Cover
Rieger-Kloss
Company, Krnov, Czech Republic
Government
Street Presbyterian Church, Mobile, Alabama
Members of the Government Street Presbyterian Church worked for several
years developing a plan for the renovation of their beautiful and historical
church in downtown Mobile. Among the many items that needed serious attention
was the pipe organ--the former organ was an Estey installed in 1905. It had
been renovated a number of times and had so many alterations that it could
hardly be credited back to its original builder. The one thing that had
remained constant was the organ pipe facade. After an in-depth study by a very
thorough organ committee, it was decided that the old organ had so many
problems that it would be better stewardship for the church to purchase a new
instrument. It was initially assumed that the new organ would occupy the same
space as the old organ. William Gray of the Rieger-Kloss Company entered onto
the scene rather late in the process and challenged the committee to look at
the total music ministry to develop a plan of how the organ, choir and
congregation could all relate musically together more effectively. The Estey
had occupied the entire center gallery, and the choir had to sit off to the far
side of the organ; there was no proper choir loft. Mr. Gray impressed on the
committee that if they were ever going to correct this problem, this was the
time to do so. In order to make room for a rear choir gallery, the organ was
located in three organ cases. The organ cases were located left and right of
the center gallery plus a very shallow division in the center, across the back
wall. This was not only a time to purchase a new organ but to develop workable
space for the music ministry of the church.
A tracker action organ was very seriously considered for Government Street
Presbyterian Church. However, if a good space were created for the choir there
would be very long tracker runs to the organ cases which would greatly decrease
the effectiveness of the tracker action. It was also decided that it would be a
great advantage to have a movable console. After all the facts were weighed, it
was decided that slider chests with electric pull downs, along with a few unit
chests, would be most appropriate for this instrument.
The Rieger-Kloss Pipe Organ Company of Krnov, Czech Republic was selected to
build the new organ for Government Street Presbyterian Church in January of
2000. Rieger-Kloss is one of Europe's oldest builders of pipe organs,
incorporated in 1873; however, the Rieger brothers were building organs as
early as the 1840s. They are unique in the industry in that they have a College
of Organ Building, a four-year accredited degreed course. The school enrolls 12
students each year and if they all stay for the full four years, they have a maximum
of 48 students enrolled. The company works to keep the best and brightest of
these students and then they furnish many of the other major builders in Europe
with their young craftsmen.
Although Rieger-Kloss is one of the largest builders of pipe organs in the
world, it operates as a small company. Each organ is built by a team of Master
Organ Builders; in the case of Mobile, an 8-member team built this instrument.
They see the organ from its conception to its completion. They assemble the
organ in the Rieger-Kloss shop erecting room to check out all systems. Although
pipes are placed on the wind chest and played, they are only tuned; they are
not finally regulated and tonal finished until they arrive in their permanent
home.
Government Street Presbyterian Church, being a historical building, required
a lot of attention to architectural details of the room. Marcel Kolarz, the
Rieger-Kloss case designer, was brought over from Europe to study the room and
to design the organ cases developed around the master plan that
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Mr. Gray had set forth for this room.
The cases reflect numerous architectural details from the building. For
instance, the columns in the organ case and the dental design that forms the
top moldings are all details of the existing room. The capitals at the top of
the columns and the lacy pipe shades were all hand carved by Petr Brodak and
come from details of the building. The organ cases and pipe shades are white
with gilded gold trim as is found in the existing room. All of the pipes seen in
the fa?ßade of the organ cases are speaking pipes, made of 70% tin and 30% lead,
highly polished natural metal; the mouths of the pipes are gilded gold.
The console is four manuals with pedals. The outside cabinet of the console
is white and the interior is walnut. The natural keys are highly polished bone
and the sharp keys are walnut. The pedalboard natural keys are made of white
rock maple and the sharps of walnut. The console is a state-of-the-art design
with a very elaborate computer system, having 200+ levels of memory. A
sequencer allows the organist to program the pistons in the order that he/she
plans to use them and the organ will automatically progress through the pistons
in the order programmed. This organ also has a playback system, with which the
organist can record on a computer disc and have the organ play back exactly the
performance. Three of the manuals plus the pedal division are traditional
divisions--the Great Organ, the Positiv Organ, the Swell Organ and the Pedal
Organ. In addition to this, the fourth manual (top keyboard) represents the
Grand Choir Resonance, an idea that comes from the French school of organ
building. The Grand Choir Resonance division manual plays the entire Pedal
division on the fourth manual, with each of the Pedal stops extended to play
the full 61 notes of the manual. This opens up many unique registration colors
and is most valuable in service playing, especially for accompanying hymns. It
is also gives a fabulous richness to the organ in playing French toccatas and
other literature where the pitch line is high on the keyboard. The horizontal
Trompette-en-Chamade can solo above the entire organ and also play fanfares.
