emerge as the right choice. but who would COVER FEATURE have thought that our" Anglo" organ would end up being built by French Canadians? But build it they did! When I first heard our new FIRSTUNITED METHODIST CHURCH organ in the Casavant workshop in June of 2003. it not only met my expectations but DALLAS, TEXAS surpassed them in so many ways. I spent the .. first 30 minutes of my visit playing on noth- ing but the First Open Diapason from the CASAVANTFRERES Great division-such a beautiful stop and a rich foundational sound for which we at First United Methodist Church had been longing. The character and personality of this in- strument have continued to amaze me throughout the installation and voicing pro- cess. The sound of this organ is very warm and rich while maintaining an exquisite clar- ity and brilliance. It is truly a work of art. Whether leading congregational hymns. ac- companying choral anthems. or playing solo organ repertoire of the great masters from Bach to Dupre, Opus 3828 is truly an origi- nal and will bring great glory to almighty God who has blessed us so richly. TIM EFFLER Organist and Associate Director of Music From the Consultant From the Senior Minister our "miracle organ," because it is something The completion and dedication of Casa- Now that the dedication of our new pipe many thought we would never see or hear. vant Opus 3828 was a dream come true for organ has taken place, we would do well to With the blessing of the trustees, we pre- all of us involved in the selection,concep- reflect on the significance of this milestone sented our proposal to purchase a new pipe tion, design,building, and installation of this .in our church's history. The assembly of this organ at an All-Church Conference on March fine instrument. From the consultant-main- new instrument is something akin to a per- 11, 2001, and with an overwhelmingly posi- tenance provider's point of view, the suc- son getting a heart transplant. After all, the tive vote, the membership agreed to take the cessesof this installation are not only to be organ provides the heartbeat of our worship leap of faith and make this dream come true. found in the beautiful tonal structure of the experience. We are now feeling renewed vi- Since then, the most inspiring part of this voices, from the mixtures to the 32' Pedal tality pumped into the gathered Body of process has been watching the "grass roots" stops,or in the expertly crafted facadecase- Christ as a result of the power of this instru- effort grow. No individual, family, or foun- work, which masterfully matchesthe origi- ment. Under the skilled hands of our organ- dation made this miracle happen. It hap- nal plaster screenand the surrounding En- ist, Tim Effler, the organ prelude consecrates pened one person at a time making one do- glish Gothic woodwork, but also in the time and space and beckons us all from the nation at a time. That's the First Church way, spaciousand accessiblephysical layout and distractions and busyness of our lives to fo- and when the majestic sounds of our new or- installation of the windchests, pipes, and cus on the task of faith. The sounds driven gan fill the sanctuliry, the beauty and vitality support equipment, such as reservoirsand from the myriad ranks of pipes call us to wor- we hear will be a reflection of us, the Body of blowers, which were isolated, as much as ship God. The strains of high notes waft Christ at First United Methodist Church in possible,behind the chambersto eliminate down from the sanctuary ceiling like manna downt{)wn Dallas, who cared enough to wind and blower noisesthought to be a nec- from heaven. The driving bass notes shake us make the dream come true. Thanks be to God essaryevil in somepipe organinstallations. out of our apathy and preoccupation with for our miracle organ! The entire facade,comprised of Pedal and self like a great earthquake. The hymns that DANA EFFLER manual principals, is completely accessible we sing together are more powerful in their Director of Music and Arts from inside the organ for tuning and other proclamation of God's word. Clarity. Power. From the Organist adjustments that might be required from Beauty. The new organ gives us these things time to time. The designalso includes fold- and we are feeding off this new energy. With What a thrill it is finally to write aboutthis marvelous instrument and this incredible ing tuning-maintenanceplatforms on either Casavant Opus 3828 now securely en- side of the lowest central display of princi- sconced in our historic sanctuary, First journey over the past six years.Early in the processKeith Schafer,organist at St. Paul's pals just beneath the Festival Trumpet Church congregations will be blessed for (chamade).When the platforms are lowered decades to come. This is truly an instrument