2008-06-10 - Identified through information adapted from <i>E. M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List</i>, by Sand Lawn and Allen Kinzey (Organ Historical Society, 1997), and included here through the kind permission of Sand Lawn: <br><i> Rebuilt in 1966 by Abbott & Sieker, #13.</i> -Database Manager
2014-07-17 - Updated through online information from Robert Scarborough. -- This A-S I know fairly well, as I played it for a couple of years, and this was one of the last of the A-S line in which G. Donald Harrison was involved before his passing in 1956. The build date on the plate is 1957. From the church's dedication in Summer, '55 until completion of the first 20 ranks, they had an electronic.<br>The 1966 "rebuild" wasn't a rebuild per se; rather it was the addition of a small antiphonal division above the rose window in the back, along with some leather and other maintenance items up front, bringing the roster up to a 3/46, all told circa 1969. Also, I seem to recall the 8' Gambe on the choir was replaced by Abbot and Seiker with some chiffy thing in keeping with "anti-orchestral" movement of that era, the name of the new stop I cannot recall.<br>This organ suffers from being crammed into a single chamber on the left side up front, further hidden acoustically by a proscenium arch of reinforced concrete. Also, in keeping with Methodist tradition, the sanctuary was plush with thickly padded carpeting and pew cushions in addition to cork ceiling tiles, making the space rather dead. However, the sound for the organist is quite "in your face." The added antiphonal (1966, Opus 13) was anemic at best, although the overdone "chiff" of the flues made it sound more like a toy counter. The fine A-S console was located in a pit at the back of the choir stalls.<br>Anecdote: Being the ever-useful student, I had spent an afternoon meticulously cleaning and polishing the console, much to Dorothy Hester's chagrin that Sunday. Evidently, she had a habit, when it was "showtime," to navigate the steep steps into the "pit" and then hop onto the bench from the last step. With all the crud removed and a nice, polished finish thereupon, momentum carried her across the bench and into her music stacks on the other side, causing quite a stir amongst the choir. The console sure looked great, though, although no one but the choir could see it. Mrs. Hester was a student of the esteemed Clarence Mader. -Database Manager
From Allen Kinzey via <i>The Aeolian-Skinner Archives</i> Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Riverside, California
First Methodist Church
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Inc. Opus 1304 1955
2 manuals, 23 stops, 25 ranks
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GREAT ORGAN SWELL ORGAN
16' Quintaton pf 8' Spitzflöte 68
8' Principal 61 8' Viole de Gambe 68
8' Bourdon 61 8' Viole Celeste (TC) 56
4' Octave 61 4' Prestant 68
4' Rohrflöte 61 4' Koppelflöte 68
2 2/3' Twelfth 61 III Plein Jeu 183
2' Fifteenth 61 16' Fagotto pf
IV Fourniture 244 8' Trompette 68
8' Fagotto pf
CHOIR ORGAN (prepared-for) 4' Clairon 68
8' Gambe Tremulant
8' Nason Flute
8' Dolcan PEDAL ORGAN
8' Dolcan Celeste 32' Resultant --
4' Nachthorn 16' Contre Basse 32
2 2/3' Nazard 16' Bourdon (ext GT) 12
2' Blockflöte 16' Gedeckt 32
1 3/5' Tierce 16' Quintaton GT pf
8' Cromorne 8' Octave 32
Tremulant 8' Gedeckt 12
8' Cello 32
5 1/3' Quinte pf
4' Choral Bass 32
III Mixture pf
16' Trombone pf
16' Fagotto SW pf
8' Tromba pf
8' Fagotto SW pf
[Received from Steven E. Lawson 2015-09-15]
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