Cover Feature

Kegg Pipe
Organ Builders, Hartville, Ohio

First United
Methodist Church, Winnsboro, North Carolina

In an organ builder's life there come projects that for one reason or
another always remain close to one's heart. First United Methodist Church of
Winnsboro, South Carolina, is one such project. From the first contact by
consultant Stephen Williams of Allentown, Pennsylvania, to the final day of
tonal finishing, this project was and continues to be a delight to the eye, the
ear, and the heart of this builder.

The organ committee, headed by Jim Gladden, had one goal in mind: to have a
fine instrument that would serve the congregation in all its needs through the
21st century. The room is not large, seating about 300. The acoustic is on the
dry side, but sound travels well in the room. They knew that they did not need
or have room for a large instrument, but they desired an instrument that gave
them maximum musical versatility. Our design has provided them an instrument of
16 ranks and 13 independent stops. These ranks are used carefully to provide an
instrument that seems larger than it is. The previous Estey organ provided
three wood stops that fit well into the new design, namely the Gedeckt,
Hohlflute and Pedal Bourdon. There are no electronic imitation voices in the
organ.

There are several features of particular note in the design. The organ is
installed in a very compact space. I wanted to provide a 16' open flue stop,
and the Viole extension done in Haskell pipes has proven very valuable while
taking up little space. It provides the soft 16' line when used alone and also
adds point to the 16' Bourdon when used in combination. Its use as a double on
the Great adds just the amount of weight needed in a modest room. In order to
provide a strong leading voice in the organ, we have provided a Sesquialtera on
the Great; this is a 37-note stop running from C13 to C49. The pipes of the
22/3' pitch are taken from the bottom 37 pipes of the first rank of the
Mixture. Thus the Sesquialtera only requires the extra space for the small
pipes of the 13/5' rank. This stop can easily lead hymn singing when built
using the principal chorus. When built using flutes, it is a charming solo
voice.

Another feature that furthers the reputation of organ builders as innovators
is the air conditioning ducts. The previous organ had large A/C grilles
directly on the front of the case, blowing out over the heads of the choir
members. These had to stay and were not negotiable in the deep South, and being
a chorister myself, I could completely understand the request. But what to do?
I couldn't have grilles on the new case, or so I thought. Another look at the
case and you will find that there are indeed A/C grilles on the front in the
form of quatrefoils just below the impost.

This organ is installed in the existing chamber that opens out through the
right of three arches. The space available was 6' deep, 13' wide at the front
and 16' wide at the back. The height of the chamber went above the opening creating
a tone pocket that would hinder sound egress. The solution was to build a swell
box in the chamber, eliminating the excess space above the tone opening and
with it the tone pocket. The entire organ is under one expression except the
Great Principal 8', the Pedal Bourdon 16' and the chimes. While the organ is
very dense in the space available, all parts and pipes are easily accessible
for tuning and maintenance. The largest pipes of the wood Pedal Bourdon are
laying on the floor under the main chest. The blower is in a dedicated space in
the basement under the organ.

The stepped terrace drawknob console is what we normally provide with our
two-manual organs. It is very compact and easy to see over, and is fitted with
bone and rosewood keys as is our custom. The combination system by Z-Tronics
provides piston range and copy functions along with archive of memory levels to
disk. There is also a performance sequencer.

The organ was dedicated in concert on November 10, 2002 by consultant
Stephen Williams. I would like to acknowledge the organ committee chaired by
Jim Gladden, organist Esther Baughman, and Al Williams, without whom this
project would not have been possible. The people of First United Methodist
Church embraced the new organ from beginning to end in a way that brought
uncommon joy to the Kegg company. We were indeed honored to have been chosen.
We would invite you to stop and see this instrument when you find yourself in
the Charlotte or Columbia area.

--Charles Kegg

GREAT

9
ranks, 6 stops, 549 pipes

16' Violone
style='mso-tab-count:1'> 73 pipes

8' Prestant*
style='mso-tab-count:2'> 61
pipes

8' Hohlflute
style='mso-tab-count:2'> 73
existing pipes

8' Viole
(ext 16' Violone)

8' Viole
Celeste TC (Sw)

4' Octave
61
pipes

4' Gedeckt
(Sw)

2' Flute
(ext Hohlflute)

II Sesquialtera
style='mso-tab-count:1'> 37
pipes & from Mixture

IV Mixture
style='mso-tab-count:1'> 244 pipes

8' Trumpet
(Sw)

Chimes
(existing)

Great
4

Swell
to Great 16

Swell
to Great 8

Swell
to Great 4

*Unenclosed

SWELL

6
ranks, 6 stops, 390 pipes

8' Gedeckt
style='mso-tab-count:2'> 73
existing pipes

8' Viole
(Gt Violone)

8' Viole
Celeste TC 49
pipes

4' Principal
style='mso-tab-count:2'> 73
pipes

4' Hohlflute
(Gt)

22/3' Nazard
TC (ext Quinte)

2' Octave
(ext 4')

11/3' Quinte
49
pipes

16' Contra
Trumpet 85
pipes

8' Trumpet
(ext)

8' Oboe
style='mso-tab-count:2'> 61
pipes

4' Clarion
(ext)

Tremulant

Swell
to Swell 16

Swell
Unison Off

Swell
to Swell 4

PEDAL

1
rank, 1 stop, 44 pipes

32' Resultant
(from Bourdon)

16' Bourdon
style='mso-tab-count:2'> 44
existing pipes

16' Violone
(Gt)

8' Prestant
(Gt)

8' Bourdon
(ext)

8' Viole
(Gt)

8' Gedeckt
(Sw)

4' Octave
(Gt 8')

16' Trumpet
(Sw)

8' Trumpet
(Sw)

4' Oboe
(Sw)

Great
to Pedal 8

Great
to Pedal 4

Swell
to Pedal 8

Swell
to Pedal 4

Tonal Resources

13
stops

16
ranks

983
pipes

Accessories

Expression
Pedal with indicator

Dual
level Crescendo Pedal with numeric ndicator

Concave
and radiating pedal clavier

Adjustable
Bench

Full
Organ indicator light

Combination
lock with indicator

Transposer

Performance
Sequencer

Photo credit: Charles Kegg

Kegg Pipe Organ Builders

1184 Woodland St. SW

Hartville, OH 44632

330/966-2499

www.keggorgan.com

Muller Pipe Organ Company, Croton, Ohio

First English
Lutheran Church, Mansfield, Ohio

Muller Pipe Organ Company has completed installation of the III/50 organ at
the First English Lutheran Church of Mansfield, Ohio. M. P. Möller
installed the original organ in 1950 (Opus 7997), and made tonal additions in
1961. In the 1980s, minor stopgap repairs were completed, and the Great 8'
Principal and 4' Octave ranks were replaced. In recent years, the condition of
the windchests and console had deteriorated nearly to the point of failure.

In addition to the new pipework, select ranks of the existing pipework were
restored, then revoiced and rebalanced to serve in new capacities within the
ensemble of the new instrument. The Great Organ now features a robust principal
chorus of new pipework, a full complement of flutes and strings, and a fiery
Trompette. The Swell Organ boasts a secondary principal chorus and a battery of
chorus reeds. The Choir Organ is both the most intimate and most colorful
division of the instrument, containing a flute-based Cornet and the sonorous
Clarinet from the original organ. The Antiphonal Organ (the Great principal
chorus in the original instrument) helps support congregational singing for
those seated in the rear of the nave. Due to its relatively poor placement,
this pipework was substantially revoiced and regulated to speak on much higher
wind pressure to insure adequate volume. The Pedal Organ, with its independent
principal chorus and powerful Posaune, provides an exciting foundation for the
instrument. From the softest stops to full organ, the instrument is versatile
and exciting, a wonderful example of the American Classic tradition.

The church completed significant renovations to the chancel area while work
was in progress at our facility. The new area is much more flexible, providing
a suitable space for orchestras or large choirs. Acoustics were improved by
replacing the plush carpeting in the chancel with hardwood flooring. In
addition, substantially improved tonal projection was achieved by removing the
original plaster wall that served as the front of the organ chamber and
replacing it with grille cloth.

The entire playing mechanism is new, with the exception of selected offset
windchests, replacing a problematic Möller mechanism. The beautiful
original console cabinet was refinished and fitted with wheels, and is playable
from three locations in the chancel. The ivory and ebony manual keyboards and
the pedal keyboard were restored. New solid-state operating systems were
installed, including MIDI with record/playback capability, as well as new
drawknob and tilting tablet assemblies. A custom music rack was built,
featuring walnut with bird's eye maple inlay, and a new adjustable bench with
backrest was provided.

For his invaluable contributions to the development of the specification, we
extend special thanks to Dr. Timothy E. Guenther, director of music and
organist of First English Lutheran Church (ELCA), and adjunct instructor in
organ and university organist, Ashland University of Ashland, Ohio.

--John Muller

Photo by Steven Elbert

GREAT

16' Violone

8' Principal

8' Bourdon

8' Viola

8' Erzähler

8' Erzähler
Celeste TC

4' Octave

4' Rohrflöte

2' Super
Octave

IV Mixture

8' Trompette

Chimes

Tremolo

SWELL (expressive)

16' Waldflöte

8' Geigen
Principal

8' Waldflöte

8' Salicional

8' Voix
Celeste TC

4' Geigen
Principal

4' Spillflöte

22/3' Nazard

2' Flageolet

III Plein
Jeu

16' Bassoon

8' Trumpet

8' Oboe

8' Vox
Humana

4' Clairon

Tremolo

CHOIR (expressive)

8' Rohrflöte

8' Dulciana

8' Unda
Maris TC

4' Principal

4' Koppelflöte

4' Dulciana

22/3' Nazard

2' Blockflöte

13/5' Tierce

11/3' Quint

8' Clarinet

Tremolo

ANTIPHONAL (expressive)

8' Principal

8' Spitzflöte

4' Octave

4' Spitzflöte

2' Fifteenth

III Mixture

PEDAL

16' Diapason

16' Bourdon

16' Waldflöte

16' Violone

102/3' Quint

8' Diapason

8' Bourdon

8' Waldflöte

8' Viola

4' Choral
Bass

4' Bourdon

II Mixture

16' Posaune

16' Bassoon

8' Posaune

8' Trumpet

4' Rohrschalmei

Chimes

Couplers

Gt/Gt
16-UO-4

Sw/Gt
16-8-4

Ch/Gt
16-8-4

Ant/Gt
8-4

MIDI/Gt

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Sw/Sw
16-UO-4

Ant/Sw
8

MIDI/Sw

Ch/Ch
16-UO-4

Sw/Ch
16-8-4

Ant/Ch
8

MIDI/Ch

Gt/Ped
8-4

Sw/Ped
8-4

Ch/Ped
8-4

Ant/Ped
8

MIDI/Ped

Carillon
I

Carillon
II

John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders
of Champaign, Illinois, has built a new organ for St. Bartholomew Episcopal
Church, Estes Park, Colorado. Our opus 30 was installed during March, 2004,
ready for Palm Sunday, about a month ahead of the contracted schedule.

The church is a simple log cabin structure about 7,500 feet up in the Rocky
Mountains. The view of snow-capped Long's Peak through the plate glass window
behind the altar (along with the thin air) literally takes one's breath away.
Folks who have made their lives in this rugged terrain are used to doing things
pretty much for themselves, and in their own time. Witness their former pipe
organ, fondly nicknamed "Little Toot." This homemade three-rank
instrument (Diapason, Dulciana, Flute) served the congregation for many, many
years, until its deteriorating mechanical condition begged for replacement. The
old organ had been located in a cramped balcony projecting over the last four
rows of pews. It was too small for a choir, or for a pipe organ of adequate
size. The ceiling under the balcony was covered with acoustic tile, which at
best discouraged anyone seated there from singing. We began our conversations
with the church four years ago.

