Swell Side: With the camera flash projecting light in the otherwise-dark "cave", the pipes of the 16' BOMBARDE can be seen in this photograph, hiding behind the Great Organ pipes on the central bridge structure.
A truckload of organ parts arrived from Detroit on December 28, 1993, and a multi-purpose room was converted into an erecting hall for the new organ. The Casavant terraced-drawknob console was rebuilt with solid-state electronics, and all of the windchests were rewired to conform to the Uniform Electrical Code. Gloria Dei's previous pipe organ breathed its last on Easter Sunday of 1994, and was dismantled the next day. New platforms were built in the rear corners of the sanctuary to support the cases enclosing the Swell Organ and Choir Organ, and a "bridge" was built between the enclosures (over the balcony stairwells) to support the exposed pipework of the Great Organ. The Pedal Organ pipes are divided to the sides, and behind the Great Organ.
The work of Tacoma organbuilder Michael Gardner (Opus 5) was supported by dozens of Gloria Dei members who volunteered to wash pipes and woodwork, rewire windchests, construct the new structures and chambers, refinish woodwork, move tons of organ parts, solder wires, paint pipes, and complete a myriad of other tasks. Particular acknowledgment went to Paul Olson, Andy Opsata, Robert Pendergrast, George Phillips, Marvin Schurke, Paul Schurke, Jeffrey Sprengel, Ron Tallman, John Vatshell, and Rey Wicklund, who together volunteered nearly 8000 hours on the project.
The 60-stop instrument contains 3,600 pipes, including a real 32' rank. The organ is versatile, with stops appropriate for playing compositions from the Baroque and Romantic periods alike. The Casavant ensemble accounts for about 60% of the instrument, including the principal chorus of the Great Organ and virtually the entire Swell Organ, and forms the base on which the rest of the instrument is voiced. About 30% of the pipes were imported from Holland in 1968 and 1981, for enlargements of the previous Gloria Dei organ by Balcom & Vaughan Pipe Organs, Inc. The remaining 10% of the pipes are from other sources, including an organ attributed to William Schuelke of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Opus ??, 1910?) when purchased in the 1930's as the first pipe organ at Gloria Dei.
Regular use of the "new" organ commenced on Christmas Eve of 1994, and four dedicatory recitals were presented in 1995. The series was led off by Olympia-native and AGO Young Artists Competition winner Douglas Cleveland, who returned to the church where he made his first public appearance as an organist. Three "Builder's Recitals" followed, presented by Michael Gardner, Robert Pendergrast, and Jeffrey Sprengel. Finishing touches on the organ were completed in 1998.
Swell Side: With the camera flash
projecting light in the otherwise-dark "cave", the pipes of the 16'
BOMBARDE can be seen in this photograph, hiding behind the Great Organ
pipes on the central bridge structure.
Choir Side: Similarly, the camera flash in
this photograph permits seeing the otherwise-obscured tops of the Great
Organ 8' VIOLA DA GAMBA, hiding behind the Great Organ.
Console: The three-manual Casavant
tiered-drawknob console is on casters. It can be moved to the side when a
piano is used to accompany the choir, or rotated a quarter-turn so the
organist can see the chancel without depending on mirrors.
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Olympia WA.
BUILDER: MICHAEL GARDNER (OPUS 5, 1995), including complete ranks by:
= Hook & Hastings, Boston, Mass. (Opus 1557, 1890)
CF = Casavant Freres, Lte., St. Hyacinthe, Quebec (Opus 935, 1922)
JS = Jacques Stinkins Orgelpijpenmakers, B.V, Holland (1968 and 1981)
TA = Thomas Anderson, Boston, Mass. (1981)
GREAT ORGAN
16' DIAPASON 61 pipes
8' MONTRE 61 pipes CF
8' PRINCIPAL 61 pipes JS
8' VIOLA DA GAMBA 61 pipes CF
8' DOPPELFLUTE 61 pipes
8' MELODIA 61 pipes
4' OCTAVE 61 pipes
4' ROHRFLUTE 61 pipes JS
2-2/3' TWELFTH 61 pipes
2' DOUBLETTE 61 pipes
MIXTURE III (1-3/5') 183 pipes
MIXTURE IV (2') 232 pipes JS
8' TROMPETTE (ext. Pedal 8') 19 pipes JS
8' TRUMPET 61 pipes
4' CLAIRON (ext. 8' Trumpet) 12 pipes
CHOIR ORGAN (under expression)
8' GEIGEN PRINCIPAL 61 pipes
8' VIOLA DA GAMBA 61 pipes
8' VOIX CELESTE (tc) 49 pipes
8' UNDA MARIS II 122 pipes & CF
8' QUINTADENA 61 pipes CF
8' GEDECKT 61 pipes
4' PRINCIPAL 61 pipes JS
4' FLUTE D'AMOR 61 pipes
2-2/3' NASAT 61 pipes JS
2' PRINCIPAL (ext. 4') 12 pipes
2' KOPPELFLUTE 61 pipes JS
1-3/5' TIERCE 61 pipes JS
MIXTURE III-IV (1') 232 pipes JS
8' FRENCH HORN 73 pipes CF
8' CLARINET 73 pipes
TREMULANT
SWELL ORGAN (under expression)
16' BOURDON 61 pipes
8' DIAPASON 61 pipes
8' STOPPED DIAPASON 61 pipes
8' SALICIONAL 61 pipes
8' VOIX CELESTE (tc) 49 pipes CF
8' AEOLINE 61 pipes
4' OCTAVE 61 pipes JS
4' VIOLIN 61 pipes
4' HARMONIC FLUTE 61 pipes
2' FLACHFLUTE 61 pipes JS
1-1/3' LARIGOT 61 pipes
CORNET III (2-2/3') 183 pipes & CF
8' TROMPET 61 pipes JS
8' OBOE 73 pipes
8' VOX HUMANA 61 pipes
TREMULANT
PEDAL ORGAN
32' CONTRE BOURDON 30 pipes *
16' PRINCIPAL 30 pipes TA
16' DULCIANA 30 pipes CF
16' BOURDON 30 pipes
16' BOURDON (Sw) Duplex
8' OCTAVE (ext. 16' Principal) 12 pipes TA
8' FLUTE 24 pipes *
8' DOLCE (ext. 16' Dulciana) 12 pipes CF
4' OCTAVE 30 pipes TA
FOURNITURE IV 84 pipes
16' BOMBARDE 30 pipes JS
8' TROMPETTE (ext. 16') 12 pipes JS
8' HAUTBOIS (Sw) Duplex
4' CLAIRON (ext. 16') 12 pipes JS
4' HAUTBOIS (Sw) Duplex
Totals: 3,600 pipes;
62 ranks (speaking as 64 ranks due to design of Pedal mixture).
* The Pedal 32' Contre Bourdon [Hook & Hastings (1-12), Kimball (13-30)]
and 8' Flute [Kimball (1-20), Anderson (21-30)] share six Kimball
pipes.
Information submitted by Marvin L. Schurke. For corrections contact
Steve Fox.Back to the Seattle Area Pipe Organ Scene home page.