Classically Speaking

A series of blog posts about choosing, installing, voicing, debuting a new pipe organ

It's here! The huge pipe organ built by Casavant Frères of Quebec for First Presbyterian Church-Charleston (FPC) has arrived by semi in thousands of pieces!

Of course, this was not actually Day 1. The impetus for this project came from church members John and Ruth McGee. It’s seems they have quite an affinity for pipe organs. The McGee Foundation donated the funds for the organ itself.

The project began nearly two years ago when Rev. Bill McCoy invited a handful of people to undertake the selection of a new antiphonal pipe organ to be placed in the front gallery. I was elected chair of the committee and the work began.

We researched. We sought out the counsel of trusted friends. We invited three builders to ”pitch” their company. We sent our organist and music director to listen to instruments previously built by the front-runners. We discussed and settled upon Casavant Frères.

Then of course, we had to get estimates on the total project cost – the expenses of preparing the space to accept the organ (really the weight of it) and all the associated costs of readying our front gallery for use by the various church choirs.

John McGee enlisted some friends to accomplish this funding hurdle. Apparently Chuck Avampato of the Clay Foundation also has a “history” with organs. The final piece of the financial puzzle came later when church members Bob and Nancy Douglas agreed to fund the other needs such as risers for choirs, tables for bells, audio and visual equipment, etc.

Once the contract was signed, the work began in earnest in Quebec in early 2009. About a month ago, our music director and an organist friend traveled to Quebec to inspect the instrument in the Casavant workshop. They were thrilled!So, here we are. A crew from Casavant will begin assembling this “King of Instruments” in the front gallery with cranes, scaffolding and manpower.

 Now – this is not to diminish the fame and reputation of the fabulous Fisk tracker organ which occupies our rear gallery.

Lest you doubt, the 2006 search committee for our current music director received resumes from all over the world – nearly half from organists who wanted to lay their hands on our Fisk. It will remain in service, and services at FPC.

 
Since pipe organs generally last 100-150 years (longer if you really take care of them!), the acquisition of a new one is a monumental task in many respects.

NOTE: And why "Delivering the baby"? That's my personal take on it. The Fisk is about 30 years old, so this instrument is definitely the "baby." I've nicknamed it Cassie - for Casavant.  It's designed to be more flexible and sensitive, so I figure it's a girl. Call it profiling.

Next: Some assembly required

This Thursday, the West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra will play a concert featuring Béla Bartók’s Viola Concerto and Sergei Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5.

The viola soloist is Maggie Snyder.  We last spoke right before her Carnegie Hall debut last year in May.  We caught up briefly today to talk about the music she'll be playing at this week’s concert. 

Take a few minutes to listen to her thoughts on Bartók's Viola Concerto (and whether the viola is really killing composers):

The concert will be conducted by Dr. Mitchell Arnold, Director of Orchestral Activities at WVU.  Here’s how he describes Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony: “Some composers strive to write symphonies that capture all the joy, grief, tragedy and comedy of life. Few succeed as well as Prokofiev. No wonder this is one of the most popular works written in the 20th century.” 

You can hear more of Maestro Arnold’s thoughts on music in our interview from November 2009. 

Related links:

* More info about Thursday’s WVU Symphony Orchestra concert
* WVU Prof at Carnegie Hall (New York) – interview with Maggie Snyder 
* Meet the Maestro: Mitchell Arnold
* February WV Classical Calendar