Folks who have made this church their parish home were also used to things
just the way they were, and so it was remarkable that they ultimately agreed to
remove the balcony, locate the organ in the elevated area over the narthex, and
provide space for a choir on the main floor of the nave. The instrument and the
reconfiguration of the space looks natural and relaxed, as though it had always
been that way.

The organ is small, but beautiful things come in small packages! The
instrument has a complete Principal chorus on the Great, flute choruses, a
string and celeste, as well as independent manual and pedal reeds. It is
intended to lead hymn-singing, accompany singers and other musicians, and play
voluntaries before and after services. The altitude was taken into account in
the organ's scaling, voicing, and engineering. The result is that, even though
small in the number of stops, it fills the building with a rich, full sound,
even when playing softly. The visual design plays upon the earth-tone colors in
the room, and the roof line. The organ speaks unimpeded down the axis of the
building.

Thanks to The Rev. M. Paul Garrett, rector; Martha Sandford, organ consultant;
and to The Rev. Al Persons, who, with his late wife Marcia, guaranteed the
purchase of the organ. Thanks also to the dedicated members of my staff who
make every project a special and life's work undertaking: Charles Eames,
executive vice-president; Brian Davis, associate tonal director; Keith
Williams, director of service; Shayne Tippett, production manager; Jay Salmon,
office manager; Stuart Martin, cabinetmaker; C. Robert Leach, cabinetmaker;
Kenneth McCabe, cabinetmaker; Stephen Downes, tonal assistant; Evan Rench,
pipemaker, tonal assistant, tonal department scheduling; Ray Wiggs, consoles,
windchests, wiring; Bob Ference, service technician; Jonathan Borchardt,
service technician; Stuart Weber, service technician; JoAnne Hutchcraft Rench,
receptionist, administrative assistant.

--John-Paul Buzard

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Buzard Opus 30: 14 stops, 17 ranks, across two manuals and
pedal; voiced on 4 inches wind pressure

GREAT

8' Open
Diapason (polished tin in façade)

8' Flûte
à Bibéron (metal chimney flute)

4' Principal

2' Recorder

11/3' Mixture
IV

Tremulant

Gt
16-UO-4

Sw/Gt
16-8-4

SWELL (expressive)

8' Stopped
Diapason

8' Salicional

8' Voix
Celeste

4' Spire
Flute

2' Principal

8' Minor
Trumpet

Tremulant

Sw
16-UO-4

PEDAL

16' Bourdon
(stoppered, wood)

8' Principal
(polished tin in façade)

8' Bass
Flute (ext)

4' Choral
Bass (ext)

16' Bassoon

Gt/Ped
8-4

Sw/Ped
8-4

Andover Organ Company, 

Lawrence, Massachusetts

Opus R-345, Christ Episcopal Church, Charlottesville, Virginia

From the builder

In projects, journeys, and lives, there are milestone events that mark progress or achievements. The dedication of Andover Opus R-345 at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, was such an event. It was a milestone for three long journeys: the completion of a seven-year project for Andover; the culmination of a decade-long sanctuary renovation process for Christ Church; and the latest chapter in the 143-year odyssey of a resilient New England organ.

With their simplicity and durability, it is not unusual for well-made old tracker organs to outlast the buildings or congregations for which they were originally made. Happily, they can often be relocated and repurposed to fit the musical needs and budget of a new owner. At Andover, we tune and maintain a large number of 19th-century instruments which are now in their second, third, or fourth homes.

The saga of the Christ Church organ certainly illustrates this! The core of the instrument is a three-manual, 29-stop organ built in 1869 by E. & G. G. Hook of Boston as their Opus 472 and originally installed in Grace Episcopal Church in Chicago, Illinois. In 1902, it was moved to another Grace Episcopal Church, in Oak Park, Illinois. In 1922, it was sold to the Third Congregational Church of Oak Park, where it was rebuilt and electrified by Nicholas Doerr of Chicago. The organ was next moved to St. Ludmilla’s Catholic Church in Chicago, probably in 1937 when the Third Congregational Church merged with another congregation. When St. Ludmilla’s closed in 1991, the organ was put into storage. Andover’s Robert C. Newton, a nationally recognized authority on Hook organs, learned of the organ’s availability and purchased it. Opus 472 then made the long journey back to Massachusetts, where it sat in storage, awaiting its fifth home.

Meanwhile, Christ Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, had formed an organ committee to find a replacement for their failing 50-year-old electro-pneumatic organ. That organ had been cobbled together from a variety of used and new parts, and the builder had gone out of business before the organ was finished. Concurrently, plans were begun for a complete renovation of the sanctuary. After much study, the committee determined that the best location for the new instrument would be at the front of the church, to speak directly towards the congregation. This was confirmed by each builder that the committee interviewed during the selection process. 

Being responsible stewards of the church’s resources, the organ committee also researched the option of installing a rebuilt used organ. They determined that if the original organ was a well-made, quality instrument, the end result could be equal, or in some cases superior, to a new organ—yet at significantly less cost. John Whiteside, who became Christ Church’s music director in 2005, contacted us and learned of E. & G. G. Hook Opus 472. Built in 1869, the organ dated from the “golden period” (1850s–1870s) of the firm’s instruments. 

Because the organ had lost its original case, console, structure, action, and wind system during its travels, the surviving Hook pipes and windchests could easily be rearranged to fit the available space in Christ Church. The most essential parts of any organ are the pipes, which define its tonal signature, and the windchests, which influence how the pipes speak and blend.

The Hook firm was one of 19th-century America’s premier organ builders. Their instruments, highly regarded for their mechanical and tonal excellence, were designed and voiced to work well in the dry acoustics of American churches. Though we at Andover build modern instruments designed to serve the needs of today’s church musicians, we draw insight and inspiration from the surviving work of the brothers Elias (1805–1881) and George Greenleaf (1807–1880) Hook and their successor, Francis Hastings (1836–1916). We have been privileged to work on many of their important surviving instruments, including their monumental 101-rank 1875 masterpiece, Opus 801, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, and the famous 1876 “Centennial Exposition” organ, Opus 828, now in St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo.

After careful deliberation, the committee recommended that Christ Church purchase and install Hook Opus 472—which would be completely renovated, rebuilt, and enlarged by Andover—at the front of the church surrounding the rose window. This proposal was approved by the church’s vestry, and in April 2005 a contract was signed. 

The rebuilding work started in 2007, with Ben Mague as project team leader. The Hook pipes were restored and the windchests rebuilt and enlarged to accommodate additional stops. New and vintage ranks, scaled and voiced to be compatible with the original Hook stops, were added to augment the organ’s tonal palette. Ben Mague and Michael Eaton engineered a new console, structure, action, and wind system to fit the renovated chancel area. The new casework was designed by Donald Olson. Noted church architect Terry Eason prepared the plans for the sanctuary renovation.

The organ is laid out with the Swell on the left, the unenclosed Choir in the center, and the Great on the right. The Pedal stops are divided among these three locations. The bass of the Pedal reed is behind the Swell, its treble and all of the 16′ Subbass are behind the Choir, and the Double Open Diapasons are behind the Great. 

The organ’s white oak casework was built in our shop. We take great care to design the exterior of each instrument to complement the architecture of its surroundings. Thus, the blind Byzantine arches of the lower casework were patterned after the existing chancel side wall woodwork. The polished tin façade pipes comprise the lowest notes of the Great 8′ Open Diapason and the Pedal 8′ Violoncello. The detached oak console has walnut interior woodwork and a walnut swirl veneered music rack. The pau ferro drawknobs, with 19th-century-style oblique heads with inset engraved labels, are arranged in stepped terraces. The center-pivoted manual keys have bone-plated naturals and ebony sharps.

The manual key action is mechnical, as are all the couplers. To facilitate the positioning of the Pedal pipes in the most advantageous spaces, all of the Pedal stops are on electro-pneumatic unit chests that we designed and built. The stop action is electric. The Solid State Organ Systems combination action, with 100 memory levels and a piston sequencer, affords the player seamless control of the organ’s resources. 

While the rebuilding was underway, Christ Church’s rector departed for another parish. The church postponed the fund-raising for the sanctuary renovations and turned its attention to finding a new rector. Thankfully, during this period a parish donor continued to fund the organ’s rebuilding so the project would not lose momentum. 

The completed instrument was unveiled at an open house at our shop on November 6, 2010. Although the organ was ready, the church was not. Bids had not yet been received for the chancel renovations. It was discovered that part of a rock ledge beneath the chancel would have to be removed to permit excavation for a basement to house HVAC equipment and the organ blower. This increased the scope of the project.

The organ sat, playable, in our shop until May 2011 when, needing that space for other projects, we shipped it to Charlottesville and stored it in the church parish hall. The chancel renovations were finally begun in the fall of that year and nearly finished when we started the organ’s installation in January 2012. Parts of the organ were playable by Easter, when it was first used. The remaining flues and all the reeds were installed and regulated during the following months. On Friday evening, October 5, 2012, noted organ recitalist and recording artist Bruce Stevens played the dedicatory program to a large and excited congregation. It was a milestone event, the happy ending to a long road!

Just as a great organ is the sum of its parts, a great organ company is the sum of its people. We are blessed to have a team of seventeen dedicated craftspeople who, collectively, have over 400 years of organbuilding experience. Those who worked on Opus R-345 were Ryan Bartosiewicz, Matthew Bellocchio, Anne Doré, Michael Eaton, Don Glover, Al Hosman, Lisa Lucius, Benjamin Mague, David Michaud, Tony Miscio, Fay Morlock, John Morlock, Robert Newton, Donald Olson, Casey Robertson, Jonathan Ross, Craig Seaman, and David Zarges.

—Matthew M. Bellocchio

Andover Organ Company

Photos © William T. Van Pelt

 

Testimonials

It really is a wonderful organ! I’m playing everything from Franck to Rheinberger to Bach . . . and all of these different-style pieces sound really very fine. I find the key action quite graceful to play. Because so many of the sounds are the golden-period Hook sounds we love, we’re thrilled to have such an organ in Virginia—at long last. Thanks for all that you have done to provide this special, magnificent instrument to a location in our state. The only big disappointment is that it’s not here in Richmond!

—Bruce Stevens

University of Richmond

 

Thanks for the good work . . . and for giving Virginia an E. & G. G. Hook organ. I believe it is the only organ in the state to have most of its tonal components arising from the brothers Hook during their control of the company.

—William T. Van Pelt

Retired Executive Director 

Organ Historical Society

First Baptist Church, Ocala, Florida

 

The Wicks Organ Co., Highland, Illinois, Opus 6382

 

In 1992, First Baptist Church of Ocala, Florida began a process of rebirth after a fire claimed all they had: furnishings, libraries, a concert grand piano, a Skinner pipe organ, choir robes, hymnals and Bibles. The congregation built a new 2,800-seat facility, which is one of the largest churches in Ocala. The final step of their rebuilding process was bringing a pipe organ into the new building.

