Riga Cathedral pipe organ, Monumental pipe organ at Riga Cathedral, Latvia
The Riga Cathedral pipe organ is a monumental instrument standing 25 meters (82 feet) tall and 12.5 meters (41 feet) wide in the cathedral's interior. It contains 6,718 pipes distributed across 26 wind chests, with two complete consoles and 124 stops controlled through mechanical action.
This instrument was built between 1882 and 1883 by E.F. Walcker & Sons, replacing an earlier organ that had been destroyed in 1547. The previous instrument was the largest in the world before its destruction.
The organ is deeply connected to worship and has shaped the sound experience of the cathedral for generations. When you walk through the building, the massive facade with its many pipes and the prominent position in the gallery immediately catch your attention.
The best place to hear the organ is from the main nave of the cathedral, where the sound fills the space most fully. Consider visiting during a service or concert to experience the instrument at full power.
The pipes are crafted from diverse materials including pine, fir, maple, oak, beech, and pear wood, along with various metal alloys. Ranging from 10 meters down to just 13 millimeters in length, this variety shows the intricate engineering behind the instrument.
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