Overview Map of the Proposed Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks National Monument
Proposed Organ Restoration
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Proposed Organ Restoration February 2015
Transcript of Proposed Organ Restoration
Proposed Organ Restoration
February 2015
Organ ComponentsPipework!
Sound producing portions of the instrument!
Pipes built in different sizes, shapes, and materials to achieve different tonal goals!
Voiced (adjusted to speak evenly)!
Windchest System!
Delivers air to the toe of the pipe to allow it to begin to speak!
Organ uses an electro-pneumatic system to function!
(cont.)
Organ Components
Winding System!
Provides stable air at a higher ambient pressure to allow pipes and chests to operate properly!
Components include the blower, a system of reservoirs, and a conveyance system normally made of galvanized iron, wood or PVC lines!
(cont.)
Organ Components
Electrical System!
Primary function - Translate the movement of the keys and stops into electrical impulses that will activate appropriate switching and relay controls to produce sounds!
(cont.)
Organ ComponentsElectrical System!
Secondary function - Combination system allows organist to reset combinations of sounds, called registrations, and recall them with the press of a single button!
Also provides for a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), commonly used as a “data filer” allowing the record/playback function of the organ
Organ Components
Console!
The control interface contains keyboards, pedalboard, and stop controls which transfer the mechanical motions of the musician into musical presentation.!
The American Guild of Organists has set up standard design specifications so that the musician can easily move from one instrument to the other.
Organ Specifications
The Riverside Presbyterian Church organ has (5) divisions!
Four of which are controlled from a separate keyboard or pedalboard!
Each division has different tonal “stops” and is generally used for a different purpose
Great Division
Has the Foundation stops which are the heartiest sounds, and which are used for hymn singing!
Frequently stops from the other divisions are “coupled” (added to) the Great
Swell DivisionSolo stops - “colors” of the organ, such as the flutes, strings, and reeds!
“Under expression”, i.e. has shutters that can be opened or shut to provide louder or softer tone!
Often coupled to Great Division for increased variety of color and sound!
Accompanies solo registrations on other manuals, or as an alternate softer registration when accompanying choir
Choir Division
Has softer stops than the Swell and the Great!
Used for accompaniment and background sound, such as during communion!
Can act as a secondary Great and functions well in accompanying choir singers!
Often coupled to the other divisions, and is under expression
Antiphonal Division
The Antiphonal organ is located apart from the main instrument at the rear of the sanctuary at Riverside!
Accompanies and supports congregation!
Helps fill the room with sound!
Provides softer ethereal sounds
Pedal Division
Played with the feet!
Not as many notes as other divisions, but about (2.5) octaves and looks like a keyboard with larger keys!
Provides the bass notes, sounding an octave or two lower than the other keyboards!
Some of the sounds are “borrowed” from the stops on the keyboards, and some are specifically for the Pedal division
History of the Organ Components
Console -!
Built and installed (1927)!
Replaced with low quality consoles (1962, 1973, 1999)!
Blower!
Installed (1927)!
Replaced (1973)!
(Cont.)
History of the Organ Components
Swell and Choir Shutters (expression shades)!
Installed (1927)!
Rebuilt (1973)!
Wind Chests!
Two Swell chests built (1927); rebuilt (1973)!
One Choir chest built (1927); rebuilt (1973)!
One Choir chest added (1999)!
Two Great chests built (1927); rebuilt (1973)
History of the Organ Components
Offset Pedal and Manual Chests!
Mixture of 1927 and rebuilding in 1973!
Wind Trunks and Lines!
Mixture of 1927 and 1973!
Reservoirs!
Mixture of 1927 and 1973
History of the Organ Components
Organ Pipes!
Comprised mostly of 1927 vintage!
Great division pipework dates from 1973!
Four ranks added to the Choir and the Swell in 1999!
Antiphonal division added in 1973 and Echo division was removed
Sanctuary Acoustics
The configuration of the sanctuary and the hard surfaces on the walls and ceiling make possible the excellent acoustics found in European cathedrals.!
At Riverside, however, the transmission of musical sound is significantly impeded at the source by the direction the organ and the choir face and by the baffle created by the arch overhead.
Sanctuary Acoustics
Sound travels in straight lines. Thus, the organ speaks crossways across the front of the nave, as does the choir.!
This results in the congregation receiving minimal benefit of the music produced and the organist/choir director not hearing the sound delivered.
Sound Directional Diagrams
Diagram A: Current!
Sound lines we currently experience
Sound Directional Diagrams
Diagram B: Better!