David Kocsis, Wicks Area Sales Director writes:

Among the unique features of this project, the organ was to be a gift from a non-member--but one whose daughter and son-in-law were members. Secondly, the church provided a single sheet outlining their requirements for this instrument. The organ was to be a "supplemental" instrument, used mostly to enhance the 25-piece orchestra and 180-voice choir. It would also, upon occasion, be used as a recital instrument. They wanted an instrument of the "American Classic" school with the following characteristics incorporated: four-manual drawknob console; multiple Principal choruses; plentiful and opulent strings; a variety of flute choruses and solo stops; reeds to complement the overall instrument and offer solo opportunities; a Pedal division that offers strong, solid underpinning with at least two 32’ stops; a Trompette-en-Chamade of polished copper with flared bells; exposed pipework across entire chamber area (52 ft.) to eliminate existing latticework and grillwork; preparation on console for Chimes and Zimbelstern; MIDI capability.

Our proposal was for an instrument of 74 pipe ranks over five divisions with an additional four 32-foot computer-generated stops in the Pedal division, using the Walker Paradox system. The plan also called for (at the direction of the church) preparations for an 11-rank Solo division, and a 9-rank Antiphonal division.

We decided early on that Daniel Angerstein would tonally finish the instrument. Although First Baptist, Ocala was not a bad room, the irregular shape and carpeting did not make it acoustically live, either. Our factory-trained technician in Florida, Mr. Robert Campbell, would handle the  installation.

The specification for the instrument was a joint venture design involving Area Director David Kocsis, his associate Herb Ridgely, and voicer Dan Angerstein. After the contract was signed in late November, 1998, the three members of the design team met at the church to study the acoustics, room layout, chamber space, etc., so that detailed design work could begin. On the drive back to Atlanta, the pipe scales for the organ were discussed and finalized. The entire organ would be on 5" wind pressure with the notable exception of the Trompette-en-Chamade, which was to be on 10" wind pressure, and the Choir division English Tuba on 12". In order to "ring" the room, the Great 8' Principal would be built to a 40 scale, and the Great 8' Montre a 42 scale. One of the features of the design is the placement of the lowest pipes of the Pedal 16' Open Wood in the organ facade, stained to match the rest of the woodwork in the sanctuary. This placement allows the most profound of 16-foot foundation tone immediate access to the room. Of particular interest in the Walker system designed for this organ is that the computer-generated harp in the Choir can also be used with the Tremulant, providing a vibraharp sound.

There are several ancillary console controls that enhance ease of playing such a massive console, and also add facility to the instrument. These include: Pedal, Solo and Swell Melody couplers to the Great, all Swells to Swell, all Mixtures Off, all 32's Off, All Reeds Off, and All Celestes Off. To allow maximum visibility and eye contact between the organist and the minister of music, all inter-manual couplers were placed in the stop jambs, rather than on a coupler rail. This resulted in a console somewhat wider than normal (slightly over 8 feet). There are eight divisional pistons and 15 General pistons with 32 levels of memory. A 13-position transposer is included. The main body of the casework is painted semi-gloss off white, again matching the main color in the sanctuary. The whole idea was to give the impression that the building and the organ had been conceived as an integral whole.

The first of two truckloads of pipe organ arrived in Ocala on March 22, 2000, and the second truck arrived on April 12. Installation was completed on June 3 and voicing of the instrument in the room began on June 5. The logistical problems associated with installing a large pipe organ are many. The crew faced a 52-foot facade that begins 12' above the top choir riser and extends upward to accommodate full length 16-foot metal Principals and full length 16-foot Open Wood pipes. Bob Campbell's crew had scaffolding from floor to ceiling that would cover one of the four sections, and it took a considerable amount of careful planning to insure that all work was completed on one bay before tearing down the scaffolding and moving it to the next location.

From the beginning of the installation, the entire organ facade was covered every Sunday during church services so that the completed installation could be unveiled at one time. This occasion occurred on Sunday, June 4, 2000. The Sanctuary was dimly lit, and at the appropriate time, the entire organ facade was lit by a battery of specially placed lighting. This was only the prelude--the organ was heard for the first time by the congregation on July 2.

We at Wicks thank the committee and staff of first Baptist Church of Ocala for placing their trust in us to build an instrument according to their wishes. In particular, we would like to thank Dr. Ed Johnson, Sr. Pastor; Mr. Terry Williams, Minister of Music; and Mr. Larry Kerner, Chair of the Organ Committee. The entire congregation placed its confidence in us from the outset, and was extremely helpful from the beginning of the detailed design process through the installation. Several members of the church also volunteered their time and talents to help with the installation, especially with fitting and trimming of the facade to accommodate slight building irregularities. This really was a "team" effort, and everyone should be very proud of the results.

The dedication of the new IV/74 instrument at the First Baptist Church of Ocala, FL will be held on Sunday, September 24, 2000, featuring John Weaver, organ chair at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and The Julliard School of Music in New York City.

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GREAT

1. 16' Montre

2. 16'    Bourdon

3. 8' Principal

4. 8' Montre (from #1)

5. 8' Flute Couverte

6. 8' Flute Harmonique

7. 4' Octave

8. 8' Gemshorn

9. 4' Nachthorn

10. 22/3' Twelfth

11. 2' Fifteenth

12. 2' Hohlflute (from #6)

13. 13/5' Seventeenth

14. IV-V Fourniture

15. IV Cymbale

16. 16' Kontra Trompete (from #17)

17. 8' Trompete

18. 8' Trompete en Chamade (10≤ w.p.)

19. Tremulant (Flutes)

20. Chimes [D]

21. Zimbelstern

22. Pedal Bass Coupler to Great

23. Swell Melody Coupler to Great

24. Solo Melody Coupler to Great

25. MIDI on Great

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SWELL (Enclosed)

26. 16' Bourdon Doux

27. 8' Geigen Principal

28. 8' Rohrflute (from #26)

29. 8' Viola Pomposa

30. 8' Viola Celeste

31. 8' Flauto Dolce

32. 8' Dolce Celeste TC

33. 4' Prestant

34. 4' Flauto Traverso

35. 22/3' Nazard

36. 2' Quarte de Nazard

37. 13/5' Tierce

38. IV-V Plein Jeu

39. III-IV Cymbale

40. 16' Contre Trompette

41. 8' Trompette

42. 8' Oboe

43. 8' Vox Humana

44. 4' Clairon (from #40)

45. 8' English Tuba (Ch)

46. 8' Trompette en Chamade (Gt)

47. Tremulant

48. MIDI On Swell

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CHOIR (Enclosed)

49. 16' Gemshorn [D]

50. 8' English Diapason

51. 8' Flute Ouverte

52. 8' Gemshorn

53. 8' Gemshorn Celeste TC

54. 4' Principal

55. 4' Koppelflute

56. 2' Principal

57. 11/3' Larigot

58. 1' Principal (from #56)

59. II Sesquialtera

60. IV-V Scharf

61. 16' Dulzian (from #62)

62. 8' Cromorne

63. 4' Rohr Schalmei

64. 16' English Tuba TC (from #65)

65. 8' English Tuba (12≤ w.p.)

66. 8' Trompette en Chamade (Gt)

67. 8' Harp [D]

68. 4' Harp Celesta [D]

69. Tremulant

70. MIDI On Choir

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SOLO (Enclosed)

15 Prepared Stops

71. 16' Trompette en Chamade TC (Gt)

72. 8' Trompette en Chamade (Gt)

73. 4' Trompette en Chamade (Gt)

74. 16' English Tuba TC (Ch)

75. 8' English Tuba (Ch)

76. 4' English Tuba (Ch)

77. MIDI On Solo

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ANTIPHONAL (Floating)

12 Prepared Stops

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ANTIPHONAL PEDAL

1 Prepared Stop

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PEDAL

78. 32' Contra Principal [D]

79. 32' Contra Bourdon [D]

80. 16' Open Wood

81. 16' Bourdon

82. 16' Principal

83. 16' Montre (Gt)

84. 16' Bourdon Doux (Sw)

85. 16' Gemshorn (Ch)

86. 8' Octave

87. 8' Major Bass (from #80)

88. 8' Bourdon (from #81)

89. 8' Viola (Sw)

90. 8' Open Flute (Ch)

91. 62/5' Gross Terz (Gt)

92. 51/3' Gross Quinte (Gt)

93. 4' Choral Bass

94. 4' Cantus Flute

95. 2' Flute (from #94)

96. IV Grave Mixture

97. IV Acuta

98. 32' Contra Bombarde [D]

99. 32' Contra Fagotto [D]

100. 32' Cornet des Bombardes IV

101. 16' Bombarde

102. 16' Contre Trompette (Sw)

103. 16' Kontra Trompete (Gt)

104. 16' Dulzian (Ch)

105. 8' Trompette

106. 8' Trompete (Gt)

107. 8' Oboe (Sw)

108. 4' Bombarde Clarion (from #101)

109. 4' Oboe (Sw)

110. 4' Schalmei (Ch)

111. 8' Trompette en Chamade (Gt)

112. 8' English Tuba (Ch)

113. Chimes (Gt)

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[D] = Digital Ranks

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Couplers

Sw/Gt 16 8 4

Ch/Gt 16 8 4

So/Gt 16 8 4

Ant on Gt

So/Sw 16 8 4

Ant on Sw

Sw/Ch 16 8 4

So/Ch 16 8 4

Ant on Ch

Ant on So

Gt 16 UO

Sw 16 UO 4

Ch 16 UO 4

So 16 UO 4

Ant UO 4

Gt/Ped 8 4

Sw/Ped 8 4

Ch/Ped 8 4

So/Ped 8 4

Ant/Ped 8

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Charles M. Ruggles, Conifer, Colorado, has built a new organ for The Randolph Church, Randolph, New Hampshire. The organ is designed on classic models typical of instruments found in New England and European churches; two manuals and pedal, mechanical action. Its structural and tonal characteristics make it suitable for the needs of The Randolph Church--for service playing, accompanying congregational singing, and playing a wide segment of standard organ literature. The case features cherry wood frame, redwood panels, and walnut trim. The Rohrflöte 8 and Octave 2 are common between the two manuals; the Bourdon 16 is an extension of the Bourdon 8. Manual compass 56 notes, pedal compass 30 notes; standard AGO pedalboard. Couplers, operated by foot levers, include Great to Pedal, Swell to Pedal, and Swell to Great.

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GREAT

                  8'             Principal

                  8'             Rohrflöte

                  4'             Octave

                  2'             Octave

                                    Mixture

                                    Sesquialtera II (from middle c)

SWELL

                  8'             Rohrflöte

                  8'             Gamba (tenor C)

                  4'             Flute

                  2'             Octave

                  8'             Dulcian

PEDAL

                  16'          Bourdon

                  8'             Bourdon

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B. Rule & Company, New Market, Tennessee, has rebuilt and installed a Hook & Hastings organ for Covenant Baptist Church, Houston, Texas. Built by Hook & Hastings in 1893 for First Baptist Church of Georgetown, Kentucky, the organ was removed from this church in 1963. It was owned for many years by David Bottom, of Lexington, Kentucky, who set it up in several different locations before carefully putting it in storage several years ago. B. Rule recommended the organ to Covenant Baptist Church, who bought it from David Bottom. Compass: 58/27.

B. Rule & Co. rebuilt the organ, including a complete rebuild of the chests and bellows and re-covering the manual keys with bone. The hand-pumping mechanism was also restored. Two changes were made: the Dulciana was replaced with a 2' Fifteenth, and the Oboe was extended to full compass from its previous tenor C status.

The small new sanctuary has a concrete floor and live acoustics, creating an environment which encourages congregational singing. The acoustical consultant was Charles Boner. The organist of the church is Carl McAliley, who played a joint dedication recital with Bruce Power on March 4.

