History

A small business reply card arrived April Fool's Day from the St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia. This business reply card was part of the "fruit" of a bulk mailing to all of the churches in Atlanta, Georgia, in January of 1985.

This little blue business reply card was part of the seed that grew into a new 1.2 million dollar sanctuary and a quarter of a million dollar pipe organ for St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Early in the discussions of the new building it was decided to press for a complete facility including the new pipe organ. St. Paul's has always been interested in fine quality inspirational music and it was felt that the organ was an integral part of what was to be desired in the new building. Very careful and deliberate discussions with the architects, Stanley Love-Stanley, resulted in a proper space and excellent acoustics for good music in this beautiful new church.

The road to success was not straight or uneventful. Construction delays and a gap in the funding were all dealt with in good faith and with lots of hope. Construction of the organ was started in 1991. Parts that were completed had to be stored for nearly two years while financial details were resolved. In January of 1994 construction was resumed with over optimistic hope of completing the organ in June or July.

The landmark "setting of the C's" occurred during the 2nd week of July when the acoustical environment of the new sanctuary had been completed. It was at this time that the organ builder recognized the success of the negotiations regarding the acoustics in the sanctuary. The acoustics in the new sanctuary were so appropriate for good music that the unusual opportunities were recognized. Because of these wonderful acoustics, some liberties were taken with the tonal design of the instrument. Several deviations from the standard voicing procedures were utilized and the sound and character of some of the stops are a bit unusual. They were so successful, however, that no one wishes to institute any changes. The organ has been played in dedication by David Crawford Stills, the staff organist at Morehouse College, and Dr. Joyce Johnson, the head of the organ department at Spelman College. Dr. Calvin Grimes, head of the music department at Morehouse College, is the music director and regular organist for St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

The organ is built in three divisions, with a Great Organ directed toward congregational singing and tonal possibilities for the many varied hymns used in the Episcopal Church. The Swell is directed toward accompanying the choir, solo voices, and very colorful solo combinations within the organ. The Pedal division has the versatile job of furnishing both undersetting and melody counterpoint. The basic tonal concept is the American classic tonal design, which allows the organist a degree of freedom in all periods of composition.

The organist controls the organ through a micro-processor relay and state-of-the-art fiber optic data transmission. The micro-processor control system allows for many new features presently available and new music innovation yet to occur in the next century. This state-of-the-art micro-processor system, coupled with tried and true electric action yields an instrument of great flexibility and longevity with a minimum of maintenance.

The completion of this incredible organ would not have been possible without the prayerful foresightedness of Father Edward Warner and the insistence of fine quality music by Dr. Calvin Grimes. Dr. Grimes' untiring efforts are witnessed in the magnificent music played and sung by the choir and congregation at St. Paul's Church. It has been a great honor for Levsen Organ Company to be the provider of this beautiful new organ and it is our prayer that it will lead this congregation in the great hymn singing for centuries to come.

 

Stoplist

GREAT

8' Principal
8' Holzgedeckt
8' Dolcan
8' Erzähler Celeste
4' Octave
4' Koppelflöte
2' Fifteenth
IV Mixture
8' Trompette


SWELL

8' Rohrflöte
8' Erzähler
8' Erzähler Celeste
4' Gemshorn
4' Rohrflöte
2 2/3' Nasard
2' Blockflöte
1 3/5' Tierce
III Mixture
8' Trompette
4' Oboe
Tremolo


PEDAL

16' Subbass
16' Lieblich Gedeckt
10 2/3' Quint
8' Principal
8' Pommer
4' Choral Bass
16' Trompette
8' Trompette
4' Oboe

 



61 Pipes
61 Pipes
61 Pipes
Swell
61 Pipes
61 Pipes
61 Pipes
244 Pipes
Swell




61 Pipes
61 Pipes
61 Pipes
61 Pipes
61 Notes
61 Pipes
61 Pipes
61 Pipes
183 Notes
61 Pipes
61 Pipes





32 Pipes
Softwind
32 Notes
32 Pipes
32 Pipes
12 Pipes
32 Pipes
12 Pipes
Swell
Swell
 
 

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Levsen Organ Company  ·  PO Box 542 Buffalo, Iowa  52728  ·  (800) 397-1242  ·  FAX (563) 381-1257  ·  LevsenOrg@aol.com