Information on the Organ for the New Church
Fall 2009
Dear Parishioners:
As the building of our new church continues, there have been several inquires into the status of the organ for the new church. Many have asked if the current organ will simply be moved into the new building, or if we are purchasing an entirely new instrument. A little over ten years ago, our current organ was purchased for All Saints with the intention that one day it would be moved into a new church. The organ was built by the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Illinois, one of the oldest and most successful organ builders in the United States. The organ is a “hybrid” instrument, which means it is comprised of approximately one-half pipework, and one-half digital voices. The pipework, case, and console were built by Wicks, and the digital voices are a product of the Walker Technical Company of Zionsville, Pennsylvania.
During the design period for our new church, every attempt was made to ensure that we retain as much of the current organ as possible. In the fall of 2008, All Saints entered into a contract with the Wicks Organ Company for a redesign and expansion of the current instrument for the new church. All of the pipework in the existing organ will be used for the organ in the new church. The console (keyboards, pedal board, stops) will also be retained and refabricated. The wood case of the current organ unfortunately does not match the woodwork of the new church, nor can it be retro-fitted to accommodate the new space. Two new identical pipe towers will be built, which will match the wood stain of the altar area, and fit in the space on either side of the altar. Within these towers will be contained the revoiced pipework, upgraded digital voices, and an array of new digital voices.
Mounted high above the baptismal font on the back wall the sanctuary will be a rank of horizontal fanfare trumpets. These trumpets will be used for special occasions, such as weddings and solemnities. Additionally, the bell tower carillon will also be controllable from the organ console, to allow the bells to be played with the organ. Together, this updated and expanded version of our current organ will be made to fit the needs of the larger church. The organ will be expanded by way of additional digital voices only. The space allotted for the organ and the budget constraints did not allow for additional pipework to be added aside from the fanfare trumpets, but the digital voices being added will reflect the latest technology and supplement the existing pipework.
Immediately after Christmas, the Wicks Organ Company will be removing the organ and bringing it to their factory in Highland, Illinois. It will be installed and voiced in the new church between May and July of 2010.
During the interim period, a Wicks digital organ will be installed at All Saints. This two-keyboard organ will eventually be used as the organ for the chapel of the new church. A permanent set of speakers will be kept in the current church and in the chapel of the new church to facilitate the use of the organ in both spaced. This digital chapel organ will be mounted on a movable platform so that it can be transported between the church and chapel as needed. This organ will be used for Christmas and Easter overflow Masses in the old church and for all liturgical events in the chapel.
For further information on the Wicks Organ Company, please visit http://organ.wicks.com. For any additional questions regarding the organs for the new church, please contact the music office at 703.393.2146. Several components of the organ are available for donation as part of the New Church Completion Campaign.
I hope that this information has been helpful as we all look forward to the completion of our new church.
Sincerely,
Bill Atwood
Director of Music and Coordinator of Liturgical Ministries
