Cover feature

Kegg Pipe Organ Builders, Hartville, Ohio

Christ the King Chapel, 

St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, Denver, Colorado

Every new pipe organ project, large or small, has a unique sense of importance. Rarely are we afforded the opportunity to build an instrument that will inspire generations of clergy to high ideals. Our new organ at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary is a true honor for an organbuilder.

Each of our pipe organs is custom designed for the space it occupies and the musical task it must perform. During the design process, the organ evolves. Sometimes the stop list has additions made as funds become available, or unknown building impediments are discovered that require us to adjust. This new organ of course went through this process, but through it all, the goal we shared with associate professor of sacred music, Dr. Mark Lawlor, did not. The goal was to build an instrument suited primarily to the multiple daily Masses of the seminarians.

The failing electronic organ from 20 years ago had “replaced” the original 1931 Kilgen pipe organ. Heavily damaged first by modifications to the stop list with foreign pipes installed by lesser hands, then with loud speakers among and largely on the pipes, the original pipe organ was assumed destroyed. When Kegg sales representative Dwayne Short first crawled into the crowded, dark, and dirty space, he made his way into the furthest reaches where few had ventured in years, to discover that many of the Kilgen Swell stops had survived in reasonable condition. These, along with one Pedal stop and an orphan Great Clarinet, gave us some original pipes to consider retaining in the new organ.

Christ the King Chapel is a handsome room built in 1931. Beautiful to look at with masonry walls and terrazzo floors, it is a child of its time, apparent when one looks up. The coffered ceiling panels are beautifully painted acoustic tile, rendering only about one second of reverberation when the room is empty. The organ is at the rear of the room, in a shallow chamber over the main door. The robust all-male congregation is mostly at the front of the nave and in the crossing. All these elements dictate a rich, strong, and dark organ to meet the voices at their pitch and location. There is an Antiphonal division that is prepared in the console. Until it is installed, the main organ will have to fill the room from the rear with the singers up front.

Dr. Lawlor specifically requested that all manual divisions be enclosed to afford him and future musicians maximum musical flexibility. Most organists prefer a three-manual organ to two, which we frequently offer in organs of this size. The new organ is 19 stops and 25 ranks dispersed over three manuals and pedal. The only unenclosed stops are the Pedal 16′ Principal, from which the façade pipes are drawn, and the horizontal Pontifical Trumpet, in polished brass with flared bells. This last stop was also a specific request. Because the room is not excessively large, these pipes are placed as high as possible. The large scale, tapered shallots and 7-inch wind pressure give these pipes a round, Tuba-like quality that is commanding and attractive.

The Great/Choir and Swell are enclosed in separate expression boxes. The stop list is not unusual, but the execution of the Principal choruses is. Both choruses have Mixtures based at 2′. This allows them to couple to the Pedal without a noticeable pitch gap in the bottom octave sometimes heard with 11⁄3′ Mixtures. The breaks of these two Mixtures are different. The Swell Mixture breaks before the Great, bringing in the 22⁄3′ pitch early. This gives the Swell Mixture a rich texture, particularly helpful in choral work. Emphasis in finishing is on unison and octave pitches when present. The first break in the Great Mixture is at C#26 and from C#14 is one pitch higher than the Swell, making it relatively normal. For the Great Mixture, the upper pitches are given more prominence during finishing. The two choruses complement and contrast well in this intimate space, without excessive brightness.

Many of the flutes and strings were retained from the original Kilgen organ. With some attention in the voicing room, these work well within the Kegg tonal family. Having heard other examples of our work, there was a keen desire by Dr. Lawlor for a new Kegg Harmonic Flute. To make this happen within the budget and space available, we used an existing wood Kilgen 8′ Concert Flute for notes 1–32. At note 33, this stop changes to new Kegg harmonic pipes. The stop increases in volume dramatically as it ascends the scale. Available at 8′ and 4′ on both the Great and Choir manuals, the 8′ stop is nicely textured and mezzo-forte. The treble of the 4′ morphs into a soaring forte voice, made even more alluring by the tremulant.

With the exception of the Clarinet, all reeds are new Kegg stops and typical of our work. The Trumpet has a bright treble and a darker, larger bass extending into the Pedal at 16′. The Oboe is capped and modeled after a Skinner Flügelhorn. The lovely Kilgen Clarinet fits nicely into the Kegg design.

The Pedal has the foundation needed for the organ. The 16′ Principal unit of 56 pipes provides stops at 16′, 8′, and 4′. This is the only flue stop that is not under expression. It grows in volume as you ascend the scale and does so more than its manual counterparts. Because of this, it is easy to have the Pedal be independent and prominent when needed for polyphonic music. This stop joins the Great Principal and Octave, all playing at 8′ pitch, to make the 8′ Solo Diapason III, a Kegg exclusive. With three 8′ diapasons at one time, it is similar in effect to a First Open for both solo and chorus work where a firm 8′ line is required.

The console provides all the features expected in a first-class instrument today including unlimited combination memory, multiple Next/Previous pistons, bone and rosewood keys and, of course, the Kegg signature pencil drawer and cup holder. 

The original 1931 organ was covered by a gray painted wood and cloth grill. The new organ façade design was inspired by the building age and funds, but mostly by the significant stone door that dominates the rear wall. This is not a formal case, but it is more than a simple fence row. The stone door is massive and will always be visually dominating, so it is natural to acknowledge it and build from it. The center façade section pipe toes sit atop the lintel with the tops dipping down to mirror the brick arch above, making space for the Pontifical Trumpet to seemingly float. The center section sits 5 inches behind the side bass sections, giving more depth to the visual effect. Viewing the façade from any angle other than head-on, it becomes sculptural.  

This was an exceptionally exciting and enjoyable project for us. The enthusiasm, interest, and complete cooperation from the seminarians and staff were a daily spiritual boost for the entire Kegg team. This organ was installed in nine days, ready to be voiced, due largely to the excellent working conditions. Many thanks to James Cardinal Stafford, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, Dr. Mark Lawlor, and all our new friends at St. John Vianney.

—Charles Kegg

President and Artistic Director

 

The Kegg team:

Philip Brown

Michael Carden

Cameron Couch

Joyce Harper

Charles Kegg  

Philip Laakso 

Bruce Schutrum

Ben Schreckengost

Dwayne Short

 

GREAT (manual II, enclosed)

8′ Solo Diapason III (fr Gt 8′, 4′, Ped 8′)

8′ Principal (61 pipes)

8′ Concert Flute (1–32 existing, 33–73 

    new pipes)

8′ Dulciana (61 existing pipes)

8′ Unda Maris (TC, 49 pipes)

4′ Octave (73 pipes)

4′ Harmonic Flute (ext 8′)

2′ Fifteenth (ext 4′ Octave)

IV Mixture (2′, 244 pipes)

8′ Clarinet (61 existing pipes)

Tremulant

8′ Trumpet (Sw)

8′ Pontifical Trumpet (TC, 39 pipes, 

    C13–D51, polished brass, flared 

    bells, high pressure)

Chimes (console preparation)

Great 16

Great Unison Off

Great 4

8 stops, 11 ranks, 661 pipes

SWELL (manual III, enclosed)

16′ Gedeckt (73 existing pipes)

8′ Diapason (73 existing pipes)

8′ Gedeckt (ext 8′)

8′ Salicional (61 existing pipes)

8′ Voix Céleste (TC, 49 existing pipes)

4′ Principal (ext 8′)

4′ Harmonic Flute (73 existing pipes)

22⁄3′ Nazard (TC, 49 existing pipes)

2′ Flute (ext 4′)

13⁄5′ Tierce (TC, console preparation)

11⁄3′ Larigot (fr 22⁄3′)

IV Mixture (244 pipes)

16′ Trumpet (85 pipes)

8′ Trumpet (ext 16′)

8′ Oboe (61 pipes)

4′ Clarion (ext 16′)

Tremulant

Swell 16

Swell Unison Off

Swell 4

9 stops, 12 ranks, 768 pipes

CHOIR (manual I, enclosed with Great)

8′ Concert Flute (Gt)

8′ Dulciana (Gt)

8′ Unda Maris (TC, Gt)

4′ Principal (Gt 4′)

4′ Flute (fr Gt 8′)

2′ Octave (fr Gt 4′ Octave)

8′ Oboe (Sw)

8′ Clarinet (Gt)

Tremulant

8′ Pontifical Trumpet (Gt)

Choir 16

Choir Unison Off

Choir 4

PEDAL

32′ Resultant (derived)

16′ Principal (56 pipes)

16′ Subbass (44 existing pipes)

16′ Gedeckt (Sw)

8′ Octave (ext 16′)

8′ Subbass (ext 16′)

8′ Gedeckt (Sw)

4′ Choral Bass (ext 16′)

32′ Harmonics (derived)

16′ Trumpet (Sw)

8′ Trumpet (Sw)

4′ Clarinet (Gt)

2 stops, 2 ranks, 100 pipes

 

INTER-DIVISIONAL COUPLERS

Great to Pedal 8

Great to Pedal 4

Swell to Pedal 8

Swell to Pedal 4

Choir to Pedal 8

Choir to Pedal 4

Swell to Great 16

Swell to Great 8

Swell to Great 4

Choir to Great 16

Choir to Great 8

Choir to Great 4

Swell to Choir 16

Swell to Choir 8

Swell to Choir 4

Great/Choir Transfer

 

