And So It Goes...
Monday was truly a day devoted to playing the pipe organ. We arose early and began our day exploring the three huge organs of Temple square. However, Monday was very different from the other trip days because Dr. Moorman-Stahlman split us into three groups to best utilize the time we had on each organ. (Group # 1 - Charles, Dwight, and Justin, Group #2 - Andy, Dillon, Matt, and Tyler, Group #3 - Dr. Moorman Stahlman, Lauren, Margaret, Sarah H., and Sarah W.) Similar to Sunday we all gathered at door #1 of the Tabernacle, however this time Dr. Elliot took us up onto the stage in the main hall. He showed us how to operate the organ and then left group #2 to play. He then took the the other groups either to the Assembly Hall or the Convention Center. The organ majors were able to play all three organs for 1 hour each and the other members were allotted 30 minutes of playing time. This was the first time in history that any group has received this much time on the organs (Special thanks to Dr. Elliot). For the purpose of understanding the progression of the day we will follow group #2's track. (For specific information on each organ read the paragraph above the photo gallery).
We began in the Moorman Tabernacle from 8:30-11:30am. Playing the Mormon Tabernacle Organ was an other worldly experience, however we had a lot of work to do in preparation for our recital in the evening. The acoustics in the Tabernacle are incredible. It is possible to hear a pin drop all the way from the front of the stage. A friendly security guard also told me that because of the rounded curvature of the roof you can hear someone whisper from across the room as though they were standing next to you. On the other hand, this environment makes it difficult to understand how the organ sounds while sitting at the console. All of the different stops on the organ project into the room differently - making the far balcony one of the best places to listen to the organ. We each spent a little time discovering all of the unique sounds, but then it was time to work. We spent our turn either playing, helping each other registrate, or listening within the room. The organ also featured a MIDI recorder that would allow you to record a performance and then play it back while in the room.
We had to vacate the church afterwards to allow them to prepare for the noon recital. We used this opportunity to walk to a nearby outdoor eating area and enjoy our packed lunches. It was an ideal place to eat lunch: new, clean, and designed simply for people who would like to eat while visiting Temple Square (No food is allowed inside the Square). We quickly ate our lunches and returned to the Tabernacle for the free noon recital. Clay Christiansen was the organist and his performance clearly displayed all the power and features of this wonderful instrument. Recitals are a daily tradition and are the responsibility of the Tabernacle organists. There are currently three full-time organists and two part-time. After the concert we made our way over to the Assembly Hall, feeling refreshed and inspired.
The Sipe Organ inside the assembly hall became an unexpected favorite of many of the members of our team. This organ was genuinely a treat to play because it sounded as beautiful from the console as it did within the hall. It was astounding to hear each of the individual stops being added together and the tracker action gives the player an intimate sense of control. Aesthetically this organ was also extraordinary. The craftsmanship was elegant, including hand carved symbols of the Mormon tradition, and it's placement within the beautiful Assembly Hall completed the entire package. The organ proved to work very well for Baroque style music, but also suited other styles quite nicely. As if the organ was not good enough, playing in the Assembly Hall provided another treat. In the basement there were three practice organs, a harpsichord and a plethora of Steinway pianos. This made the experience even more exciting because you could go and experience the different organs while other members performed in the Main Hall. The Main Stage was also equipped with two manual Harpsichords and a matching pair of Concert D Steinway Pianos. Needless to say, there was plenty to enjoy within the Assembly Hall.
Next we went to the Conference center, and the sheer size of the room was enough to impress us all. Dr. Elliot told Group #3 that it takes 4+ minutes to walk from one side of the back row of seats to the other. Nothing we had read or seen had prepared us for this experience. The organ is approximately 2/3 the size of the Tabernacle organ, but it needs to fill a room about 4 times the size. So this instrument was, without a doubt, a beast. The sheer volume of sound at the console was unbelievable, but it still features all natural pipes (with the exception of the electronic percussion stops). We also received yet another 'behind the scenes' tour from Dr. Elliot, who took us inside the organ and behind the stage. We were able to see the mechanical action of this organ and the amazing 32 foot pipes. Going back stage was also interesting; it looked more like a warehouse than a stage, and we could also see them rearranging the look of the stage. All of the stage's pieces sit on top of hydraulic lifts and the pieces can be moved with the help of only a handful of people Dr. Elliot then gave us a private performance of his arrangement of I Saw Three Ships ,which was performed at the annual Christmas Special. After we all had taken our turns on the organ we departed for the Tabernacle to perform our Recital. (Continued on the next page)
We began in the Moorman Tabernacle from 8:30-11:30am. Playing the Mormon Tabernacle Organ was an other worldly experience, however we had a lot of work to do in preparation for our recital in the evening. The acoustics in the Tabernacle are incredible. It is possible to hear a pin drop all the way from the front of the stage. A friendly security guard also told me that because of the rounded curvature of the roof you can hear someone whisper from across the room as though they were standing next to you. On the other hand, this environment makes it difficult to understand how the organ sounds while sitting at the console. All of the different stops on the organ project into the room differently - making the far balcony one of the best places to listen to the organ. We each spent a little time discovering all of the unique sounds, but then it was time to work. We spent our turn either playing, helping each other registrate, or listening within the room. The organ also featured a MIDI recorder that would allow you to record a performance and then play it back while in the room.
