Cover feature

Fratelli Ruffatti, Padova, Italy only a few seconds of silence between Christ Cathedral, Garden Grove, pieces. No editing was possible with the California technology of the time.

Here is the brief history of a truly In the new Crystal Cathedral remarkable pipe organ, one of the A new, exciting building was designed most famous in the entire world, from by Philip Johnson and built to serve as America and Europe to the Far East and the main sanctuary, accommodating Australia. It is the massive instrument in more than 4,000 people. It is enclosed the former Crystal Cathedral, now Christ by more than 10,000 rectangular panes Cathedral, of Garden Grove, California. of reflective glass that constitute the walls and roof. The size is remarkable: The beginning 128 feet high, 207 feet deep, and 145 It all began in 1970, when Richard feet wide, 91,000 square feet of floor Unfried, organist of the Garden Grove space. In 1979, Dr. Schuller appointed Community Church, headed by Dr. Virgil Fox as consultant for the instal- Robert H. Schuller, contacted the firm lation of the organ in the new space. of Fratelli Ruffatti to submit a pro- Fratelli Ruffatti, Virgil Fox, and Arvella posal for the manufacturing of a new Schuller planned the new instrument. organ. The driving force behind the At the end of 1979, the contract was acquisition of the new instrument was awarded to Ruffatti for the building of Arvella Schuller, the wife of Dr. Schul- a new instrument, both exciting and December 4, 2013: Bishop Kevin William Vann with Francesco and Piero Ruffatti at ler, who was herself an organist, and unique, and one of the largest church the contract-signing ceremony held at the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padova the first organist of the Garden Grove organs of its time. The project was made Community Church. Her focus was a possible by the generous donation of still under construction. Dr. Frederick The instrument high quality music program and the Hazel Wright, a Chicago resident and a Swann was appointed the new director This magnificent organ, one of the consequent need for an instrument of follower of the Hour of Power television of music and organist, and took over largest in the world, is playable from five great significance. program. Not only did she finance the for Virgil Fox as consultant, giving final 61-key manuals and a 32-note pedal- The first Fratelli Ruffatti organ, a entire project, but she also provided an approval to the project in 1982. In his board. It consists of 14 pipe divisions, five-manual instrument of 116 ranks and endowment for the future maintenance words, “the new five-manual console 265 stops, and 268 ranks of pipes, plus a nearly 7,000 pipes, was installed in 1977 of the instrument. is the largest drawknob console ever good number of prepared-for ranks. The in the building that is currently called the In its original Virgil Fox design, the built. The exterior is of Virginia oak, main organ is located in front. The south “Arboretum.” It was then the sanctuary new organ included the previous Ruf- the interior of rosewood. It is mounted balcony houses three manual divisions from which Dr. Schuller preached, not fatti instrument from the Arboretum, on a moveable platform with a parquet and one pedal division, and the horizontal only to a local congregation of several the 1962 Aeolian-Skinner organ for- floor and is one of the most luxuriously brass trumpets are in the east and west thousand people, but also to the world- merly installed at Lincoln Center for the equipped consoles in the world.” galleries. Because of this, the sound comes wide audience of the Hour of Power, by Performing Arts in New York City, and The opening concert on May 7, 1982, from all four sides of the cathedral, for an far the most popular televised church a number of additional Ruffatti stops, was a memorable event, involving Pierre incredible and unique sonic experience. service of all time, which was broadcast among which were seven sets of horizon- Cochereau, organist of Notre Dame, Due to the complexity of the installation, throughout the United States and in tal brass trumpets and a string division. Paris; Ted Alan Worth; a full orchestra with pipes located at various heights and, many countries on several continents. Over the years, under the direction of directed by Pierre Cochereau’s son Jean- in some cases, exposed to direct sunlight, The organ was inaugurated by Virgil Guy Henderson, John Wilson, and Brian Marc; and an impressive choir of a thou- tuning has never been easy. Early on, a Fox on April 1, 1977, followed by con- Sawyers, who also took part with Ruffatti sand, uniting several choirs from the Los computerized system was installed by the certs by Richard Unfried, Diane Bish, in the installation, several additional Angeles area. Frederick Swann recalls organ curators, to monitor the tempera- David Craighead, and others. On this stops were installed, ultimately reaching the event: “None of us in the throng tures in the various organ locations, thus instrument, Virgil Fox later made the a total of 16,000 pipes. present will ever forget the sensational obtaining vital information for the regular first “direct-to-disk” recording ever Unfortunately, Virgil Fox never lived evening of sights and sounds. It would tuning of the 16,000 pipes. made on a pipe organ, playing the entire to see the organ completed. He died on be difficult to imagine a more inspiring After decades of exposure to sun- program from memory at night, with October 25, 1980, while the organ was occasion in pipe organ history.” light, heat, humidity, and in some cases

