Zion Lutheran Church - E.M. Skinner / Wicks Hybrid Pipe Organ Project
Introduction and Background:
In the fall of 2006 the aging Conn Classic 825 electronic organ at Zion Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Spokane Washington was replaced with a computer driven, MIDI controlled “virtual pipe organ” using Hauptwerk™ software developed by Martin Dyde. Due to severe budget restraints (the church was in the midst of fund-raising for an expensive roof replacement) the organ was built and installed on a “shoe-string” budget.
The organ installation remains a work in progress, and since then incremental improvements have been made to the organ's audio system, computer, etc. To date, just over $15,000 has been invested into the organ, most of which has come from private gifts. All labor associated with the conceptualization, design and installation of the instrument - to date - has been donated.
Goals and Objectives:
The objective is to provide the finest church organ possible for Zion Lutheran Church - given budget limitations, while also creating a premier 'Virtual Pipe Organ' installation which showcases Hauptwerk and its capabilities to the fullest.
So what's next?
Real (wind-blown) pipes have been
acquired from the 1952 Wicks (Opus 3237) organ than served University
Presbyterian Church in Seattle Washington until it was replaced in 1999. There
are 39-40 ranks of pipes still extant, of which we plan to use 8 ranks,
hold back 3 ranks for future use, and sell off all the rest to help finance the
project. A comprehensive
plan is being developed to incorporate the Wicks pipe work (and possibly some
other pipe work as well) into a hybrid wind blown Pipe Organ / Hauptwerk Virtual
Pipe Organ instrument.
Most of the Great and some of the Pedal divisions will be made up of real wind blown pipes (unenclosed). The Swell and Choir will be under expression and use 100 % digital sampled pipes. All reeds, in all divisions will be digital as well.
Plans call for the following upgrades,
improvements, and implementation:
|
|
Church acoustics are to be improved by the removal of as much carpet as possible, replaced with stone tile and/or hardwood. |
| Organ audio system is to be upgraded from 16 to 24 channels and most of the original Conn speakers - including eight 'Pipe Speaker' cabinets are to be replaced with new speaker cabinets. | |
| Organ Console is to be upgraded to three manuals, with moving solenoid action Drawknobs, solenoid rocker tablet Couplers, and Combination Action system from Artisan Instruments of Kenmore, Washington. | |
| A casework/facade for the speaking 8' Diapasons in the Great and Pedal is to be constructed and installed on the rear gallery wall above the choir loft. | |
| New wind chests with new direct-electric pipe magnets are to be constructed for the pipe work in the facade and in the organ chamber. |
About the digitally sampled pipes:
"The 1928 E.M. Skinner Grand Organ of
Our Lady of Mount
Carmel Roman Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois is one of the few Skinner
organs that remains in nearly all of its original state. These samples are
taken from inside the pipe chambers with microphones moving closely from pipe to
pipe. Sample recordings were originally done in stereo at 24 bit 96KHz direct to
disk with the highest quality microphones and preamplifiers. The final
sample resolution was converted to 24 bit 48KHz. All pipe samples are
recorded dry with no acoustics."
- Samples provided by Milan Digital Audio
How can you help?
A donation - however large or small - will help keep the project moving along. A printed statement from Zion Lutheran Church (ELCA) acknowledging your contribution (for tax purposes) will be sent to you upon request. Please consider donating today.
Donations can be made by mail to:
Zion Lutheran Church
Hybrid Organ Project
8304 E. Buckeye Ave
Spokane, WA 99212