Mallorca Cathedral organ parts return in December

The Cathedral of Mallorca in Palma expects the first parts of its main organ back this December, after more than six years of work at a workshop in the Netherlands. The cathedral says the parts will arrive and be installed in stages. Technical assembly is expected to last until summer 2027.

The organ stands above the Chapel of the Pietà. Jaume Febrer built it in 1484, and its original Gothic façade still survives. Restoration of the façade is now nearing completion. Parts of the old wind chests — boxes that distribute air to the pipes — also remain, though other parts of the instrument have changed over the centuries.

The Cathedral Chapter of Mallorca began planning the work in 2017 to fix musical and structural problems. A specialist committee chose the Dutch firm Reil Orgelmakerij. The project aims to restore as many historic pipes as possible while adding new internal mechanics and a new air supply. The pipes left for Heerde in the Netherlands in April 2021.

Once assembly is complete, work will turn to adjusting the organ’s sound. The cathedral’s timetable puts the end of that stage in February 2028.

Topics: Culture

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com