Music: Organs
"Jingle Bells Organ":
Located in St. John's Carter Chapel, the Jingle Bells Organ has a long and entertaining history. This Hill and Davison Chamber Organ was built by William Hill and Frederick Davison in London sometime during 1837 – 1838. It was ordered by Christ Church (Episcopal) in Savannah, Georgia, as a temporary organ to be used while the church was being renovated. It was subsequently used by several other parishes, including the Savannah Unitarian Society (1857 - 1858) during which time composer James Peirpoint became its organist. During this period, Mr. Pierpoint's song "A One-Horse Open Sleigh" was published in Boston and eventually became known as "Jingle Bells."; thus the evolution of the name "Jingle Bells Organ."
Sometime in the 1940's, the organ was donated to the FSU School of Music, where it languished in several temporary storage locations before finally coming to rest in the basement of the Music Building. It was "discovered" in 1976 by a doctoral student in music theory who rescued, restored, and documented the organ. From 1985 – 1992, it served as a temporary organ for 1st Presbyterian Church before moving onto the FSU Presbyterian University Center until it arrived at St. John's in May 2000, where it is available for Sunday evening, daily, and special services.
C.B. Fisk Opus 127:
August 2005: Images of the organ installation from C.B. Fisk
May 7, 2006: Organ Dedication and Recital, 10 am and 4 pm.
The New Organ is Coming!
by Dr. Michael Corzine
Originally Published in St. John's Proclamation!, summer 2004
Phase I of the Capital Campaign called for the renovation of the church building, including the building of a new choir/organ gallery and installation of a new organ. The renovation was completed by the Feast of St. John in September 2002 with the exception of the new organ, which was scheduled for the Fall of 2006. The organ currently serving in the gallery, ("Minnie," as she is affectionately nicknamed and built for a church in Rhode Island in 1911) is on loan from the organbuilder C. B. Fisk, who will build the new organ.
The original proposal from C. B. Fisk Organbuilders, Gloucester, MA, in consultation with director of music Betsy Calhoun, consultant Michael Corzine, and the organ committee, called for an organ of 31 stops (sets of pipes) played from 2 manual keyboards and pedal. The proposal was designed to provide the most versatile instrument possible for playing the wide variety of music of the Episcopal liturgy and the Anglican choral tradition as well as the organ repertoire. Limitations on the size of the organ were presented by the physical space (pitch of the roof) and size of the nave; consequently, the proposal was for a "small-to-medium-" sized organ designed to fit perfectly into the gallery and reflect beautifully the architecture of St. John's Church. By comparison, the latest organ by C. B. Fisk, for the cathedral in Lausanne, Switzerland, is an instrument of 105 stops! You may wish to visit the C. B. Fisk website to view their impressive work at www.cbfisk.com.
After considerable discussion between the acoustical engineer, the organbuilder, consultant, director of music, organ committee and Vestry, the size of the proposed organ was reduced. The purpose of this reduction was to lower the price of the organ in order to fund the reconstruction of the nave ceiling and re-design of the HVAC system (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) for acoustical purposes. The remarkable improvements in the acoustical environment of the renovated church have been greatly appreciated by worshippers, musicians, and organbuilders alike. The reduction in the size of the organ was planned so that the stops included in the reduction could be added later. Thus, the physical size and shape of the organ would not be altered; it would simply arrive with fewer sets of pipes than the original proposal.
In a recent development, the opportunity to take delivery of the organ a year early has arisen. St. John's organ (C . B. Fisk Opus 127) can be moved up by a year because Opus 125 (Snowmass Chapel, Colorado) will most likely not be built on schedule (construction of the new church building has not yet begun because of permit delays). At the May Vestry meeting, the proposed new delivery date of the organ was approved. This means that construction in Gloucester will begin around January 2005, with delivery in the Summer of 2005, just a year from now!
In future articles, we will explore various topics including: A profile of organbuilders C. B. Fisk, Inc.; the process of building the organ; financial obligations and expectations; what to expect when the organ arrives.
C.B. Fisk, Inc. of Gloucester, Massachusetts, have been designing and building pipe organs since 1961. For lists, locations, and photographs of their organs, schedule of organ recitals, newsletters, and treatises on organ building and music, visit their website at www.cbfisk.com.