ADJUSTABLE COMBINATIONS

14 General pistons (1–14 thumb, 1–10 toe)

6 Great pistons (thumb)

6 Swell pistons (thumb)

6 Choir pistons (thumb)

4 Pedal pistons (toe)

General Cancel (thumb)

Set (thumb)

Range (thumb)

Undo (thumb)

Clear (thumb)

Next (General piston sequencer, 4 thumb, 1 toe)

Previous (2 thumb)

30 memories per User, unlimited Users

 

REVERSIBLES

Great to Pedal (thumb and toe)

Swell to Pedal (thumb)

Choir to Pedal (thumb)

Full Organ (thumb and toe)

32′ Harmonics (toe)

 

ACCESSORIES

Balanced Swell expression pedal

Balanced Great/Choir expression pedal

Balanced Crescendo pedal (2 memory adjustable, with numeric indicator)

Full Organ indicator

Transposer

Concave and radiating pedal clavier

Adjustable bench

 

TONAL RESOURCES

19 Stops, 25 Ranks, 1,529 Pipes

 

Organbuilder website: www.keggorgan.com

 

Seminary website: http://sjvdenver.edu

Glück Pipe Organs, New York, New York: Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Glück Pipe Organs, New York, New York

Mayflower Congregational 

United Church of Christ, 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

An essay in determination

The quest to replace a six-stop unit organ in Oklahoma City became a study in considered choices made by a fully involved group who gave to the future an instrument that serves worship, choral programs, solo recitals, and orchestral concerts. The organ committee at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, in cooperation with their pastorate and director of music Richard Jobe, worked with consultant Scott Riedel of Milwaukee to develop an architectural, acoustical, and musical plan. They enthusiastically educated themselves, traveled the nation to see and hear instruments, and selected their architects, contractors, and organbuilder.

Living with a mid-twentieth century stock-design instrument, the church was moving from a position of extreme limitation to one of enormous freedom–and its attendant responsibility. It was known from the outset that the stoplist would evolve; omissions would be reinstated, new ideas would be raised and abandoned. That is how pipe organs are refined toward their final design once the builder is selected, a process that at times both disappoints and elates during the pursuit of cleverness. 

There was no focus upon an idiom that would back the organ into a stylistic or nationalistic corner. Mayflower’s instrument is by all means an American pipe organ, from its geographic location to the fact that its components were built by Americans in selected shops throughout this nation. Nonetheless, the term “American Classic” never entered our thoughts or vocabulary. That era remains a crucial and brilliant transition, to be acknowledged for its contributions, but it was dotted with obstacles to the full understanding of organ literature and history. Many of its lessons still apply, but should its templates?

 

Architectural placement

The spatial arrangement of pipe organs has been under discussion for centuries, as evidenced by myriad cyclical catch-phrases—“mixing chamber,” “line-of-sight,” “functional display,” “high and encased,” “tone chute,” and “entombed.” All incarnations present compelling effects, from jumping between main and dorsal cases in a North European organ, to the roaring, shuttered reeds scraping at the triforium of an English cathedral. The choice at Mayflower UCC was an arrangement that addressed the new chancel and choir area as if it were a concert hall, surrounding the proceedings with four well-engineered, highly effective chambers that were proximate enough to cooperate without losing individuality. Rigid walls, properly shaped ceilings, and thick, tightly fitting shutter blades make for an enormous range of amplitude.

 

Tonal development

Traditional structure—independent Principal forces for at least two manuals and the Pedal—anchors the organ in terraced levels of open tone at 16′ for the Pedal, 8′ for the Great, and 4′ for the Swell. The Pedal has no chorus, per se, but a dedicated, extended rank retained from the previous instrument, voiced so that movement of the pedal line is heard. An additional 8′ Open Diapason, extended up from this Pedal stop, is enclosed with the Choir division. There was no room in the Swell for a desirable 8′ Principal, but this voice serves as an English Second Diapason, as well as a solo under expression to be accompanied by other divisions.

The Pedal 16′ Contra Bass is not intended to be a 16′ Principal, but to add definition through distinct tone and a substantial degree of independence from the unit rank. Making evident the motion of the pedal line was the goal, and it works as well under full forces as it does under the two undulants during introspective passages. Pedal power comes from the 16′ Sub Bass, the 16′ Trombone, and the harmonic complexity of duplexed mezzo-forte voices from the compound Great/Choir section. 

The mixtures are kept to an even number of ranks for harmonic balance, and achieve different effects. The Great Mixture is unenclosed, speaks directly down the nave, sits at the front of the soundboard, breaks successively lower, and keeps its quints two scale diameters smaller than the unisons, resulting in a fuller treble. While I am personally disinclined toward the guttural infusion of a bold twelfth entering the chorus too far down the compass, it was eased in carefully during tonal finishing, avoiding the “pull,” and in this case, actually appears to strengthen the alto voice in the middle and soprano octaves. The Swell mixture breaks less frequently, maintaining a slightly higher aggregate pitch in the contrapuntal range, the shimmer enhanced by power parity between harmonic components. Toward the top of the compass, a larger-scaled 8′ pitch enters to fortify the unison line in the absence of an independent 8′ Principal.

 

The compound Great/Choir

Between the wars, Mr. Skinner’s three- and four-stop Choir divisions unintentionally opened a window onto Classicism for those Americans who had looked beyond the vested American zeitgeist during their overseas travels; in recent organs, I have followed his lead with very small third manuals that can make playable more of the literature with satisfying accuracy while enhancing the service of prayer. 

I was determined not to make the Choir a garage for miscellanea at the expense of filling out the Great, and recommended to the consultant and the organ committee that we strip and releather Mayflower’s original six-stop unit windchest to accommodate enclosed voices that could both embolden the Great and furnish a small Choir division. Four of the organ’s seven ranks were revoiced and incorporated, while the Clarinet and Harmonic Flute are new to the organ. 

The key was to make certain that independent voices could be drawn at each pitch, and that if two stops on the same division were drawn from the same rank, we strive for a two-octave separation to minimize “missing pipe syndrome.” The benefits are an elegant, clear third ensemble punctuated by the sparkle of the 1′ Gemshorn, an historically dictated position for the Clarinet, and the nuance enabled by a second expression enclosure. The Great gained the indispensable 8′ Harmonic Flute for the French literature and a solid 16′ Bourdon to carry hymnody and undergird the plenum.

 

The mutations

For an instrument furnished with only one tierce combination, published works—both treatises and scores—from the 17th through 19th centuries provide guidance. Historically ensconced in the Choir or Positiv, the cylindrical half-length reed (here the Clarinet) cannot be roommates with the Tierce combination and perform the French dialogues of the Baroque (why deprive future organists of that option?), and it is well unwise to lock up two of the most pungent solo effects on the same manual. The Nazard and Tierce (originally conceived as a Cornet II until funds made it possible to separate them), reside in the Swell, benefiting from the recombinant capabilities of the fully independent flute choir, and where they can engage with the reeds for the fiery Grand Jeu, an effect unique in the world of music.

 

The undulants

The Choir Gemshorn and GG-compass Vox Angelica are the source for gentle tone with more slowly tuned undulation. They were well-made pipes that the church already owned, and with revoicing and tonal finishing, they serve well in services of prayer; sacrificed were the likes of an English Horn and a bit more Choir independence, both of which had been on the “wish list.” By contrast, the Swell strings are authentically brilliant, cutting, shimmering, and unapologetically orchestral, taking the vibrantly tuned undulant all the way down to 8′ CC. This type of tone, desired and characteristic during the fourth quarter of the 19th century and well into the last, is vital to the performance of the literature and should not be diluted.

 

The three reed stops

The reed allotment challenge in a small organ is one of both color and pitch. The three historically primary colors (Trumpet, Clarinet, Oboe), and relative unison pitches (8′ for the manuals, 16′ for the pedal) jockey for position, and the balance tips inevitably when one is limited to a single rank of Trumpets that is hoped might fulfill the needs of the Great, Swell, and Pedal departments. The dilemma of rationed budget and space is not new, and Americans have faced it for decades. It is for this reason that I chose to place the organ’s three reed stops on individual electro-pneumatic valve actions and present a candid acknowledgement of the available assets. Tonal directors choose sleights of scaling and make accommodation in the voicing so that musicians might take their cues from the resulting resources. If the conservative builder or designer chooses not to sustain the compromise, the clients and their successors must manage without. 

Carrying the chorus reed burden of the entire organ, the Mayflower Trumpet is large, bold, brilliant, and must be handled with care. Fortunately, it could be scaled and voiced with abandon as it descends into the Pedal 16′ Trombone extension where it needs not serve two masters. Part of the rank’s success is that it grows toward the bass in the French tradition, and there is no 4′ Clarion extension to pierce and fragment the grandeur.

The Swell 8′ Oboe d’Amore, extended to 16′ as the Bassoon, is firm, full, and warm, avoiding nasal tone in favor of a plump, round voice that is essential to the fonds d’huit. The richness achieved with full-length resonators facilitates blend when introducing milder reed tone into ensembles for textural buildup or choral accompaniment. In the American tradition of the last century, it is duplexed into the Pedal at 16′ and 8′ pitch. 