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GREAT

                  8'             Open Diapason

                  8'             Melodia

                  4'             Octave

                  2'             Fifteenth

SWELL

                  8'             Stopped Diapason

                  8'             Viola (1-12 from St. Diap)

                  4'             Harmonic Flute

                  8'             Oboe

PEDAL

                  16'          Bourdon

Accessories

                                    Sw/Gt

                                    Gt/Ped

                                    Sw/Ped

                                    Sw/Gt Octaves

                                    Tremolo

                                    Blower Signal

 

A. E. Schlueter Pipe Organ Company, Lithonia, Georgia

First Presbyterian Church, Savannah, Georgia

The new pipe organ for First Presbyterian Church, Savannah, Georgia is a custom-built instrument comprising 47 ranks of pipes with an eclectic specification paying homage to the American Classic school of organbuilding. A core concept of our company’s tonal ideal is “to design instruments that have warmth but not at the expense of clarity and clarity not at the expense of warmth.” We believe this to be one of the most important considerations in an instrument that draws its lineage from the organbuilding schools of Germany, France, and England. Of utmost concern was adequate support of the choir and congregation taking into account the acoustics of the church and the literature required of the organ in this worship setting.

The church musicians and organ committee had a clear vision for the type of organ they desired for worship when they contacted our firm three years ago. They listened to many instruments in order to define their ideals. Certain styles of organ design were clearly not suitable for First Presbyterian. Ultimately, they gravitated toward the collective work of Aeolian-Skinner circa 1940s–1950s as directed by G. Donald Harrison. As our firm worked with the church to develop a specification, it was decided that our work was to be in the spirit of this great builder but not a stop for stop copy. Key points of departure are found in the presence of an 8' Principal chorus in each manual division, a more dominant Choir division than would have been found in the period, and the choice of English reeds. Many of our decisions were guided by voicing sample pipes in the church prior to construction of the organ. While setting samples in the church it became evident that the French reeds often found on a Harrison-era organ would not be suitable in this acoustical environment.

During the planning and tonal finishing stages of the organ we worshipped with the choir and congregation in order to gauge critical balances and dynamic levels. We were also able to use the talents of the church musicians and other Savannah organists, each bringing their own playing and registration style to the instrument. This has been very important in the sound of the organ as it is heard in its final form.

A primary challenge was where the organ would be located. The church was built in the late 1940s and was designed to be enlarged by removing the front chancel wall. Until this came to pass, a temporary front chancel wall was built containing a large stained glass window depicting the Stations of the Cross. As the dream of a pipe organ lay dormant for many years, the congregation grew to accept the chancel design with its stained glass window and stone arch as key elements of the sanctuary. These elements were a cornerstone of the visual integrity and symmetry they wanted to maintain. Numerous design studies were undertaken with free-standing organ cases inside and outside the arch and its impact on the chancel stained glass window.

A visual design emerged from our engineering study that provided a focal point for the stained glass window with Christ as the center. The solution was to build a large chamber on the front of the sanctuary and to utilize a suspended light box for display of the window. In this manner we were able to speak around and under the window with a large degree of tonal freedom and minimal tonal occlusion. The organ chamber is built of solid concrete to concentrate the sound of the organ forward without a loss of energy. This allowed us to work with more modest scales and wind pressures than might have been required under other circumstances due to placement and chamber depth. During the installation and subsequent tonal finishing we were very pleased with the transfer of energy from this organ chamber design and construction.

The organ case was built of native white oak, finished to match other woods in the sanctuary. The lower case panels are designed as a reflective surface for the choir. The organ grille panels were designed to provide a decorative allure while acting tonally transparent. Our treatment of the organ grille panels allowed us to eliminate the use of grille cloth that is often tonally absorptive and does not allow a free exchange of air between the sanctuary and the organ chambers.

Ever mindful that an organ is musical only when it is in tune, we took great efforts in the design to provide a stable environment. A primary consideration was to place all of the manual and pedal pipework at one common level, thus avoiding differing thermo climes and the resulting tuning issues. The organ blower is located beneath the organ and draws its air from the bass of the Swell and Choir chambers. In this manner air is drawn from the same environment as the pipes to promote tuning stability. Metal windlines were used to dissipate heat buildup. The chambers were also designed with air returns in the ceiling to draw the ambient sanctuary air back into the chamber. This system is coupled to the sanctuary HVAC and runs whenever it is engaged. Thus no special controls are needed to set proper conditions in the church in respect to the organ. This careful attention to layout and other issues that affect the environmental conditions of the organ has enabled us to maintain a one-degree variance between all divisions, which promotes tuning stability.

To provide control over the volume of the organ’s resources, the organ contains two expressive boxes, one for the Swell division and one for the Choir division. Built with extra-thick shades that overlap and interlock, the expressive boxes provide wide dynamic control with electro-pneumatic servo-motors faithfully duplicating the performer’s movement of the expression shoes at the organ console. This degree of expression finds additional favor with control of the high-pressure hooded Tromba Heroique in the Choir division. Constructed with small Willis tuba shallots on 16? wind pressure, this dynamic reed is duplexed to the Great division and can be tamed for use as a chorus reed by its enclosure. Indeed, the degree of control allowed by truly effective expression allows the use of a variety of stops for choral and congregational accompaniment and tonal layering that is not often possible in other instruments.

Our firm built electro-pneumatic slider chest actions of the Blackinton variety with our electro-pneumatic primary design. This type of chest action has the ability to operate over a wide pressure range without the repetition problems and pressure limitations often associated with electric pull-down slider chests. Electro-pneumatic unit chests are provided for all large bass pipes, offset chests, and reeds.

One fabled and often debated element in organ mechanical design is the winding system of the modern organ. Often in art one can consider that anything that draws attention to itself is probably too much. This maxim is used as an internal compass in our decision-making processes. Our concern is a winding system that provides a solid wind supply without being sterile. The winding on the Savannah organ is accomplished through the use of ribbed and floating lid regulators fitted with weights and springs. The organ reeds are placed on independent wind regulators to allow a pressure differential from the flue stops and to permit independent tremulant control. All of the windchests are individually fitted with tunable concussion bellows to allow fine regulation. In this manner, we achieved stable winding that still maintains a presence of life.

The resources of the organ are controlled by a three-manual drawknob console. Built in the English style, the console sits on a rolling platform to allow mobility. The console exterior is built of white oak with an interior of mahogany and ebony. The console features modern conveniences for the organ performer such as multiple memory levels, programmable crescendo and sforzando, transposer, MIDI, and the ability to record and play back organ performances.

As the music ministry continues to grow, the organ is prepared for additional stops in the Great, Swell, and Choir divisions. There is also preparation for an Antiphonal division with a horizontal Trompette en Chamade in the rear of the sanctuary. These design considerations allow the organ to grow with the needs of the congregation.

The organ chassis, inclusive of the organ case, console, windchests, winding system and wood pipes were built entirely by the Schlueter craftsmen. Delivery and installation of the organ took five weeks with the tonal finishing lasting six weeks beyond the installation. Tonal finishing was completed under the direction of Arthur Schlueter III and Daniel Angerstein with the assistance of Lee Hendricks, John Tanner, Marc Conley, and Al Schroer. As is the practice of our firm, the tonal finishing of the organ has occurred with several repeat trips to work with the pipes and evaluate the results. We find that this method of tonal finishing results in a finer degree of voicing than is possible from one concentrated trip. It is expected that over the course of the year we will continue to make small changes and refinements.

Quality organ building is never the result of one individual but is the result of the synergy of a team. In this respect our firm was ably assisted by the clergy, music staff, church staff, organ committee chairman and the members of the organ committee. These individuals readily gave of their time and talents and provided invaluable assistance from the inception of the organ project to its installation and tonal finishing. Their effort, coupled with that of the craftsmen of our firm, has resulted in the creation of this unique instrument. We would like to take this opportunity to thank each of the individuals involved with this project. We would also like to publicly thank the members of the First Presbyterian Church in Savannah, the organ committee, and individual members including but certainly not limited to minister Stephen Williams, parish associate Nelle McC. Bordeaux, Ray McClain, organist, Jim Adams, music director, and organ committee chairman Bill Ricks.

Established in 1973, the A. E. Schlueter Pipe Organ Company is located of 20 miles east of Atlanta in the town of Lithonia, Georgia. The facility contains over 22,000 square feet of space dedicated to building organs for worship and recital. Created as a family business, the company is operated under the guidance of Arthur Schlueter, Jr. and Arthur Schlueter III. Together they provide direction to over 25 artisans in the building and rebuilding of pipe organs. In a desire to be mindful of the reason for the instruments, the seal of the company incorporates “Soli Deo Gloria,” God alone the glory. Additional information on our firm and projects can be viewed at .

—Arthur Schlueter III



A. E. Schlueter Pipe Organ Company wishes to thank its staff including:


Art Schlueter Jr.—president

Arthur Schlueter III—vice president/ tonal and artistic direction

John Tanner—vice president of production/tonal finisher

Howard Weaver—senior design engineer

Shan Dalton—office manager/ administrative assistant

Bob Parris—executive assistant

Marc Conley—shop foreman/tonal finisher

Randy Wilson—assistant shop foreman

Rob Black—master cabinetmaker/CAD organ design

Sam Polk—organ assembly, tuning assistant

Al Schroer—voicing, organ assembly & tuning

Dallas Wood—organ assembly, tuning assistant

Michael DeSimone—leather & small parts

Katrina Thornton—financial secretary

Barbra Sedlacek—office support

Joe Sedlacek, Sr.—console wiring

Joe Sedlacek, Jr.—organ assembly

Mark Montour—CNC operator/woodwright

Dustin Carlisle—organ assembly

Jeffery Chilcutt—organ assembly

Kelvin Cheatham—organ assembly

Kevin Cartwright—tuning & service

Bob Weaver—tuning & service

Othel Liles—electrical engineer

Patty Conley—organ assembly

Herb Ridgely, Jr.—sales and support staff

Don Land—sales and support staff

David Stills—sales and support staff

Noel Jones—sales and support staff

A. E. Schlueter: First Presbyterian Church, Savannah, Georgia,

III manuals, 47 ranks

GREAT (Unenclosed)

16' Sub Principal

8' Open Diapason

8' Principal

8' Harmonic Flute

8' Bourdon

8' Gemshorn (Choir)

8' Violone

4' Octave

4' Flute

2' Fifteenth

IV–V Fourniture 11?3'

8' Clarinet (Choir)

16' Tromba Heroique (non-coupling) (Choir)

8' Tromba Heroique (non-coupling)
(Choir)
4' Tromba Heroique (non-coupling) (Choir)

Zimbelstern

Chimes (Choir)

Tremulant


SWELL (Expressive)

16' Lieblich Gedeckt

8' Geigen Principal

8' Chimney Flute

8' Viole de Gambe

8' Viole Celeste

8' Flauto Dolce

8' Flute Celeste

4' Geigen Octave

4' Nachthorn

22/3' Nazard

2' Recorder

11/3' Tierce

IV Full Mixture 2'

16' Bassoon

8' Trumpet

8' Oboe

4' Clarion

Tremulant

Swell to Swell 16'

Swell Unison Off

Swell to Swell 4'


CHOIR (Expressive)

16' Gemshorn

8' Principal

8' Holzgedeckt

8' Gemshorn

8' Gemshorn Celeste

4' Principal

4' Spindle Flute

2' Fifteenth

11/3 ' Larigot

1' Sifflote

III Scharf 2/3'

