The challenges that new organ projects present to the builder is one aspect of our profession that makes our work so rewarding and enjoyable, and our Opus 53 for Main Street Baptist Church was no different. Once a specification was agreed upon, the task of how to fit 32 ranks in a space that previously held nineteen, all the while making service and tuning access simple, proved to be one of the greatest challenges of the project. The resulting layout, with the expressive divisions partially cantilevered on either side of the central Great organ allows for excellent tonal egress, tuning stability, and the aforementioned maintenance access.

Apart from the five ranks of new pipes made in our shop, the bulk of the pipework comes from existing material, either from the previous organ or from our stock. Existing pipework is cleaned, rebuilt, and revoiced to provide brand new tone from old pipes. Notable is the Great chorus, with pipework from the famed American builder Ernest Skinner, and the Solo Tuba from a 1930s M.P. Möller organ, voiced by Möller tonal director Richard O. Whitelegg. The 16´ octave of the Tuba presented one of the greatest challenges to the layout, and though jokingly at first, we realized that its installation horizontally in the Solo chamber not only solved the layout issue, but satisfyingly stretched our engineering abilities.

The tonal design and voicing, both of new and old ranks seek to coax the unforced beauty from each pipe, producing elegant individual voices, as well as a finely-blended and warm ensemble suitable to accompanying congregational and choral singing – the organ’s primary purpose. The instrument makes use primarily of electro mechanical action, for simplicity, economy, and reliability. Electro-pneumatic action is employed for large bass pipes, and for the high pressure Tuba. Pressures range from 3 to 11 inches water column.

An early E. M. Skinner drawknob console, rebuilt with new Harris stop and coupler controls and a Classic Organ Works relay system provide for control of the tonal resources.

Throughout the project, the close and easy relationship with the staff of the church, specifically Joseph Kotylo, has made this one of the more enjoyable jobs we have completed. We thank Main Street Baptist for entrusting us with the creation of its new organ, hoping it inspires church-goers and music lovers alike for generations.

Russell and Company

Jason Ballard, Larry Chace, Erik Johansson, Paul McTaggart, Larry Nevin, Jonathan Ortloff, Carole Russell, and Stephen Russell.