Episcopal Church in Augusta, Georgia, by meansof a spring-loadedcable and crank, for the ages. sharedwith me that his church's organpro- ject had taken six yearsfrom the time a com- the tuner is provided with a very comfortable DR. JOHN F. FIEDLER meansfor accessingthe wires and resonators Senior Minister mittee was formed until the completion of the instrument, and that he had neededev- for tuning and regulatingthe pipes. Thereis From the Director of Music ery minute of it! Washe everright-so many even a guardrail that unfolds into place to Located in the Arts District of downtown questions,so many details.And the result is help the tuner avoid stepping off the plat- Dallas, the Music and Arts program is a vital this fabulousinstrument that we havetoday. form while servicing the stop that is just part of First United Methodist Church offer- Throughoutthe entire processthe wonderful overheadwithin easyreach. The installation ing seven choirs, six handbell choirs, an art people of CasavantFreres have listened, ad- is accessibleon all levels, below each divi- gallery, and a theater series. Our new organ vised, encouraged, hand held, and cele- sion for windchest access,and aboveeach is a welcomed addition, bringing with it a brated with us over the creation of Opus windchest for tuning and regulation. This quality, clarity, and variety of sound that re- 3828. tuner has not seenan instrument as accessi- flects and augments the music ministry it From the start we knew we wanted a tra- ble or serviceableas this one in nearly 40 serves. A marvelous solo instrument, its ditional and eclectic" Anglo!American" or- yearsof servicingpipe organs.There will be beauty and energy provide excellent accom- gan-the kind of instrument that might have at least one instrument in the hundredswe paniment for all of our choirs. beenbuilt for this new sanctuaryby the E.M. have servicedthat we will be ableto service Looking back over the long road we trav- Skinner Company back in 1926. So, we into our "senior years"! It hasbeen a joy and eled, I am filled with a sense of awe and grat- looked at several" American" builders. I be- a privilege to be a part of such a successful itude for the hundreds of individuals who gan this processwondering how we would endeavor.Soli Deo Gloria! contributed their financial support to this ever make a decision. Our consultant, Gary GARY LOPER project. I decided that it is fitting to call this Loper, reassuredme that one builder would Loper Pipe Organ Service 32 Copyright 2004 by theAmerican Guild of Organists THE AMERICAN ORGANIST Reprintedby permissionof TheAmerican OrJ{anistMaJ{azine From the Builder eral times in the intervening years and now, ticularly noteworthy is the presence of com- The completion of the organ at First almost 100 years later, we find renewed in- plete principal choruses on the Great, Swell, United MethodistChurch coincides with our terest in a type of sound that found favor and Choir divisions. There are 22 principal 125th anniversary.It is inevitable and per- about a century ago. stops in the instrument, including the two haps an inescapableactivity to review the During the early years of their careers, the principal stops planned for the Solo divi- past at the time of any anniversary,but when arrival of a new organ in a city was greeted sion. The Choir division is based upon the that period of time includes morethan a cen- with newspaper accounts of its construction SalicionalS', which is a principal stop ofnar- tury, there is much to contemplate.Looking that even included a printed list of stops. row scale. This division also contains a full back provides a way to seethings in a per- Leading concert organists of the day were in- range of flute mutation stops through the Lar- spectivethat the immediacyof our own time vited to play recitals, and accounts of stand- igot 1~'. In order to avoid the gap at the 2' obscures.In music we are able to seemore ing-room-only audiences for programs pitch level in the plenum that occurs when a easily the swing of the artistic pendulum played by Edwin Lemare and others were division includes a cornet decompose, the from the Romantic to Classic,subjective to chronicled by the local press. Programs of Super Octave 2' has been included. In addi- objective,something that has occurredwith that time often consisted of transcriptions of tion to the division's many color possibili- a remarkable degreeof regularity for hun- orchestral works, something that was dis- ties, its principal chorus and Comopean S' dredsof years. missed with references to poor taste 30 to 40 provide a second enclosed division that can Although none of us knew Claver and years ago only to return in recent times with be useful in choral and other accompani- Samuel Casavantpersonally, we are fortu- renewed interest.