The organ and choir are in a large multi-level West End gallery, where they speak without obstruction down the main axis of the lengthy nave. The organ’s tonal design, developed with the requirements of the Roman Catholic liturgies in mind, is largely eclectic, with an abundance of stops at 8′ pitch and below.
In the Fisk tradition, the visual design of the new organ was created in a precise scale model of the building to ensure harmony with the Cathedral interior. The position of the organ in the gallery, the angled side walls to ensure projection of the choir’s voices, the system of choir risers, and the arrangement of divisions within the organ case are all direct results of the collaborative design process with Messrs. O’Brien and Kirkegaard.
The 58 foot tall, 22 ½ ton organ was delivered to Raleigh in February 2018. Installation and finish voicing crews spent more than ten months ensuring that the organ perfectly complements the visual and aural beauty of the Cathedral. The organ was inaugurated on January 3, 2019 with a Solemn Vespers service and recital by Nathan Laube.
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