Great (56 notes)
Open Diapason 8’
Violin Diapason 8’
Dulciana 8’
Hohl Flute 8’
Principal 4’
Lieblichflote 4’
Gemshorn 2’
Swell (56 notes)
Geigen 8′
Gedacht 8’
Viole d’orchestre 8’
Celeste 8′
Gemshorn 4’
Harmonic Flute 4’
Flautina 2’
Cornopean 8’
Pedal (30 notes)
Bourdon 16′
Bass Flute 8′
Couplers
Swell to Great
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Accessories
Generals: Thumb pistons
Swell Pedal
1984 – 2013
Stoplist
Great
Open Diapason 8’
Violin Diapason 8’
Dulciana 8’
Hohl Flute 8’
Principal 4’
Lieblich Flute 4’
Gemshorn 2’
Mixture III
Krummhorn 8’
Vogelgesang
Glockenspiel
(f-g”)
Swell (Enclosed)
Geigen 8’
Gedeckt 8’
Viole d’orchestre 8’
Celeste 8’
Gemshorn 4’
Harmonic Flute 4’
Rohrquinte 2 2/3’
Flautina 2’
Terz 1 3/5’
Cymbel III
Oboe 8’
Trompete 8’
Cornopean 8’
Pedal
Bourdon 16’
Bass Flute 8’
Bombarde 16’
Trompete 8’
Trompete 4’
Couplers
Swell to Great
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Swell Octave to Great
Swell Octave to Swell
Accessories
Tremulant
2016 – Present
Stoplist
Great (56 notes)
Open Diapason 8’
Violin Diapason 8’
Dulciana 8’
Hohl Flute 8’
Principal 4’
Lieblich Flute 4’
Gemshorn 2’
Sesquialtera II
Full Mixture IV
Cromorne 8′
Trompete 8′
Nightingale
Swell (56 notes, enclosed)
Geigen 8’
Viole d’orchestre 8’
Celeste 8′
Gedeckt 8′
Gemshorn 4’
Harmonic Flute 4’
Twelfth 2 2/3′
Flautina 2’
Terz 1 3/5′
Mixture III
Oboe 8′
Cornopean 8′
Tremulant
Pedal
Double Diapason 16’
Bourdon 16’
Open Bass 8’
Bass Flute 8’
Principal 4’
Contra Bombarde 16’
Trombone 8’
Couplers
Swell to Great
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Accessories
Generals: Thumb pistons
Swell Pedal
Photos: Ong Te-Min
Article: Ong Te-Min, Julian Tay and Robert Navaratnam
References:
Straits Times Article, “Hark, the pipe organ in all its glory” (12 February 2017) (http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/hark-the-pipe-organ-in-all-its-glory)
Organs in Asia, by James Welch, The American Organist article July 1988
Used with permission