The Choir 8′ Clarinet makes no concessions, free to be gutsy, woody, and forthrightly characteristic. Highly identifiable to the “non-organ” ear (the target audience of the future?), the evocative, orchestral style of Clarinet fulfills the needs of both the solo and anthem literature in lieu of a caricature voice that might elicit questions of taste or judgment. The Clarinet is made available in the enclosed Great II section so that it can be accompanied by stops from its own department, and appears in the Pedal as a cantus firmus voice.

 

The 32′ stops

The new acoustic at Mayflower could support gently balanced 32′ tone, but there was no available space for the pipes. Resultant basses almost never work effectively in American organs, although they appear to be standard equipment, false hope in the form of a switch. They succeed in brief ranges, with certain scales, and with pipes of particular tonalities, but only if carefully placed in relationship to their neighbors and to the physical structure that houses them. The failure rate is compounded by the assumption that any stopped flute will suffice and that physics will intuitively provide a musical effect. Fortunately, the Mayflower 16′ Sub Bass is of the scale, cutup, voicing, and positioning that it produces an unobtrusive and pervading 32′ tone without muddying the waters.

Now that weight had been achieved, something unusual had to be introduced. What would prove to be most interesting? Resultant 32′ Dulcianas date back at least to Hilborne Roosevelt’s 1879–1883 double organ at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Long Island City. The concept resurfaced in 1922 in Casavant’s tonal recasting of the 1902 Hook & Hastings built for Temple Beth-El in Detroit, but the Mayflower 16′ open metal proved too incisive and exposed to achieve such an effect with the desired subtlety, so I opted for a hint of spectacle. Cavaillé-Coll’s 1880 organ for La Cathédrale Saint Croix in Orléans sports a clamorous 102⁄3′ Bombarde, breaking to 32′ at C13, labeled Contre Bombarde. While such noise would be utterly inappropriate at Mayflower UCC, the transfer of this effect to the Bassoon is telling but unobtrusive.

 

The console

The keydesk was inspired by the Aeolian organs for the homes of the aristocracy during the nation’s Progressive Era, and further informed by later Hook & Hastings consoles. The balanced tablets on side jambs permit the musician to “read” the specification quickly and clearly; each field of stop controls is in the same location that it would be if drawknobs had been used. It glides less than half an inch above the floor with the gentle push of a hand as it is repositioned for its many uses in association with Mayflower’s ministries. As with all Glück consoles, it is equipped with a high-capacity combination action, MIDI interface, and record and playback capabilities, yet the clutter of gadgetry is kept to a tasteful minimum.

 

The visual design

When developing organ cases, I call upon my university training as a preservation architect to develop visual statements that take their cues from their surroundings. Ornamentally and proportionally, this firm’s new instruments appear as though they had always been in the buildings they serve. A relaxed presence and æsthetic harmony are achieved through the use of sympathetic materials and elegantly adapted details that are meaningful to the community. The classical arcuated pediment of the central window, the visual focus of the church since its construction in 1957, served as my guide. Where there were once two blank, sheer walls now stands a pair of pendant cases that echo the ceiling vault and the central window in order to accommodate the unenclosed Great I and Pedal Contra Bass.

 

Putting it all together

Pipe organs are made real by teams of people, and this firm’s lean business model benefits from collegial cooperation. The staff at Glück Pipe Organs, including Joseph DiSalle, Albert Jensen-Moulton (general manager), and Robert Rast (chief technician), was supplemented by students from the American Organ Institute at the University of Oklahoma and volunteers from Mayflower Congregational Church during the removal of the church’s original pipe organ and the installation of the new one. Along with the trusted American suppliers with whom this firm has worked for over a quarter of a century, they liberated me to focus upon the design, scaling, voicing, and tonal finishing, with a view toward the artistic and musical outcome.

Scott Riedel, working with both Glück Pipe Organs and Steve Matthews, principal and project manager at Architectural Design Group, made it clear that consultants do not choose pipe organ builders, but guide institutions toward educated decisions—not hopeful guesses. The joy with which this project came together is heard in the sound of the pipes, and we are thankful to have been chosen by this growing church, educational center, and outreaching community unique in Oklahoma City.

 

Videos and compact discs

A short documentary on the Mayflower organ, a time-lapse film of its installation, and videos of other recent Glück pipe organs may be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/user/Gluck PipeOrgans/videos. Four compact discs are available of Glück organs directly from the builder’s website: http://www.gluckpipeorgans.com.

—Sebastian Matthäus Glück

 

Cover photo by Robert Rast.

All other photographs are by Sebastian M. Glück, unless otherwise noted.

 

Glück Pipe Organs, Opus 14

 

GREAT I – Manual II,

unenclosed

8′ Open Diapason 50% tin

8′ Holz Gedeckt pine

4′ Principal 50% tin

2′ Fifteenth 50% tin

Chorus Mixture IV 50% tin

C 1 19 22 26 29

A#11 15 19 22 26

G#21 12 15 19 22

F#31 8 12 15 19

E41 1 8 12 15

G#57 1 8

8′ Trumpet (Swell)

Chimes

Great I Silent

GREAT II – Manual II,
enclosed with Choir

16′ Bourdon* mahogany

8′ Harmonic Flute (Choir)

    C1–B12 from 16′ Bourdon

8′ Gemshorn (Choir)

8′ Vox Angelica (Choir)

4′ Nason Flute (ext, Bourdon)

8′ Clarinet (Choir)

Tremulant (duplicate control)

4′ Great II to Great

CHOIR – Manual I, enclosed

8′ Solo Diapason* (Pedal 8′ Princ)

8′ Bourdon* (ext)

8′ Gemshorn* 50% tin

8′ Vox Angelica* 50% tin

4′ Gemshorn* (ext)

4′ Harmonic Flute pine

2′ Principal* (ext, Ped 8′ Princ)

2′ Recorder* (ext, Bourdon)

1′ Fife* (ext, Gemshorn)

8′ Clarinet 30% tin

Tremulant

Chimes (25 tubes)

Zimbelstern (unenclosed with Gt I)

16′ Choir to Choir

Choir Silent

4′ Choir to Choir

 

SWELL – Manual III, enclosed

8′ Viole de Gambe (slotted) 90% tin

8′ Voix Céleste (slotted) 90% tin

8′ Stopped Diapason pine

4′ Principal 50% tin

4′ Chimney Flute 50% tin

22⁄3′ Nazard 50% tin

2′ Piccolo 50% tin

13⁄5′ Tierce (breaks to 4′ at F54) 50% tin

Mixture IV 50% tin

C 1 19 22 26 29

C13 15 19 22 26

C25 12 15 19 22

C37 8 12 15 19

A46 1 8 12 15

G#57 1 8

16′ Bassoon (ext) 30% tin

8′ Trumpet 30% tin

8′ Oboe d’Amore 30% tin

Tremulant

16′ Swell to Swell

Swell Silent

4′ Swell to Swell

 

PEDAL – enclosed except for 16′ Contra Bass

32′ Infrabass§

16′ Contra Bass† (ext) zinc

16′ Sub Bass pine

16′ Bourdon (Great)

8′ Principal* 50% tin

8′ Gemshorn (Choir)

8′ Bourdon (Great)

4′ Fifteenth* (ext) 

4′ Flute (Great)

2′ Choral Bass* (ext)

32′ Contrabassoon§§

16′ Trombone (ext) zinc

16′ Bassoon (Swell)

8′ Trumpet (Swell)

8′ Bassoon (Swell)

4′ Clarinet (Choir)

Chimes

 

* Four ranks of pipes revoiced from the original organ

† C1 through G8 with Haskell re-entrant tubes, extension of Great 8′ Open Diapason

§ C1–B12 resultant from Sub Bass; 32′ Sub Bass at C13

§§ C1–B12 resultant from Bassoon; 32′ Bassoon at C13

Interdivisional Couplers

8′ Great I to Pedal

8′ Swell to Pedal

8′ Choir to Pedal

 

16′ Swell to Great

8′ Swell to Great

4′ Swell to Great

16′ Choir to Great

8′ Choir to Great

4′ Choir to Great

 

8′ Great II to Swell

8′ Swell to Choir

8′ Great and Choir Reversed

Wind pressures

Pedal Trombone and Swell: 5 inches

Remainder of the organ: 4 inches

Austin Organs, 

Hartford, Connecticut

Opus 2344 (1961 and 2014)

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church,

New Canaan, Connecticut

In New Canaan, Connecticut, just north of a town landmark known as “God’s Acre,” an imposing edifice rises from the staid landscape. St. Mark’s Church was erected in 1961. Approaching from the south, the church beckons your creative spirit as it heralds the artistry that pervades its sacred space. The entrance of the church, facing an elegant, grassy commons to the south, is easily accessed from the street. Entering the two large, intricately carved doors one finds oneself inside an impressive sanctuary that evokes the feeling of a Gothic cathedral. Triangular vaults rise up majestically from towering concrete columns. The altar is clearly the focal point of the room, but behind the altar stands an equally impressive reredos approximately 35 feet wide, standing some 40 feet in the air, displaying 184 intricately carved figures. It was designed by sculptor Clark Fitz-Gerald, whose works can be found in Columbia University, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Carnegie Hall, and Coventry Cathedral in England. 

Behind this acoustically transparent screen stands Austin Organs’ Opus 2344, dedicated by John Weaver in a concert on January 7, 1962. In 2014, Austin installed several new stops and completed an extensive tonal redesign of the instrument.

