Specification
The Chapel was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built in 1688. Soon afterwards, provision was made for a small instrument by the renowned 'Father' Bernard Smith, which was funded by a benefactor and installed on the West Gallery of the Chapel. It was successively rebuilt by Turner in the eighteenth century and by Hill in the nineteenth century. The last extensive work undertaken was in 1964, when the organ was again rebuilt by Hill, Norman and Beard to plans drawn up by George Guest, Organist of St John's College. By now, the instrument consisted of three manuals and 44 stops on electric action, and it had overflowed the small Smith case into large chambers at the rear of the Gallery.

By 1988, the organ had become very unreliable due to the unwieldy size of the instrument and lack of thoughtful, structural design. The decision was taken to build a new organ within the existing Smith case (which was returned to its original dimensions and layout), with fewer stops and mechanical action. The work was entrusted to Kenneth Jones and Associates of Bray, Ireland, this being their first organ in England. The new organ incorporated all of the surving Smith pipes and now consisted of 34 stops.

The present organ is widely acknowledged as one of the finest instruments in Cambridge, with a sensitive mechanical action and a beautifully balanced, well-blended sound. The specification drawn up in 1988 married new material with original Smith pipework, whilst at the same time creating an extremely versatile instrument which plays a wide repertoire of music in a convincing manner.

Specification

Builders: Kenneth Jones and Associates, Bray, Ireland (1988) —
incorporating original casework and some pipework by Father Bernard Smith (1688)

Couplers Sw-Gt/Sw-Ch/Ch-Gt/Sw-Ped/Gt-Ped/Ch-Ped
Great/Chaire Tremulant
Swell Tremulant
Wind control stop (Great and Chaire)
Mechanical key action
Mechanical stop action (electrically assisted)

The Organ Scholarship

The organ scholars ensure the smooth running of the music in the Chapel - they are responsible for training/directing the choir and playing the organ for services. The organ scholarship provides an excellent and thorough training both in choral directing and solo/accompanimental organ playing during a Cambridge degree. Many previous organ scholars have taken up posts in the cathedral world and elsewhere, including Peter Wright (Organist, Southwark Cathedral), Alan Thurlow (Organist, Chichester Cathedral) and Kenneth Beard (formerly Organist of Southwell Minster).

Prospective candidates should have the ability to play to post Grade 8/diploma standard and should have had some experience both in the accompaniment of the Anglican liturgy and in choral training/conducting. The Organ Trials are held every September, and more details of this can be found in the Cambridge prospectus. Prospective candidates are always welcome to visit the college and discuss the organ scholarship, and are advised to contact the College Director of Music, Dr Susan Rankin and the Organ Scholars prior to visiting. (see Contacts page for details.)