Fratelli Ruffatti

1 2 GREAT – II – Unenclosed 1 ⁄3′ Nineteenth ⁄3′ Cymbale III POSITIV – V – Unenclosed 16′ Montre 1′ Twenty-second 8′ Cornet de Récit V (wired) 16′ Bourdon (Great) 1 16′ Kontra Geigen 1 ⁄3′ Fourniture V 16′ Bombarde 8′ Prinzipal 1 ème 16′ Bourdon ⁄2′ Zimbel IV 16′ Contre Trompette (ext 2 Tpt) 8′ Rohrflöte 8′ Diapason 16′ Sub Trumpet (ext 8′ Trumpet) 16′ Basson 4′ Prinzipal 8′ Principal Major 8′ Trumpet 8′ Première Trompette 4′ Spillflöte 8′ Principal 8′ Millennial Trumpet 8′ Deuxième Trompette 2′ Oktav 1 8′ Flûte Harmonique 8′ Herald Trumpet (Bombarde) 4′ Première Clairon 1 ⁄3′ Larigot 8′ Spitzflöte 4′ Clairon (ext 8′ Trumpet) 4′ Deuxième Clairon 1′ Sifflöte 8′ Spitz Celeste Great on Choir 8′ Voix Humaine 1′ Scharff IV 1 8′ Holz Gedeckt Great on Swell 8′ Hautbois ⁄4′ Terz Zimbel III 1 5 ⁄3′ Gross Quinte Great on Solo 8′ Hautbois d’Orchestre 16′ Fagott (Choir) 4′ Oktav Great on Celestial Tremulant 8′ Krummhorn 4′ Octave Gallery Great off II Sub – Super – Unison off 8′ Tuba Mirabilis (Bombarde) 4′ Flûte Ouverte Tremulant 4′ Rohrschalmei 4′ Flûte à cheminée Sub – Super – Unison off CHOIR – I – Enclosed Tremulant 1 3 ⁄5′ Gross Tierce 16′ Gemshorn Sub – Super – Unison Off 2 2 ⁄3′ Quinte SWELL – III – Enclosed 8′ Viola Pomposa 2 2 ⁄3′ Sesquialtera II 16′ Flûte Courte 8′ Viola Celeste SOLO – IV – Enclosed 2 2 ⁄3′ Jeu de Tierce II 16′ Quintaton 8′ Flauto Dolce 8′ Gambe 2′ Fifteenth 8′ Montre 8′ Flauto Celeste 8′ Gambe Celeste 2′ Super Octave 8′ Principal 8′ Cor de Nuit 8′ Doppelflöte 2′ Blockflöte 8′ Flute Couverte 4′ Prinzipal 8′ Major Flute (Gallery) 1 1 ⁄3′ Mixture IV–VI 8′ Bourdon 4′ Koppelflöte 4′ Orchestral Flute 1 2 2 1 ⁄3′ Ripieno IV 8′ Viole de Gambe 2 ⁄3′ Rohrnazat 2 ⁄3′ Quintflöte 2 ⁄3′ Cimbalo IV 8′ Gambe Celeste 2′ Prinzipal 2′ Fife 1 ⁄2′ Zimbel IV 8′ Salicional 2′ Zauberflöte 8′ French Horn 3 16′ Contre Trompette 8′ Voix Celeste 1 ⁄5′ Tierce 8′ English Horn 1 16′ Posaune (ext 8′ Trompete) 8′ Erzähler 1 ⁄3′ Larigot 8′ Corno di Bassetto 2 8′ Trompette 8′ Erzähler Celeste ⁄3′ Scharff IV 8′ Cor de Bassett (Gallery) 8′ Trompete 4′ Prestant 16′ Fagotto Tremulant 8′ Herald Trumpet (Bombarde) 4′ Octave 8′ Petite Trompette Gallery Flute Trem 4′ Clairon 4′ Cor de Nuit 8′ Millennial Trumpet (Gallery) Sub – Super Tremulant 4′ Flûte à Pavillon 8′ Clarinet 2 Sub – Super – Unison off 2 ⁄3′ Nazard 4′ Fagotto (ext 16′ Fagotto) BOMBARDE – IV 2′ Doublette Tremulant Unenclosed GALLERY GREAT – II – 2′ Flûte à bec Sub – Super – Unison off 4′ Flûte d’Arvella (Pedal 4′ Spillflöte) 3 Unenclosed 1 ⁄5′ Tierce 16′ Tuba Profunda (TC, 8′ Tuba Mirabilis) 1 8′ Grand Montre (Gallery Pedal) 1 ⁄3′ Larigot 8′ Tuba Mirabilis 1 8′ Principal 1 ⁄7′ Septième 8′ Herald Trumpet 8′ Holzgedeckt 1′ Piccolo 8′ Millennial Trumpet (Gallery Great) 8 4′ Octave ⁄9′ Neuf 4′ Tuba Clairon (ext 8′ Tuba Mirabilis) 4′ Koppelflöte 2′ Plein Jeu III 1 2′ Fifteenth 1 ⁄3′ Mixture V