 

From the musician

In 2000, we started discussion about completing some major work on the organ. We thought it important to return to the company that gave birth to the instrument, so we called Austin Organs in Hartford for an evaluation and recommendations. Unfortunately the church was not ready to proceed with the project at that point, so the plan was placed on hold. When we revisited the project in 2008, I was surprised and pleased to reconnect with my former schoolmate from Westminster Choir College, Mike Fazio, who was now president and tonal director of the Austin company. 

As fate would have it, the company, now reborn under the auspices of the new owners, has revisited some of the original Austin organbuilding and voicing practices—their mindset moving beyond the so-common trend of “what’s happening now” and going back to some of the venerable earlier ideals. This philosophy is happily right in line with my own personal vision for this organ. I think that this key point in our collaboration helped lead to the successful rebirth of this instrument. Further, I believe that the combination of the talents of the outstanding Austin craftspeople, some who have been with the company for many years, along with the new administration, who respect the past but also embrace the future, to be a winning combination without equal. Working on this project, I was always confident in our conversations about the direction of the instrument, and I was pleased with the outcome, because we were consistently in sync. They always listened to my vision, and it felt like we were always on the same page with the ultimate goal.

When I arrived in 1998, it was already an organ to be proud of, and I was very happy to be playing this Austin, because it essentially worked well in this space. But today, with the tonal work and expansion, it has become much more versatile. While the organ certainly could have been defined as “American Classic,” I would now say that, while that character remains, we now have the impression of an “English Town Hall” instrument. The organ can handle a broader spectrum of literature, and I find that I can accompany the service in a much more exciting way. When I use the term “exciting,” I am not just talking about louder sounds, I am talking about the inclusion of some softer voices imparting more interesting nuance than there was previously. Utilizing the new timbres available in the pedal organ, the organ has developed a new undergirding that has truly helped its effectiveness in hymn accompaniment, among other things. The inventiveness of the Austin company in finding a creative way to add real pipes (installing a full-length 16′ reed in the Swell, and a full-length 32′ reed in the Pedal, and of course, the 32′/16′ Pedal Bourdon) was amazing! The 16′ Bourdon is also an excellent addition, as it helps support the lower voices in the choir and congregation. I am so proud to be able to boast that all of our additions are real pipes, real chimes, and a real harp, without having to resort to the digital versions. I am convinced that these real voices do add significant richness and quite amazing harmonic underpinning. I am therefore able to play the organ in a much fuller way than I could previously. This has improved both my musical creativity and the choir and congregation’s singing in response. 

—Brian-Paul Thomas

Organist and Choirmaster

From the builder

The organ has excellent tonal projection from its lofty position on the central axis of the church. Its tonal disposition is somewhat reminiscent of the late work of Austin’s most famous tonal designer, James Blaine Jamison (1882–1957). He began with the Austin Company in 1933, and his impact was rather dramatic. Early in his relationship with the company, he redefined the Austin Diapason scaling system and introduced his concepts for ensemble structure and voicing, which were quickly adopted and became common practice for a generation. Richard Piper (tonal director from 1952–1978,) continued the same trend, but imparted his own stamp on the company’s work. Piper had apprenticed for nearly a decade under Henry Willis III, working on many of England’s monumental instruments, his final work being the Dome Organ at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. Coming to Austin, he was able to impart a bit of English nuance to the Austin version of the American Classic tonal ensemble, but that nuance did not seem to be present in this instrument. My predecessor at Austin Organs, Bruce Buchanan, visited the organ in September 2000. His impression was congruous with my own, in that he proclaimed, “St. Mark’s organ is a version of American Classic with North-European leanings. This means brightness has been preferred to brilliance, and clarity to body.” It was interesting to find his notes some months after I had submitted my own assessment to the church with similar findings.

The St. Mark’s organ had been an interesting platform for Richard Piper’s tonal experimentation. The Great and Positiv were voiced on low pressure (2¾′′ wind). It would appear that the Great Organ had the strongest North-German influence: light Prinzipal scaling, heavy mixture scaling, and the foundation apparently based on the 16′ Quintaton. Overall, the division exhibited bright ensemble tone and the Positiv was much like it. The Swell was designed with somewhat stronger English influence. It, like the Choir, was voiced on 4′′ of wind presure. It was built with colorful flutes, and lush string tone; it also had a full reed chorus, yet not a proper Oboe; there was a high-pitched Plein Jeu, yet the department lacked a full principal chorus. The Choir flue chorus is made up of flutes, independent cornet mutations, and a Gemshorn and Celeste. The Choir reeds included a rather thin Krummhorn (3/4′′ scale) and an 8′ Trumpet, voiced on 6′′ of wind pressure. In the style of many fine Austin instruments of the period, this organ’s Pedal division had nine independent ranks of pipes, beginning with a generous 16′ Open Wood Contra Bass, through a Pedal Mixture and reed chorus. At some point in history, an electronic 32′ Bourdon extension was added, but had failed and was disconnected several years ago.

Approaching the organ’s tonal redesign, we had some specific goals in mind: improve the Diapason chorus, revoice/replace some existing reeds, and supplement the Pedal department. Other enhancements became possible as the project developed. For example, while we would have liked to build a new, movable, drawknob console for the instrument, a decision was made for the present time to maintain the existing console. It was certainly showing its age, but we decided to add new stopkeys in situ for the new voices. This approach would allow us to use more available funds for tonal work as a first step. It would seem that God had other thoughts. Within a month of signing the contract for the tonal work, the church was hit by an electrical storm that disabled the console, along with the church’s sound system. We removed the console to the factory, and installed a new multiplexed console and organ control system, featuring a fiber-optic connection between the console and the organ’s Universal Air Chest. While back “home” in the factory, the manual and pedal claviers were refurbished, all new wiring and stop controls were installed, and the elegant black walnut casework finish was also restored. 

 

Tonal matters

The first matter to address was the wind pressure. To achieve the aural presence we collectively desired, we recognized that the pressure needed to be increased. To that end, we chose to increase the wind pressure to 4′′ water column for the entire instrument. Next, we needed to make a decision regarding the disposition of the Great Organ’s 16′ Quintaton, which had been partly replaced (from 8′ C) several years earlier with Bourdon pipes. The breakpoint from the 8′ to the 16′ octave was abominable, and the effect of the Quintaton in general was counterproductive to our desired ensemble. The Great Mixture was overwhelming and the rest of the chorus was anemic. Our sweeping decision was to remove the entire Quintaton from the specification, and to achieve a manual 16′ voice, install a new Austin Internal Borrow action in the chest that would play the Pedal 16′ Spitz Flute as a Great stop. Previously, this stop was only available in the manual at 8′ pitch, and 16′ in the Pedal. Austin’s voicer Dan Kingman revoiced these pipes to create an excellent Viole de Gamba. Being mildly conical (1/2 taper), we adjusted the nomenclature to reflect that construction, calling it a Spitz Viole. As a manual 16′ and 8′ borrow, it has proven to be extremely successful. While we were sweeping through the organ, we chose to “wash” the 1960s voicing out of the Great Bourdon, which resulted in a flute with more warmth and fundamental. The Diapason and Principal were rescaled, and the Spitz Fifteenth replaced with a new set of Principal pipes that work well with this new chorus. The existing Fourniture was also replaced with new pipes, scaled and voiced to fit perfectly with the new scheme. The final element was the inclusion of a new reed stop for the Great. After much discussion, the choice was made to install an English Horn. Rather than yet another Trumpet, or something from the Clarinet family, we concluded that an English Horn would serve equally well as either a gentle solo or ensemble voice. 

In the Swell, we regret that we were unable to add a new Diapason, as space would not allow it. However, the large scale Viola and Flute are rather successful, evoking “synthetic Diapason” tone, to quote the late G. Donald Harrison. A vintage 4′ Wald Flute was installed to replace the original, which was removed several years ago, having been replaced with the Koppelflute from the Positiv, where it was subsequently returned. The 8′ octave of the Rohrflute was moved off the main chest, and in its place we located the 12 lowest pipes of the 16′ Waldhorn (full-length). The rather pleasant 8′ (French) Trumpet was revoiced to blend well in the ensemble, and a new 8′ (English) Oboe was installed. As a compromise to allow the installation of the Oboe, we removed the 4′ Clarion, (which was rather thin) and extended the Waldhorn to 4′ pitch to complete the chorus. Also added to the organ was a vintage Austin Vox Humana. This particular type is affectionately known as a “Vox-in-a-Box,” as the pipes are entirely placed within an encased chest that hangs directly in front of the Swell expression shades and can be adjusted for dynamic by opening or closing the top cover of said box. The effect of the Vox Humana in this church is extremely successful—it shimmers like a “chorus of voices in the distance!” Finally, the high-pitched mixture was removed and replaced with a new IV–V Plein Jeu, starting at 22⁄3′ pitch. It provides a measure of gravitas to the ensemble, whether flues or reeds. 

In the Choir, we removed the thin, baroque Krummhorn, and replaced it with an 8′ Cremona, which is a hybrid stop that is constructed as a Clarinet in the lower registers, then it morphs into our Cromorne scale in the treble. This treatment delivers the color of a rich Clarinet in the tenor range and the brightness of a French Cromorne in the right hand. As a matter of course, the existing high-pressure Trumpet was reconstructed (new tuning inserts, etc.) and revoiced.