8' Clarinet

16' Tromba Heroique (non-coupling)

8' Tromba Heroique (non-coupling, high-pressure, hooded)

4' Tromba Heroique (non-coupling, high-pressure)

Harp (digital)

Tremulant

Choir to Choir 16'

Choir Unison Off

Choir to Choir 4'


Antiphonal (prepared for)


PEDAL

32' Violone (digital)

32' Bourdon (digital)

16' Contra Bass (digital)

16' Sub Principal

16' Gemshorn (Choir)

16' Subbass

16' Lieblich Gedeckt (Swell)

8' Octave

8' Gemshorn (Choir)

8' Bourdon

8' Gedeckt (Swell)

4' Choral Bass

4' Cantus Flute (Great)

2' Flute (Swell)

III Mixture 22/3'

32' Contra Trombone (digital)

16' Trombone

16' Bassoon (Swell)

8' Tromba (Choir)

8' Trumpet (Swell)

4' Tromba (Choir)

4' Clarinet (Choir)



Inter-Manual Couplers

Great to Pedal 8', 4'

Swell to Pedal 8', 4'

Choir to Pedal 8', 4'

Antiphonal to Pedal 8'



Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'

Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'

Antiphonal to Great 8'

Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'

Antiphonal to Choir 8'

Antiphonal to Swell 8'

Choir/Great Transfer (latching piston)

(divisional pistons transfer)



MIDI Controls (with record/playback)

MIDI to Great

MIDI to Swell

MIDI to Choir

MIDI to Pedal



Combination system with a minimum of 128 levels of memory

Six thumb pistons each division

12 General pistons—thumb and toe

Great to Pedal—thumb and toe

Swell to Pedal—thumb and toe

Choir to Pedal—thumb and toe

Swell to Great—thumb

Choir to Great—thumb and toe

Swell to Choir—thumb

32' Violone—reversible—thumb

32' Bourdon—thumb

32' Contra Trombone—reversible—thumb and toe

Sforzando—thumb and toe (programmable)

Crescendo Pedal (programmable)

Set Piston—thumb

General Cancel—thumb



Additional Features

Zimbelstern—9 bells

Chimes—32 notes

MIDI (programmable as preset stops)

Data File Sequencer provided for Playback/Record of organ performance

Transposer

Programmable Sforzando

Programmable Crescendo

Tracker touch keyboards

John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, Champaign, IL, has built a new organ for First Congregational Church, Crystal Lake, IL: opus 16, 18 stops, 24 ranks. Although the original church was built in 1867, this is the congregation's first pipe organ. The first instrument was a reed organ which served faithfully for nearly 100 years. The reed organ's handsome case was made into the church's pulpit, still in use today. A Hammond electronic instrument followed, which the new pipe organ replaces.

The church expanded its crowded chancel to accommodate the
large music program and the new organ, installed front and center as a backdrop
for the worship space. The project incorporated the organ's design into the
greatly expanded chancel, harmonizing with the stately American colonial
architecture of the building.

The tonal design is a contemporary adaptation of American
organbuilding styles prevalent when the church was originally built. One notes
a large percentage of wood pipes as in earlier times. There are more open and
harmonic stops than one might typically see in new "eclectic"
instruments. The disposition of the flute choruses, large-scaled Great Open
Diapason, and plaintive English Oboe are also reminiscent of many 19th-century
organs. The inclusion of mixtures on both manuals, a full battery of Swell
reeds, employment of contemporary voicing techniques and classic scaling
concepts provides a contemporary sound for leading hymn singing, accompanying
choral and instrumental ensembles, and rendering a wide variety of solo
literature.

The Great division is located in the left side of the organ
case, with the Swell enclosed on the right side. The Pedal is divided between
both the Great and Swell. Facade pipes are from the Pedal 8' Octave and Great
8' Open Diapason, made from lightly polished English tin. Members of the Buzard
staff include: Phillip Campbell, Brian K. Davis, Stephen Downes, Charles Eames,
Michael Fisher, Charles R. Leach, Stuart Martin, Jay Sallmon, and Ray Wiggs.
Eva Wedel is minister of music of the church; Barbara Thorsen is organist.

GREAT

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Lieblich
Gedeckt (wood)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Open
Diapason (tin - facade)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Melodia
(open wood)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Flute
d'Amour (wood)

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Fifteenth

                  11/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Fourniture IV

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Minor
Trumpet (Sw 16')

                                    Cymbalstern

                                    Gt
16-UO-4

                                    Sw
16-8-4

SWELL

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Stopped
Diapason (wood)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Salicional

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Voix
Celeste (TC)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Harmonic
Flute (open metal)

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Flageolet
(harmonic)

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Plein
Jeu IV

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Basson

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trompette

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Oboe

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Clarion
(ext 16')

                                    Tremulant

                                    Sw
16-UO-4

PEDAL

                  32'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Subbass
(1-12 elect ext Bourdon)

                  32'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Lieblich
Gedeckt (1-12 elect ext Gt)

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Bourdon
(wood)

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Lieblich
Gedeckt (Gt)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave
(tin - facade)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Bass
Flute (ext)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedeckt
Flute (Gt)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Choral
Bass (ext)

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Trombone

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Basson
(Sw)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Clarion
(Sw 16')

                                    Gt
8-4

                                    Sw
8-4

B. Rule & Co.,
New Market, TN, has recently completed a four-stop practice organ for a
residence in Knoxville, TN. A simple mechanical action of cherry backfalls and
correctly-sized pallet valves ensure a responsive touch, including a definite
sense of "pluck." The action compensates for seasonal humidity
changes. Several ranks of 19th-century pipework, small-scaled and gently
voiced, were incorporated into the organ. 
The old Vox Humana was revoiced into a regal-type reed. The Principal
4', made by Paul Byron of York, ME, has eight polished tin pipes in the facade.
The customer, who has experience with building harpsichords from kits, was able
to do some of the work, including painting the case, recovering the recycled
keyboards (c. 1865) with boxwood, and cutting out the patterns in the
ornamental center door panels. Windpressure 23/4"; temperament 1/6 comma,
after van Biezen; compass 56/30; couplers I/Ped, II/Ped, II/I.

MANUAL I

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Chimney
Flute

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal

MANUAL II

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedeckt

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Vox
Humana

PEDAL

                                    I/Ped

                                    II/Ped

The Schlicker Organ Company, Buffalo, NY, has built a new organ for Forest Park United Methodist
Church, Fort Wayne, IN: three manuals, 36 ranks. The new organ replaces an
instrument that was severely damaged by fire. Some of the pipework was
restored, rescaled, and revoiced in keeping with the concept of the new instrument.
The 3-manual English style console is moveable, and the choir has flexible
seating, allowing a variety of performance possibilities. Chest design is
electric slider with a solid state combination action.

GREAT

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Gemshorn
(prep)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Hohl
Flute

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gemshorn
(ext, prep)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Spitz
Flute

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave

                  IV
style='mso-tab-count:1'>            Mixture

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trompete

                                    Chimes

                                    Zimbelstern

SWELL

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Bourdon

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Bourdon
(ext)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Viole

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Celeste

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Harmonic
Flute

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Doublette

                  11/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Quint

                  III
style='mso-tab-count:1'>            Scharf

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Oboe/Bassoon

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trompette

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Oboe
(ext)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Clarion
(ext)

                                    Tremolo

CHOIR

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Spire
Flute

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Flute
Celeste

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Rohr
Flute

                  22/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Nazard

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal

                  13/5'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Tierce

                  III
style='mso-tab-count:1'>            Cymbal

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Clarinet

                                    Tremolo

FANFARE (prep)

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Trompeta
(tc, ext)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trompeta

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trompeta
(ext)

PEDAL

                  32'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Resultant
(Gemshorn & Bourdon)

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Principal

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Gemshorn
(Gt, prep)

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Bourdon
(Sw)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave
(ext)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Bourdon
(Sw)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gemshorn
(Gt, prep)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Posaune

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Oboe/Bassoon
(Sw)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Posaune
(ext)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Oboe
(Sw)

John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders,
style='font-weight:normal'> Champaign, IL, has built a new organ for First
United Methodist Church, Park Ridge, IL: Opus 15, 34 stops, 42 ranks. The
church is a brick structure designed in the 1920s by a member of the
congregation. Of Tudor influence, the exterior features patterned brickwork,
interesting chimney treatments, and lavish half-timber work. The sanctuary's
interior features heavy hand-adzed dark oak beams, almost square windows, and
low arches.

The organ's cases were inspired by the oldest extant pipe
organ, in Sion, Switzerland. The heavy embattlement crenelations and mouldings
atop the towers and flats match details in the room and in architecture of the
period. The arched facade openings match the stained glass window frames and other broad arches elsewhere in the building. The casework of white oak is stained to harmonize with other furnishings. A simple universal pattern woven into circles is used for the pipeshades.

Tonal design was inspired by English cathedral organbuilding
style. A straight 3-manual organ would not fit within the available space or
projected budget, but the organ had to have a wide variety of unison colors,
complete choruses, mutation stops, reed stops for the Full Swell, a profound
pedal, and a high volume solo stop. A two-manual, divided swell concept was
developed to offer accompanimental flexibility and eliminate duplicate stops
needed to fill out a complete third division. Although inspired by English
examples, it is not an English romantic organ. A light articulation in the
speech of appropriate stops, moderate wind pressures, and inclusion of mutation
and mixture stops serve to make this an American organ of the 1990s.

Because of limited space in the balcony, the Great division
is housed in a free-standing case in front of the balcony rail; the Swell and
Pedal are in the balcony behind matching casework. The Great case is supported
by columns extending to the nave floor. English tin of 75% was used for the
facade pipes, incorporating the Great 8' Open Diapason, 4' Principal, and Pedal
8' Octave. Great flutes are 50% tin with relatively small mouths. Reed pipes,
with the exception of the low octave of the Pedal Trombone, are made entirely
of 50% tin, and utilize English shallots with varying degrees of opening and
taper. The Tuba 8' is horizontally mounted atop the swell box, just behind the
flats. The pipes retained from former instruments were thoroughly rebuilt and
revoiced for the new tonal concept. The Buzard staff included: Brian Davis,
voicer, pipe repair, tonal finishing; Stephen Downes, windchests, winding
system, framing, installation; Charles Eames, engineering, windchests,
electrical system, management; Michael Fisher, pipe repair, tonal finishing;
Charles Robert Leach, case, framing, installation; Stuart Martin, case,
framing, installation; Jay K. Salmon, office and Zen management; Ray Wiggs,
windchests, console, installation.

