The new choir organ of Funchal Cathedral is the result of a project organized by the Chapter of the Cathedral, to endow the building with an instrument essentially intended for the current needs of the liturgy, but at the same time appropriate for recitals and other events outside the context of the liturgy. The organ was installed in the south transept, next to the altar and the choir (emphasizing its eminently liturgical vocation), but it can be turned on a central axis and face the central nave.
The case, designed by the organ builder Dinarte Machado, is the result of a free interpretation of the ogival arches of the Cathedral and the majority of the decorative elements refer to religious elements (names of saints) or traditional themes (wicker baskets).
The organ, the final version of which was the result of discussions between the organ builder and the Choir master of the Cathedral, Fr Ignácio Rodrigues, has sixteen registers, spread over two keyboards and a pedalboard. The voicing of all these registers took into account not only the instruments multiple functions, but above all the acoustics of the church.
The phonic conception is very original, not being inspired by any similar instrument, or identified with any period or style. It was intended that, by using its timbral diversity and exploring its capacities, organists could use the instrument in repertoires from many different periods and by many different composers, as well as to encourage contemporary composers to write new works. This was the vision of its builder, Dinarte Machado, who considers that the organ “offers every freedom to the organist as improviser”.
Dinarte Machado, 2017
I Manual – Great organ (C – g’’’)
Flautado 12 aberto [8’]
Flauta em 12 [8’]
Oitava real [4’]
Quizena [2’]
Mistura III vozes
II Manual – Swell organ (C – g’’’)
Flautado 12 tapado [8’]
Viola da gamba [8’]
Flauta de chaminé [4’]
Dozena [2 2/3’]
Quinzena nazarda [2’]
Dezassetena [1 3/5’]
Dezanovena [1 1/3’]
Clarinete [8’]
Pedal (C – f’)
Flautado de 24 tapado [16’]
Flauta [8’]
Baixão [16’]
Couplers
I - P
II - P
II - I