We had to vacate the church afterwards to allow them to prepare for the noon recital. We used this opportunity to walk to a nearby outdoor eating area and enjoy our packed lunches. It was an ideal place to eat lunch: new, clean, and designed simply for people who would like to eat while visiting Temple Square (No food is allowed inside the Square). We quickly ate our lunches and returned to the Tabernacle for the free noon recital. Clay Christiansen was the organist and his performance clearly displayed all the power and features of this wonderful instrument. Recitals are a daily tradition and are the responsibility of the Tabernacle organists. There are currently three full-time organists and two part-time. After the concert we made our way over to the Assembly Hall, feeling refreshed and inspired.
The Sipe Organ inside the assembly hall became an unexpected favorite of many of the members of our team. This organ was genuinely a treat to play because it sounded as beautiful from the console as it did within the hall. It was astounding to hear each of the individual stops being added together and the tracker action gives the player an intimate sense of control. Aesthetically this organ was also extraordinary. The craftsmanship was elegant, including hand carved symbols of the Mormon tradition, and it's placement within the beautiful Assembly Hall completed the entire package. The organ proved to work very well for Baroque style music, but also suited other styles quite nicely. As if the organ was not good enough, playing in the Assembly Hall provided another treat. In the basement there were three practice organs, a harpsichord and a plethora of Steinway pianos. This made the experience even more exciting because you could go and experience the different organs while other members performed in the Main Hall. The Main Stage was also equipped with two manual Harpsichords and a matching pair of Concert D Steinway Pianos. Needless to say, there was plenty to enjoy within the Assembly Hall.
Next we went to the Conference center, and the sheer size of the room was enough to impress us all. Dr. Elliot told Group #3 that it takes 4+ minutes to walk from one side of the back row of seats to the other. Nothing we had read or seen had prepared us for this experience. The organ is approximately 2/3 the size of the Tabernacle organ, but it needs to fill a room about 4 times the size. So this instrument was, without a doubt, a beast. The sheer volume of sound at the console was unbelievable, but it still features all natural pipes (with the exception of the electronic percussion stops). We also received yet another 'behind the scenes' tour from Dr. Elliot, who took us inside the organ and behind the stage. We were able to see the mechanical action of this organ and the amazing 32 foot pipes. Going back stage was also interesting; it looked more like a warehouse than a stage, and we could also see them rearranging the look of the stage. All of the stage's pieces sit on top of hydraulic lifts and the pieces can be moved with the help of only a handful of people Dr. Elliot then gave us a private performance of his arrangement of I Saw Three Ships ,which was performed at the annual Christmas Special. After we all had taken our turns on the organ we departed for the Tabernacle to perform our Recital. (Continued on the next page)
The Mormon Tabernacle Organ:
About The Organ: The Salt Lake Tabernacle Organ is one of the biggest organs in the world (often ranked between #10 and #20) and is typically used to accompany the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as well as daily noon recitals. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of the American Classic style of organ building. Inspired by the design of the Boston Music Hall organ, the original organ was built in 1867 by Australian Joseph Ridges. Ridges' instrument contained some 700 pipes and was constructed of locally derived materials as much as possible. The pipes were made of wood, zinc, and various alloys of tin and lead. When it was initially constructed, the organ had a tracker action and was powered by hand-pumped bellows; later it was powered by water from City Creek. Today it is powered by electricity and has an electro-pneumatic action.
Though the organ has been rebuilt and enlarged several times since 1867, the original, iconic casework and some of Ridges' pipes still remain in the organ today. The current organ is largely the work of G. Donald Harrison of the former Aeolian-Skinner organ firm. It was completed in 1948 and contains 11,623 pipes, 147 voices (tone colors) and 206 ranks (rows of pipes). [Wikipedia]
Though the organ has been rebuilt and enlarged several times since 1867, the original, iconic casework and some of Ridges' pipes still remain in the organ today. The current organ is largely the work of G. Donald Harrison of the former Aeolian-Skinner organ firm. It was completed in 1948 and contains 11,623 pipes, 147 voices (tone colors) and 206 ranks (rows of pipes). [Wikipedia]
The LDS Conference Center Organ:
About The Organ: Construction of the organ began in 1999 by Schoenstein & Co. of San Francisco, California and was completely by 2003. It is composed of 160 speaking stops spread over five manuals and pedals. Along with the nearby Salt Lake Tabernacle organ, it is typically used to accompany the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The organ is also featured at the Church’s semi-annual General Conference and at other performances throughout the year, including the Christmas special. It is about two-thirds the size of the Salt Lake Tabernacle organ in terms of the number of pipes (7667) and contains six individual blowers to maintain constant pressure throughout all of the different divisions. However, its sound fills a space the size of six Mormon Tabernacles. [Wikipedia]
The Assembly Hall Concert Organ:
About The Organ: The Assembly Hall concert organ was built by Robert L. Sipe of Garland, Texas, as part of the renovations surrounding the Assembly Hall's 100th anniversary. The wooden case and console were carved in Salt Lake City by Fetzers' Inc. and Richard McDonald. The case incorporates extensive symbolism relevant to the Mormon tradition. The specification displays the same eclectic approach as that of the Tabernacle organ, but with a nod to the traditional European schools of organ building. [Wikipedia]
The Practice Studio Organs:
About the Organs: Unbeknownst to many visitors at Temple Square, there are actually four pipe organs in the Assembly Hall. The Building contains 3 practice instruments in the basement of the building by Austin, Casavant, and Kenneth Coulter. The Assembly Hall is also home to two harpsichords built by William Dowd: a French single completed in 1981, and a French double completed a few months later in the spring of 1982.