--John-Paul Buzard

GREAT

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Lieblich
Gedeckt*

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Open
Diapason

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Flute
a Biberon

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Dulciana*

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Koppel
Flute*

                  22/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Twelfth*

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Fifteenth

                  13/5'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Seventeenth*

                  11/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Fourniture IV

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Minor
Trumpet (Sw 16')

                                    Tremulant

                                    Cymbalstern

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Major
Tuba

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Tuba
Solo (C25-C61)

SWELL "A"

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Narrow
Diapason*

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Salicional*

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Voix
Celeste*

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal*

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Plein
Jeu IV

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Basson

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trompette

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Oboe

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Clarion
(from 16')

                                    Tremulant

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Major
Tuba (Gt)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Tuba
Solo (C25-C61, Gt)

SWELL "B"

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Stopped
Diapason*

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Open
Wood Flute Celeste

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Traverse
Flute*

                  22/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Nazard*

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Block
Flute

                  13/5'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Tierce*

                  11/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Larigot

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Clarinet

                                    Tremulant

PEDAL

                  32'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Subbass
(1-12 electonic)

                  32'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Lieblich
Gedeckt (1-12 electr)

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Contra
Bass*

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Violone
(wood)*

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Bourdon
(wood)*

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Lieblich
Gedeckt (Gt)*

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal
(tin facade)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Violoncello
(ext)*

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedeckt
Flute (ext Bourdon)*

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Choral
Bass*

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Mixture
III*

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Trombone

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Basson
(Sw)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trumpet
(ext)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Clarion
(Sw 16')

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Major
Tuba (Gt)

* denotes old pipework

Austin Organs, Inc.,
Hartford, CT, has recently completed its Opus 2759 for Christ Church UCC
Congregational, Brockton, MA. The new building is octagonal in shape with the
organ situated 90° from the chancel. This position places the choir in
front of the organ with the solid-state drawknob console centered. The room
enjoys a favorable acoustic. The entire Choir division is prepared for. The
facade is composed of pipes from the Great 8' Principal, Great 8' Harmonic
Flute, Pedal 16' Principal, and Pedal 8' Octave. Director of music and organist
is J. Kimball Darling.

GREAT

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Violone
(Ped-Sw)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Harmonic
Flute

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Violoncello
(Sw)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Flûte
à Cheminée

                  22/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Twelfth

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Fifteenth

                  IV
style='mso-tab-count:1'>            Fourniture

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Hooded
Trumpet

                                    Tremulant

                                    Chimes

SWELL

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Violoncello

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Cello
Celeste

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Chimney
Flute

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Spire
Flute

                  22/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Nasard

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Zauberflote

                  13/5'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Tierce

                  IV
style='mso-tab-count:1'>            Plein
Jeu

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Basson

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trompette

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Hautbois
(ext)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Clairon
(ext)

                                    Tremulant

CHOIR (prep)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedeckt

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Dulciana

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Celeste

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Prestant

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Coppel
Flute

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Spire
Principal

                  11/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Larigot

                  II
style='mso-tab-count:1'>              Scharf

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Cromorne

                                    Tremulant

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trumpet
(Gt)

PEDAL

                  32'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Resultant

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Principal
(ext Gt 8')

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Bourdon

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Violone

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Lieblich
Gedeckt (prep)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Bourdon
(ext)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Violoncello
(Sw)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedeckt
(Ch, prep)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Choral
Bass (ext)

                  II
style='mso-tab-count:1'>              Fourniture

                  32'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Contre
Basson (ext)

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Trombone
(ext Gt 8')

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Basson
(Sw)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trompette
(Sw)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Cromorne
(Ch, prep)

T. R. Rench and Co., Racine, WI, has completed a new organ for Coon Valley Lutheran Church, Coon Valley, WI. This is the third pipe organ in this Norwegian Lutheran church, and replaces a theatre organ installed in the 1950s. (The style 135 Wurlitzer is being re-installed in its original theatre in nearby Viroqua, WI.) Containing 17 sets of pipes (19 ranks), the new organ is of electro-pneumatic construction, and all windchests are of the unit type. Windpressures are 5" for the 16' Trumpet and 33/4" for the organ in general. The stoplist reflects 19th-century American and German Romantic tonal styles. However, a Cornet group is provided and the Swell division contains the basic elements of a Positive division. The layout of the instrument has the Swell in the organ chamber and the Great in front, contained by casework of walnut and mahogany. The front display pipes are from the church's first organ, restored to the original stencil designs and colors. Consultant to the church council was John Henley of Sauk City, WI.

GREAT

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Sub
Diapason (ext)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Open
Diapason

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Melodia

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Dulciana

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Wald
Flute

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Fifteenth

                                    IIIMixture

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trumpet

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Cromorne
(Sw)

SWELL

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Lieblich
Gedeckt (ext)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Diapason

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedeckt

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Salicional

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Celeste

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Harmonic
Flute

                  22/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Nazard

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Piccolo

13/5'      Tierce

                  11/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Larigot (ext)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Cromorne

                                    Tremulant

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trumpet
(Gt)

PEDAL

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Sub
Bass

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Lieblich
(Sw)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Open
Bass

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Bourdon
(ext)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedeckt
(Sw)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Choral
Bass (ext)

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Trumpet
(ext)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Cromorne
(Sw)

The Schlicker Organ Company, Buffalo, NY, has built a new organ for First United Methodist Church,
Green Bay, WI. The 29-rank organ is located in divided cases in the rear
gallery, allowing it to speak clearly into the nave. The tonal concept provides
a complete 2-manual organ with 8' Principal choruses in each division. In order
to increase tonal flexibility for solo literature as well as accompanying the
choir, three Swell stops were given a separate manual and couplers as a Solo
division. This allows them to be used as part of the Swell chorus or in
contrast to it. The three-manual, terraced drawknob console is prepared for a
future antiphonal division, playable from the Solo manual. Schlicker's artistic
director, J. Stanton Peters, designed the specification and scaling to include
broad scaled principals with high cut-ups and a wide spectrum of colors, producing
a vocal quality and versatility in its liturgical function.

GREAT

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Bourdon

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Rohr
Flute

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Spire
Flute

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave

                  II
style='mso-tab-count:1'>              Sesquialtera

                  IV
style='mso-tab-count:1'>            Mixture

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trumpet

SWELL

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedeckt

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gamba

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Celeste
FF

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Doublette

                  III
style='mso-tab-count:1'>            Scharf

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Bassoon

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Harmonic
Trumpet

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Oboe

                                    Tremolo

SOLO (enclosed with Swell)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Geigen
Principal

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Harmonic
Flute

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Cromorne

                                    Tremolo

ANTIPHONAL (prep)

PEDAL

                  32'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Resultant

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Principal

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Subbass

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Bourdon

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave

                  IV
style='mso-tab-count:1'>            Mixture
(prep)

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Trumpet
(ext Gt)

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Bassoon
(Sw)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trumpet
(Gt)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Oboe
(Sw)

Visscher Associates,
Santa Cruz, CA, has built a new organ for Trinity United Methodist Church,
Chico, CA. Casework is of California walnut and Eastern black walnut. Facade
pipes in the towers are of polished copper, with the center pipe in each
"point" having a "flamed" upper lip of polished tin. Facade
pipes in the flats are of 75% tin. Key and stop action are mechanical. Swell
shades immediately behind the facade pipes provide expression for the manual
stops except the 8' Prestant. The depth from the wall to the front of the case
is 60 inches, which allows choir members to stand in front of the organ when
singing. To make the organ this shallow, bottom octave pipes of the Pedal 16'
Subbass and 16' Bassoon were located in recesses on the back wall to either
side of the main case. Having only space and funds for a smaller organ of 14
stops, the decision was made to opt for what is basically a single manual division with "either-or" registration, allowing any of the manual stops to be played on either keyboard. The option not taken, of dividing the stoplist between two independent divisions, would significantly decrease registration possibilities. Manual stop levers move up to the "on" position for the upper keyboard, to a detent in the middle for off, and down to the "on" position for the lower keyboard. The bottom 12 pipes of the 16' Contra-Bassoon are unique in that they employ "Haskell" miters for
the bottom octave. The two-piece resonator has a half-length "cap" of
parallel proportions fitting over a half-length, tapered bass, creating a
continuous taper, full-length, 16' resonator in nine feet. Dr. David Rothe was
consultant and played the dedication recital. Molly Wadsworth was chair of the
organ committee, and Ellen Rowan is Pastor of the church. Visscher Associates'
staff involved in building this organ included Lorraine Emery, Bret Smith,
Timothy O'Brien, Ernesto Sustaita, Gwen Shupe, and William Visscher.

MANUAL I or II

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Prestant

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Viol
(1-4 from Gedeckt)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Celeste
(TC)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedeckt

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Spire
Flute

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Spindle
Flute

                  11/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Quint

                  III
style='mso-tab-count:1'>            Mixture

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trumpet

                                    Chimes

PEDAL

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Subbass

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Stopped
Bass (ext)

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Contra-Bassoon

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Bassoon
(ext)

 

Accessories

Tremulant

16' Contra-Bassoon reversible

I/Ped reversible

II/Ped reversible

II/I reversible

J.F. Nordlie Company,
Sioux Falls, SD, has built a new organ for Edina Community Lutheran Church,
Edina, MN: an electro-mechanical action instrument of six ranks. The free
standing case and open keydesk are constructed of rift sawn red oak. The low 20
pipes of the Principal 8' are made of polished aluminum and make up the facade.
The console is connected to the organ by a single fiber optic cable allowing
flexibility in placement. The integrated combination/relay action as built by
Matters, Inc., allows complete programmable control over the switching system
and a sophisticated combination action complete with transposer and player
mechanism. Carsten Slostad is Music Director for the church and served as
consultant on the organ project. The organ was built in the Nordlie shop by
craftsmen John F. Nordlie, Paul E. Nordlie, Trintje Nordlie, David L. Beyer,
Martin D. Larsen, Eric Grane, James Greenwald, and Beth MacDonald.

Analysis

A Bourdon 16' 85 pipes, 13-85 enclosed, 1-24 wood, variable
scale, 1-40 Gedackt, 41-54 Rohrflöte, 55-85 Blockflöte

B Principal 8' CC-g'' 44 open metal pipes unenclosed, 1-20
aluminum facade

C Octave 4' c°-g'''' 56 open metal pipes unenclosed

D Gemshorn 8' 85 pipes, enclosed, variable scale

E Quinte 11/3' CC-d''' 51 pipes, enclosed, variable scale

F Terz 13/5' c°-d''' 39 pipes, enclosed

G Trumpet 16' prepared

GREAT

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Bourdon
A

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal
B

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedackt
A

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gemshorn
D

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave
C

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Rohrflöte
A

                  22/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Quint E

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave
C

                  13/5'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Terz F

                  1'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Mixture
II-III D&E

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Trumpet
G (prep)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trumpet
G (prep)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Clairon
G (prep)

SWELL

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedackt
A

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gemshorn
D

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Rohrflöte
A

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gemshorn
D

                  22/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Quinte E

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal
C

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gemshorn
D

                  13/5'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Terz F

                  11/3
style='mso-tab-count:1'>       Quint E

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Trumpet
G (prep)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trumpet
G (prep)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Clairon
G (prep)

PEDAL

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Bourdon
A

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Principal
B

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedackt
A

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gemshorn
D

                  51/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Quint A

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave
C

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Gedackt
A

                  2'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave
C

                  11/3'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Mixture III
C&E

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Harmonics
D

                  16'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>          Trumpet
G (prep)

                  8'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trumpet
G (prep)

                  4'
style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Clairon
G (prep)

MIDI

Eight programmable stops x nine levels memory for a total of
72 MIDI stops. All stops with choice of coupling or non-coupling and accessible
in any division. Connections for MIDI in, MIDI out, and MIDI thru.

by Kay McAfee

Kay McAfee is professor of organ and music history at Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and she serves there as organist for First United Methodist Church.

Twenty-four people traveled to the south and middle of England for the British Organ Music seminar, directed by Christina Harmon, the week of June 24, 2001. The great cathedrals of Winchester, Gloucester, and Liverpool formed part of the itinerary with guide John Norman, formerly of the Hill, Norman, and Beard firm, and now a consultant in Great Britain. Mr. Norman provided brochures and valuable commentary on each instrument prior to arriving at each destination. John Norman studied acoustics under Dr. R.W.B. Stephens at Imperial College, London, and organ under H.A. Roberts. At Hill, Norman, and Beard he learned voicing from Robert Lamb and tonal finishing from Mark Fairhead, working on seven cathedral organs before leaving the firm in 1974. An accredited professional organ consultant and a founding member of the Association of Independent Organ Advisers, Norman is a member of the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England, of the Organs Committee of the Council for the Care of Churches, and the London Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches. He is the author of The Organs of Britain, founder and editor of The Organbuilder, and has been a regular columnist for the Organists' Review for over twenty years.

