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Church Instruments

easthamptonOLV1

Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church
Easthampton, MA

Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church
Easthampton, Massachusetts

J. W. Steere & Son, Springfield, Mass., Opus 504, 1902, 2 manuals, 20 ranks, Weigle Patented Tubular-pneumatic action (Two-pressure Membrane chests); Rebuilt during 1989 by Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Inc.:
Pitman and Unit Electro-pneumatic action,
with original manual and pedal compasses (61 keys and 30 pedals);
Tonal Renovations, Chimes Installation,
enlargement to 24 ranks by Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Inc. 1999-2001

The original building for Our Lady of the Valley was ravaged by fire in the late 19th Century and was rebuilt on the same foundation, at which time a large and elegant Steere organ was installed.  The splendid stained glass windows, featuring brilliant blues, date from the 1950s and 1960s, and are largely the work of the Connick Studios of Boston; some older windows remain in the chancel.  In 1971, the pipe organ’s main wind reservoir burst and the instrument became unplayable.  Fortunately, the Parish had the foresight to envision a future restoration and refused to sell the pipework.

Over the next seventeen years, during which an electronic instrument was used, funds were raised for the rebuilding of the organ in 1989 by Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Inc.  Followed during 1999-2001, the Firm completed Tonal Renovations and enlargement of the organ from 20 to 24 ranks (of old stock from other sources), carefully matched to Steere style, and rearrangement of string ranks (with original scaling and voicing) for Celeste’s on both manuals.

The organ still retains its original character while having 20th century technology in the console.  The gentle sound of this instrument is enhanced by the warm acoustics of the church.

STOPLIST

GREAT
1Open Diapason8'
2Melodia8'
3Dulciana8'
4Unda Maris (CC)8'
5Octave4'
6Flute d’Amour4'
7Twelfth2-2/3'
8Super Octave2'
9Mixture III1-1/3'
10Tuba8'
11Chimes
SWELL
12Bourdon16'
13Open Diapason8'
14Stopped Diapason8'
15Viola da Gamba8'
16Voix Celeste (CC)8'
17Flute Harmonique4'
18Violina4'
19Flautina2'
20Oboe and Bassoon8'
21Solo Tuba (Great)8'
22Tremolo
PEDAL
23Open Diapason (wood)16'
24Bourdon16'
25Lieblich Gedackt (Swell)16'
26Open Diapason (metal)8'
27Bourdon (extension)8'
28Still Gedackt (Swell)8'
29Octave (extension)4'
30Stopped Flute (Swell)4'
31Trombone (extension of Great Tuba)16'
COUPLERS
32Swell to Swell 16'
33Swell to Swell 4'
34Swell Unison Off
35Swell to Great 16'
36Swell to Great 8'
37Swell to Great 4'
38Great to Great 16'
39Great to Great 4'
40Great Unison Off
41Swell to Pedal 8'
42Swell to Pedal 4'
43Great to Pedal 8'
44Great to Pedal 4'

amherst-south-woonsocket

South Congregational Church, UCC
Amherst, MA

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South Congregational Church, U.C.C.
Amherst, Massachusetts

Casavant Frères, Limitée, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada Opus 74, 1896, 2 manuals, 16 ranks, Mechanical action throughout; Relocated from the Ste. Anne Arts and Cultural Center, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, through the beneficence of Mr. S. Parkman Shaw, Jr. of Brookline, Mass.
A new wind system was applied to this organ about 1940 by the Morel Brothers, also with some pipework and mechanical changes then. An Oboe rank has been replaced in the Récit division in the present restoration and relocation, also amending for minor errors in the original contract specifications of April 21, 1896.
A Letter from the Vice President of Casavant Frères

I was just thrilled when my good friend Bill Czelusniak informed me that he had found a new home for our Opus 74.

Opus 74 is the oldest surviving Casavant organ in the United States.  While it has some “cousins” in its native Quebec, this instrument represents a rare example of mechanical action organs built during the Casavant brothers’ directorship.

This was the 74th commission for a new organ received by Casavant.  The original contract was signed on April 22, 1896, by Fr. Napoléon Leclerc, priest-in charge of the Paroisse Sainte-Anne in Woonsocket, RI.  The price of the organ, which has 14 stops on two manuals and pedal, was $2,150.  It was completed in the church before Christmas 1896.  Its current replacement value would be approximately $450,000.

