Norwich Cathedral timelapse video charts rebuild of organ

Work began on the project in May 2022 when thousands of pipes were removed and taken to Durham for further work.  

Shiny pipes as the restoration is almost completed on the Norwich Cathedral organ (Image: Denise Bradley)

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The organ that proudly sits in the city cathedral is one of the biggest in the country and the overhaul is its first since it was rebuilt in 1942 after a fire partially destroyed it in 1938.  

Ashley Grote, Norwich Cathedral’s master of music, said: “The rebuilding of the cathedral’s magnificent pipe organ represents an exciting new chapter in our musical life.  

“Norwich will be home to one of the country’s finest pipe organs, fit to serve the city and county for many decades to come, to lead our cathedral worship and play a central role in the many special services and civic events that take place here.  

Andrew Fiddes, front, associate voicer for Harrison and Harrison organ builders, and his colleague, voicer Daniel Rose-Jones, place the new pipes inside the Norwich Cathedral organ as the restoration is almost completed (Image: Denise Bradley)

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“The return of the organ presents new opportunities for us to engage children in the musical life of the cathedral, through music and education projects.” 

The Norwich Cathedral organ keyboard which has been restored with the ivory keys, believed to be from 1899, cleaned up and kept (Image: Denise Bradley)

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The 15-month project – which is costing about £1.8m – is being funded by money raised from the £2.5m They Shall Laugh and Sing Music Appeal. 

Now Harrison and Harrison organ builders have been undertaking the task of individually tuning each of the 5,767 pipes, which range from about the length of a pencil to an incredible 32ft.  

The restored star and crown on the Norwich Cathedral organ (Image: Denise Bradley)

The inaugural Organ Reborn concert is set to take place on November 25 at 7pm and will see internationally renowned organist Thomas Trotter perform a programme of works. 

Andrew Fiddes, associate voicer for Harrison and Harrison organ builders, tunes the pipes inside the Norwich Cathedral organ as the restoration is almost completed (Image: Denise Bradley)

Tickets cost between £7.50 and £15 and can be booked via cathedral.org.uk. 

An organ festival is also being planned for the summer of 2024. 

• You can watch the three-month reinstallation process in the timelapse video above

Some of the new pipes to be placed back inside the Norwich Cathedral organ as the restoration is almost completed (Image: Denise Bradley)