 

Winchester

Traveling through the beautiful British countryside by bus, the first stop was Winchester, the ancient Roman city whose cathedral boasts the longest nave in Europe. Restored by King Alfred after the Dark Ages, two of the city's original gates are found around the perimeter of the 11th-century cathedral. The church sits in a sea of grass, and its massive thick-walled Roman-esque transepts and Gothic nave and apse protect the tombs of the early English kings. Jane Austen's tomb lies in the north aisle. Music historians are aware of the role played in the creative additions to ninth-century plainsong by the church in the preservation of the Winchester Troper, a manuscript which today is kept at Cambridge. The beautiful Winchester Bible, an illuminated manuscript, is preserved here. The twelve men of the choir, conducted by assistant organist Sarah Baldock, re-hearsed service music of Morales, Taverner, and Robert Stone pieces for the approaching Evensong service. Then, assistant organist Philip Scriven discussed the Henry Willis organ which was built for the Crystal Palace exhibition in 1851. Purchased at the urging of then-organist Samuel Sebastian Wesley, rebuilds and additions were made routinely by Willis, Heil & Co., and Harrison.

Most recently (1987), a division for the nave was added to create better support for congregational singing, a widespread practice in large English churches whose organ chambers were placed predominately on either side of the choir. Scriven demonstrated the Great Trumpet and Grand Cornet, reeds of the Pedal to 32', ringing 8' (two) and 4' Tubas on the Solo, Nave Trumpet, Great 16', 8', and 4' Trumpets, and the Swell reeds. The strings of the Swell (16', 8', 4') are particularly beautiful. Two Open Diapasons grace each of the four manual divisions, with a third on the Great. Scriven showed how any four of them sound lovely in playing the solo line of Bach's Orgelbüchlein setting of "Ich ruf zu dir." The Claribel Flute of the Great is like a harmonic flute. Participants observed the distinctly effective British practice of using a series of graduated pistons to produce crescendo and diminuendo. Participants played Elgar, Bridge, Wesley, Hollins, Handel, and Bach.

Bath Abbey

At Bath Abbey, organist and master of choristers Peter King explained the 1997 Klais organ, a rebuild of an 1868 William Hill/1895 Norman and Beard/

1914 Hill organ which sits in the north transept of the church. Few churches in England retain the organ atop the choir screen as is the situation at Westminster Abbey, Exeter, Gloucester, and King's College Chapel, and in many others, the screen has disappeared altogether. Since the late nineteenth century, the prevailing ideal has been to create an unobstructed view to the altar from the west door entrance, and many choir screens have been removed.

King told of the history of the 19th-century English Renaissance in church music and the symphonic organ required for the music of Stanford, Parry, and Elgar. Klais retained about half the pipes from the old organ and preserved the Hill, Norman, and Beard Positive division. Some of the 1895/

1914 tonal changes were reversed to revive the Hill sound ideal. The 1914 Thomas Jackson case was preserved. King played Bruhns, Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Ireland, and the Bach/Reger Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue.

Bristol

In Bristol at Saint Mary Redcliffe, a church constructed over a period of 200 years by merchants of the city, the entrance is through the north door of the porch, which dates from the 14th century. Only a fragment of the original medieval stained glass remains, the rest having been destroyed in the Reformation.

In 1726, the firm of Harris and Byfield built an organ which featured one of the country's first pedalboards with an octave permanently coupled to the Great. The present instrument by Harrison (1911) is considered one of the finest examples of that firm's work and of the Edwardian ideal. It fills three chambers on either side of the choir. Rebuilt in 1990 with few additions other than the upperwork and the console, the organ comprises 71 stops on four manuals. The tonal palette features a Double Open Wood 32' and Open Wood 16' of the Pedal, Corno di Bassetto of the Choir, and Cor Anglais, Orchestral Oboe, and Vox Humana (normally of the Solo division) and a complement of 16', two 8', and 4' reeds on the Swell. The Great Harmonics mixture includes a flat 21st which was peculiar to Arthur Harrison's design. Organist Anthony Pinell played a Ropartz Prelude, a Howells Psalm Prelude, and Fugue on the name Alain by Duruflé. He then assisted participants who played Honegger, Taverner, Howells, and Elgar on this lovely instrument.

Gloucester

Gloucester Cathedral, containing the tomb of King Edward II, was the site of a small Anglo-Saxon monastery until the 11th century, when it became a Benedictine monastery. The present building, ordered by William the Conqueror, dates from 1089. In 1541, the church became the cathedral for Gloucester. The massive Norman pillars of the nave bear red marks from a 13th-century fire. The choir vault is 14th-century perpendicular Gothic style. King Henry II was crowned there as a boy of 9 in 1216, the only monarch ever to be crowned outside of London.

Evensong canticles, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, were by Herbert Murrill, with responses by Walsh. The anthem was Herbert Howells' "Like As The Hart." David Briggs, organist of Gloucester Cathedral, improvised the opening voluntary and later chatted about the organ. It is one of a few remaining atop the choir screen and has a long history of adaptations. It has been over the screen since 1715. The 1640 Robert Dallum chair case on the east side of the screen is all that remains of that organ. Thomas Harris built an instrument in 1665 which contained the earliest mixture stop in Britain--200 pipes of that organ remain today. In 1831, J.C. Bishop added pedal pipes, among them a Flute 16' which is possibly the widest scale Pedal Open in Britain. Father Willis contributed to the organ in 1847 and 1888 as did Harrison and Harrison in 1920. Hill, Norman, and Beard restored the organ and electrified the console in 1971 to create one of the most rapid key-responses of any organ anywhere. With the 2000 restoration by the firm of Nicholson, the organ today can be described as neo-Baroque. Briggs mentioned that most English cathedral organs are rebuilt every 20 years or so "in the fashion" of the day. Henry Willis added a pedalboard. The last rebuild made it a Romantic instrument. Harrison & Harrison changed the voicing but kept all of the pipes. The organ has a grand, rolling sound. Briggs demonstrated the seven stops which remain of the Harris organ of 1665: Great Diapasons (one facing east, one west), two 4' Principals, 12th and 15th, and Choir 4' Principal. Briggs described the foundations as "throwing down to the 16'," perhaps because there are many high cut-ups and not much nicking of the pipes. There are nine seconds of reverberation in the nave when it is empty. Briggs played the Symphonie Passion of Dupré, Fantasie and Fugue in G Minor of Bach, and a long, multi-movement improvisation of symphonic scope based upon a hymn tune. One of his generation's most gifted at improvisation, Briggs then delighted his hearers by improvising in the style of other dazzling exponents of this art: Hakim, Latry, Cochereau, Lefebvre.

Hereford

Traveling through the rich Wye valley with its beautiful truck farms and fruit orchards, we arrived at Hereford, the last cathedral town before the Welsh border. The Romanesque cathedral church contains a late-19th-century Henry Willis built at a time when the firm was copying the tonal design of Cavaillé-Coll.

Of 4 manuals and 67 stops, the 1933 Willis rebuild features a console with couplers on tablets which are below the music rack (a copy of the American design). The pedal contains a 32' Double Open Bass, the Great a Double Open Diapason 16' and three 8' Diapasons, and the Swell a Contra Gamba 16'; the powerful reeds are on high wind pressure, and the wide-scale flues have "stringy" tops. With painted pipes which are often described as looking like "rolls of linoleum," the organ is not much altered from the Willis original. John Norman's firm electrified the console in 1978, the rebuild of which was funded by a local cider maker. Peter Dyke, assistant organist and acting principal organist, spoke of former organists John Bull and S.S. Wesley. He then played Purcell, Wesley's "Air and Gavotte," and the theme and two variations of the Brahms/Rogg Variations on a Theme of Haydn.

Every year, the prestigious Three Choirs Festival is held here with performers located at the west entrance and facing the audience which is seated facing the west entrance. Dyke called our attention to an organ which sits on a wheeled platform in the south aisle. For ease of the organist's sightline, the organ is wheeled to the next bay when the festival conductor's position moves eastward as the choral and accompanying ensemble personnel change.

Birmingham

The group then arrived at Birmingham's Symphony Hall which is part of an arts complex built in the late 1980s. The German firm of Klais was installing a large instrument in this beautiful facility. The interior is surely a sister-hall to the Meyerson in Dallas, so alike are the two. At the time the building was constructed, Simon Rattle was artistic director and conductor of Birmingham's famously fine orchestra, and a poster outside the hall featured a large photo of Rattle with two organ pipes, the feet of which extend sideways from his mouth. Wide-eyed, he appealed for donations for the organ. The Klais firm won the contract in 1989. The group enjoyed taking lunch with Philipp Klais, grandson of the firm's founder and a gracious, personable man of great enthusiasm. He considers his firm's "invasion" of England for restoration and new-instrument contracts a great honor. As participants settled into the audience seats of the concert hall, Klais recalled that many "firsts" were achieved by the British: the Swell Box, the modern bellows system, over-blowing flutes, and double-mouthed pipes. As his crew worked behind him, Klais explained that the organ for the Birmingham Hall would be of four manuals and 82 stops with inauguration scheduled for October, 2001. Thomas Trotter and the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra presented three concerts on Friday and Saturday, October 19 and 20. Only the façade was built for the opening of the facility some 11 years ago. Two consoles, one of tracker and the other of electric action, are provided, allowing one of them to be placed within the orchestra. Klais mentioned that he had visited the Meyerson Center in Dallas to study the acoustical properties there. His firm has recently installed a symphony hall instrument in Singapore and will construct another in Madison, Wisconsin.

Lichfield

Next, at Lichfield Cathedral, which sits in a lovely close surrounded by old and new buildings, Andrew Lumsden, organist and master of choristers, talked of the education and appointment of organists for large English churches. Rarely is the number 2 or number 3 organist elevated through the ranks, an exception being John Scott at St. Paul's London. Lumsden was educated at Saint John's College and was number 2 at Westminster Abbey for a time. The duties of Master of Choristers used to include the teaching of Latin and Greek. The choir schools, and the advent of girls' choirs, are enormously expensive.

The original instrument before the present Hill organ of 1884 was on the choir screen and was purchased by Josiah Spode of the pottery-making family. The Hill instrument was placed on the north transept and the pipes of that organ survive into the current one, a 4-manual instrument placed on either side of the choir. A Baroque choir organ was added in 1973-74 and a recently completed 4-million pound refurbishment by Harrison added the nave organ. The Great reeds are on a separate chest under high wind pressure, and there is a wonderful Edwardian Tuba and massive pedal reeds. Lumsden played the Bach "Liebster Jesu" with choir Cornet and Great Open Diapason, Widor Symphonie V "Adagio" with foundations and strings, and Guilmant's March on a Theme of Handel.

Liverpool

The great industrial city of Liverpool was the last stop before returning to London. Ian Tracey, organist for both Saint George's Hall and the Cathedral, treated us to a well-articulated history of both structures and their instruments. Saint George's Hall is a magnificent civic monument to nineteenth-century British pride and opulence. Built in the 1840s for music festivals, the interior was copied after the Baths of Caracalla in Rome and even displays Roman military insignia on its guilded interior doors. A magnificent marble floor is now covered by wood but is revealed on special occasions, increasing the considerable reverberation by two seconds.

