Dobson Pipe Organ Builders has been commissioned by Independent Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, Alabama, to build Op. 90, an instrument of three manuals and 82 ranks.
Details can be found at www.dobsonorgan.com/html/instruments/op90_birming ham.html.
IPC has a storied music program, which first gained prominence under the direction of Joseph W. Schreiber and is continued now by Jeff R. McLelland. Since 1965, the church has presented more than 150 artists in its November organ recital series.
The original pipe organ, built in 1924 as Op. 516 of the Skinner Organ Company, was rebuilt by Æolian-Skinner in 1969 as Op. 516-A. It was enlarged by M.P. Möller in 1975 and again in 1982, and rebuilt yet again following a fire in 1992.
The new instrument will have electric action with slider windchests for the Great, Swell and Choir, and electro-pneumatic windchests for the Solo and Pedal. The organ will be completed in 2012.
September 27, 2010
THE DIAPASON