Possible improved sound lines if the two Great Division chambers were moved from the side to the front wall and the other chambers were able to move forward into the vacated space
Sound Directional Diagrams
Diagram C: Best!
Additional sound lines that would be achieved if the organ chambers were opened on the archway wall into the sanctuary
Sound Directional Diagrams
Important Note: Such changes do not necessarily increase the volume, but instead increase the richness of the sound. In
many cases, this results in a lower volume level.
Major Repairs Required
Most of the mechanical elements are at the end of their useful life. Emergency repairs are temporary, interruptive, and costly. As they become more frequent, the organ will become me less available for services.!
Shutters (shades)!
No longer operating and must be replaced!
(cont.)
Major Repairs Required
Wind Chests!
A majority of the wind chests are 87 years old and are mechanically unreliable.!
Winging Systems!
Reservoirs which resemble bellows need replacement. An integral element is leather which is now 41 years old and has reached the end of its reliability.
Major Repairs RequiredBlower!
It is aging, noisy, and of limited capacity. It has a weak bearing predicting failure sometime soon.!
Console!
Very poor quality, needs to be replaced!
Replacement (1999) was with a used unit not intended for this kind of instrument!
Not a candidate for rebuilding and does not meet AGO specifications
Major Repairs RequiredPipe Chambers!
Interior is extremely crowded due to the design of two levels of ranks within the chambers. The result is the inability to make basic repairs without substantially dismantling the chamber.!
Double decking leads to tuning instability, leaves critical parts inaccessible, and is considered a safety hazard for technicians.
Repairs to the Antiphonal Organ
Consists of (2) chambers mounted on the rear of the sanctuary above the balcony, installed in the early ’70s!
The design is such that the chambers are virtually inaccessible for service. Maintenance and repairs have essentially been ignored since the original installation.!
The cabinetry, resembling Danish modern, bears no relevance to the elegant woodworking in the rest of the sanctuary.
Project Scope
Pipes!
Many of the pipes are original from 1927 and show effects of aging
Some pipes will be used from the existing instrument!
Tonal deficiencies will be addressed with the addition of new pipework to fill the void in the tonal spectrum
Project ScopePipe Chambers!
Create two new chambers for the Great division on the front wall of the nave!
Swell division would be under expression on the South side!
Choir division would be under expression on the North side!
Pedal division would be on the North side in its own space!
This reconfiguration would eliminate the need to double deck wind chests
Project ScopeChamber Facade!
Remove the grill cloth, which collects dirt, and replace with speaking and non-speaking pipes!
Shutters on Chambers!
Replace all!
Console!
Secure an entirely new console meeting American Guild of Organists standards
Project ScopeReplace!
Wind Chests!
Winding system including reservoirs and wind lines!
Blow and motor!
MIDI!
Antiphonal Organ!
Redesign and rearrange the rear chambers
CostThe Organ Task Force has been meeting the entire year.!
Lois Gurney, Al Harding, Barbara Zacheis, Alan Ragan, Sherrick Gilbert, Carl Zacheis (Chair)!
We retained a consultant and secured proposals (after visits to RPC), from four organ builders.!
Two proposals were eliminated.!
Instruments built by the two remaining contestants were visited by the committee.
CostThe committee has determined that R.A. Colby, Inc. of Johnson City, TN is best qualified to provide the needs of RPC:!
! ! ! !! ! !Colby base proposal $1,239,364
Colby antiphonal organ $140,674Openings in Nave Walls (RPC) $50,000Consultant (Parkyn) $15,000
Total $1,445,038
Stained Glass WindowsThe Property & Maintenance Committee has requested that I bring young attention to the maintenance of the sanctuary windows.!
Proper maintenance of the windows by re-caulking and replacing the lexan covering every 25 years is due now. This maintenance step avoids having to remove the entire windows for re-glazing. We had to remove and replace 25 years years ago at at cost of close to $200,000 since regular maintenance had not been performed.!
COST: $75,000
Other Acoustical MattersFor the organist to hear the sound that is being produced, consideration should be given to a better location for the console.!
Placing console on castors with a lengthy extension card or multiple plug ins provides maximum location flexibility.!
Another factor is the projection of voices which is best achieved by having the choir face the congregation.
Other Acoustical Matters
Chancel refurbishment and redesign may be something the church wishes to pursue.!
The committee did not examine these matters to any extent since they were not included in the original assignment. Thus, no costs are provided.
Artist’s Rendering
