Swallow’s Nest Grand Organ by Gerhard Grenzing

In the spring of 2000, the new grand organ of the cathedral, built by Gerhard Grenzing and his team in the workshops of El Papiol (Barcelona), was installed on the north wall.
The instrument is made up of three cases: the central body with the console and four keyboards, flanked on either side by the pedal towers. It is placed in a swallow’s nest position and weighs nearly thirty tonnes.

The location is ideal acoustically, as the organ benefits from the vault, which reflects the sound downwards, as well as from the wall opposite the cases. This type of placement is one of the oldest in large churches and cathedrals.
Other organs in France or Germany have a similar layout: Metz, Chartres, Cologne.

The style of the grand organ of the Cathedral is decidedly Baroque, but it is also suitable for the neo-classical and contemporary repertoire. The deep and rich sound of the 25-rank plenum is characteristic of Northern European countries. This plenum is coloured by the presence of flutes and mutation stops, as well as a wide variety of reed stops, some of which are typical of Spain, such as the chamade trumpets. An electronic combination system associated with the stops makes registration easier.

Gerhard Grenzing’s craftsmanship is traditional: it uses mechanical action for the keyboards as was done in the past, as well as slider windchests. Organists particularly appreciate the responsiveness of Gerhard Grenzing’s mechanics. The same goes for the pipework, built and voiced in the traditional way.

In addition to the choice of noble materials, there are materials typical of our time, such as marine plywood panels for the windchests, to ensure greater solidity and resistance over time. The pedal action is transmitted by metal cables.

To stand upright, the organ is encased in a metal corset hidden by the wooden panels of the case.

This metal structure combined with the supporting structure anchored in the walls is one of the great features of this project that makes an instrument of such dimensions possible.

The result meets expectations, and the realization gives organists a great sense of solidity and stability.