26 n THE DIAPASON n JUNE 2014 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM Cover feature

Pipes being removed from the highest level of the front organ

Front organ: large façade pipes being removed

rainwater from leaks in the roof, the organ The restoration was in need of urgent repair. Following Bishop Vann came to Padova (Padua), the acquisition of the cathedral and its Italy, in December 2013, visited the 34-acre campus by the Archdiocese of workshop of Fratelli Ruffatti and, on Orange, Bishop Kevin William Vann, an December 4, 2013, met with brothers organist and music lover, launched the Francesco and Piero Ruffatti, principals project of preserving and restoring the of the company, at the Basilica of St. iconic instrument. A farewell fund-raising Anthony, for the official signing of the event was organized: on May 18, 2013, restoration contract. Soon after, the com- Hector Olivera played the last concert on plicated process of restoration began. the instrument prior to restoration, to an A 40-foot container full of crates of all audience that nearly filled the building. sizes was sent from Padova to Garden The five-manual console prior to restoration

Christ Cathedral, Garden Grove, California

Enclosed with Solo 8′ Voix Celeste PEDAL 16′ Fagotto (Choir) 4′ Major Octave 8′ Dulcet 64′ La Force (resultant) 8′ Trompette 1 1 ⁄3′ Harmonics VI 8′ Dulcet Celeste 32′ Double Diapason 8′ Trompete 1 1 ⁄3′ Fourniture III 8′ Muted Viole I 32′ Kontra Geigen (ext 16′ Geigen) 8′ Herald Trumpet (Bombarde) 1 ⁄2′ Cymbel IV 8′ Muted Viole Celeste I 32′ Grand Cornet IV (wired) 8′ Fagotto (Choir) 1 16′ English Post Horn (ext 8′) 8′ Muted Viole II 21 ⁄3′ Diapente Grave (ext 16′ Geigen) 8′ Krummhorn (Positiv) 8′ English Post Horn 8′ Muted Viole Celeste II 16′ Contre Basse 4′ Trompette (ext 8′ Trompette) 8′ Trompette Harmonique 8′ Violoncello 16′ Diapason 4′ Klarine (ext 8′ Trompete) 4′ Clairon Harmonique 8′ Cello Celeste 16′ Principal 4′ Krummhorn (Positiv) Unison off 8′ Rohrpfeife 16′ Montre (Great) 4′ Rohrschalmei (Positiv) 4′ Nachthorn 16′ Geigen (Great) CELESTIAL – V – Enclosed 8′ Voix Humaine 16′ Subbasso GALLERY PEDAL 16′ Bourdon Doux (ext 8′ Fl à cheminée) Tremulant 16′ Bourdon 16′ Open Wood 8′ Principal Sub – Super – Unison Off 16′ Flûte Courte (Swell) 16′ Montre Le Tour 8′ Viola Pomposa String Off I 16′ Quintaton (Swell) 16′ Bourdon 8′ Viola Celeste String on Great 16′ Gemshorn (Choir) 16′ Bourdon Doux (Celestial) 2 8′ Flauto Dolce String on Swell 10 ⁄3′ Quinte 16′ Viola (String) 8′ Flauto Celeste String on Solo 8′ Principal 16′ Viola Celeste (String) 8′ Flûte à cheminée String on Celestial 8′ Octave 8′ Prestant (ext 16′ Montre Le Tour) 4′ Principal 8′ Principal (Positiv) 8′ Bourdon (ext 16′ Bourdon) 4′ Italian Principal EPISTLE – Floating 8′ Violone 8′ Viola (String) 4′ Flûte Traversière 8′ Mounted Cornet V 8′ Geigen (Great) 8′ Viola Celeste (String) 2 2 ⁄3′ Sesquialtera II 16′ Trompette en chamade 8′ Bourdon (ext 16′ Bourdon) 4′ Basse de Choral (ext 16′ Montre LT) 2 2′ Doublette 8′ Trompette en chamade 8′ Bordone 2 ⁄3′ Mixture V (Gallery Great) 2′ Octavin 4′ Trompette en chamade 8′ Spitzflöte 16′ Bombarde 1 1 ⁄3′ Plein Jeu V 2′ Trompette en chamade 8′ Flûte Courte (Swell) 16′ Contre Trompette (Celestial) 2 ⁄3′ Cymbale IV Sub 8′ Gemshorn (Choir) 16′ Sub Trumpet (Great) 4 1 2 ⁄5′ Jeu de Clochette II Epistle on Choir 5 ⁄3′ Octave quinte (ext 10 ⁄3′ Quinte) 16′ Ranquette (Celestial) 16′ Contre Trompette (ext 8′ Trompette) Epistle on Great 4′ Octave 8′ Trompette (ext 16′ Bombarde) 16′ Ranquette Epistle on Swell 4′ Choralbass 8′ Millennial Trumpet (Gallery Great) 8′ Trompette Epistle on Solo 4′ Principal (Positiv) 4′ Clairon (ext 16′ Bombarde) 8′ Cor Anglais Epistle on Celestial 4′ Spireflöte 8′ Cromorne 4′ Spillflöte PERCUSSIONS 4′ Clairon 2′ Octave Bells on IV 4′ Chalumeau GOSPEL – Floating 2′ Spindleflöte (ext 4′ Spillflöte) Bells on Pedal 1 Tremulant 16′ Trompette en chamade 5 ⁄3′ Fourniture IV Rossignol 2 Sub – Super – Unison Off 8′ Trompette en chamade 2 ⁄3′ Ripieno VI Etoile de Grand matin 1 4′ Trompette en chamade 1 ⁄3′ Acuta II Glockenstern STRING – I – Enclosed Sub 32′ Kontre Posaune (ext 16′ Posaune) Celestial Cloches 16′ Viola Gospel on Choir 16′ Posaune Carillon on Pedal 16′ Viola Celeste Gospel on Great 16′ English Post Horn (Bombarde) Carillon I 8′ Dulciana Gospel on Swell 16′ Contre Trompette (Great) Carillon IV 8′ Unda Maris Gospel on Solo 16′ Bombarde (Swell) 8′ Salicional Gospel on Celestial 16′ Basson (Swell)

WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM THE DIAPASON n JUNE 2014 n 27 Cover feature

Trompeteria

Gallery organ, prior to restoration. Several areas of the organ were temporarily pro- tected to limit the damage from rainwater from leaks in the roof.

Removal of the Ruffatti mahogany windchests

The organ’s disassembly: all chairs have been removed from the cathedral floor and pipes are being carefully stored over the entire floor area, waiting to be packed.

Grove, and, upon its arrival, the delicate A very efficient system was imple- dismantling process took place, involv- mented to remove the heavy windchests ing a five-man crew from the factory, from the chambers, some of which headed by Piero Ruffatti, and a local were located at a very high elevation. crew headed by Brian Sawyers, former By using four electric hoists, two inside curator of the instrument. the chamber hooked to the ceilings and With the help of local riggers, most two outside hooked to the building’s roof of the pipes and many windchests were structure, parts were moved out of the removed, plus a number of other vital chambers, transferred from one hoist to components. The pipes were temporarily another, and lowered to floor level with stored using the entire cathedral floor. no physical strain. Thousands of them were then care- Restoration will include the replace- fully packed into crates, loaded into the ment of perishable materials such as 40-foot sea-land containers, and shipped felt and leather, reconditioning of all to the Ruffatti factory, along with a num- windchests (with special attention to ber of windchests, expression louvers, the those damaged by rainwater), re-shaping organ console, and miscellaneous parts. of many damaged pipes, replacement of slide tuners, and reconstruction of some pipes that have been misplaced over the Don’t just tell people what you years. The present Ruffatti console will have for sale. Show them! be retained, fully restored, and equipped with the most advanced technology, to offer new and innovative features such as a high number of personalized, pass- word-protected folders to control the complex combination action, recording/ playback, and much more. The connec- tion between the console and the many Ruffatti windchests being lowered to floor level organ divisions throughout the building will be by fiber optics, to achieve the fast- considerable amount of work that will Note: Years ago, a number of digi- est and most efficient data transmission. take place in the building, which will be tal stops were added to help support Part of the restoration process will be renovated inside to accommodate the members of the congregation sitting in carried out locally by a team led by Brian Roman Catholic liturgy. the east and west galleries where the Sawyers, under the aegis of Fratelli Ruf- Dr. Frederick Swann, former music horizontal trumpets are located, since fatti. This process will include thorough director of the Crystal Cathedral, has there was no room for additional pipe Include pictures with your cleaning of all organ parts, rearranging of been appointed as the Cathedral con- divisions in those parts of the building. classified ads on our website. some windchests, rewiring to new junc- sultant for the project. The re-named Some extra pedal stops were also added, tion boards, and restoration of parts that ‘Christ Cathedral’ is scheduled to re- to reinforce the sound in a vast building www.TheDiapason.com were not shipped to Italy. The project open, with the restored organ, in 2016. with poor acoustics for bass frequencies. Contact Jerome Butera for details. does not include changes to the present —Fratelli Ruffatti Those digital voices will be replaced with 608/634-6253; [email protected] stoplist. The organ chambers will be the latest technology, under a separate protected from dust originated by the Photo credit: Fratelli Ruffatti contract not involving Fratelli Ruffatti.

28 n THE DIAPASON n JUNE 2014 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM