St. Meinrad's Abbey (Benedictine)
St. Meinrad, IN
Opus 439
 

 
Great
8'  Open Diapason                      61
8'  Melodia Flute                         61
8'  Gemshorn                             61
8'  Dulciana                                61
4'  Octave                                  61
4'  Flute d'Amour                        61
 
 
Swell (Enclosed)
16'  Bourdon                               61
8'  Open Diapason                      61
8'  Stopped Diapason                  61
8'  Quintadena                            61
8'  Salicional                               61
8'  Viol d'Orchestre     [tapered]      61
8'  Aeoline                                 61
4'  Flute Harmonique                   61
8'  Oboe          [labial]                  61
Tremolo                                
 
 
Pedal
16'  Open Diapason                    30
16'  Lieblich Gedeckt         (Sw)   - -
16'  Dulciana                              30
8'  Octave                                  12
8'  Dolce Bass                           12
  
 
 
 
Pedal Movements
Swell Expression            balanced


Action: Electro-Pneumatic
 
Voices:  17
 
Stops:  20
 
Ranks:  17

Pipes:  999
 
 
Notes
The following notes are taken from the 1993 Organ Historical Society Convention Organ Handbook, pp. 97 - 99.
 
Page 97
The "Great Double Electric Organ" in the new [1899-1907] Abbey Church, built by the Estey Organ Co., Op.. 439/440, 1908 (see sidebar) was really two organs; the Grand Organ was supposed to have gone in the West Gallery with the smaller Choir Organ going above the choir stalls, but instead both were placed above the choir stalls, one on each side. Estey supplied a new console in 1927; Wm. T. Quilty, Jr. did some work on the instrument in 1940.
 
When Eugene Ward arrived at St. Meinrad in 1953, both organs were in poor condition. In 1956 he rebuilt the main console. In 1958, he completely removed both organs in stages, and over the next four years built a new instrument incorporating two Estey chests, about half of the Estey pipes, and a Hillgreen, Lane console from the Christian Science Church in Atlanta, Georgia. (In 1964 he built a new console). The new organ had about 55 ranks and was dedicated by Marilyn Mason 21 April 1963.
 
The organ has since been tonally revised by Goulding and Wood of Indianapolis in 1980 and 1982. Very little Estey pipe work survives. The Swell strings are Estey, though much altered. And the Pedal 16' flues are retained from the Estey.
 
Page 99 - Sidebar
The following item about the St. Meinrad organs (Estey Organ Co. Op. 439 and 440, 1908) was printed as an introduction to "A Monastery Processional" written by William Horatio Clarke and dedicated to the Rt. Reverend  Athanasius, O.S.B., Abbot of the monastery.
 
The Great Double Electric Organ of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Meinrad
 
This elaborate instrument consistes of a large West Gallery organ over the nave vestibule, and a complete Sanctuary Organ one hundred feet distant, in the North Transept, especially built for the accompanying of a choir of eight monks located in the Chancel stalls (the Chancel being ninety feet long), for the rendering of the Gregorian Music as prescribed by Pope Pius X.
 
Both organ are played from the Sanctuary three-manual console. The Nave Organ has its independent three-manual console for accompanying a Festival Choir of men's and boy's voices in the West Gallery, for Processionals, Offertories, florid compositions, and other incidental music.
 
The Double Organ is a masterpiece of musical and mechanical art, and serves as a standard model for the present and future requirements of the Roman Catholic Church, both in the Gregorian Service and more ornate music on Festival occasions.
 
The Rev. Vincent Wagner, O.S.B., is the Organist and Director of Music of the new Abbey Church of St. Meinrad.
 
In contracting with the ESTEY ORGAN COMPANY, of Brattleboro, Vermont, for the building of this Grand Organ, the Rt. Rev. Abbot appointed Wm. Horatio Clarke to prepare the Specifications and Details of Construction according to the principles of modern organbuilding inculcated in the Brochure entitles [sic] "VALUABLE ORGAN INFORMATION," of which he is the author, and which is published by E.T. CLARKE & CO., Reading, Mass., U.S.A.
 
When the Estey Organ Co. installed a "luminous console with ivory keys and tablets" at St. Meinrad's Abbey in 1927, there seem not to have been any tonal changes. The front pipes were "bronzed." Laurence Leonard graciously provided the stoplist of the Great Double Electric Organ.
 
 
Sources
Estey Opus List
1993 O.H.S. Convention Organ Handbook
James R. Stettner
Lawrence Leonard

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