The changes to the Pedal division were rather dramatic. We were able to redesign the offset chests at the sides of the main organ to allow the installation of a 32′ and 16′ Bourdon. More dramatic yet, we chose to extend the Swell 16′ Waldhorn (a time-honored tradition) to become the 32′ Pedal reed. Organist Brian-Paul Thomas was very clear in his vision for this voice: he did not want a jackhammer or clatter, but smooth dark tone. Using this thought as a guideline, we scaled this stop moderately, and consequently, the 12 full-length resonators fit nicely in the space occupied by the former Quintaton, located in a split arrangement on either side of the Great chest.

The other two voices added to the organ were a set of Deagan Class A chimes, and a vintage Austin Harp. These two percussions also work very nicely in this space.

 

Conclusion

We find the new instrument is exciting, rich, and versatile. It has a delicious, smooth crescendo from pianissimo to fortissimo, never missing a step! These changes were made possible because of the amazing flexibility of the Austin Universal Airchest design. Having been at the helm of Austin since 2005, I am still constantly in awe of the versatility of the Austin system. 

In a future article, we would like to discuss the transformation of a few Austin organs. These instruments were built in the same time period (the mid-1960s). The tonal disposition of each organ was very similar, and they were stereotypical of the period, and desperate for change! The study of the resulting specifications will serve as empirical evidence for any church with an organ, especially an Austin, thinking that there is no hope for a rather bland tonal ensemble. The transformation of each organ was completed with remarkable success—each one unique. We are also embarking on a plan to make a collective recording of these instruments.

While history furnishes a wealth of motivation, we are confident that new avenues and designs are only just around the corner that may enhance earlier efforts. As surely as we are inspired by the triumphs of the past, we face the challenges of today by building organs that will continue to inspire interest beyond today, beyond tomorrow, and into the next generation. Art is only art when it represents the best efforts of the Creator, with both eyes open to even greater possibilities. We aim to create something significant for worship and the performance of great music, and in the greater sphere, to offer our own illumination of how music might be made.

—Michael B. Fazio

Austin Organs, Inc.

President and Tonal Director

 

 

 

 

Quimby Pipe Organs, 

Warrensburg, Missouri

Two organs in North Carolina

In 2017, Quimby Pipe Organs (QPO) completed the installation of two small-to-medium sized instruments in North Carolina. Both projects incorporated pipework or mechanics from the churches’ preceding instruments, as the work would not have been feasible in either case given all-new construction. However, both projects resulted in organs that function mechanically as if they are all new, and both have entirely new tonal identities that align with modern QPO practice. Accordingly, both have been given QPO opus numbers, and each is, in its own way, an exploration of what should constitute a modern-day American multum in parvo organ, where comparatively few ranks of pipes yield surprising results: instruments that are flexible, musical, and artistically satisfying. Each organ plays with the authority of a much larger instrument than its size would suggest.

 

Opus 73

All Saints Episcopal Church

Southern Shores, North Carolina

We were invited to visit All Saints Episcopal Church by Organist and Director of Music Steve Blackstock because we had previously worked with him to relocate an 1878 Marshall Brothers organ, which was electrified and rebuilt by Ernest M. Skinner in 1912 and is now situated in a new case on QPO electro-pneumatic slider windchests at Holy Redeemer-by-the-Sea in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Blackstock asked us to assess All Saints’ 1948 M. P. Möller organ, Opus 7721. Originally five unified ranks, the organ had grown to nine, enclosed in a freestanding case in the rear corner of the room. There were some pleasant sounds in the instrument—particularly the stopped wood flute—but the disposition of these voices at various pitches over two manuals and pedal was not entirely successful; there was a lack of flexible, contrasting ensembles.

Several options were investigated, including either the relocation of a mid-nineteenth-century Hook tracker or a mid-twentieth-century Austin. But the ideas that resonated most with Steve were those which Michael Quimby and I developed for the expansion and radical rebuilding of the existing Möller.  

The approach was straightforward: the existing enclosed mechanical chassis would become the Swell, and a new unenclosed Great division would be added on a new Quimby-Blackinton electro-pneumatic slider chest. The best of the existing pipework would be retained, and after careful restoration, rescaling, and revoicing, would find a place in the new tonal concept, though not always at the same pitches or divisions as before. One independent Pedal rank was added—a Pedal Octave that plays at 8′ and 4′.

Although the existing Möller unit windchests were retained in the new Swell, having been releathered recently, efforts were made to provide more of a “straight” ensemble in the Swell, with unification judiciously used for added color and flexibility, rather than to create ensemble.

Not one new pipe was constructed for the project. Rather, ranks were carefully selected from our extensive inventory of nineteenth- and twentieth-century American pipework for integration into the ensemble. The end result is not a patchwork of individual voices, as one might expect, but rather, a cohesive, flexible ensemble. This is not only due to the quality of the vintage pipework, but also to the unique facility of Michael Quimby to identify which ranks will work to achieve the intended result, and also to the ability of Head Voicer Eric Johnson and staff voicers Samantha Koch and Christopher Soer to carry out the work. Also essential is our fully functional pipe shop, where cleaning, restoration, modification, and repair can happen as required alongside construction of new pipes.

Several church members participated in passing pipes into the organ. One couple, key donors to the project, also assisted, and knowing that there were no new pipes in the organ, inquired as to the provenance of the pipes. In response, I told her that the pipe she had in her hand came from an organ formerly at a church in St. Louis, Missouri. She was stunned. She had attended there as a young lady, and it was, in fact, where she had met her husband, who was also helping to pass pipes. We quickly figured out that we were installing pipes that had played at the time that she would have heard the organ—a happy coincidence that added dramatically to the significance of the instrument for these two.

New casework was designed by QPO and constructed by members of the church to expand and complement the existing enclosure. The new casework is intentionally somewhat transparent, and the pipes of the Great division are visible at different times during the day when overhead light passes down from skylights overhead. The façade pipes are vintage zinc basses, here painted with pearlescent white bodies and rose gold mouths, which complement the open, light-filled character of the church. The existing console was rebuilt and placed on a moveable platform dolly.  

The existing 8′ Trumpet was extensively revoiced and extended to play at 16′ and 4′. It is at once brilliant and foundational and forms a grand underpinning for the full ensemble. A pair of early-twentieth-century strings yield characteristic, lush string tone in the Swell, and the unison rank extends down to 16′. The 16′ Contra Viola is surprisingly versatile: in addition to making an effective double to the new Great Diapason chorus, it is soft enough to serve as a whisper bass (with the Swell box closed) under the 8′ Dulciana, yet harmonically intense enough to combine with the 16′ Gedeckt and synthesize a 16′ Diapason.

The organ was completed in September 2017 and was dedicated on Sunday, October 1. On Sunday, October 15, Dorothy Papadakos accompanied the 1920 silent film, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

 

Opus 74

Central United Methodist Church

Concord, North Carolina

Susan Renz Theodos, director of music at Central United Methodist Church in Concord, North Carolina, contacted us regarding a project for a possible new organ because of her previous experience playing our Opus 34, of three manuals and thirty-three ranks at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Litchfield, Connecticut (1992). Developed in tandem with then organist Thomas Brown, Opus 34 is a QPO multum in parvo instrument dating from before our work had shifted into the mature Quimby tonal style.  

In working together with Susan after her visit to a more recent project at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Roanoke, Virginia (Opus 66, 2010), we developed a proposal for an equally effective three-manual organ, slightly expanded, which would have the same versatility and nuance as Opus 34, but expressed according to a more Romantic approach: with heroically scaled chorus work and characteristic, harmonically developed individual voices that lock together into seamless, coherent ensembles.

The resulting instrument makes use of select existing pipework from the church’s former 1973 Casavant (Opus 3179), new pipework constructed by Quimby, and select vintage ranks from QPO inventory. New electro-pneumatic slider windchests were constructed for all straight manual ranks and electro-pneumatic unit ranks for all pedal and extended ranks. The winding system and interior structure of the organ are all new. In order to help make the project more cost-effective, we refurbished and rebuilt a three-manual console, constructed by another builder in 2000, for an organ that is now redundant. With new mahogany interior, console lid, and bench top, the refinished console is a splendid match for the church’s neo-Classical interior.

The use of existing Casavant pipework in combination with our own inventory was attractive to the church, not only because it was fiscally responsible, but because they understood it to be environmentally responsible when compared with new construction, and therefore, good stewardship in several senses. The transformation to the carefully selected principals, flutes, strings, and mutations is stunning; none of the reused ranks bears any resemblance to what existed before. The previous instrument was weak in the unison range, and top-heavy with piercing upperwork. Individual foundation voices were bland and blended poorly, with little support for choral accompaniment or even congregational song. The transformed ranks, having been recomposed, rescaled, and radically revoiced, now form colorful, expressive Diapason ensembles at a wide range of dynamic levels.  

Our approach to rescaling and revoicing old ranks of pipes that came from the church’s previous organ is conceptually similar to the practice of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll in nineteenth-century France. His organs at Notre Dame de Paris and Saint-Sulpice incorporate significant percentages of eighteenth-century Clicquot pipework, but those old ranks of pipes were successfully transformed to contribute to a new tonal aesthetic by Cavaillé-Coll.  

