Stockholm's Storkyrkan ("big church" or cathedral) can be found on the island of Gamla Stan, near the Royal Palace and the old town. It feels small by cathedral standards, possibly because it is built of warm red brick with no clerestory over the nave. It has two pipe organs, both by Marcussen & Son of Denmark.

Stor Orgel

The main organ sits above the West doorway, on a wide balcony that stretches into the aisles. The case is ornately decorated and gilded, dating from Olof Schwan's 1796 instrument. That instrument, itself a replacement, was romanticised in the 19th century, before being almost completely replaced again in 1960 by Marcussen's four manual organ. The Svllverk has a few stops from the earlier instrument, but the overall character of this 53 stop, 78 rank instrument is unmistakeably twentieth century neo-classical.

The action, key and stop, is all mechanical, and the few couplers are activated by toe pedals. There are no playing aids whatsoever, so playing the organ requires not only some strength when all couplers are engaged, but also a registrant for any non-trivial works. Perhaps surprisingly, the Svllverk almost beats the Huvudverk for volume, and adds a distinctive extra something to full organ. The organ also has a number of good quiet effects. Yes, the Ryggpositiv Gedackt has a lot of chiff, and the Brstverk is of questionable use (particularly the Klockcymbel, which is best used to deter bats from roosting in the organ), but this is a distinctive and versatile instrument aging rather better than many of its contemporaries. There is simply nothing to go wrong - no experimental action or materials, no composition system to fail - indeed, probably nothing that Olof Schwan would not recognise, apart from the TV monitor.

Manual 1 (Ryggpositiv) Gedackt 8' Quintadena 8' Principal 4' Koppelfljt 4' Oktava 2' Nasat 11/3' Sesquialtera 2 chor Scharf 4-5 chor Krumhorn 8' Cymbelstjrna Tremulant	Manual II (Huvudverk) Gedacktpommer 16' Principal 8' Rrfljt 8' Oktava 4' Spetsfljt 4' Quinta 22/3' Oktava 2' Cornett 3 chor Mixtur 6-8 chor Quintcymbel 3 chor Trumpet 8'	Manual III (Svllverk) Borduna 16' Traversfljt 8' Viola da Gamba 8' Oktava 4' Rrgedackt 4' Spetsquint 22/3' Piccola 2' Ters 13/5' Mixtur 5 chor Terscymbel 3 chor Fagott 16' Trumpet harmonique 8' Oboe 8' Skalmeja 4' Tremulant	Manual IV (Brstverk) Gedackt 8' Rrfljt 4' Principal 2' Waldfljt 2' Blockfljt 1' Klockcymbel 2 chor Vox Humana 16' Tremulant
Pedal			Koppel (Coupler pedals) I/II III/II IV/II I/Pedal II/Pedal III/Pedal IV/Pedal
Untersatz 32' Principal 16' Subbas 16' Oktava 8' Gedackt 8' Oktava 4'	Nachthorn 2' Mixtur 7 chor Kontrafagott 32' Basun 16' Trumpet 8' Trumpet 4'

Manual Gedackt 8', Rrfljt 4', Principal 2', Gedackt-fljt 2', Nasat 11/3', Cymbel 1 chor, Regal 16'

The second organ in the Storkyrkan is a small mobile one manual, from 1955. It is usually situated by the altar at the East end of the church. I didn't hear this organ, but its sound will have given the congregation a taste of what was to come when the great organ was completed. All the stops are divided across its 58 note compass.

My thanks go to cathedral organist Hkan Martinsson, pictured at the console of the Stor Orgel.

Alastair Disley