The Organ

Thanks to all who have contributed to the organ repair fund! So far, we have at least $39,300.

Session approved formally accepting the bid from IOTI for their Virtuoso relay system after receiving some excellent news. Our organ technician, Christopher Soer, let us know that if we could approve starting soon, then not only could the work be done at the original bid of $39, 214, but that work could be completed by end of May. This is for a little less and a lot sooner than we were hoping!

Trinity is home to a beautiful Casavant Freres organ, grandly occupying the north side of the sanctuary in the choir loft. This installation, initiated by then Organist and Choir Director S. William Aitken and completed in 1970, is the first by this Canadian company in the St. Louis area. An antiphonal organ, built by Leonard G. Berghaus of Chicago, was built at the same time, but fire damage in 1979 has left it inoperable.  In 2005, major renovations were done on all the pipes and the console, led by then Minister of Music, Paul Vasile, restoring it to its original glory. Now, in 2020, we are facing a new challenge. A major electrical storm hit the church in 2018, and the damage, slowly creeping through circuits, now requires a thorough replacement of the console’s electronics. Attempts to patch the damage kept the organ going temporarily, but in mid-late 2019, it became too sporadic to be relied upon for services, and has been silent since—but not for ever. The organ is a cherished part of Trinity, and the church is pulling together to hear it sing again.

Specifications:

Great – 16’ Quintaden 61 pipes – 8’ Prinzipal 61 pipes – 8’ Rohrflöte 61 pipes – 4’ Octav 61 pipes – 4’ Spitzflöte 61 pipes – 2’ Waldflöte 61 pipes – IV Mixture 244 pipes – 8’ Trompete 61 pipes – Chimes (not set up)

Ruckpositiv – 8’ Gedackt 61 pipes – 4’ Prinzipal 61 pipes – 4’ Koppelflöte 61 pipes – 2’ Octav 61 pipes – 1 1/3’ Quintflöte 61 pipes – II Sesquialtera 98 pipes – III Zimbel 183 pipes – Tremulant

Swell – 8’ Salizional 61 pipes – 8’ Vox Cœlestis 54 pipes – 8’ Gedacktflöte 61 pipes – 4’ Spitzprinzipal 61 pipes – 4’ Nachthorn 61 pipes – 2’ Gemshorn 61 pipes – IV Scharf 244 pipes – 16’ Fagott 61 pipes – 8’ Oboe 61 pipes – 4’ Klarine 61 pipes – Tremulant

Pedal – 32’ Resultant – 16’ Prinzipal 32 pipes – 16’ Subbass 32 pipes – 16’ Quintaden Great – 8’ Oktav 32 pipes – 8’ Gedacktpommer 32 pipes – 4’ Oktav 32 pipes – 4’ Rohrpfeife 32 pipes – IV Mixtur 128 pipes – 16’ Posaune 32 pipes – 16’ Fagott Swell – 8’ Trompete 32 pipes – 4’ Schalmei 32 pipes