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3.3 Oslo Cathedral Main Organ 53 stops. Ryde & Berg Organbuilders
1998. Chancel organ 16 stops. Ryde & Berg 1996. Architect: Ulf Oldæus SAR
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Both organs are built by the Norwegian organ builders Ryde & Berg Orgelbyggeri A/S for the Cathedral’s 300th anniversary. The Chancel organ is designed by the architect Ulf Oldæus, while the exterior of the main organ dates back to about 1720. This was a monumental baroque organ - the largest in Scandinavia at the time with 46 stops. It was built by a pupil of Schnitger, Lambert Daniel Karsten. No pipes remain from this instrument, but the Karsten façade has housed all the Cathedral’s subsequent organs (August Nilsen 53 stops 1883, Walcker 102 stops 1930 and Jørgensen 87 stops 1976). In conjunction with the installation of Ryde & Berg’s new organ, the carved acanthus façade was restored to its original green livery after having been painted in grey since 1950. The expression of the old baroque façade has had a certain influence on the aesthetics of the new instrument, both in respect of craftmanship and sound. The new organ has a solemn sound with transparent and fresh harmonics reminicent of the organ ideals of the 18th century. But there are features of a more general style as well the favour music from the 19th and 20th centuries With regard to the stylistic profile, organ builder Jan Ryde says: "The most important factor is the integrity of sound in the instrument itself. With such integrity there will always be room for the stylistic trends of different periods. Organ building has always been a creative process, driven by the never ending search for the optimum sound, - it is almost self-contradictory that such a process should finish as a historically stylistic copy".
Chancel Organ
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