Orgues Létourneau Limitée, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
The Pasquerilla Spiritual Center,
The Pennsylvania State University,
State College, Pennsylvania
The largest worship space of its kind in the United States, the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center at Penn State provides worship space for over 55 different religious groups. Designed by Philadelphia architect James Oleg Kruhly, the worship space evokes a sense of tranquility and dignity without appearing austere. Reflecting these same qualities, the visual design of the new mechanical action pipe organ is the result of a joint effort between Mr. Kruhly and Létourneau. Despite the challenge of designing the instrument around several large HVAC ducts, the organ boasts a responsive key action and excellent tonal projection into the 700-seat worship space.
The tonal design for the organ was developed with the university’s former organ instructor, Ann Marie Rigler, and the result is an instrument that can respond sensitively to both liturgical requirements and organ repertoire. Subsequent to the completion of the instrument, Dr. Rigler was appointed College Organist for William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, but returned to Penn State to perform the organ’s inaugural recital on November 6, 2005. Her program included works by Craig Phillips, William Mathias (with the Penn State Concert Choir, Dr. Lynn Drafall conducting), Jehan Alain, Heinrich Reimann, Joe Utterback, J. S. Bach and Louis Vierne.
The organ features a two-manual and pedal console attached to the lower organ case. The manuals have bone-covered naturals and ebony accidentals, while the pedalboard features maple naturals with ebony accidentals. Stop action throughout is electric, permitting a complete system of pistons with 32 levels of memory.
—Andrew Forrest
GREAT
16’ Bourdon
8’ Principal
8’ Chimney Flute
4’ Octave
4’ Spindle Flute
2’ Super Octave
11⁄3’ Mixture IV–V
22⁄3’ Cornet III
8’ Trumpet
Tremulant
Swell to Great
SWELL (enclosed)
8’ Salicional
8’ Voix Celeste (from G8)
8’ Lieblich Gedackt
4’ Principal
4’ Spire Flute
22⁄3’ Nazard
2’ Flageolet
13⁄5’ Tierce
11⁄3’ Larigot
2’ Mixture IV
16’ Bassoon
8’ Trumpet
4’ Clarion
Tremulant
PEDAL
16’ Principal
16’ Subbass
8’ Octave
8’ Bass Flute
4’ Choral Bass
22⁄3’ Mixture III
16’ Posaune
8’ Trumpet
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
