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New Organs

February 13, 2003
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Austin Organs, Inc.,
Hartford, Connecticut, has installed a new Antiphonal organ at Christ Church
Cathedral, Hartford. The cathedral dates from 1828, and was subsequently
supplied with successive organs by Erben, Hook & Hastings, and Skinner.
Austin #2417 was installed in the chancel in 1965. At that time, preparations
were made in the console for an Antiphonal division to be placed in the rear
gallery, but nothing occurred until 2000 when a move was started to fit a
Trumpet in the rear gallery. This idea grew into a plan for a complete
Antiphonal division somewhat larger than that envisaged in the console
preparations of 1965. Taking advantage of the reconstruction of the console
with solid-state mechanisms, drawstops were provided for a seven-stop division,
with a chamade 8' to be played from the Great, Positiv and Pedal.

Austin #2417 was typical of its times in following a
Germanic neo-classical line. Whatever the virtues of that style, it is arguable
that it is not entirely satisfactory for an Episcopal liturgy, particularly in
encouraging congregational singing. The new Antiphonal Diapason chorus is
therefore resolutely English traditional in style, and devoted solely to
congregational support. To this end a Pedal Bourdon 16' has been provided for
that firm foundation that is so assuring for hesitant congregations.

The two stops under the heading of Continuo, namely Stopped
Diapason 8' and Stopped Flute 4', are voiced not as part of the main chorus,
but for the accompaniment of small choral groups singing from the west gallery.
An arrangement has been made for a keyboard to be plugged in on the west
gallery for such occasions.

The Trompette en chamade is playable from the Great, Positiv
and Pedal. This stop is made from polished brass and fitted with flares and
speaks on 8 inches wg. The tone is decidedly different from most stops of this
name. The sound is round and focused, grand rather than aggressive, and nearer
Tuba in effect.

The casework of the new section is derived in form and
proportion from the Hook & Hastings organ of the 1860s, and is a fine and
ornamental addition to the cathedral furniture.

The Antiphonal division was taken into use on Christmas Day
2001.

--Austin Organs, Inc.

ANTIPHONAL               

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

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

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

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

CONTINUO

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

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

PEDAL

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

TROMPETTE EN CHAMADE

                                    Great

                                    Positiv

                                    Pedal

M. L. Bigelow & Co., Inc., American Fork, Utah, has built a new organ for All Souls' Episcopal Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; this is the firm's Opus 26: 19 stops, 22 ranks. This instrument is the world's first tracker organ incorporating both dual stop action (mechanical and electrical) and "Either/Or" registration whereby many of the stops can be drawn on either manual. The solid state combination action provides eight levels of memory. The instrument is of quartered white oak and is located in a small gallery at the rear of the church's new chapel which seats ninety people. Some of the various challenges included very limited floor space and ceiling clearance, a round stained glass window to clear, and choir seating for 22. The solution was a low, wide case for the manual pipes, with the pedal pipes placed behind. The terraced key desk was fitted with a tempered glass music rack and was detached to permit choir seating directly in front of the case, and to facilitate conducting the choir from the organ bench. Manual keys span C1-a58 and are of bone and ebony. The AGO pedalboard has thirty notes. Temperament is Fisk I, which gives some variety of key colors, the key of F being the most solid sounding. Metal pipes are of various alloys ranging from 31% for most inside pipes to 75% tin for the façade. Wood pipes are of oak and maple. Wind is by a blower-fed wedge bellows which is weighted to supply 70mm pressure. Relatively light pressure and gentle voicing combine to create a sound that is not too hard on the choir's ears. The organist can deactivate wind stabilizers from the key desk to achieve flexible winding. Both the organist, Dr. Laura van der Windt, and the consultant, Dr. Gerald Frank, were actively involved in the tonal design and finishing of the instrument. The inaugural recital was played by David Higgs on 5 February 2000. Due to limited seating in the chapel, Dr. Higgs repeated the recital twice the following day.

--Michael Bigelow

Manual I/Manual II

                  8' style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Præstant
(Man I/II)

                  8' style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Chimney
Flute (Man I/II)

                  8' style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Viola
da Gamba (Man I/II)

                  8' style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Voix
céleste (Man II)

                  4' style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave
(Man I/II)

                  4' style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Conical
Flute (Man I/II)

                  2' style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Octave
(Man I/II)

                  22⁄3' style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Cornet (Man
I)/Nasard (Man II)

                                    Mixture
III-IV (Man I)/ II (Man II)

                  8' style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Trumpet
(Man I/II)

                  8' style='mso-tab-count:1'>             Clarinet
(Man I/II)

Pedal

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

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

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

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

                  22⁄3' style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Mixture

                  11⁄3' style='mso-tab-count:1'>      Mixture (ext)

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

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

Tremulant/Flexible Wind

Couplers: I/Ped, II/Ped, II/I

Zimbelstern

 

* Detached keydesk to facilitate directing choir from bench.
Lighted music shelf and pedal board. Glass music rack.

* Self-regulating, suspended mechanical key action. Keys of
bone and ebony.

* Mechanical stop action. Multi-level combination action
with 8 memories operates stops electrically. Pistons: 8 Generals, 6 Manual, 4
Pedal. Coupler stop knobs are duplicated as toe and thumb piston reversibles.

* Mechanically operated swell shades enclose most manual
stops.

* Crank-adjustable full-width organ bench.

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