St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church: Church
955 Alton Road
East Lansing, MI
Images
2019-08-08 - Church Interior, Altar, and Organ Case (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
2019-08-08 - Front Organ Case and Trompette Pontificale (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
2019-08-08 - Church Interior, Altar, and Organ Case (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
Unknown - Church Interior, Altar, and Organ Case (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
2019-08-08 - Front Console (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
2019-08-08 - Nave (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
2019-08-08 - Nave, Choir Area, and Stained Glass Window (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
2019-08-08 - Stained Glass Window (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
2019-08-08 - Rear Console (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
2019-08-08 - Right Rear Organ Case (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
2019-08-08 - Left Rear Organ Case (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
2019-08-08 - Church Exterior (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
2019-08-08 - Church Exterior (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)
Consoles
Front (Twinned)
- Organ type: Traditional With Roll Top
- Console position: Console in Fixed Position, Right
- 3 manuals
- 8 divisions
- Key action Type: Electrical
- Stop action Type: Electrical
- Stop layout Type: Push-Button Stop Controls/Luminous Pistons
- Manual compass: 61 notes
- Pedal compass: 32 notes
- Pedal Type: Concave Radiating (Meeting AGO Standards)
- Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Meeting AGO Standards)
- Has crescendo
- Combination action: Computerized/Digital
- Classic
- Has sequencer
- Has combination thumb pistons
- Has combination toe pistons
- Has tutti thumb pistons
- Has tutti toe pistons
Rear (Twinned)
- Organ type: Traditional With Roll Top
- Console position: Console in Fixed Position, Right
- 3 manuals
- 8 divisions
- Key action Type: Electrical
- Stop action Type: Electrical
- Stop layout Type: Push-Button Stop Controls/Luminous Pistons
- Manual compass: 61 notes
- Pedal compass: 32 notes
- Pedal Type: Concave Radiating (Meeting AGO Standards)
- Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Meeting AGO Standards)
- Has crescendo
- Combination action: Computerized/Digital
- Classic
- Has combination thumb pistons
- Has combination toe pistons
- Has tutti thumb pistons
- Has tutti toe pistons
Notes
2005-01-08 - Information identifying this instrument from the Austin Organs, Inc. web site, accessed December 31, 2004: http://www.austinorgans.com/organ-research.htm. -Database Manager
2008-05-30 - Updated through online information from Stephen Hall. -- According to the church history, the present building was completed in 1968, and the present organ was purchased in 1978, but not completed until 1985-86. -Database Manager
2012-06-08 - Updated through online information from Will Dunklin. -- St Thomas Aquinas Church purchased Austin 866 from First Congregational, Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1983. The Austin was moved to St. Thomas and placed centered behind the altar with a new case and significant tonal changes. The parish's previous organ, was a modest 2 manual installed at the front corners. This organ was moved to the back of the sanctuary, placed in cases on either side of the massive "west" window. The rear organ was augmented with electronic voices. Twin, 3-manual, multiplexed consoles both controlling both organs were installed - one at the front and one back. Interestingly, the result was exactly opposite the usually placement of large European organs: at St. Thomas, the small choral accompaniment organ is at the back and the large solo instrument is at the front. -Database Manager
2015-11-29 - Updated through online information from Richard Schneider. -- The original organ was installed in the front of the Sanctuary by the White Organ Company of Lansing in 1973-4. -Database Manager
2018-12-08 - Updated by Carter Mattoon -- The main console by the altar has a MIDI playback system, which is unknown to me whether it works or not. The antiphonal organ needs to be coupled to a manual in order to work. The solo division also needs to be coupled to a manual order to work. The 32' stops in the main organ are non-functional, as well is the Harpsichord and Lute, both of which are in the Antiphonal division. -Database Manager
2019-08-16 - The twin organ consoles, along with the digital stops, were completed by Classic Organ Works (Ontario, Canada). The name and logo for Classic is on the back of each console. The builder of the organ cases and new pipework, as well as the installation of the Austin pipework, is unknown. Many of the stops on the rear organ are digital. -Database Manager
Stoplist
Typed stoplist from Chad Boorsma Source: Information taken from the console. Date not recorded
East Lansing, Michigan
SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH
___________________________________________________________________________________________
GREAT: SWELL: PEDAL:
16' Violone 16' Soubasse 32" Untersatz
8' Principal 8' Bourdon 16' Principal
8' Rohrflöte 8' Violon Cello 16' Contrebass
4' Octave 8' Voix Angelique (b) 16' Soubasse
4' Waldflöte 8' Voix Seraphique (#) 16' Violone
4' Quintade 4' Principal 8' Octave
2 2/3' Nasat 4' Traverse Flute 8' Flute
2' Super Octave 2' Octavin 8' Violone
2' Open Flute 1 1/3' Quinte 8' Dolce
1 3/5' Terz IV Plein Jeu 4' Choralbass
IV Fourniture 16' Basson 4' Hohlpfieffe
8' Trumpet 8' Trompette 2' Concert Flute
Chimes 8' Cromorne III Mixture
Blank 8' Vox Humana 32' Contra Fagotto
4' Clarion 16' Bombarde
CHOIR: Tremulant 16' Basson
8' Spitzflöte 8' Bombarde
8' Dolce SOLO: 4' Cor Anglais
8' Unda Maris 8' Concert Flute
4' Gemshorn 8' Cor Anglais ANTIPHONAL PEDAL:
4' Rohrgedeckt V Grand Cornet 16' Spitzprincipal
2' Principal 8' Trompette Pontificale 16' Bourdon
III Cymbel Chimes 16' Conta Viol
8' Hautbois Blank 16' Quintaten
Tremulant 8' Octave
ANTIPHONAL CHORAL: 8' Gedeckt
ANTIPHONAL GREAT: 8' Flute à Cheminee 8' Erzähler
16' Quintaten 8' Viole d'Gambe 4' Offenflöte
8' Principal 8' Celeste II Kleine Mixtur
8' Hohlflöte 4' Flute Harmonique 16' Posaune
8' Dulciana 4' Erzähler 4' Corno di Bassetto
8' Flute Celeste 2' Doublette
4' Octave 1' Sifflöte
4' Gedeckt II Aetheria
2 2/3' Nazard II Cymbale
2' Spitzflöte 16' Corno di Bassetto
1 3/5' Tierce 8' Trompeta Real
II Mixture 8' Fagot
II Jeu de Clochette Tremulant
16' Knopfregal 8' Harpsichord
8' German Trumpet 8' Lute
4' Celesta
[Received online from Chad Boorsma • August 14, 2019]
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