Complete description of the selected organ
Source: Postcard
Reading, United Kingdom (Berkshire) - University of Reading, The Great Hall
Municipal: Reading
Address: London Road, RG1 5AQ, Reading
Website: https://www.reading.ac.uk/
Description nr.: 2075523.
Built by: James J. Binns & Co. (1911)
Technical data
Specification
Great Organ: Bourdon 16', Open Diapason 8', Dulciana 8', Gedackt 8', Principal 4', Fifteenth 2', Trumpet 8'.
Choir Organ: Open Diapason 8', Hohl Flute 8', Salicional 8', Flauto Traverso 4'.
Swell Organ: Geigen 8', Rohr Gedackt 8', Viol d'Orchestre 8', Salicet 4', Dulciana Mixture 2 ranks, Cornopean 8', Tremulant.
Pedal Organ: Harmonic Bass 32' - acoustic extension, Contra Bass 16', Sub-Bass 16', Octave 8' - extension, Flute Bass 8' - extension.
Couplers: Choir to Great, Swell to Great, Swell Octave to Great, Swell Suboctave to Great, Swell to Choir, Great to Pedal, Choir to Pedal, Swell to Pedal, Swell Octave, Swell Suboctave.
Accessories: 4 Composition Pedals to Great, 4 Composition Pedals to Swell.
Source: Postcard
Reading, United Kingdom (Berkshire) - University of Reading, The Great Hall
Municipal: Reading
Address: London Road, RG1 5AQ, Reading
Website: https://www.reading.ac.uk/
Description nr.: 2075523.
Built by: James J. Binns & Co. (1911)
| Year | Builder | Opus | Activity | 1911 | James J. Binns & Co. | new organ | 1929 | James J. Binns & Co. | enlargement | 1946 | Builder unknown | modify stoplist |
- Reading College moved into a new building on London Road in 1906. The new site included a large concert hall, the Great Hall. An organ was built for this hall in 1911 by J.J. Bins. Consultant was Dr. Allen, director of the School of Music. The organ was designed with three manuals and pedal, but the Choir Division was not initially installed. The instrument was inaugurated on October 21, 1911 with a concert by Dr. Allen.
- The College was given new status as the University of Reading in May 1925. On the occasion of this promotion, the organ was completed with a Choir Division. The pitch was raised 1/8 tone, Choir and Swell were fitted with swell steps and a new pedal keyboard was installed. The work was carried out during the summer holidays of 1929.
- The disposition was modified in 1946. On Great the Harmonic Flute 4' and the Flautina 2' were replaced by a Principal 4' and a Fifteenth 2'.
Technical data
| Number of stops per division | |
| - Great Organ | 7 |
| - Choir Organ | 4 |
| - Swell Organ | 6 |
| - Pedal Organ | 5 (2) |
| Total number of stops | 22 (19) |
Specification
Great Organ: Bourdon 16', Open Diapason 8', Dulciana 8', Gedackt 8', Principal 4', Fifteenth 2', Trumpet 8'.
Choir Organ: Open Diapason 8', Hohl Flute 8', Salicional 8', Flauto Traverso 4'.
Swell Organ: Geigen 8', Rohr Gedackt 8', Viol d'Orchestre 8', Salicet 4', Dulciana Mixture 2 ranks, Cornopean 8', Tremulant.
Pedal Organ: Harmonic Bass 32' - acoustic extension, Contra Bass 16', Sub-Bass 16', Octave 8' - extension, Flute Bass 8' - extension.
Couplers: Choir to Great, Swell to Great, Swell Octave to Great, Swell Suboctave to Great, Swell to Choir, Great to Pedal, Choir to Pedal, Swell to Pedal, Swell Octave, Swell Suboctave.
Accessories: 4 Composition Pedals to Great, 4 Composition Pedals to Swell.
| Literature |
The Organ of Reading University / H.C. Barnard. - In: The Berkshire Organist, no. 2, January 1949. |
| Links |
https://blogs.reading.ac.uk/tales-from-the-archives/2022/05/30/more-about-the-great-hall-the-organ/ |