The organ in the Priory Church of St Mary in Usk was once the organ of Llandaff Cathedral where it was installed in 1861. When it was deemed inadequate for that building it was sold to Usk church and erected there in 1900. It was made by the firm of Gray and Davison and features some en chamade pipes i.e. pipes that face forwards rather than vertically. This development in organ design dates from the early 1700s and usually involves the pipes that sound as reeds. The horizontal mounting makes them sond louder and they are frequently chosen for fanfares, solos and trumpet-like passages. The organ appears squeezed into the church, but the tightness of fit notwithstanding, I'm told it makes a splendid sound and is much sought after by organists as an instrument to play.
photos © T. Boughen Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2