New and vintage reeds were provided, custom voiced in-house; these range from the throaty Cromorne in the Solo-Choir, to the lyrical Oboe and fiery Trumpet in the Swell, to the brilliant Harmonic Trumpet in the Solo-Choir, and finally, the dominating, spectacular Tuba in the Great. The Harmonic Trumpet, available at 16′, 8′, and 4′ on manuals and pedal, can serve in the Great as chorus reeds with the box closed, as a soft or loud 16′ reed in the Pedal, and with the box open as an exciting climax to full organ at all three pitches. The Tuba is intended strictly for solo use and is voiced on 12 inches wind pressure so that individual notes can be heard over full organ.

Also of note are the variety of 8′ and 4′ flutes, several of which are vintage, and which contrast and combine with each other effectively. The Swell strings are revoiced Casavant pipework and contrast a more broadly voiced Viola Pomposa and Celeste in the Solo-Choir.  Together with the Swell Spitzflute and Celeste, a wide range of undulants is provided, which can be combined in surprising ways.

The organ was completed in November 2017 and was dedicated by Bradley Hunter Welch on Sunday morning, April 15, 2018, with a recital following the same afternoon.

—T. Daniel Hancock, A.I.A., President

Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc.

 

Quimby Pipe Organs, Opus 73

GREAT (unenclosed)

16′ Contra Viola (Swell)

8′ Open Diapason, 49 pipes, 1–12 common with Pedal 8′ Octave

8′ Hohl Flute, 55 pipes, 1–6 common with Swell 8′ Gedeckt

8′ Gedeckt (Swell)

8′ Viola (Swell)

8′ Dulciana, 61 pipes

4′ Octave, 61 pipes

4′ Spitzflute (Swell), 1–12 Swell 8' Gedeckt; 13–61 2′ Flageolet

2′ Fifteenth, 61 pipes

11⁄3′ Mixture III, 183 pipes

16′ Contra Trumpet (Swell)

8′ Trumpet (Swell)

8′ Oboe (Swell)

Zimbelstern

SWELL (enclosed)

16′ Gedeckt, 97 pipes

8′ Gedeckt (ext)

8′ Viola, 85 pipes

8′ Voix Celeste, TC, 49 pipes

4′ Principal, 73 pipes

4′ Stopped Flute (ext)

4′ Viola (ext)

22⁄3′ Nazard, 49 pipes, 1–12 common with Swell 8′ Gedeckt

2′ Octave (ext)

2′ Flageolet, 61 pipes

13⁄5′ Tierce, TC, 37 pipes, top octave repeats

16′ Contra Oboe, TC, 61 pipes

8′ Trumpet, 85 pipes

8′ Oboe (ext)

4′ Clarion (ext)

Tremulant

PEDAL

32′ Resultant (fr 16′ Bourdon)

16′ Bourdon (Swell) 

16′ Contra Viola (ext Swell 8′ Viola) 

8′ Octave, 44 pipes, 1–17 in façade

8′ Gedeckt (Swell) 

8′ Viola (Swell)

4′ Super Octave (ext)

16′ Trombone (Swell)

8′ Trumpet (Swell) 

8′ Oboe (Swell)

4′ Clarion (Swell) 

4′ Oboe Clarion (Swell)

 

Two manuals, 18 ranks, 1,111 pipes

Builder’s website: 

https://quimbypipeorgans.com

Church website: http://allsaintsobx.org

 

Quimby Pipe Organs, Opus 74

Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, Champaign, Illinois: 

Opus 41, Trinity Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Buzard Pipe Organ Builders,

Champaign, Illinois

Opus 41, Trinity Lutheran Church, 

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

 

From the artistic director

Sometimes great new organs result when materials from older instruments are recrafted and repurposed. Many of the best builders throughout history have reused former instruments to varying degrees in their new work. Our Opus 41 began life as a Möller organ, rebuilt and enlarged several times during its history. We happily agreed to reuse the best of the existing materials, all the while considering this project a commission to build a new organ. The façade’s casework, for example, is the original Möller woodwork, redesigned and renewed, now including speaking pipes of the Great and Pedal 8′ Principals.

We respect our clients’ musical and liturgical needs, and the good work of those builders who preceded us. In this case, Trinity Lutheran Church wanted us to build them an organ that would meet the rich musical and liturgical needs of traditional Lutheran worship, honor the gifts of past donors of the existing organ, and respect the deep German heritage of the congregation and the wider community. They loved the tonal depth of our organs, but wondered if we could perhaps stretch our “Anglo-American” style and thereby create a unique work of art—just for them. 

My organ-playing roots go deep into the performance of the great works of Bach, and the exciting “turning of the tables” that the Organ Reform Movement brought to our profession at the time I was just beginning organ study. My love for romantic textures and symphonic registrational colors developed as a synthesis of these colors into the well-precedented framework of classic organbuilding, not from a rejection of the lessons the Organ Reform Movement taught. An organ for Lutheran worship must be classically conceived, with a hierarchical ordering of the divisions and the choruses within those divisions. (Oh . . .  but that’s also how we go about designing an Anglican organ as well . . .) 

The greatest artists throughout history are those who have taken existing styles and stretched them to make their own new style. So it is with styles of organbuilding. It is the classic discipline that we follow (which extends from the pipe scaling and voicing through the use of slider and pallet windchests), which allows us to craft our sound to meet a wide variety of contexts. For example, an organ for Lutheran worship should not be exclusively thin, top-heavy, and screechy (as are many examples of Organ Reform organs); on the other hand, its Principals probably shouldn’t be Diapasons because its music places a greater importance on transparency of tone. A successful organ—style, denomination, and musical use notwithstanding—needs to be able to text-paint the words being sung or the mood being communicated by the composition. A significant part of Lutheran hymnody expresses profound darkness alongside the joyous light of redemption. Therefore, ought not its organ also be able to portray darkness as well as light? Shouldn’t the organ be able to thunder and shake the floor—even when playing softly?

We were blessed to receive a strong endorsement of our work by Kantor Rev. Richard Resch from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and gratefully accepted an invitation to build this organ from Trinity Lutheran Church’s director of music, Brian Heinlein. We were asked to create the quintessential “Lutheran organ” for Trinity parish’s expansive and impressive music program, combining the overall effect of our own “house style” with the specific items that differentiate the two. The result of the full organ, and the ability to make seamless crescendos and diminuendos, is that of a Buzard organ—one simply gets to full organ a bit differently!  Principals are light in nature, flutes transparent. Strings are typically rich and warm, and in one instance explore colors created by tapered pipes. Reeds, while quite similar to those found in our other new work, are slightly adjusted to the nature of what was wanted.

The most recent previous rebuild had been undertaken by the former Schlicker Organ Company. A significant amount of the pipework added during this rebuilding was new. The Schlicker organ used low wind pressures and therefore low cut-ups in the flue pipes. Thus it was economically and artistically responsible to reuse them, altering the scales as appropriate, and cutting the mouths higher to meet the new tonal context. The original Pedal 16′ open wood Diapason was retained, modified with new beards and proper tuning panels. The original Swell/Pedal 16′ Lieblich Gedeckt was too small of scale to do its job, so we made four new pipes, which are mitered and bolted to the ceiling of the Swell expression box. 

Our tonal director, Brian Davis, created this magical synthesis. Even before tonal finishing began, we could all tell that this was going to be a very special organ for everyone concerned. Each of our organs is a custom-designed and custom-built musical instrument, because we draw upon an intimate knowledge of many styles and schools of voicing, as well as aspects of tonal design, for the particular musical contexts at hand. Add to that sensitivity for one’s individual style and you have the making of art.

Ours is one of few modern commercial organbuilding firms that dares to believe it can create a unique place in the profession and its history by developing an individual artistic style. All of our visual and tonal designs, the engineering and execution, are accomplished in-house by our own artists and craftsmen. True, our style is inspired at its core by what some specific instruments have had to say to me. But it is the timeless concepts of classic organbuilding that provide the perfect framework to allow our style to thrive on its own, or be molded, shaped, and finessed to satisfy other contexts. When an organ bears the Buzard name, you know that the Art is never “outsourced!”

—John-Paul Buzard, President & Artistic Director

 

From the tonal director

The project for Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheboygan was full of tonal challenges from the very beginning. We were commissioned to build an organ for the parish that would meet the needs of the Lutheran liturgy as well as perform the huge treasury of music written for the church. On top of that, this instrument also needed to be able to convincingly play more modern and romantic repertoire. The old instrument had been redone several times by various firms and was leaning in the direction of bright and thin. Some stops individually sounded pretty, but had nothing else in the organ with which to blend. Herein was the largest problem of the old instrument. It did not meet the first and foremost requirement in organs that I voice, which is that the stops must blend, blend, blend! A copy of a set of pipes from “Saint So and So” doesn’t automatically mean that it will be successful in a coherent instrument! You can scale things properly so that they will blend, and still capture the essence of the sound you are seeking.

And so we set forth on conceiving a tonal design that would blend well, fill the sanctuary with sound, and satisfy the musical needs of the congregation. Scales needed for the job were drawn up. When old pipes could be fit into the scheme they were reused. Several were liberally rescaled to make them work in the new sound scheme. Where there were gaps in the scaling concept, new pipes were ordered to fill these in. In this way, a pool of properly scaled pipework was ready to be voiced, with the intention of having a bit brighter sound than what we would do otherwise. Nicking is light, and the pipes have a light speech to them, which is charming but never dominates the tone itself. The result is an organ in which the flues are warm and singing and crowned by upperwork that is bright, but does not overshadow the lower pitches. It is very much a concept from the Organ Reform Movement. Many organs in Europe that inspired the Organ Reform Movement are like this and perform as such in their own environment. That is the key! We do not copy what we see and hear in older organs but rather strive to recreate the essence of this sound in our rooms, changing what is necessary about pipe construction in order to achieve this.

