The Organ at St. Thomas Lutheran Church

Bloomington, Indiana

Our New Organ: Witness to the Faith

Performances

Information

St. Thomas Lutheran Church Home Page

 

  

From the Builder

J. C. Wilson & Associates has been involved in the pipe organ industry since 1978, and is the overseeing builder of the St. Thomas organ project. It is a unique organization of skilled people who have come together to create an unusual instrument constructed to a one-of-a-kind specification. The company has been responsible for both new and restored organ installations in Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, with major emphasis being on the rebuilding and recycling of older pipe organs. It is our firm belief that many parts and pipes from the older respected builders are of tremendous value and ought to be incorporated in present-day instruments. Indeed, much of this same pipework is virtually irreplaceable today, and we have included several such sets at St. Thomas.

In addition to company business, Clark Wilson has consulted and done tonal finishing on dozens of organs throughout the United States, Canada, and England, and worked in conjunction with several of this country's major builders and organists.

The St. Thomas organ is the most ambitious company project to date, and as many as a dozen people have been directly involved in its construction. Other principals have been John Wilson, Jan Stover, Jason Cunningham, Chris Irwin, Matthew Herron, Trevor Allen, Jeff Boyd and Company, Jason Croxall, and Bill Larson. The excellent Bunn=Minnick work has been under the direction of Phil Minnick and Victor John. Major installation assistance has been provided by Carlton Smith, and the church volunteers. Tonal finishing was performed by Clark Wilson and John Schwandt. Architectural drawings were by Donald Schwandt.

The viability of the construction of a pipe organ for St. Thomas of tremendous versatility but a relatively small number of ranks (some new, but most already extant) was first discussed more than three years ago. With several other groups saying that an organ of this nature was impractical, if not impossible, the challenge to create such an instrument became irresistable to everyone presently involved. Using John Schwandt's initial ideas as guidelines, Wilson and Associates located choice vintage pipework, filling in the gaps with new ranks constructed to exacting requirements, to recreate an eclectic ensemble. Working in conjunction with the Bunn=Minnick Company of Columbus, Ohio, a majority of windchests were newly constructed along with the three-manual drawknob console and solid-state relay. The console includes a state-of-the-art combination action with multiple memories and MIDI system, which will enable organists to record themselves and listen to what they have played. Several existing chests and all pipework were gone over to provide excellent results at St. Thomas, and numerous older items such as the pneumatic swell shade engines and the swell shades themselves were restored and adapted to the new organ chambers. New pipework was scaled and matched by the A. R. Schopp Company of Alliance, Ohio, to blend perfectly with the older ranks. With space at a premium, one 32-foot and two 16-foot electronic pedal extensions were provided by Peterson Electro-Musical Products in addition to the four real 16's in the organ.

Careful unification has been used to create a Solo manual which provides the flexibility of a much larger instrument; several characteristic voices such as the soaring Harmonic Flute and the Tromba appear here. Full principal choruses are found in each division, as well as colorful flutes, chorus and solo reeds, and the lush beauty of the Violas (extended to 16') and the classic Skinner Flauto Dolces. The entire organ, excepting the facade Pedal Principal, is under divided expression. Pressures are a healthy 4 to 6 inches, and a system of multiple reservoirs and concussion bellows assures steady wind. Three tremulants are provided on the manual divisions. Of special note are the Skinner-type swell shoes and the genuine Skinner ivory manuals, restored from an 1920s-era instrument.

The St. Thomas pipe organ has provided a seldom seen opportunity to create (or recreate) an eclectic and versatile instrument built according to innovative ideas. What was old is new again. The validity of these ideas will be proven, we hope, over the years to come as the instrument is played and enjoyed by succeeding generations both church members and organists. It has been, and is, an honor for J. C. Wilson & Associates to be involved with the project..

Updated 09/01/06 , Eric Isaacson