Chris I love this episode... its like your an organ detective, going through an instrument figuring what has occurred to it over time... We know each other, Thanks for a fascinating episode of "Chris Soer organ detective" :) DOC
Being an organ builder myself I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. It is a real pleasure to know that the organ wont go extinct with young people of your caliber around. Continued effort will be needed to preserve this incredible heritage. Thank you.
Wow, what a fantastic tour of that instrument. Chris' knowledge of the St. Louis area organ industry never fails to astound me. Thanks for doing this, guys.
This was a great, interesting video! We make those wood "cleats" the same way in our shop, but we call them "screw blocks" usually 4 screws (square drive) on each block made about about 4" long, 1" square and 3/4" square. I removed about a 15 rank, 3 manual Kilgen organ a church (Sacred Heart) in Ft Dodge was going to put in the dumpster, I wanted the blower and then learned they planned to dump the rest. Unfortunately members were allowed to take souvenir pipes and they were taken from both sides of the walkboards which was right in the middle of the ranks, so almost every rank was ruined by the loss of about 15 pipes from each. I did save the 44 scale Open Diapason and the Doppleflute to use in my organ, the Doppleflute was missing 17 pipes so I made new replacements for those using some boards salvaged from the pedal bordons which had been mostly ruined by roof leaks, many of the smaller bourdon pipes behind the swell boxes had been wet so many times and for so long the wood was GREY and lifting them out of the racking they would completely fall apart- blocks and all. There was no way to tune those bourdons, no access to get to them when the organ was intact! They were looking to get a new organ from the builder I work for but never got past the proposal stage, going by how poorly the Kilgen was maintained and how the roof was allowed to leak over it for so many years, a new organ is unlikely to fair any better.
I admire Mr. Soer's knowledge of all facets of Organ building. I was with Moller for 20 years and remember having to install the lower notes of the 32' Bourdon facing the back wall in the Chamber which still kept them 2 feet (or so) from the wall which was poured concrete. The difference was amazing. We had to lower the volume of those notes and girders in the attic were rattling. JUST a thought that the pipework shown in the video was turned-round to increase the power of those FAT massive pipes. I love that ere organ and even though this instrument is a Harlequinn, it sounds great which is the important. Thanks for this video. I watch them all.
Totally entranced by this video. I've been with Taylor and Boody for 32 years, and I participated in the restoration of the 1800 David Tannenberg organ in Old Salem, North Carolina. I spent weeks studying and investigating the organ, just like Chris is doing here! Fantastic! This could be a subset of your channel- organists play the organ, and Chris takes us through the observed history of the organ. Great job!
A big THANKS for collaborating with Chris and doing this video. I'm in the < 0.0001% of the population who not only finds pipe organ mechanics interesting but exciting. I missed my calling in life. Seeing Chris in action really lights up my circuits. Thankfully during this coronavirus lockdown I have 12 virtual "Hauptwerk" organs to help pass the time. I'm in Kirkwood, and am looking forward to hearing this organ in person, hopefully soon.
I played this for 15+ years from 1988-2005. Fr. Portucheck had some major work done around 1993ish. Original blower motor went out and had some additional refurbing/repair done.
Thank you for this follow-up video. I helped Max Nagel install a Trumpet to the Swell back in 1976. I'm trying to recall aspects of that installation. I had only been in organ building for a few years then. I seem to remember the Trumpet trebles on a separate chest that we put on the back wall of the Swell. Maybe the basses were on the main chest. I don't remember the organ being that large or all those pipes outside the case. I do remember noticing that all the woodwork in the church (on the main floor) had wood-grain painted on - from tiger-striped oak to birds-eye maple, and all the faux marble. Therefore, some of the tiger-strip oak of the case might have been painted on. It's really hard to tell. I played the organ on Easter Sunday that year - because the organist then had no idea what to do with a Trumpet stop! Again, while playing it, I don't remember its resources being that large. I hope this bit of extra info will help.
This video is fascinating. I've been studying the history of the organ in my church that incorporates pipes from at least three builders, Felgemacker, Hook & Hastings, and Lauck. For the most part I have it figured out, but I'm still trying to figure out where the one odd 2 rank, 30 note EP slider chest in the pedal division came from.
It's amazing what someone truly steeped in the history and maintenance of these organs can divine from subtle details of pipe and case construction. Thank you for making such a fascinating video. One minor detail: I think Samuel Pierce was based in Reading, MA rather than Reading PA, but both are pronounced "RED-ing."
You are right! It is Reading MA ... and you are right about the pronunciation, I just can't seem to say it even though I know the correct way. haha Thank you for the comments!
@@christophersoer2382 No worries at all. I was fascinated at your insight into this organ. Hopefully you and Brent can team up for more organ detective work.
Id love to have a Kilgen opus list on line. I know of 4 Kilgens here and there is no history or opus number. It would be nice to have the back ground story on them.
Kilgen literally gave everything an opus number and stamped it on everything. If you’d like to find it, peek inside the chamber. A good quick place to look is usually on pipe racking, a tremolo, a reservoir, or on the side of a chest. Also pay attention to the color that the wood components are stained or shellacked. That will give you an idea of the time period Kilgen built the organ in. Kilgen Organs are fantastic workhorses.
The OHS database has info about 756 organs by Geo. Kilgen & son. see the list at: pipeorgandatabase.org/Organs.SearchResult-Quick.php?Builder=Geo.+Kilgen+%26+Son&Institution=&City=&State=11&Country=US&SortFlag=City&country=US
Thanks for a video reminding me the I need to do some research about the (presumably) Wicks instrument I play. It has a curious arrangement of blank stop tabs that may indicate planned additions that never occurred.
Hey. I know Chris very well. Once he heard my "Invention in F Major" for the first time, he was floored. And he loved it! I love Chris Soer. There is a demo video on how to play "Invention in F Major" on my channel.
I was told that some of those dummy pipes at st John Nepomuck came from trinity Slovak now the Ninth Street Abey. When Trinity closed, the religious group using the building sold off parts of the organ and the church bells.
I wish I knew anyone knowledgeable about my instrument. The stop list suggests a Kilgen but the badge that was on the console says it was rebuilt my the St. Louis pipe organ company. I have no idea about the year or anything else and because it’s so small and the pipe work is so condensed that I can’t think of a good way to get inside it. Interesting video and glad to see your not terrified of coronavirus like others are
When Kilgen closed the plant manager Max Nagel started St Louis Pipe Organs. So your instrument might be a kilgen rebuilt by st louis pipe or was built by them and looked like kilgen.
Christopher Soer Thanks. Now I just have to learn about the year. Sadly I don’t know any more than the fact that the console has been moved and it hasn’t been serviced in far too long
Frank White was an “elite” voicer who worked (or at least did a lot of work) for M.P. Moller. His reeds were pretty good if and when you can find them!
