Giant Organ

organGeneralH1

A detailed photo of an angel to the left of the Giant Organ.

A photograph of the book ‘Die Riesenorgel im Wiener Stephansdom’ about the cathedral’s Giant Organ.

Further links

The book ‘Die Riesenorgel im Wiener Stephansdom’ about the cathedral’s giant organ is available in the cathedral shop.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral Shop

Rieger Orgelbau, Schwarzach (Austria), 2020

5 manuals, 130 stops, 8,588 pipes

During the devastating cathedral fire in April 1945, the Giant Organ (90 stops) made by Eberhard Walcker in 1886 burned down in the west gallery of St. Stephen’s. The name Giant Organ does not refer to the size of the instrument, but is rather derived from the name of St. Stephen’s main portal, the Giant Gate, located under the west gallery.

In 1960, the new Giant Organ (125 stops) built by the Viennese organ builder Johann M. Kaufmann was consecrated in its place. It was, however, only played for about 35 years before being left unused as a silent wreck for many years. Rieger Orgelbau completely redesigned the instrument between 2017 and 2020, using old pipes and retaining the appearance of 1960, yet equipping it with modern technology. From the mobile central console, the Giant Organ and the Choir Organ in the music area of the southern aisle can be played together.

Electric key and stop action

Floating manuals

Temperament: equal

a1 = 442 Hz at 15 °C room temperature

Disposition

Hauptwerk (1. Manual)

Prinzipal 32'

Prinzipal 16'

Bourdon 16'

Prinzipal I 8'

Prinzipal II 8'

Doppelflöte 8'

Gedeckt 8'

Viola 8'

Quinte 5 1/3'

Oktave 4'

Offenflöte 4'

Gemshorn 4'

Terz 3 1/5'

Quinte 2 2/3'

Oktave 2'

Mixtur major IV 2 2/3'

Mixtur minor IV 1 1/3'

Cornet V 8'

Posaune 16'

Trompete I 8'

Trompette II 8'

Klarine 4'

Positiv Evangelienseite (2. Manual), schwellbar

Kontrabass 16'

Aeoline 16' (auch Pedal)

Suavial 8'

Gedeckt 8' (auch Pedal)

Gambe 8'

Vox coelestis 8'

Aeoline 8'

Blockflöte 4'

Fugara 4'

Nasard 2 2/3'

Flöte 2'

Septime 1 1/7'

Harmonia aethaeria IV - V 2'

Klarinette 8'

Rohrschalmei 8'

Tremulant

Rückpositiv (2. Manual)

Prinzipal 8'

Bourdon 8'

Quintatön 8'

Prinzipal 4'

Nachthorn 4'

Nasard 2 2/3'

Doublette 2'

Tierce 1 3/5'

Larigot 1 1/3'

Sifflöte 1'

Scharff IV - III 1'

Cromorne 8'

Tremulant

Schwellwerk (3. Manual), schwellbar

Quintaton 16'

Viola 16'

Diapason 8'

Flûte harmonique 8'

Bourdon 8'

Bourdon céleste 8'

Violoncelle 8'

Voix céleste 8'

Octave 4'

Flûte traversière 4'

Salicet 4'

Nazard harmonique 2 2/3'

Flûte octaviante 2'

Tierce harmonique 1 3/5'

Fourniture V 2 2/3'

Cymbale III 2/3'

Cornet V 8'

Bombarde 16'

Trompette harmonique 8'

Basson-Hautbois 8'

Voix humaine 8'

Clairon harmonique 4'

Tremblant

Positiv Epistelseite (4. Manual), schwellbar

Bourdon 16' (auch Pedal)

Salicional 16'

Prinzipal 8'

Wienerflöte 8' (auch Pedal)

Gemshorn 8'

Unda maris 8'

Quinte 5 1/3'

Prestant 4'

Flauto amabile 4'

Terz 3 1/5'

Nasard 2 2/3'

Septime 2 2/7'

Oktave 2'

None 1 7/9'

Mixtur IV 2'

Fagott 16'

Trompete 8'

Cor anglais 8'

Tremulant

Windschweller

Solo (5. Manual), schwellbar

Gambe 8'

Gambe céleste 8'

Flûte harmonique 8'

Flûte harmonique 4'

French horn 8' (Hochdruck)

Clarinette 8'

Tuba 8'

Tuba 4'

Tremulant

Harmonika 16' (Windschweller)

Harmonika 8' (Windschweller)

Trompeteria (5. Manual)

Trompete 16' (Bass / Diskant)

Trompete 8' (Bass / Diskant)

Trompete 4'/8' (Bass / Diskant)

Tuba 8'

Glocken

Großpedal

Gravissima 64'

Prinzipalbass 32'

Untersatz 32'

Subbass 16'

Offenbass 16'

Gemshorn 16'

Quintbass 10 2/3'

Großseptime 9 1/7'

Offenflöte 8'

Terz 6 2/5'

Theorbe 3 1/9'

Kontrabombarde 32'

Kontrafagott 32'

Bombarde 16'

Posaune 16'

Trompete 8'

Klarine 4'

Kleinpedal

Violonbass 16'

Prinzipal 8'

Gedeckt 8'

Cello 8'

Oktave 4'

Nachthorn 4'

Flöte 2'

Mixtur IV 2'

Dulcian 16'

organGeneralH1

Giant Organ

Further links

St. Stephen’s Cathedral Shop

Rieger Orgelbau, Schwarzach (Austria), 2020

Disposition