Douglas McKeever, representative of Foley-Baker, Inc. pipe organ specialists, spoke with the Building Team March 30, 2016. Some notes follow. He will send a one or two page summary as well. He was accompanied by a fellow tech, Matthew.
Definitions:
-Tracker organ- uses mechanical linkages made of wood to open valves to the pipes
-Direct electric organ- uses electromagnets to activate linkages to open valves.
-Electropneumatic organ- uses a combination of electromagnets and air to open valves.
-Chest- where the pipes “rest.” Could be considered the ‘air box.’
-Electronic keyboard- uses speakers and solid state circuitry to produce sound.
-Blower- supplies air to the chest.
-“Voicing”- term for tuning the organ.
Mr. McKeever recently viewed the organ at the Orient Methodist Church (OMC). It is a Hook & Hastings brand tracker organ. It was renovated in 2001. OMC is interested in donating this instrument to us. A tracker organ can be difficult to maintain; the wooden linkages wear, etc. However, since it was recently serviced, it shouldn’t be an issue. A tracker can be “electrified,” i.e., have the mechanical linkages replaced with electromagnets. This could be done with the OMC instrument, but would add significantly to the cost.
Mr. McKeever had the measurements of it’s chests and blower (16’6” X 6’7” X 14’); we will need the exact size, or larger, as the instrument’s original installation. It was also recommended that we have 20’ ceilings to accommodate removal of the bass note pipes when needed. The Team should incorporate those dimensions, or similar, into future floor plans. Mr. McKeever could also consult with our builder for load bearing requirements and other structural considerations.
Mr. McKeever noted that 90% of the cost for installation of a pipe organ comes from labor; each installation is a custom job. He estimated the cost for a brand new instrument to be $300K-$400K. However, he noted that pipe organs are 100+ year instruments and the cost is spread out over the life of the organ. Mr. McKeever declined to give an estimate for installation of the OMC organ, stating that there are too many variables involved. He did, say however that once an organ is chosen, it could be installed in 6 months or less.
The Team asked his informed opinion on other issues:
-Addressing the lack of trained organists, he stated that “a good instrument will attract a good organist.”
-A pipe organ has a fuller sound; “3-D versus 2-D” or three dimensional versus two dimensional.
-A pipe organ can accompany choirs better than an electric keyboard.
-Installing the OMC organ will make it “one of the best in the area.”
-An electronic keyboard suffers from the same maladies as all technology: it often cannot be repaired as the technology will have changed significantly.
Finally, Mr. McKeever stated that it would be better, whether or not the Team decides to install a pipe organ at the present time, to set aside space for the blower room and chest. It would be easier to find an alternate use for those spaces than try to find room once the building is complete. He also asked that when or if we have a budget for an organ, to notify Foley-Baker since it’s easier to make appropriate estimates within a fixed budget.