Organ and Choir - King's College Chapel

Organ & Choir inside King's College Chapel, Cambridge University. Henry VIII sponsored construction of the chapel's ornately carved rood screen,... more

by Stephen Stookey

Title

Organ and Choir - King's College Chapel

Artist

Stephen Stookey

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Organ & Choir inside King's College Chapel, Cambridge University. Henry VIII sponsored construction of the chapel's ornately carved rood screen, supporting the organ and separating the nave from the altar, in honor of his marriage to Anne Boleyn. The early Renaissance styling of the screen stands in stark contrast to the Gothic perpendicular chapel structure. The chapel's organ was designed and constructed in 1605-06 by Thomas Dallam. Following numerous updates, the organ's present form took shape in 1934 under the design and construction of organ builders Harrison and Harrison. The famed organ company completed renovations in 2009 to support 3 of the largest pipes suffering collapse under their own immense weight.

King's College Chapel is an excellent example of late English Gothic Perpendicular architecture and stands as an iconic feature along "The Backs" of Cambridge University. Construction began in December of 1446, with King Henry VI laying the first stone. Royal intrigue diverted money and attention from the construction project, delaying completion of the building until the reign of Henry VIII in 1515 (the great windows yet to be created and installed). The Chapel has a total length of 289 feet. The interior ceiling, at a height of 80 feet, features the world's largest fan vault, constructed between 1512 and 1515 by master mason John Wastell. Magnificent stained glass windows, constructed by Flemish artisans from 1515-1531, now fill two-thirds of the walls and bathe the sanctuary in rainbow hues on sunny days.

Image captured with a Canon 5D III, Canon 24-105 f/4L IS USM lens.

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3rd Place (tie)
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Uploaded

January 25th, 2014