Organ Progress Report - Stephen Rapp, DMA, AAGO, Organ Consultant

This is my first opportunity to share the current status with you of the new Bigelow, Opus 44 organ being built in Utah by M. L. Bigelow & Company for 351. Michael Bigelow just completed his progress report May 27 upon 15% completion of the overall contract. High points in it include: 1. Overall design layout is completed. 2. Visual appearance of the two organ cases flanking the central apse of the chancel has been approved by the Epiphany Vestry and after much coordination with the architects. 3. Working drawings for the wind chests and tracker (mechanical) key action are more than halfway completed. 4. Construction of the wind chests (the boxes upon which the pipes sit and receive air via valves) are well underway. 5. The bellows are 100% complete. They are the lungs for the organ providing a steady supply of air. (See picture.) The wooden pipes that make up 10% of the organ’s total pipes being constructed. The remainder are made of various combinations of metals. 6. The quartered white oak organ bench is complete except for an adjustable mechanism that allows for the height to chosen by the organist. (See picture.) Next month, I will report on organ builder Michael Bigelow’s visit to 351 to see progress on the building. In future articles, we’ll discuss the parts of the organ yet to be built. I look forward to sharing more of the exciting progress on the new organ!