S.S. Wesley directed the building of the Henry Willis organ in 1855. Willis was barely 30 at the time and this organ established his reputation. The instrument featured 100 stops, the first radiating concave pedalboard, stop jambs angled towards the player, and thumb pistons. Rebuilds occurred in 1897 and 1931. The organ was dismantled after a bomb damaged the building in 1940. Many pipes were stolen, and in 1957 Henry Willis IV reconstructed the organ. Since 1989 it has been cared for by the David Wells company, with a campaign now on to further restore the organ. Today it has 120 stops, including two percussions. It still retains a classical English Great Mixture and wide scaled Diapasons.

About 200 people will attend organ recitals at any given time. At Christmas, some 1700 people congregate to enjoy dinner parties and carol singing. At other times, Tracey continues the tradition of playing the 1812 Overture while the audience provides the bell and cannon effects. In the 19th century, W.T. Best, notable for his orchestral transcriptions, would play concerts for school children and for adults, who were charged but a farthing to hear the organ. Once, a woman dressed in black appeared in Best's peripheral vision while he played a Spohr overture. He shooed her away. It was Queen Victoria. George Thalben-Ball was organist here for a time. Tracey played a Purcell March to feature the Tuba Mirabilis and double-leathered Diapason, Thalben-Ball's Elegy, and the Bossi Scherzo.

Liverpool Cathedral contains the largest organ in England. Like the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., Liverpool Cathedral took most of the twentieth century to construct. Like Saint Paul's in London, the church became a national symbol of British fortitude during WWII as Churchill ordered the work to continue on the tower even as Liverpool endured saturation bombing by the Germans. Begun in 1904 and completed in the 1980s, the enormity of the structure is magnified because the nave is very wide, there is an unobstructed view from entrance to altar (1/8 mile), there are two sets of transepts, and the arches under the tower soar to 175 feet. 4000 people can congregate here, as they did when the Queen consecrated the Cathedral in 1978. Giles Gilbert Scott, 18 years old at the time, won the competition for the design. He also designed the Bank Side Power Station (now the new Tate Gallery) in London and the University Library at Cambridge. Henry Willis designed the instrument to accommodate the organist, Henry Goss-Custard, and his considerable gifts for orchestral sonorities. There are 147 speaking stops, 47 of which are reeds, including those on 30 and 50 inches of wind pressure. There are 10 ranks of mixtures on each manual, mutations, and clarinet, bassoon, and flutes, all of which are much more subtle than those at Saint George's Hall. The huge organ is mounted on both sides of the choir and faces into the nave, held up by massive load-bearing piers that were designed to hold two 200-foot towers which were never built.

Little of the organ is changed today, but in 1989 a new moveable console was provided. Tracey demonstrated the five beautiful Open Diapasons of the Great, played the Tournemire Te Deum, Joel Martinson's Aria, and his own transcription of two movements of the Respighi Pines of Rome. Participants played Karg-Elert, Widor and Mulet.

London: Temple Church

Returning to London, participants were greeted by James Vivian, organist at Temple Church, where George Thalben-Ball was organist for over 60 years.  The present organ, a 1927 Harrison & Harrison, was a gift of Lord Glentanner, in whose Scottish castle ballroom it was originally placed. Moved to the church in 1954, a Double Ophicleide was added. In 1989, Harrison revised the Great Mixture and lowered the Great reeds from 15 to 7 inches of wind pressure. The original instrument, a 1684 instrument of 23 stops, was the first 3-manual organ in England. The Echo division (a forerunner of the Swell) had a short compass to Middle C. This and subsequent instruments and their restorations were destroyed in 1941.

Saint Paul's Cathedral

At Saint Paul's Cathedral, the 5 p.m. Eucharist was sung by the choir, with service music by Harold Darke and Introit by Palestrina (Tu es petra). Andrew Reed, the number 2 organist, played for the service. After the church emptied, Huw Williams, assistant organist, led us to the choir loft to demonstrate the 1872 Father Willis organ. Today it is of 108 stops in three parts: the main organ on either side of the choir, the west entrance Trumpet en Chamade and Diapason chorus, and the Quarter Dome Northeast division of 3 tubas and a Tuba Militaire. Willis had split the original Bernard Smith organ of 1697 (a double-sided instrument located on the choir screen) and moved it to its present location on either side of the choir. The case was designed by the architect of the church, Christopher Wren. Willis claimed first use of tubular pneumatic action in this organ. From 1897 to 1900, Willis expanded the Pedal, the pipes of which lie horizontally on the north side of the choir. From 1925 to 1930 the organ was moved to the Wellington monument bay as it was feared that the dome was unstable. Restored in 1960, 1972, and 1977, windchests and other parts of the organ received major overhauls. The Mander company added Diapasons to the quarter dome division. The Swell is particularly fine, an example of an early Willis classic Swell, not deep in the case, and equal to the Great. Williams played Stanford, Howells, and Bossi to demonstrate the colors and families of stops. The finale was Grand Choeur Dialogué by Gigout in which the Royal Trumpets sounded antiphonally with the main organ.

Afterwards, the group proceeded to Saint Helen Bishopgate, near Saint Paul's, where John Norman was the consultant for a new organ. The original instrument was destroyed by an IRA bomb in the 1980s.

Saint Margaret Lothbury

Saint Margaret Lothbury, a small church nestled next to the Bank of England, was our next stop. We were greeted by Richard Townend, who is resident recitalist at Saint Margaret Lothbury and music director for Holy Trinity Church at Sloane Square. Townend was a choirboy at Westminster Abbey and sang for the funeral of Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1958. He studied at the Royal College of Music with Harold Darke and Herbert Howells, and in Switzerland with Lionel Rogg and Guy Bovet. He is also director of music for the Hill House school, which Prince Charles attended.

Saint Margaret Lothbury was designed by Christopher Wren and built after the great fire of 1666. In danger of collapse, it was rebuilt in the 1970s. An organ of two manuals was placed in the west gallery in 1801 by G.P. England and a Choir division was added in 1845 by James Butler. In 1881 Bryceson moved the whole organ to the gallery and added the treble case from the church of St. Mildred Poultry. In 1938, Hill, Norman and Beard added a large Great Open Diapason and discarded the Great Mixture. The console was electrified and detached from the case. In 1983-84, J.C. Bishop and Son, under the direction of John Budgen and Richard Townend, completely reconstructed the organ, restoring the case to its original form. The remaining stops by England and James Butler have been incorporated in a new instrument built in the style of the original. Both Felix Mendelssohn and S.S. Wesley played here.

In 1830, the organ at St. Margaret Lothbury featured the first addition of the bottom 12 notes of pedals in England. It contains warm Open and quiet Stopped Diapasons. According to Townend, the instrument is a quintessential British organ, of "polite" sound and singing quality, but not built for playing polyphony. The Great 4' Flute "bubbles up." In English music whenever a flute is called for, it means a 4' Flute. There is an "elderly" Trumpet. The classic English chorus is 8' Open Diapason, 4' Principal, Twelfth, Fifteenth, and Mixture. The English Cornet is of 3 ranks: 8', 4', 22/3'. The Swell is soft--the Great louder. Adding the Trumpet to the Cornet gives a "Frenchy Grand Jeu." The Cremona with metal resonators, fatter than the French Cromorne, is for solo melodies.

Westminster Abbey

The group attended Evensong at Westminster Abbey to hear responses by Aylesbury, Magnificat and Nunc dimittis by Howells, and an anthem by Stanford. Afterwards, Stephen LePrevost, assistant organist, spoke briefly of the organ as playing time was limited. The organ is a 1937 rebuild by Harrison & Harrison of a William Hill instrument from 1848 and 1884. The first instrument was by the firm of Schrider & Jordan in 1727. The choir Stopped Flute and 4' Flute are reputedly from the Jordan instrument. The Bombarde division was added by Simon Preston and features the borrowing of reeds from the Great and Solo manuals. Participants played Howells, Tournemire, Handel, and Walton.

Westminster Cathedral

The imposing Roman Cathedral of Westminster, loosely based on the design of St. Mark's in Venice, was built in 1901. Past the nave with its three domes, the group gathered in the choir loft which is behind the high altar. Martin Baker, organist of Westminster Cathedral, explained that it costs around $400,000 per year to maintain the choir school. The sound of the famous choir is more "continental," rather than that of the British "hooty" sound. 95% of the music is in Latin, and the boys actually have trouble singing in English after learning the Italianate Latin vowel sounds. The Apse Organ of two manuals accompanies the choir. The large Willis Grand Organ in the west gallery is playable from the Apse Organ through setting pistons from the Grand Organ, but the two-second delay takes some getting used to.

Walking down the south triforium gallery towards the west gallery, we stopped at a bay close to the Great Organ. Comparable to the Liverpool instrument, it was built by Henry Willis III and rebuilt by Harrison in 1984. It features a Double Diapason 16' and three Open Diapasons on the Great. There is a Double Open Bass 32' and Open Bass and Open Diapason 16' in the Pedal. The Swell and Solo both contain beautiful orchestral reeds: Waldhorn, Cor Anglais, French horn, and Corno di Bassetto. The Cor de nuit celestes on the Choir are velvety and beautiful. In 1976, Stephen Cleobury directed the raising of the Apse Organ and part of the Great Organ to concert pitch. In 1985, David Hill, who began the Grand Organ Festival, had all of the Great Organ raised to concert pitch. Baker improvised on "Adoro te devote," and participants played Stanford, Parry, and Mulet.

London options

On July 1, with several Sunday service choices in London, one group of participants returned to Westminster Cathedral for a Festival Mass in celebration of the centennial anniversary year of the church. Kyrie, Gloria, and Agnus Dei, sung by the choir, were by Widor. The anthem was Parry's "I Was Glad," accompanied by both the Great Organ and the Apse Organ. The congregation sang the rest of the Latin Mass from printed plainsong. The 1700 seats of the nave were full. At Richard Townend's church, Holy Trinity at Sloane Square, an orchestra accompanied a Mozart Mass and a youth choir from Alaska participated.

Afternoon choices included hearing recitals at Saint Paul's (John Scott), Westminster Cathedral (Martin Baker), and Westminster Abbey. Participants practiced for and played a recital at Holy Trinity church at 7:00 p.m. Open to the parishioners and public, the program featured music by Walond, Lang, Howells, Rutter, Thalben-Ball, and Vierne. The interior of the church, an arts-and-crafts-Gothic design, features a breathtaking window above the altar which was the largest window ever built by the William Morris Company. Its beautiful stained-glass images were designed by pre-Raphaelite painter Edward Burne-Jones. J.W. Walker & Sons built an organ here in 1891 which was almost totally destroyed during WWII. It was rebuilt in 1966 by Walker, and Simon Preston inaugurated the instrument in 1967.

The British Organ Music Seminar provides participants access to great instruments and their artist-curators. For those unfamiliar with the vast repertoire of British organ music, especially that of the 19th and early 20th century, playing these works on the instruments for which they were conceived is a revelation. The reverberation of the environment, the velvety Diapasons, the exquisite Swell divisions with their strings and orchestral reeds, and the fire of the British tubas resonates long after the experience is past. The hospitality of our hosts was among the finest. At many venues, the church's staff provided a meal, either in the undercroft, or a parlor, or in a great hall. Such is what creates memories surrounding the experience of beautiful music and instruments.