The tonal finishing of the organ required a little more than six weeks.
Daniel Angerstein came to Mobile and
set all of the
"C"s for the different ranks of pipes, and Frantisek Kutalek and
Tomas Fafilek matched the notes in between to the "C"s. The room is
especially treble heavy but has a very weak response to the bass harmonics. As
a result, it posed a special challenge for the tonal finishers.
Other members of the Rieger-Kloss team who built the Government Street
Presbyterian Church organ were Zdenik Mican, David Vystrcil, Rostislav
Kohoutek, Tomas Kusak and Miraslav Mitura.
In addition to providing inspiring music for worship, the church is planning
a concert series; so far, they have sponsored Merrill Davis, John Weaver and
Fred Swann in concert. The resident organist, Terry Maddox, has played a
recital, and they have sponsored noonday recitals with local organists
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> during Lent. An International Organist
Festival is being projected for the near future.
The Rieger-Kloss organ at Government Street Presbyterian Church is designed
especially for their building and for the musical needs of this congregation.
It was designed architecturally to
look as if it were always a part of this lovely, historical building and it is
equally suited to the musical demands of the church. It is a high quality
instrument which, if well maintained, will be there as long as the building
stands and will meet the demands of musical growth of the congregation. May it
always bring great and inspirational music to those who hear its majestic
sounds.
--William Gray
GREAT (partially expressive) Manual II
16' Violoneprestant
8' Principal
8' Flute
Harmonique
8' Bourdon
8' Violincelle
(ext)
8' Erzahler
Celeste (II)
4' Octave
4' Spillflote
22/3' Quint
2' Super
Octave
2' Flute
22/3' Grand
Chorus (VI)
8' Trumpet
Tremulant
POSITIV (unenclosed) Manual I
8' Principal
8' Holzgedeckt
4' Octave
4' Flute
2' Principal
11/3' Larigot
1' Cymbel
(IV)
8' Klein
Trompete
8' Cromorne
Tremulant
Zimbelstern
16' Trompette-en-Chamade
(TC, Grand Choir Resonance)
8' Trompette-en-Chamade
(Grand Choir Resonance)
SWELL (expressive) Manual III
16' Bourdon
Bass (ext)
8' Viola
Pomposa
8' Viola
Celeste
8' Chimney
Flute
8' Flute
Celeste (II)
4' Prestant
4' Spire
Flute
22/3' Nazard
2' Principal
2' Blockflote
13/5' Tierce
11/3' Mixture
Minor (V)
16' Basson
8' Trompette
8' Hautbois
8' Vox
Humana
4' Clarion
Tremulant
16' Trompette-en-Chamade
(TC, Grand Choir)
8' Trompette-en-Chamade
(Grand Choir)
GRAND CHOIR (unenclosed) Manual IV
16' Violoneprestant
(Great)
16' Bourdon
8' Principal
8' Bourdon
8' Violincelle
(Great)
4' Octave
4' Flute
2' Super
Octave
Mixture
(IV-VIII)
16' Trompetenbass
8' Trompete
4' Klarine
(ext)
Chimes
16' Trompette-en-Chamade
(TC)
8' Trompette-en-Chamade
PEDAL
32' Double
Open Wood (digital)
32' Contra
Bourdon
16' Open
Wood (digital)
16' Violoneprestant
(Great)
16' Subbass
16' Bourdon
Bass (Swell)
102/3' Rohrquinte
(Swell)
8' Octavebass
8' Gedacktflote
8' Violincelle
(Great)
4' Choral
Bass (ext Octavebass)
Mixture
(IV)
32' Contra
Fagott (ext)
16' Trompetenbass
16' Basson
(Swell)
8' Trompete
4' Klarine
8' Trompette-en-Chamade
4' Clairon-en-Chamade
Chimes
(Grand Choir)
Couplers
Gt/Ped
8
Sw/Pedal
8, 4
Pos/Ped
8, 4
Great
Unison Off
Sw/Gt
16, 8, 4
Pos/Gt
8
Grand
Ch/Gt 8
Gt/Grand
Ch 8
Pos/Grand
Ch 8
Sw/Grand
Ch 8
16-UO-4
Grand
Ch/Sw
Positiv
Unison Off
Gt/Pos
8
Sw/Pos
16, 8, 4
Grand
Ch/Pos 8
Cover photo by Matt Bechteler
Assistance with cover graphics: Matthias Minnig
Fabry Inc., Fox Lake, Illinois, has
installed a 1957 Schantz organ (two manuals, 13 ranks) at Prince of Peace
Catholic Church, Lake Villa, Illinois. The instrument was originally built for
Grace Christian Church in Kendallville, Indiana. The church decided to sell the
instrument rather than take it to their new sanctuary currently being built.
