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St.Francis Church, Victoria.

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In the St. Francis Church, Victoria Gozo, there was once a pipe organ dating from the early years of the twentieth century. Prior to the 1970s, this organ stood in the church gallery and served the liturgical needs of the parish. Sometime after that period, the organ was removed from the gallery and most of its components were unfortunately discarded. However, some parts were preserved, providing valuable evidence of the instrument's original design and construction.

In 2012, the church expressed a desire to investigate the possibility of restoring the organ. The aim was to reinstate a pipe organ that could serve both the liturgical requirements of the church and the growing demand for cultural and performing arts events. Located in the heart of Victoria, the capital city of Gozo, the church is frequently sought as a venue for concerts and other artistic activities, making the presence of a pipe organ highly desirable.

Studies and consultations commenced immediately. After several years of research, documentation, and evaluations, a viable solution was identified. It was determined that the surviving components of the original organ could be restored, while the missing sections would need to be reconstructed. The objective was to recreate an instrument closely reflecting the style and character of the original organ while ensuring that its design complemented the surrounding architecture. At the same time, the specification was developed to meet both liturgical and concert requirements.

A significant design consideration was that the entire organ had to be accommodated within the gallery arch. This differs from the original instrument, whose casework projected partly beyond the arch. At the time of its construction, the decorative paintings that now adorn the church interior were not yet present, making the original arrangement possible.

The final design resulted in a one-manual and pedal organ with twelve stops, several of which are divided into bass and treble sections. The instrument comprises a total of 702 pipes, including 54 wooden pipes and 648 metal pipes, and is operated entirely through mechanical action. The keyboard features bone-covered naturals with rosewood fronts and ebony sharps, while the pedalboard is constructed from oak for the natural notes and ebony for the sharps. The organ casework is crafted from walnut.

One particularly distinctive feature of the organ is its bright Ripieno, the traditional Italian mixture stop. Consisting of four ranks, the Ripieno is divided into two sections. This arrangement allows for a more gradual crescendo, enabling the organist to build the sound progressively until the instrument reaches its full tonal brilliance and volume.

S p e c i f i c a t i o n

DISPOSITION

LEFT COLUMN

Bordone 8' (Bassi)

Bordone 8' (Soprani)

Voce Umana

Flauto 4' (Bassi)

Flauto 4' (Soprani)

Nazardo 2 2/3' (Bassi)

Nazardo 2 2/3' (Soprani)

Terza 1 3/5' (Bassi)

Terza 1 3/5' (Soprani)

RIGHT COLUMN

Principale 8' (Bassi)

Principale 8' (Soprani)

Ottava 4' (Bassi)

Ottava 4' (Soprani)

Decima Quinta 2' (Bassi)

Decima Quinta 2' (Soprani)

Ripieno Grave

Ripieno Acuto

Subbasso 16' (Ped.)

Flauto Basso 8' (Ped.)

Couplers

I-P

Compass

Manual: CC - g 58 notes

Pedal: CCC - G 30 notes

Tuning

Wind pressure

Drawings

78mm

440 Hz @ 18 °C - Equal temperament

Photos

Restoration & Rebuilding

Copyright © 2026  Noel Gallo - Organ Building

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