2007-03-13 - Console (Archival source not identified by contributor: James R. Stettner/Database Manager)
2007-03-13 - Pipe Facade (Photograph by James Stetner/Database Manager)
2007-03-08 - Identified through online information from James R. Stettner. -- Rebuild of the existing organ. Great exposed in a simple box on the right side of the church at the front. Swell chamber adjacent on right wall. Organ contains 11 ranks of clearly 19th century pipework, though some has been altered. -Database Manager
Stoplist from PortlandORgans.com (now inoperative) Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Unsupported filetype html, view here.
Stoplist copied from the console July 18, 1990 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Portland, Oregon
St. Matthew's Episcopal
J.W. Blunk, ca. 1959 - Installation of used organ on new chests
Bond Pipe Organs, Inc., 1981 - Tonal revision & mechanical refurbishing
GREAT
8 Principal 61
8 Hohl Flöte 61
4 Octave 61 19th cent. pipework
4 Flute Harmonique 61 19th cent. pipework
2-2/3 Quinte 61
2 Octavin 61 19th cent. pipework
III Mixture 183 Beginning composition: 19-22-26
Zimbelstern
blank
Great Super [4']
SWELL (Expressive)
8 Geigen Principal 61 19th cent. pipework
8 Bordun 61 19th cent. pipework
8 Viole de Gambe 61
8 Viol Celeste (tc) 49 19th cent. pipework
4 Geigen Octave 61 19th cent. pipework
2 Piccolo 61 19th cent. pipework
1-1/3 Quinte 49 19th cent. pipework. Compass: CC - c 49
8 Trompette 61
8 Hautbois 61
blank
Tremolo
Swell Sub [16']
Swell Unison Off
Swell Super [4']
PEDAL
16 Contre Bass 32 19th cent. pipework
16 Sub Bass 32 19th cent. pipework
16 Lieblich Bordun --
8 Principal -- 20 notes
8 Gedackt Pommer 12
4 Gedackt Pommer 12
16 Posaune (Sw) 12
COUPLERS
Swell to Pedal [8]
Swell to Pedal Super [4]
Great to Pedal [8]
Great to Pedal Super [4]
Swell to Great Sub [16]
Swell to Great [8]
Swell to Great Super [4]
FINGER PISTONS
General 1 - 6
Swell 1 - 4
Sw. to Ped. (rev)
Great 1 - 4
Gt. to Ped. (rev)
Pedal 1 - 4
Sforz. (rev)
G.C.
TOE STUDS
General 1 - 6
Pedal 1 - 4
Sw. to Ped. (rev)
Gt. to Ped. (rev)
Sforz. (rev)
PEDAL MOVEMENTS
Swell Expression (bal.)
Crescendo (bal.)
ACTION: Electro-Pneumatic pitman & unit
VOICES: 18
STOPS: 24
RANKS: 20
PIPES: 1,174
NOTES
This organ has a history dating back to the mid 19th century, though
the exact origins of this organ are not firmly documented.
Grace Episcopal Cathedral of San Francisco purchased a II-manual and
pedal tracker organ around 1865. It is thought to have possibly been
a Bergstrom, though it does not appear on the Bergstrom opus list.
This organ was replaced in 1894 by the III-manual Methuen Organ Co.
instrument. One story says it might have been moved to First Christian
Church of Oakland, Cal.
However, the published history of St. Mark's Parish in Portland states,
"In September, 1894, a pipe organ was purchased from Grace Church, San
Francisco, and used for the first time." A photograph from the parish
archive shows the organ with a 3-sectional case containing stenciled
pipes installed at the front of the parish on the left - facing across
the chancel and not directly into the room. A quote from San Francisco
organbuilder Louis Schoenstein says that he remembered it as having an
attached keydesk and a "high walnut Gothic case." This fits what can
be seen of the organ as pictured in the parish history.
The organ may have been electrified at St. Mark's in 1925 by William
Wood, organbuilder in Hillsboro, OR and son of Michigan organbuilder
Granville Wood. It remained at St. Mark's until about 1959 when it was
installed here at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in East Portland by
Bill Blunk, at which time it was rebuilt on new pitman chests.
This organ is essentially a rebuild of a rebuild. Much of the extant
pipwork is obviously 19th century - and has been identified as being
from the Samuel Pierce shop. Most of this pipework is common metal and
very thin-walled. The Swell 1-1/3' Quinte plays for 49 notes and the
top octave repeats. The Zimbelstern has 4 bells.
At the time of my visit on July 18, 1990, bass CC, CC#, and DD of the
Great 4' Flute Harmonique were missing.
[Received on line from James R. Stettner April 19, 2009.]Regrettably, it is not possible to display the information about the sponsor of this pipeorgandatabase entry or if there is a sponsor. Please see About Sponsors on Pipe Organ Database.