Two more new organs...

[KB7DQH]

The first I mentioned in another board on this forum but I will mention it again here...

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06/12/2364624/organ-gives-church-a-new-sound.html

St. Peter's Episcopal Church organist Ben Outen decided to print 150 programs for his recent recital on the church's new pipe organ, estimating that would leave a few extra to file away.

That would be plenty of programs, he figured. After all, it was an organ recital by a local organist at 8 p.m. on a Friday night.

He figured wrong. About 350 people filled the church, some coming from outside Charlotte to hear the majestic organ, installed last year by the C.B. Fisk Inc. firm of Gloucester, Mass.

"It really was a display of community interest," Outen said. At the reception afterward, he was shocked to meet people who had driven 30 and 40 minutes to attend the recital.

Outen's recital wrapped up the first season of organ concerts and recitals on the Fisk organ, which officially is named the Van Ness Hamrick Organ after Grace Van Ness Hamrick, a longtime St. Peter's member and former Observer social columnist who died in 2002, leaving a generous bequest that helped pay for the organ.

Outen and St. Peters' assistant organist Aaron Goen usually, however, usually just call it "the Fisk."

The Fisk has become somewhat of a phenomenon, fulfilling the church's hopes that the instrument, which replaced a 1930s organ, would find a place for itself in Charlotte life.

Outen can list the ways that the organ has contributed to parish and community life in the few short months since it was installed.

"It has been the source of a lot of enthusiasm," Outen said. "It has generated energy because of its newness and because of the completion of the project. It has brought a level of beauty and excellence into the parish, a physical, tangible thing that is a point of pride and a point of inspiration."

Where the old organ's sound was dull and muted, the Fisk's music is bright and clear.

The old organ was installed in a tight corner, and its sound was muffled and far away. The Fisk resides in the back of the church, its pipes stretching high to release music that sounds free and deep.

"It's a really inspiring and versatile instrument that will carry a room when it is full of people," Goen said.

"It's the difference between a student violin and a really fine violin," Outen said.

Outen describes the Fisk as having an "extreme level of quality" that is infectious.

"It has caused a lot of people to sit up straighter, perhaps to pray harder, even to be more engaged in what they are doing here," Outen said. "The organ itself presents a level of excellence that's just inspiring. I think it has touched everybody."

Before it was installed, the organ did have its critics. Maybe it was too expensive. Its musical style might be too different from the old organ.

Outen hasn't heard a single negative comment post-installation. "It seems to have been wholeheartedly accepted."

Organists, professional players and people who haven't touched an organ in decades, have asked to play a few songs on it.

Student groups have come from Furman University and UNC Greensboro to see and hear the Fisk. Organists ask if they can give recitals at St. Peter's.

The next opportunity outside of Sunday church services for the community to hear the organ will be at 7 p.m. July 3, when Furman student Paul Thomas will give a recital.

In September, Hatsumi Miura, a well-known international concert artist, will present the first concert of the Fisk's second season.

Miura also is the wife of Steve Dieck, president of the C.B. Fisk Inc.

The concert will benefit relief efforts in Japan.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06/12/2364624/organ-gives-church-a-new-sound.html#ixzz1PQh5UHlL

This story showed up more recently...

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/062011/06162011/632802

BY ALYX DUCKETT

St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church wants you to hear the unique sounds of its new pipe organ.

A free concert is scheduled this Friday at the church to let people hear the instrument's magic.

Behind the scenes, more than 3,000 organ pipes will now work in the walls of St. Mary's to produce a warm, welcoming sound.

The organ is the newest addition to the church, following major renovations. So far, the church has received more than $700,000 in donations for the renovations and organ.

"It's our opportunity to thank people who have donated so far," said David Mathers, director of sacred music at St. Mary's.

The recital will showcase the pipe organ with a list of music picked to complement its tones. The organ is a three-manual, 49-rank Robert William Wallace pipe organ custom-made for the church by Confederated Organ Craftsmen of America.

This is the first pipe organ St. Mary's has ever had.

Dr. Frederick Teardo, an organist at St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City, will perform. He has won numerous awards for his performances.

Mathers says his appearance would be equivalent to a famous violinist performing in concert.

"Fellow organists are excited about Fred coming down," Mathers said.

During the recital, Teardo will be playing a piece titled "Sonata on the 94th Psalm," which was written by Julius Reubke, a 19th-century German composer. It is said to be one of the most difficult pieces to play on a pipe organ.

"Reubke is rarely performed because it's so difficult to play," Mathers said. "Great works only can be played by a few people."

Only certain pipe organs have the range to play this piece, Mathers added, and the new pipe organ at St. Mary's happens to be one of them.

Mathers says the church is expecting a good turnout for the concert.

Audience members will have a chance to meet the renovators, as well as Teardo.

Following the recital, there will be a reception.

"For a lot of people [involved in the renovations], it will be a reunion," Mathers said.

This is the first pipe organ recital for the church.

According to Mathers, they hope this will be the start of a concert series.

Alyx Duckett: 540/735-1976
Email: aduckett@freelancestar.com


What: Inaugural organ concert; reception following the concert Where: St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1009 Stafford Ave., Fredericksburg When: Friday, June 17, 8 p.m. Cost: Free; voluntary donations accepted. Info: David Mathers, 540/373-6491, ext. 217, dmathers@stmaryfred.org

I suppose one in all honesty declare these two new instruments "inspirational" ??? 8)

Eric
KB7DQH

[revtonynewnham]

Hi

It does seem that in the UK more thought is given to restoring or rebuilding existing organs, whilst in the USA the norm seems (from the press reports anyway) to scrap and replace.  Maybe it's just down to the different cultures of the two nations.

IMHO many rebuild and enlarged organs are not totally successful (particularly at the lower end of the budget range) - but there are exceptions!  Old and new don't always match well, so maybe there's something in the replacement idea (and no doubt many pipes and parts do get recycled and used by less wealthy clients!)  The original organ builder (hopefully) designed the instrument to do a specific job in a specific building and voiced the pipework appropriately - adding upperwork, for example, can upset the balnce of the older ranks unless they are revoiced - perhaps radically.  And as for tacking on neo-baroque positive divisions to late 19th/early 20th century English organs - I've yet to hear one that's really successful in the overall context of the instrument, no matter how good they sound in themselves.  I wonder if that was part of the thinking at Guildford, where the Positive is an additional department (yes, I know that position for choral accompaniment was part of the reasons for it). 

Enough of my rant!

Every Blessing

Tony

[KB7DQH]

It does seem that in the UK more thought is given to restoring or rebuilding existing organs, whilst in the USA the norm seems (from the press reports anyway) to scrap and replace.  Maybe it's just down to the different cultures of the two nations.

Unfortunately most of the press reports have very little information about what has happened to the instrument being replaced, if a new organ is being (or has been) built...  Some undoubtedly get removed and their future at that point becomes unknown. (We can only hope they get listed with the Organ Clearinghouse and find new homes)  Others as you have mentioned become in one form or another part of the "new" instrument... and the remaining new organs are just that,
new, in a church  (or other venue)  that has not previously had a pipe organ... 8)  And, the remaining instruments, replace dead and dying electronics  ;D   And there do seem to be a fair number of new pipe organs displacing toasters 8) 8) 8)

Eric
KB7DQH

[KB7DQH]

There is an example I have found of an instrument which in its original home suffered, and upon installation elsewhere did much better... here...http://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,468.0.html

Eric
KB7DQH