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Smith College Austin Organs Opus 279 was built for Smith College in 1910. Installed in John M. Greene Hall, the organ's specification was drawn up by H.D. Sleeper, head of the music department. In 1915 Antiphonal and Echo divisions were added. |
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In 1998 the instrument was severly damaged by water and steam from an accident which flooded the blower room with hot water. In 2001 Austin Organs, Inc. repaired water damage, updated the specification, and installed a new four manual drawknob console. |
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Fountain Street Church Austin has always had a reputation for dealing with very large organs and the work now proceeding for Fountain Street Church, Grand Rapids MI (opus #2782) seems to bear that out. With five manuals and 142 ranks, and sections at the front and rear of the room, this instrument is large enough by any standards. The organ was originally E M Skinner opus 393 (4/54) from 1922. |
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In the 1960s and '70s it fell victim to the noble, but erroneous belief that a new style can made by the application of new pipework to the old foundations in conjunction with dropping pressures. These works were irreversible so the client decided to start again. The new organ includes the best of the old EMS secondary choruses
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University of Pennsylvania
Opus 1416
A
contract was signed on January 27, 1926 with the Austin Organ Company
for what was to be Opus 1416.
Conceived on a scale to match that of the 10,000 seat auditorium, Opus 1416 is impressive by any measure. With 4 manuals, 162 ranks, and 10,719 pipes, it is the largest instrument built by Austin at one time and under one contract.
The organ is now installed in the University of Pennsylvania's Irvine Auditorium which has just undergone a complete renovation. Austin Organs, Inc. removed all of the pipework from the organ for restoration and storage in Hartford in the summer of 1997. The organ was then sealed for three years while work on the auditorium was underway.
Work on Opus 1416 is now rapidly progressing in the auditorium, the flue
pipes have been reinstalled, the organ has been completely reactioned,
and the percussion stops have been restored and reinstalled. A new four
manual drawknob console is under construction in the Hartford factory
and nearing
completion. The organ is scheduled to play again in the summer of 2002.
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Skinner Organ Company Austin Organs, Inc. is restoring this 3 manual, 39 rank concert organ, located in the auditorium of Hollywood High School. |
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Completed in 1924, with additions by Skinner in 1929, the instrument remains as built. Damage from the 1994 Northridge earthquake left the organ unplayable. The work completed by Austin includes a complete mechanical restoration as well as repair of earthquake-damaged pipework and racking. The console is to be updated with a solid-state combination action, MIDI, sequencer, etc. The project is scheduled for completion in Spring 2002. |
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St. James Church Austin has just completed installation of a pair of chamade Trumpets in St. James Church, Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. The Walcott Tromba, available at 16, 8 & 4 on each manual and at 16 & 8 in the Pedal is a full bodied, moderately dark voice especially suited for soloing hymn tunes. This is the real "workhorse " of the two ranks. The Trompette des Ânges is also full bodied, but of freer tone and somewhat more assertive than the Walcott Tromba, utilizing French shallots with wide openings. The two ranks combine to produce a rich, vibrant chorus that blends well with the main organ without unduly overpowering it. |
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Episcopal Church of Bethesda This large four manual, one-hundred-two rank scheme provides for three separate organs, a four manual in the chancel, a three stop Chant Organ in the Choir, and a two manual in the rear gallery. All the instruments are controlled from two duplicate four manual draw-knob consoles. The stop-lists were drawn up by the client in consultation with Austin. |
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United Congregational Church, This chancel sited Austin from the 1950s has been fitted with a new nine rank Positive division, exposed either side of the new Pedal Montre 8ft. |
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Forbidden City Concert Hall, Beijing, China Three manuals, forty-eight ranks. This is a concert hall organ in the popular rather than Classical style; a people's organ for a people who have not previously known of the organ. |
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All Saints' Episcopal Church, Two manuals, twenty ranks. A small but flexible scheme for a room seating about 200 souls. Part of the Great pipework is enclosed. |
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Bowdoin College Chapel, This particularly fine three manual, thirty-five rank Austin of 1927 has been restored and slightly modified. The re-opening recital was given by Professor Thomas Murray on 7 May last. |
