The Great Organ of St. Stephen's Basilica

The organ was made in 1905 by the master organ builder József Angster. The 65-register instrument originally had three keyboards and pedals, a six-rank free combination, pneumatic control and a case chest. In 1932 it was converted to four manuals and the number of variants were increased. The next conversion was carried out in 1937 by the Rieger Organ Factory, with the organ then having 79 variants. The most recent conversion work began in 1992 and was completed in 2004. The instrument got a computer-controlled movable console, an electric tract, and its windchests have been renovated with a conical reed system. The works were carried out by the Budapest organ-building firm Váradi and Sons. The organ currently has 93 stops and 1,152 free combinations. A special feature is the trumpet choir that projects horizontally from the façade. The original organ had 9 reed-stops, now there are 22. The organ has 7,544 pipes; the longest pipe is 10.5 m long, and the smallest is 5 mm. The organ is supplied with air by 3 powerful electric fans. The organ cabinet was designed by József Kauser and made in the Endre Thék furniture factory. During its recent restoration, it was re-gilded with 22 carat gold leaf.