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"Hybrid" organs in the news...

Started by KB7DQH, May 28, 2011, 07:02:36 PM

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KB7DQH

Pipe organ renovated, expanded with additional digital stops...

http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/event/article/id/47909/

Quote"The organ opens up so many opportunities for sounds and it has three manuals compared to two we used to have," said Arneson. "I really appreciate that we were able to keep the pipes of the original organ and adding it — it's just amazing."

I am sure other stories will follow in due course...
Eric
KB7DQH

The objective is to reach human immortality—that is, to create things which are necessary to mankind, necessary to the purpose of the existence of mankind, and which have become the fruit that drives the creation of a higher state of mankind than ever existed before."

KB7DQH

The following story concerns the refurbishment and expansion of the pipework, and combining that with a digital instrument controlling the original pipework...

http://www.brandoninfo.com/article/20110610/NEWS/110607023/1001

Quote
The upgraded organ, which now features 651 pipes, has been in use by the congregation since March, but it will be showcased in a concert by Marilyn Schempp this Sunday.

Arthur Aadland, of the Aadland Pipe Organ Company in Valley Springs, took on the task of rebuilding and expanding the near 100-year-old pipe organ. He said the instrument now "makes a very nice satisfying sound."

"She'll (Schempp) get the full impact out of the instrument and will demonstrate the many phases of it so people can fully enjoy it," Aadland said.

For congregations that want that big sound, Aadland said it could cost from $300,000 up to as much as $2 million to get all those ranks in real stops.

But since Beaver Valley already had an existing pipe organ, Aadland said the congregation was able to save quite a fortune.

The total cost to rebuild and expand the pipe organ did not cost that much, he said.

History of the Beaver Valley organ
In 1915, as the Beaver Valley congregation began making plans for its new church building, members agreed that a pipe organ should be installed. The congregation contracted with the Felgemaker Company to purchase the pipe organ, which has played a major role in the musical life of the church for nearly 100 years.

Over the years, several additions and improvements have been made. In the 1950's, chimes were installed. A decade later, an oboe rank was added. In 1977, the Aadland Pipe Organ Company was contracted to install a new console, add a Principal rank and reconfigure the layout of some chests and pipes. A cantilever was added to hold two ranks, and the Bourbon rank was moved to the south chamber to improve both sound and service accessibility. After these additions, the organ had 590 pipes.

By 2010, it was clear that several parts of the organ needed significant repair. Aadland suggested both reconditioning and an expansion of the instrument to make it more suitable to the church's sanctuary. The console of the pipe organ was in need of major work so he recommended that it be replaced or completely upgraded.

A possible alternative, Aadland said, was combining a digital instrument with enhanced pipe work. The Johannus Company's Ecclesia organ emerged as a strong possibility, since it produces authentic reproductions of pipe tones and is easily connected to ranks of pipes. The church worked with both companies to develop the present hybrid instrument.

In March, the Aadland Pipe Organ Company completed a major rebuild and expansion of the church's 100-year-old pipe organ, building an all-new Great Division to the south chamber and addition a 2 2/3' Principal rank, bringing the total number of pipes to 651. Church Organ Works provided the new three-manual Johannus Ecclesia digital organ, which has been carefully integrated with the pipe organ to produce a comprehensive musical instrument well suited to serve the congregation for many years.

"Part of it is acoustical and part of it is digital," Aadland said.

Aadland spent about six months building and installing the hybrid pipe organ, completing the endeavor in March. This was his first experience in combining the digital component with an all-pipe organ. He coordinated with a Church Organ Works representative from Loveland, Colo., and said integrating the two systems went well.
"They were a good company to work with," Aadland said.

Merkouris said the organ was also prepared for the addition of several ranks of pipes in the Positive and Great divisions. These ranks will be added in the second phase of the Beaver Valley organ project as funding becomes available.

Eric
KB7DQH
The objective is to reach human immortality—that is, to create things which are necessary to mankind, necessary to the purpose of the existence of mankind, and which have become the fruit that drives the creation of a higher state of mankind than ever existed before."