Trinity Episcopal Church Escondido

Trinity Dedicates Organ October 22

Trinity Photo Archives

Trinity's new organ console and renewed organ pipes was dedicated by Rev. Meg at the 10:00 service on Sunday, October 22. Special choral music for the service included two settings from the appointed readings of the day: "Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs". One setting is by Handel, from "The Messiah" and the other is by the Canadian composer Healy Willan. The choir also sang Mozart's beautiful "Laudate Dominum" with soloist Dana Stanford and violinist Annette Taupier. The organ prelude and postlude were by J.S. Bach. The famous "Toccata in D Minor" and a chorale prelude on "Now Thank We All Our God". Bach wrote and used the D Minor Toccata to try out and demonstrate new organs, so is seemed appropriate for this occasion.

Trinity's new organ console is safely in place, making its ascension to the choir loft in grand style. A sturdy railing system was installed, leading from the center aisle of the nave up and over the railing to the loft. The crew skillfully coaxed the new console up into its new home. The whole evolution can be seen in the photos below.

The church's fine pipe organ, built in 1973 by the Reuter Organ Company of Lawrence, Kansas, was in need of extensive age related repair. A major part of the costly restoration was the organ console, or keyboard. It was quite simply worn out from thirty-plus years of playing. The 21 rank pipe organ was described at the time of its installation as being in the style of "South German Baroque" instruments. Though limited in size and versatility it has served the congregation well.

The church Vestry, at the recommendation of their Director of Music, David Lewis, made the momentous decision to take on the organ project. Beginning with the releathering of a major portion of the pipe organ and the total replacement of the old console with a larger, modern digital organ console built by the Rodgers Instrument Corporation of Portland, Oregon. The instrument remains 100% American made, and can now play music from any historic period or musical style. (Continued below)

The greatly enlarged organ contains all of the original 21 pipe ranks, or stops, and 112 additional digital stops of all shapes and sizes, installed across the entire back wall of the church. With the pipe organ in the center it provides a tremendous blanket of sound over the entire sanctuary. All of the Rodgers stops are painstakingly recorded in stereo from actual pipe organ ranks in other churches. The sounds are then sent through an 18 channel sound system. Just as in a pipe organ, every note of every digital stop has been "voiced" for its tonal quality and individual volume. This has enabled the digital stops to be perfectly blended and interfaced with the existing pipe organ so that there are not two organs but one. All of the complicated electronics work as well as the voicing was done by Mr. William Johnson, one of the finest technicians in the state.

The new hardwood console features three wooden manuals, or keyboards, and pedals, playing five separate divisions of sound. The stops are controlled by traditional mechanical draw knobs and there are 133 total ranks as well as several percussion stops such as Chimes, Struck bar harp and a Zimbelstern, or "Bell star". In addition there is complete MIDI capability and a digital sequencer for recording and playback.

The new instrument is capable of playing music from the softest pianissimo to the loudest forte. It is very successful and is now the second largest organ in Escondido. (The largest, at this time, is located in Grace Lutheran Church).

The Rector, Wardens and Vestry of Trinity Church must be congratulated for their foresight and continued commitment to a fine music program and for their understanding that music is a sublime gift from God, as well as one of our most precious gifts to God.