Russell & Co. Assumption College, WOrcester, Massachusetts

The Chabot Family Memorial Organ

Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Assumption College, Worcester, Massachusetts USA
Russell & Co., Cambridgeport, Vermont, Op. 18
Console by P.&S. Organ Supply Ltd., Great Britain

article from The American Organist

The organ at Assumption College was originally built in 1966 by the Wicks Organ Co. for the Assumption Preparatory School, Worcester. It was given to the college in 1970 when the school closed and installed in organ chambers in the front of the chapel. This installation of 18 ranks soon proved inadequate. Wicks was again called to redesign the organ in 1975. An economical organ case was built to improve the tonal egress, and the instrument was expanded to 23 ranks. This was a significant improvement but the small instrument was still unable to meet the challenges of the college music program. Subsequently, Bob Morrell and then Theodore Gilbert & Associates were employed over the ensuing ten years to rescale and revoice much of the pipework and to expand the instrument to 27 ranks.

In 1987, Russell & Co. developed a comprehensive redesign of the instrument. Due to limited funds, the project was scheduled to be completed over a period of several years. Begun in 1987 as the builder's Opus 18, final completion was in September of 1995.

The 1975 organ case was significantly altered to include a new facade, an exposed Positiv division, and new towers for the greatly expanded Pedal division. Since the new scheme of 56 ranks occupies roughly the same area as the original organ, new wind-chests were constructed to replace all of the original Wicks mechanism. Careful attention to the internal layout of the organ has resulted in an instrument that is very easy to maintain, with ready access to all windchests for tuning. The new chests employ electro-mechanical action, with electropneumatic action used for the larger bass pipes. A new console and solid-state relays were also provided.

Much of the original Wicks and Gilbert pipework was reused, again rescaled and revoiced. New principal choruses were built of appropriate scale to support congregational singing adequately with a rich, warm tone. Other new pipework was provided to complete the tonal ensemble. Wind pressures are 2" for the Positiv, 3 1/4" in the Great, 2 3/4" in the Swell, with the reeds on 4 1/2" and 5" in the Pedal, and 12" for the State Trumpet. The State Trumpet, located immediately behind the Great facade, has harmonic resonators at tenor F in the Skinner tradition. It is an extremely smooth and powerful reed voiced to balance the full organ.

Tonally, the instrument represents what is best described as the logical extension of the "American Classic" concept into the late 20th century. Complete principal choruses based on a strong 8' line, coupled with a of colorful flutes, mutations, and chorus reeds in the French tradition, work together to create a versatile and vibrant instrument well suited to a wide variety of organ literature.

GREAT
16’		Pommer
8’		Principal
8’		Rohrflöte
8’		Flûte Harmonique
4’		Octave
4’		Nachthorn
2’		Super Octave
IV		Mixture
III-IV		Scharff
16’		Bombarde
8’		Trompete
8’		State Trumpet

SWELL
16’		Lieblich Gedeckt
8’		Geigen Principal
8’		Gedeckt
8’		Viole
8’		Voix Céleste (tc)
8’		Spitzflöte
8’		Spitzflöte Céleste
4’		Principal
4’		Koppelflöte
2 2/3’		Nazard
2’		Flachflöte
1 3/5’		Tierce
V		Plein Jeu
16’		Contre Hautbois
8’		Hautbois
8’		Voix Humaine
8’		Trompette
4’		Clairon
8’		State Trumpet
		Tremulant

POSITIV
8’		Principal
8’		Bourdon
4’		Principal
4’		Rohrflöte
II		Sesquialtera (tc)
2’		Octave
1 1/3’		Larigot
1’		Sifflet
IV		Cymbale
16’		Cromorne
8’		Trompete
8’		State Trumpet
		Tremulant

PEDAL
32’		Contre Bourdon
32’		Gedeckt Pommer
16’		Subbass
16’		Pommer
16’		Principal
8’		Principal
8’		Gedecktbass
8’		Salicional
8’		Pommer
4’		Choral Bass
4’		Pommer
IV		Mixture
32’		Harmonics
16’		Bombarde
16’		Posaune
16’		Contre Hautbois
8’		Trompette
8’		Trompete
4’		Trompete
4’		Cromorne
8’		State Trumpet