The reeds in the organ are what give the instrument its special character. Overall they are brighter than what we normally would use, as the instrument as a whole is also this way. Stops more traditional to what one would find in a Lutheran organ are also employed in the instrument. The Schalmei, Dulzian, and Fagott are all present in the organ as well as a variety of trumpets. Following the concept of creating what is needed, rather than just copying what was done in an organ of the past, led to new sounds coming out of a Buzard organ. Many hours of consulting with our pipe maker, Christoph Ulmer at Killinger Pfeifen Freiberg, went into developing these reeds. He would look at the scale and shallot suggestions I proposed, shake his head and call me a crazy Texan, and then use them to create unique and truly beautiful voices for the organ, which make the instrument so versatile. Only one old reed was of use in the new instrument. The old swell Oboe 4′ had a new bottom octave made for it. The stop was originally too soft to be useful, but the scale and lengths of the pipes were good. The shallots were therefore milled open here at our shop and new tongues were cut so that the revoiced Oboe would sing at an appropriate volume.

Reusing old pipework in a rebuild of an organ is infinitely more difficult than simply starting from scratch with a totally new instrument. I am honored by the trust placed in us by Kantor Richard Resch and the music director at Trinity Lutheran, Brian Heinlein. The support of the entire congregation was wonderful! You will not find better people to work with anywhere. It is my hope that our creation will serve God and them as well for years to come!

—Brian K. Davis, Tonal Director

From the director of music

The organ at Trinity Lutheran Church was first installed by the Möller Organ Company in 1927. Over the next 85 years the instrument was rebuilt or revoiced three different times by three different organ companies. The tonal scheme changed dramatically during that time period as the organ increased in size from 20 to 39 ranks. In the late 1990s, we realized something needed to be done to break the cycle of organ alterations that were being made once every decade. Plans were made to install a completely new instrument, but the project never moved forward.

Ten years later we contacted John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders and asked them for a proposal for an extensive organ renovation that would use the best components of the old organ to craft a new instrument. We desired an instrument that was similar to the neo-baroque sound to which we were accustomed, but with more warmth and foundational pitches than were present in the existing instrument. We also wanted an organ that would last for 100 years without a need for major repairs or modifications. The Buzard Company identified exactly what we were looking for and built us an instrument that exceeded our expectations in every aspect.

Most of the principal chorus and mixtures were reused from the previous instrument. Under the skillful hand of tonal director Brian Davis, the mixtures were voiced to maintain the brilliance we desired, but without being as harsh and strident as they were previously. Many of the existing flutes were also rescaled and revoiced. Prior to renovation, the instrument contained three 8′ flutes that were almost indistinguishable from one another. Today we now have four 8′ flutes with unique timbres and varying dynamic levels. All new strings were also added to the instrument. When the Swell Salizional and flutes are played together, they blend so perfectly that one would think it was a Stopped Diapason.

The most noticeable tonal improvements were made in the reeds. Aside from a reused Oboe, all of the reeds in this instrument are new. The Swell reeds have a fiery brilliance that contrasts nicely with the darker timbre of the reeds in the Great division. Where the previous instrument had all half-length reeds, we now have new full-length 16′ reeds that provide a solid foundation to the new organ sound. While the Festliche Trompete is absolutely thrilling to hear, the new Dulzian is equally as impressive. Its tone is a cross between a Krummhorn and a Clarinet and possesses the best characteristics of each stop.

All of these improvements result in an instrument that looks and sounds as it never has before. Parishioners have commented on how much easier it is to sing with the new organ than with the previous instrument. The sound is clearer and the pitches are in the proper proportions between high and low registers. Through the skillful engineering of Chuck Eames, all 52 ranks of the instrument fit in the same space as the previous instrument, and yet the pipes are more accessible for tuning and maintenance.

As Lutherans, our weekly time together in the Divine Service is filled with sung liturgy and hymns. We have identified the pipe organ as the best instrument to lead congregational singing, as it is able to “text-paint” the hymns in meaningful and varied ways. This project has preserved the best pipework given to us by our predecessors and blended it seamlessly into a new instrument that will serve many generations in the years to come. Soli Deo Gloria.

—Brian Heinlein

Director of Music

 

Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, Opus 41 

Trinity Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

 

GREAT

16′ Lieblich Gedeckt (Sw)

8′ Prinzipal (polished tin in façade)

8′ Rohrflöte

4′ Oktav

4′ Flöte

22⁄3′ Quint

2′ Oktav

Mixtur IV

16′ Englisch Horn

8′ Trompete

Tremulant

Zimbelstern (digital)

Chimes (25 notes, digital)

8′ Festliche Trompete 

    (horizontal inside case)

 

* Festliche Trompete stops are not affected by any couplers in any division, nor by couplers between divisions.

SWELL

16′ Lieblich Gedeckt (wood)

8′ Spitzflöte

8′ Holz Gedeckt (from 16′)

8′ Salizional

8′ Schwebung (TC)

4′ Prinzipal

4′ Kleinflöte

22⁄3′ Nasat

2′ Flachflöte

13⁄5′ Terz

Groß Mixtur IV

16′ Fagott

8′ Trompete

8′ Oboe

4′ Klarine (from 16′)

Tremulant

8′ Festliche Trompete (Gt)

 

POSITIV

8′ Harfenpfeife

8′ Metal Gedeckt

4′ Prinzipal

4′ Blockflöte

Kornet II

2′ Oktav

2′ Pfeife

11⁄3′ Larigot

Zimbel III

8′ Dulzian

Tremulant

16′ Festliche Trompete (Gt)

8′ Festliche Trompete (Gt)

4′ Festliche Trompete (Gt)

 

 

PEDAL

32′ Untersatz (digital)

16′ Holz Prinzipal

16′ Subbass

16′ Lieblich Gedeckt (Sw)

8′ Oktavbass (polished tin in façade)

8′ Gedeckt (ext 16′ Subbass)

8′ Lieblich Gedeckt (Sw)

4′ Choralbass (ext 8′)

4′ Nachthorn

Mixtur IV

32′ Kontra Posaune (digital)

16′ Posaune

16′ Fagott (Sw)

8′ Trompete (ext 16′)

8′ Schalmei

8′ Festliche Trompete (Gt)

 

40 independent speaking stops, 52 ranks across three manuals and pedal

Orgues Létourneau Limitée, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec

Opus 125

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Orgues Létourneau Limitée, 

Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec

Opus 125

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church,

Murfreesboro, Tennessee 

 

From the builder

Whether organbuilder or organist, most of us savor the process of planning for a grand instrument with four or five manuals, multiple 32′ stops, and an extravagant Solo division on heavy wind. But such projects are rare; the development of more modest instruments is undoubtedly a greater exercise of an organ builder’s creativity. Pipe organs should be flexible and colorful no matter what their size; playing even the smallest instruments—and listening to them—should always be a rewarding experience.

Each Létourneau instrument is carefully planned to sit comfortably within its surroundings, not just in terms of its physical size but also in the organ’s tonal inclinations. The pipe organ must be a powerful and expressive tool in the church’s music ministry, so it is hardly unusual to develop and later tweak an organ’s specification to a denominational liturgy or a specific repertoire the organ needs to serve. The instrument at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is an example of these sentiments in practice, with the result that our Opus 125, a small but uncommonly capable pipe organ, fits seamlessly into its new home.

From our first meetings with the organ committee at St. Paul’s, it was clear this dynamic group put a high value on music and quality. The parish itself observed consistent growth throughout the twentieth century and the church’s facilities expanded commensurately, culminating in the dedication of a new sanctuary in 2002 with seating for 300 people. For the sanctuary’s opening, the parish’s aging M. P. Möller unit organ was relocated, though it was clear this was a stopgap solution. The little Möller was out of its depth, and as the church’s organ committee recognized, it needed to be replaced with a larger instrument properly scaled for the worship space.

Sitting in an apse-like space at the front of the sanctuary, the new organ’s casework was designed to complement the surrounding architecture and furnishings, while displaying some influences from the organ cases of Hook & Hastings. The polished tin façade pipes are taken from the bass of the Great 16′ Violonbass in the central flat, while the basses of the Great and Pedal 8′ principals fill in the outer two flats. The instrument is located immediately behind the church’s choir, and one of our goals with the organ’s internal layout was to keep as much of the organ above impost level as possible. Not only does this help the organ project sound unimpeded down the nave, but it equally spares the choir from exposure to excessive decibels.

The Swell division is centered behind the façade where it addresses the room fully; the individual swell shades are 13⁄4 inches thick, and, coupled to a responsive mechanism, the Swell offers a tremendous dynamic range. The lowest octave of the 16′ Bassoon is sited at ground level underneath the Swell, but its full-length resonators rise up such that the pipes speak into the Swell box. Meanwhile, the Great division is divided into two chests—C and C# sides—on either side of the Swell, where its elevated position and the Swell sidewalls actively direct sound down the nave. Like the Swell 16′ Bassoon, the Great 8′ Trompette’s Pedal extension, the 16′ Trombone, features full-length resonators for superior tone.