The organ was installed at the Paroisse Sainte-Anne in Woonsocket, RI.  The tonal finishing on site was directed by Claver Casavant.  Interestingly, the feeder for the large bellows was activated by a hydraulic motor (un moteur hydraulique agissant sur les pompes du soufflet).

The organ was moved to Notre-Dame des Victoires Church in Woonsocket in 1918.  It stayed there until 2000, at which time it was returned to its original home, now the St. Ann’s Arts and Cultural Center with the intent of restoring it, which never materialized.

It is humbling to see this 115-year old pipe organ will continue to lead and inspire worship for decades to come.  On behalf of all my colleagues at Casavant, I want to express our sincere appreciation to South Congregational Church for providing a new home to this historically significant Casavant organ.  I want to convey heartfelt thanks to our colleagues at Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal for the respectful and careful restoration they just completed.  It is our hope this instrument will not only serve this congregation but also will become a tool for outreach to the entire Amherst community.

Simon Couture
Vice President
Casavant Frères 

This present Stoplist describes the instrument as it has been restored for
this installation at South Amherst Congregational Church.

STOPLIST

I.GRAND ORGUE  4 stops  4 ranks58 notes (Unenclosed)
1Montre8'58pipesBasse en-façade of Main casework
2Mélodie8'58“
3Dulciane8'46“Basse transmisé from Mélodie
4Prestant4'58Basse en-façade of Main casework
“
II.RÉCIT8 stops  11 ranks58 notes (Expressive)
5Principal8'58pipes
6Bourdon8'58“
7Gambe8'58“
8Viox Céleste8'46“From tenor C
9Flûte Harmonique4'58“
10Flautino2'58“
11Mixture III2-2/3'174
12Trompette8'58
13Hautbois8'46Basse transmisé from Gambe
14Trémolo
III.PEDAL1 stop1 rank27 notes (Unenclosed)
15Bourdon16'27pipes
ACCOUPLEMENTS ET ACCESSORIES
16Grand Orgue à la Pédale
17Récit à la Pédale
18Récit au Grand Orgue
19Récit Octave Aigu au Grand Orgue
20Souffleur
Pédale d’expression Récit
Jeux de Combinaisons Piano
Jeux de Combinaisons Mezzo Forte
Jeux de Combinaisons Forte

Casavant Frères, Opus 74 dans la Salle à Montage à Ste-Hyacinthe, 1896

CONTRACT STOPLIST

PROGRESS OF THE RESTORATION

The first steps involved replication in our shop of missing floor-frame parts.

Pedal Ventil Stop Action restoration, before and after.

cz8

First Congregational Church
Whately, MA

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First Congregational Church
Whately, Massachusetts

Estey Pipe Organ Company, Brattleboro, Vermont, Opus 1263, 1914, 2 manuals, 8 ranks, Tubular-pneumatic action; partially restored – main chests releathered by John Wessel, Brattleboro, Vermont, 1993; complete releathering restoration of the coupler Tubular-pneumatic system by Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Inc., Northampton, Massachusetts, completed in the spring of 2011

The pipe organ was a gift to the church in 1914, from Andrew Carnegie Foundation and replaced a two-manual Wm. A. Johnson tracker moved to its third home in the Congregational Church, Heath, Massachusetts, where it remains in service today.

STOPLIST

GREAT3 stops3 ranks
1Open Diapason8'61pipes
2Dolce8'61“
3Clarabella8'61“
SWELL4 stops4 ranks
4Gedackt8'61pipes
5Aeoline8'61“
6Flute d’Amour4'61“
7Oboe (Labial)8'61“
8Tremolo
PEDAL1 stop1 rank
9Bourdon16'30pipes
COUPLERS
10Great to Pedal
11Swell to Pedal
12Great Unison Off
13Swell to Great
14Swell to Great 4'
15Swell to Great 16'
16Swell Unison Off
17Swell to Swell 4'
18Swell to Swell 16'
Fully pneumatic console, internal mechanisms, in the shop for releathering restoration.
The original Estey order card remains in the organ.