Symphonic organ
Encyclopedia
The symphonic organ is a style
of pipe organ
which flourished during the first third of the twentieth century in town halls and other secular public venues (particularly in the United States
and the UK
). It is a variation of the classical pipe organ intended for the performance of orchestral transcriptions, which are serious orchestral classical musical works scored for pipe organ. The concert organ has seen a revival in the US, Europe and Japan in the latter part of the 20th and 21st century.
Ernest M. Skinner
was a well-known American builder of symphonic organs. British builders included Henry Willis & Sons
. The largest example is the Wanamaker Organ
, installed in 1911 after having been exhibited at the St. Louis World's Fair. After being expanded, it currently has six manuals, ten divisions, 461 ranks, and 28,482 pipes, all powered by 36 regulators and fans totalling 168 hp.
An excellent example of a functional "symphonic organ" can be seen and heard at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee
. The Opus 1206, a magnificent Austin Pipe Organ with 5261 pipes, 81 ranks and 114 stops was first played on Feb. 12, 1925. The first city organist was the world renowned Edwin H Lemare. Led by the Chattanooga Music Club, the citizens of Chattanooga began the organs restoration in 1987 and 20 years later, on July 2, 2007 it was rededicated at a concert performed by Peter Richard Conte.
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
of pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
which flourished during the first third of the twentieth century in town halls and other secular public venues (particularly in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
). It is a variation of the classical pipe organ intended for the performance of orchestral transcriptions, which are serious orchestral classical musical works scored for pipe organ. The concert organ has seen a revival in the US, Europe and Japan in the latter part of the 20th and 21st century.
Ernest M. Skinner
Ernest M. Skinner
Ernest M. Skinner was one of the most successful American organ builders of the early 20th century.-Early years:...
was a well-known American builder of symphonic organs. British builders included Henry Willis & Sons
Henry Willis & Sons
thumb|250px|St Bees Priory organ, the last major instrument to be personally supervised by "Father" Henry Willis, 1899Henry Willis & Sons is a British firm of pipe organ builders founded in 1845 in Liverpool. Although most of their installations have been in the UK, examples can be found in other...
. The largest example is the Wanamaker Organ
Wanamaker Organ
The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the largest operational pipe organ in the world, located within a spacious 7-story court at Macy's Center City . The largest organ by some measures is the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ...
, installed in 1911 after having been exhibited at the St. Louis World's Fair. After being expanded, it currently has six manuals, ten divisions, 461 ranks, and 28,482 pipes, all powered by 36 regulators and fans totalling 168 hp.
An excellent example of a functional "symphonic organ" can be seen and heard at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
. The Opus 1206, a magnificent Austin Pipe Organ with 5261 pipes, 81 ranks and 114 stops was first played on Feb. 12, 1925. The first city organist was the world renowned Edwin H Lemare. Led by the Chattanooga Music Club, the citizens of Chattanooga began the organs restoration in 1987 and 20 years later, on July 2, 2007 it was rededicated at a concert performed by Peter Richard Conte.