As with the parish itself, it was a joy to get to know and work with the church’s director of music, Angela Tipps. A student of the legendary Dr. Wilma Jensen, Angela is Professor of Organ at Middle Tennessee State University and is the founding director of the acclaimed Nashville Chamber Singers. Our discussions focused on how we could extract maximum flexibility out of a small instrument, and a collective decision was made early on to build the organ with electro-pneumatic windchests. This cleared the way for the limited number of borrowings and extensions between and within divisions respectively.

The result of our discussions is a stop-list with a wide variety of foundation tone ranging from the delicate Swell 8′ Bourdon to the keen Swell strings to the rich Great 8′ Open Diapason. Out of 23 ranks in the manuals, some 13 ranks play at 8′ or 4′ pitches. Both manual divisions have mild 16′ flue stops that are duplexed to the Pedal; the Swell 16′ Bourdon has a particularly gentle and effective character. The presence of two 8′ trumpet stops in the specification permits a choice in dynamic and color, with the bolder Great 8′ Trompette living up to its French nomenclature. The Pedal division is relatively modest, but with a number of intelligently borrowed stops and elegant balancing between the ranks, there is always more than one choice to balance the manual registrations. Equally, the Pedal’s traditionally dominant role in tutti combinations is pleasingly fulfilled.

The organ is played from a two-manual console, with terraced stopjambs that combine a comfortable playing position with excellent visibility. The console is built with a rigid internal structure and casters to enable mobility within the church’s chancel area. It features a complete system of divisional and general pistons with 256 levels of memory and a general piston sequencer.

No successful organ project is the product of one person or one company, and Opus 125 was no exception. We were assisted at every turn by the good people of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and we would be remiss if we did not single some of them out for thanks. Ed Rogers was a key member of the organ committee and did much of the research and stoplist evaluations that led to us being a frontrunner in their selection process. George Carlson graciously volunteered hours of his time to serve as our man on the ground in Murfreesboro, and we know the organ’s installation was accomplished in record time in no small part due to his tireless coordination. Vestry member and choir member Wendi Watts was another tremendous supporter of the St. Paul’s organ project, whose steadfast resolve to see it through was an inspiration to all of us. Finally, the Rev. Polk Van Zandt listened to the church musicians’ and parishioners’ hopes for a new instrument to enhance worship and to provide new ministry opportunities. Without his invaluable support, the campaign for the new organ would never have been achieved so readily or in such a short period of time.

In closing, organists and organbuilders alike get periodically swept up in emphasizing the number of stops or ranks in a pipe organ rather than the instrument’s essential musical character. Like our clients, we are pleased that our pipe organ for St. Paul’s Church has proved to be as flexible and colorful as anyone could hope. Opus 125 stands as a testament to the faith and vision of St. Paul’s parish; we are collectively delighted that this instrument has so quickly established itself as a key component in St. Paul’s music ministry.

—Fernand Létourneau, President

—Andrew Forrest, Artistic Director

—Dudley Oakes, Vice President for Sales

Orgues Létourneau Limitée

From the organist/director of music

Opus 125’s story began more than ten years ago, when the parish of St. Paul’s built a new worship space. The congregation had outgrown what is now our chapel, and a lovely nave with excellent acoustics was completed in 2002. Funds for a new organ were not included in the capital campaign, however, so the six-rank M.P. Möller Artiste from the old worship space was moved into the nave. Needless to say, the instrument simply could not keep up!

When I became the organist and director of music in 2004, the senior warden of our vestry asked what our options were regarding adding to or replacing the current organ. We obtained a proposal from a builder in our state to renovate and augment “Ethel” (as the Möller had now been named by the choir) and even at a very reasonable $150,000, rebuilding Ethel proved too much for the vestry to add to an already tight budget. It seemed as if an organ project of any kind was out of the question.

It was the determination of Ed Rogers, a choir member who is also an experienced organist, who kept the momentum going. He knew exactly what kind of sound I had in my head and set to work to find a good match. Ed spent countless hours listening to examples from builders’ websites and even visiting churches on his own to narrow the field. 

Ed quickly settled on Létourneau as the right builder for St. Paul’s and took several of us to visit the Abbey of Gethsemani, a Trappist monastery near Bardstown, Kentucky; Christ United Methodist Church in Louisville; and Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Each of these instruments was very different, yet just right for their spaces. I fell in love with their common denominators: warm principals and lush strings. 

The parish received some very generous donations to its small organ fund, and this helped the vestry decide to use these donations as seed money for a new instrument rather than simply repair the Möller. Within a matter of months of launching a new pipe organ campaign, the entire amount was pledged—and all this in the worst economy since the Great Depression!

By the end of 2011, the contract was signed and Opus 125 was being built. The excitement was palpable as Andrew Forrest regularly sent pictures of the progress from the shop. Every few weeks the congregation was greeted in the narthex by pictures of its newest member. We were also fortunate to have choir member George Carlson volunteer to serve as project manager. An ex-Marine, ex-engineer, and ex-verger in the Episcopal Church, George was the perfect person to prepare the site for installation.

On Tuesday, June 19, 2012, the huge truck containing Opus 125 arrived from Canada. More than 50 congregation members met in the parking lot to help unload. After a prayer—in French and in English—everyone from age eight to over 80 carried in those precious pipes. It was a great day in the life of St. Paul’s.

It seems that the instrument was assembled in no time at all, and we all became very attached to Michel, Michel, and Eric from Létourneau. They were very cordial in allowing congregation members to watch, and even let our rector install the last piece! The tremendous care and craftsmanship with which this instrument is built is remarkable: it’s as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. 

The voicing process completely amazed me. The skill and tenaciousness of the voicers to get just the right sound is what makes Opus 125 such a wonderful instrument. With only 26 ranks, certain stops had to play dual roles: the Great 8′ Open Diapason had to serve as a solo stop as well as the foundation of the principal chorus. Likewise, the Swell 8′ Oboe had to be used as a solo stop as well as a light ensemble reed for choral accompanying. To me, that is the beauty of this instrument: each stop maintains its own character while still being part of an ensemble sound. 

It has been a whirlwind year for St. Paul’s. From the dedication service with Bishop John Bauerschmidt celebrating the Eucharist and my teacher Wilma Jensen accompanying the anthems, to a Nashville AGO program for organ and instruments featuring my colleagues from Middle Tennessee State University, to the dedication recital by Sewanee’s Dr. Robert Delcamp—all have been well-received by our parish and community. We even hosted two organ crawls for children: one on the eve of the dedication service for the families of our parish, and another during the school year for our Cub Scout pack. To the people of St. Paul’s, the installation of Opus 125 completes the vision of the “new” nave of 2002.

From the beginning, I wanted an organ that could do three things: lead congregational singing, accompany choral anthems, and play a wide variety of solo organ repertoire. The Létourneau team accomplished all three goals, with only 26 ranks. As Wilma Jensen said when she was preparing to assist with the dedication service, “This is a very flexible instrument, which should accommodate the many needs of the Episcopal liturgy quite well.” Of course, she is absolutely right; I could not have asked for better variety or a more versatile instrument. Colleagues who play Opus 125 consistently mention the lush strings, the soaring flutes, and the warm 8′ principal around which the organ is built: all the sounds I fell in love with many years ago. 

—Angela Tipps

Organist and Director of Music

 

Cover and page 26 photos by Fant Smith; other photos by Kenneth Stein,
www.photosbystein.com

 

Orgues Létourneau Limitée, Opus 125 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

 

GREAT (85mm wind)

16′ Violonbass 61 pipes

8′ Open Diapason 61 pipes

8′ Spindle Flute

  (C1–B24 wood) 61 pipes

8′ Violoncello 12 pipes

4′ Principal 61 pipes

4′ Open Flute 61 pipes

2′ Fifteenth 61 pipes

11⁄3′ Mixture II–IV 213 pipes

22⁄3′ Cornet III (F18 to F54) 111 pipes

8′’ Trompette 66 pipes

SWELL (expressive, 80mm wind)

16′ Bourdon (wood) 61 pipes

8′ Gamba 61 pipes

8′ Voix Celeste (from G8) 54 pipes

8′ Bourdon 12 pipes

4′ Principal 61 pipes

4′ Traverse Flute (harmonic) 61 pipes

2′ Octavin (harmonic) 61 pipes

11⁄3′ Larigot 61 pipes

16′ Bassoon-Oboe (full length) 61 pipes

8′ Trumpet 66 pipes

8′ Oboe 12 pipes

PEDAL

32′ Resultant (derived from 16′ Subbass

  and 16′ Bourdon)

16′ Subbass   (wood, 100mm wind) 32 pipes

16′ Violonbass (Gt)

16′ Bourdon (Sw)

8′ Principal (100mm wind) 32 pipes

8′ Violoncello (Gt)

8′ Bass Flute (from Subbass) 12 pipes

4′ Choral Bass (85mm wind) 32 pipes

16′ Trombone (from Gt 8′ Trompette, 

  full length) 12 pipes

16′ Bassoon-Oboe (Sw)

8′ Trompette (Gt)

 

Full complement of inter- and intramanual couplers

Electro-pneumatic windchests

 

21 independent stops

26 ranks

1,459 pipes