Knox College Chapel

Knox College Chapel is located within Knox College at the University of Toronto. It is chiefly notable for its Hellmuth Wolff organ.

Pipe organs in Knox College Chapel

Chancel organ

This organ was built in 1915 by Casavant and is original to the building. It is split between two chambers at the front of the room and consists of 26 stops and 24 ranks. The console was replaced in 1959, and in 1974 a four-rank mixture was added to the Great. It has Ventil chests and electro-pneumatic action. [cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =Jackson, Allen & James Bailey
title = Organs of Toronto
publisher = Royal Canadian College of Organists, Toronto Centre
date = 2002
location = Toronto
pages = 36
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 096897130X]

Gallery organ

In 1991, a second, thirty-two-stop, three-manual instrument was added in a new rear gallery. [http://www.orgelwolff.com/knox_e.html (photo)] [http://www.utoronto.ca/knox/images/Facilities/KnoxOrgan.jpg(photo)] It is an historically oriented organ in the North German baroque style, built as Opus 33 by Hellmuth Wolff & Associés of Laval, Quebec. The pipework is modelled on the Johan Niclas Cahman organ at Leufsta Bruk, Sweden from 1726/28. The case, though, is a modern interpretation of north-European style that does not refer to any particular historic instrument.

The key action and stop action are both mechanical. The two bellows can be pumped either by foot or with an electric blower.

Notably, the Wolff organ is tuned to a modified fifth comma meantone temperament devised by Harald Vogel following 17th century Swedish theorists. This same tuning has been used for the Arp Schnitger organ in Norden, Germany. [ Here are two brief introductions to organ temperament. [http://www.albany.edu/piporg-l/tmprment.html] [http://www.rwgiangiulio.com/math/temperament.htm] ]

Windows and natural light

The chapel has a large south-facing window that is largely unobstructed by other buildings. As a result, natural sunlight streams in through the window. The glass is such that it softens the light to some degree, but without taking away its directionality.

eating and congregation capacity

Seating is provided by two rows of pews on either side of the central aisle. There is a front piece in front of the frontmost pews for hymn books of those at the front of the congregation.

Notes and sources

External links

* [http://www.tst.edu/studentlife/worship.asp Knox College Chapel website]
* [http://www.orgelwolff.com/knox_info_e.html Hellmuth Wolff's notes on Opus 33]