Fabry Inc. brought the two churches together to make their own purchase
agreement, and then dismantled, transported, and reinstalled the organ with
several improvements for Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Improvements include
a new blower, new solid state relay, new electric tremolos, new swell box
enclosure using original shade frames, new electric shade actions, refinished
bench and top of console, and new oak finish casework. Installation was
completed in May of 2002 and the dedidation was played on September 15 by Mr.
Ernie Hiltebrand and Mrs. Gina Buckley. Fabry Inc. would like to thank Mr.
Hiltebrand, director of music ministry, who handled the purchase and
coordinated the installation for the Rev. Richard Yanos, the pastor of Prince
of Peace Church. David G. Fabry and Joseph Poland reengineered, built all the new
casework, and tonally finished the instrument.
GREAT
8' Open
Diapason -- Rank 1
8' Bourdon--
Rank 2
8' Dulciana
-- Rank 3
8' Unda
Maris (TC) -- Rank 4
4' Octave
-- Rank 5
4' Hohlfloete
-- Rank 6
2' Fifteenth
(ext)
Chimes style='mso-tab-count:1'> -- 25 bars
Tremolo
SWELL
16' Rohrgedeckt
-- Rank 7
8' Geigen
Diapason -- Rank 8
8' Rohrfloete
(ext)
8' Salicional
-- Rank 9
8' Voix
Celeste (TC) -- Rank 10
4' Geigen
Octave (ext)
4' Flute
Harmonic -- Rank 11
2 2/3' Nazard
(borrow)
2' Piccolo
(ext)
8' Oboe
-- Rank 12
4' Oboe
Clarion (ext)
Tremolo
PEDAL
16' Subbass
-- Rank 13
16' Rohrgedeckt
(Sw)
8' Bass
Flute (ext)
8' Rohrflute
(Sw)
4' Bass
Flute (ext)
4' Rohrflute
(Sw)
Couplers
Gt/Gt
16-UO-4
Sw/Sw
16-UO-4
Sw/Gt
16-8-4
Gt/Ped
8-4
Sw/Ped
8-4
Schneider Pipe Organs, Inc., of
Kenney, Illinois, has completed the first phase of a multi-stage renovation of
the 1922 Hinners organ in Zion Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois. The initial
phase consisted of rebuilding the console and rewiring the organ utilizing a
Matters microprocessor-based relay system with a fiber-optic link between the
console and the organ chamber. All wiring on the existing windchests was
replaced with new modern wiring. A new pedalboard to replace the existing one,
which was disintegrating due to years of heavy use, was also installed. At the
same time, new 120 volt AC wiring and magnetic starter for the existing organ
blower and a new DC rectifier were installed, as well as new fluorescent
lighting within the organ chamber and blower room. Service receptacles for
maintenance work were also added to the installation. Limited pneumatic repairs
were made to the existing electro-pneumatic windchests as a temporary measure,
as well as replacement of a number of badly damaged and crudely repaired treble
pipes of the Stopped Diapason rank.
Completion of this phase of the work was March, 2002. It was rededicated on
Reformation Sunday, October 27, 2002, in conjunction with and celebrating 10
years of the ordination of the incumbent pastor, The Rev. Steven Paul Tibbetts,
S.T.S. at Zion. The day-long celebration included a Festival Eucharist
(Reformation), potluck meal, organ rededication concert, and Vespers. In
between were displays of the 75th anniversary of the completion of the main
church building.
Anticipated future phases are to include complete removal of the existing
windchests and pipework of the instrument from the chamber space while it is
being replastered and repainted, and construction of all-new wind-chests with
electro-mechanical action and expansion chambers. Participants in the project
included W.C. Burkett, Nick Fry, Dan Schneider, Matt Schneider, Joan Schneider,
Richard Schneider.
GREAT
8' Principal
8' Rohr
Floete
4' Principal
4' Rohr
Floete (ext)
2' Spitz
Floete (ext)
11/3' Mixture
II (new)
8' Oboe
(Sw)
Gt
UO-4
Sw/Gt
16-8-4
SWELL
16' Z?§rtbass
(ext)
8' Geigen
Principal
8' Holzgedackt
8' Salicional
8' Vox
Celeste (49 pipes)
4' Geigen
Octave (ext)
4' Traverse
Floete (ext)
4' Violina
(ext)
22/3' Nazard
(ext)
2' Principal
(ext)
13/5' Terz
(ext)
16' Basson
(ext, new L/2 basses)
8' Oboe
4' Schalmey
(ext)
Tremolo
Sw
16-UO-4
PEDAL
32' Acoustic
Bass (resultant, Zartbass)
16' Grand
Bourdon
16' Zartbass
(Sw)
8' Principalbass
(Gt)
8' Bourdon
(ext)
8' Gedackt
(Sw)
4' Choralbass
(ext Gt)
4' Gedackt
(Sw)
16' Basson
(Sw)
8' Oboe
(Sw)
4' Schalmey
(Sw)
Gt/Ped
Sw/Ped
