Pipe Organs of England - Pipedreams - American Public Media

THURSDAY, 17 MAY PAGE 63King’s College, CambridgeThe Organist: Parker RamsayThe Organ: 1934 Harrison & Harrison, IV/79The spectacular case is all that survives of the 1605 Thomas Dallam organ. Theinstrument inside is one built by Harrison and Harrison in 1933. The same firmrebuilt the instrument in 1967/8 and undertook other less significant work in1992, 2002 and 2009.The Great and Swell Organs and Tuba occupy the main case, facing east; theChoir Organ is at the lower level behind the Choir case; the Solo Organ andmost of the Pedal stops are placed within the screen on the south sideThe College and the ChapelKing’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Thecollege’s full name is “The King’s College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas inCambridge”, but it is usually referred to simply as “King’s” within the University. The college was founded in 1441 by King Henry VI,soon after its sister college in Eton. However, the King’s plans for the college were disrupted by the civil war and resultant scarcityof funds, and his eventual deposition. Little progress was made on the project until in 1508 King Henry VII began to take aninterest in the college, most likely as a political move to legitimize his new position. The interior had to wait a further generationuntil completion by 1544 with the aid of King Henry VIII. Alumni of King’s College have included prime ministers, archbishops,presidents, Alan Turing, John Maynard Keynes and the novelist E.M. Forster. Morerecently they have included authors Zadie Smith and Salman Rushdie, politicianCharles Clarke, journalist Johann Hari, folk musician John Spiers and comedianDavid Baddiel.The Chapel, an example of late Gothic architecture, begun in 1446, was finallyfinished in 1544 during the reign of King Henry VIII. It features the world’s largestfan vault, constructed between 1512 and 1515 by master mason John Wastell.The chapel also features fine medieval stained glass and, above the altar, The“Adoration of the Magi” by Rubens. The painting was installed in the chapel in1968, which involved the restoration of the sanctuary floor leading up to theHigh Altar to its original level (gradations having been created in 1774 by JamesEssex). During the Civil War the chapel was used as a training ground by OliverCromwell’s troops, but escaped major damage, possibly because Cromwellhimself, being a Cambridge student, gave orders for it to be spared. Graffiti leftby Parliament soldiers is still visible on the north and south walls near the altar.During World War II most of the stained glass was removed and the chapel againescaped damage. The chapel is actively used as a place of worship and also forsome concerts and college events. The world-famous Chapel Choir consists ofchoral scholars (male students from the college) and choristers (boys educatedat the nearby King’s College School). The choir sings services on most days in term-time, and also performs concerts and makes recordingsand broadcasts. In particular, it has broadcast its “Nine Lessons and Carols” on the BBC from the chapel on Christmas Evefor many decades. Additionally, there is a mixed-voice Chapel Choir of male and female students, King’s Voices, which sings evensongon Mondays during term-time. The chapel is widely seen as a symbol of Cambridge, as seen in the logo of the city council.