M. L. Bigelow & Co., Inc., Organ Builders, American Fork, Utah
Opus 31,
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Named the Ruth & Paul Manz Organ in recognition of their music ministry
at LSTC between 1983-1992, M. L. Bigelow & Co.'s Opus 31, II/28 stops,
makes a strong statement, both musically and architecturally, in the newly
remodeled chapel of this important religious institution.
The free-standing case of solid quarter-sawn red oak matches the chapel's
contemporary architecture. Polished tin pipes of the Pedal Præstant 16'
and the Great Præstant 8' form the façade, which articulates
placement of the Swell division above the Great. Mechanically operated louvers
on three sides of the enclosure maximize the swell effect.
The Harmonic Flute 8' and Bass Clarinet 16' suggest a broad-minded tonal
design. Indeed, the instrument seems equally at home in a wide variety of
musical styles. The mildly voiced Posaune 16' and 8' is surprisingly versatile.
A specially designed slider chest facilitates unification of three of the four
Pedal ranks. The Præstant 16' plays on electro-pneumatic action. The
Bourdon 16' is made playable on the Great by means of electric action pallets
on isolated channels of the Pedal slider chest. With these two exceptions, the
key action is purely mechanical. Stop action is electric. Sixty memory levels
with disk backup, definable pistons, and a piston sequencer give the organist
numerous options for control of tonal resources. Wind pressure is 81 mm. A
large blower feeds two wedge-shaped bellows, one for the manuals, the other for
the pedal. By pulling the "Flexible Wind" knob, winding is given a
gently flexible quality.
Metal pipes were made by Jacques Stinkens (Zeist, Holland), A. R. Schopp's
Sons (Alliance, Ohio), and F. J. Rogers (Leeds, England). The bone and ebony
keyboards and coupler chassis were built by P&S Organ Supply in England.
Bigelow personnel included Michael Bigelow, David Chamberlin, Shayne Ward,
Robert Munson, Dylan Young, Jarvis Rasmussen, Matthew Nagel, Marshall Haglund,
Sam Rojas, Kendall Green, Meg Griffith, and Beth Bigelow.
Following the formal service of dedication played by LSTC's staff organist,
Daniel Schwandt, the November 2004 inaugural events continued with a hymn
festival led by Dr. Lorraine Brugh, and a masterclass and recital by Dr. David
Schrader. Special thanks go to Scott Riedel, consultant; Dr. Mark Bangert,
organ committee; and Dr. Larry Long, LSTC's former organist.
--Michael Bigelow and
David Chamberlin
M. L. Bigelow & Co. Opus 31
Two manuals and pedal: 58/30
31 ranks, 25 voices and 3 extensions/transmissions = 28 stops
GREAT 58 notes
16' Bourdon
(1-24 = Pedal)
8' Præstant
8' Chimney
Flute
8' Harmonic
Flute
4' Octave
4' Dolce
Flute
2' Octave
Sesquialtera
II
Mixture
IV
8' Trumpet
Swell
to Great
SWELL 58 notes
8' Oak
Gedackt
8' Viola
da gamba
8' Voix
céleste (tc)
4' Viol-Principal
4' Open
Flute
22/3' Nasard
2' Conical
Flute
13/5' Tierce
Plein
Jeu III
16' Bass
Clarinet
8' Oboe
PEDAL 30 notes
16' Præstant
16' Bourdon
8' Octave
8' Bourdon
(ext)
4' Octave
(ext)
16' Posaune
8' Posaune
(ext)
Great
to Pedal
Swell
to Pedal
Accessories
Tremulant
Flexible
Wind
Bell
Star
Pistons:
8 Generals, 6 Divisionals
Hermes Pipe Organs, LaValle, Wisconsin,
has completed the organ project at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church
in Cazenovia, Wisconsin. The parish recently completed the restoration of their
church building, which was originally built in the 1880s. Over the course of
time, the roof deteriorated to the point that the building was no longer usable
for worship. Services were then held at the parish school located next to the
church. Restoration work included major rebuilding of the roof trusses and
decking, the bell tower, the wall and ceiling insulation, and a complete interior
restoration of all walls, hardwood floors, pews, and decorations.
At that time, it was also decided to replace the 1917 Kimball pipe organ
that was installed in the 1931 remodeling of the sanctuary. The Kimball had
served the parish well for many years. However, leaks in the roof above the
choir loft resulted in water damage, leading to significant deterioration of
the organ chests and wood pipes.
In 1986, Fred Hermes was contacted to appraise the condition of the Kimball.
He noted that the low CC Subbass pipe and the end of the Subbass chest crumbled
when touched. Because of the poor condition of the Kimball, it was suggested
that restoration costs would be prohibitive, and that restoring and installing
a different organ would be a better option. Due to financial constraints, the
parish decided to continue to use the Kimball, and Mr. Hermes did what he could
to keep the organ working.
In 1999, Hermes arranged for the donation of a 2-manual, 13-rank pipe organ
to the parish and installed it in the newly restored sanctuary in 2002-2003.
The sanctuary has all hard surfaces and is very live with a reverberation time
of three and a half seconds.
GREAT
8' Bourdon
8' Gemshorn*
4' Principal*
4' Gemshorn
(ext)*
22/3' Quint*
2' Octave*
Gt 16-UO-4
Sw/Gt
16-8-4
SWELL
8' Quintaton*
8' Viole
8' Viole
Celeste
4' Spitz
Flute*
2' Principal*
Sesquialtera
II*
8' Fagott
Sw
16-UO-4
PEDAL
16' Bourdon
(ext)
8' Bourdon
8' Gemshorn
4' Gemshorn
22/3' Gemshorn
2' Gemshorn
Gt/Ped
8-4
Sw/Ped
8-4
*Built in 1960 by J. B. Meyer and Sons Co.
31/2 inches wind pressure
