PRETORIA CITY HALL

Pretoria was the last city in South Africa to obtain a ‘town hall organ’. The organ was designed by John Connell, the City organist of Johannesburg. 

In 1933 Kimball Organ Builders, Chicago was awarded the contract for the city hall organ for a cost of £22 000. Cooper, Gill and Tomkins did the installation, while Walter Ortlep of Kimball was responsible for the tonal finishing with John Connell acting as assistant. John Harcus made the wooden grills and organ fronts according to the design of the architect. The case is of Rhodesian Teak.

The organ was inaugurated on 7 December 1935 by John Connell who performed, amongst other works, arrangements of Wagner’s Lohengrin, Liszt’s Liebestraume and Fibich’s Poem. A combined choir, orchestra and soloists also performed extracts from Handel’s Messiah.

The four-manual instrument has 5 923 pipes, 4 swell pedals, 144 draw stops, 72 thumb pistons, 21 toe pistons, a percussion section and a variety of rocking tablets worked via electric action throughout. The console is mounted on a lift and can be raised or lowered to requirements.

The Great (part thereof) is situated left of the stage and the Solo to the right. The French Horn in the solo division is the only example in Africa. The Pedal, enclosed Great, Swell and Orchestral are situated in a chamber above the proscenium arch and speak into the hall via tone chutes. A Carillon of 32 chromatic tubular bells is situated in the tower and is playable from the organ console or its own keyboard. The clock chimes are set to the Cambridge pattern.