2010-01-28 - Identified through online information from Dale Fleck. -- Essentially a new organ using pipes from the existing Estey organ that had been altered by Balcom & Vaughan. New console, new wind chests, new pipework and completely re-voiced by Wicks in January 2009. -Database Manager
2022-03-08 - The original organ for the Cathedral, built by the Estey organ company of Brattleboro, Vermont, was given by Thomas Cruse in memory of his daughter, Mary Margaret, who died on the Feast of St. Cecelia, 1914. The organ, opus 1250, consisted of 27 ranks and two 3 manual consoles. At this time the Estey organ company produced 95 pipe organs in that year. It is interesting to note that this mass production did not offer individualized tonal concepts for each instillation. It is believed that in order to make a “cathedral-like” sound the wind pressure was at eight inches. This would make for a very aggressive and forced sound. Also, at this time organ building did not necessarily follow classic principles. The organ designed for the cathedral here did not include upper-work or adequate reed stops. However, the Estey Company did make good quality pipes. Over the last several decades the wind chest, electrical work and the consoles suffered greatly. There were numerous dead notes, ciphers, and wind leaks. During one of the cathedral’s renovations, one of the consoles was moved to the rear gallery and a gallery division was added with 6 ranks. One of these included a historic clarinet built by the famous American builder, E. M. Skinner. During this current renovation (2008) it was decided to contract with the Wick Organ Company of Highland, Illinois for a complete rebuilding and enlargement of the organ. Much of the existing Estey pipe work was used, with new wicks pipe work scaled and voiced to match the original work. Pressures were lowered in order to facilitate better blending of the pipes and a clear, “unforced” sound while carefully maintaining the original character of the organ. New Wick Direct electric ® action chests were built for all of the pipes, new and old, as well as a new Wick console, constructed to harmonize with the cathedral’s appointments. The enlarged specification was drawn by Wicks personnel in consultation with Dale Fleck, Director of Music at the cathedral. The final tonal finishing was done by John Sperling, tonal director emeritus for Wicks, with Dale Fleck on hand for approval. The renovated organ has 40 ranks and over 2300 pipes. The movable console (for concerts) has solid state memory and three manuals and pedals. The organ was dedicated on the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, January, 2009. From cathedral website -Paul R. Marchesano
Copied From Cathedral Website Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Helena, MT Cathedral of Saint Helena Wicks Organ Co., 2009, Opus 6442 Great Organ 16′ Gemshorn 8′ First Open Diapason 8′ Second Open Diapason 8′ Harmonic Flute 8′ Gemshorn 8′ Violone Celeste II (SW) 8′ Flute Celeste II (CH) 4′ Octave 4′ Open Flute 4′ Celeste Ensemble IV (SW & CH) 2′ Fifteenth IV Mixture 8′ Harmonic Trumpet 4′ Harmonic Clarion Tremolo Swell Organ 16′ Lieblich Gedackt 8′ Violone 8” Violone Celeste II 8′ Stopped Diapason 4′ Octave 4′ Traverse Flute 4′ Violone Celeste II 2′ Flageolet II Sesquialtera IV-V Chorus Mixture 16′ Bassoon 8′ Trumpet 8′ Oboe 4′ Clarion Tremolo Choir Organ 8′ Geigen Diapason 8′ Clarabella 8′ Flute Celeste II 4′ Octave 4′ Magic Flute 2′ Fifteenth 2′ Piccolo 1 1/3 Nineteenth 8′ Harmonic Trumpet (GT) 8′ Clarinet Chimes Zimblestern Tremolo Pedal Organ 16′ Open Wood 16′ Open Diapason 16′ Bourdon 16′ Gemshorn (GT) 16′ Lieblich Gedackt (SW) 10 2/3 Gross Quint 10 2/3 Sub Quint 8′ Diapason 8′ Gemshorn (GT) 8′ Stopped Diapason (SW) 6 2/5′ Sub Tierce 5 1/3′ Quint 4′ Octave 4′ Gemshorn 3 1/5′ Tierce IV Mixture 16′ Trombone 8′ Harmonic Trumpet (GT) 8′ Trumpet (SW) 8′ Clarinet (CH) 4′ Harmonic Clarion (GT) 4′ Clarinet (CH) 4′ Oboe (SW) Gallery I Organ 8′ Principal 4′ Octave 2′ Fifteenth 8′ Herald Tuba Gallery II Organ 16′ Gedackt Bass 8′ Gedackt 8′ Salicional 8′ Celeste II 4′ Flute 2 2/3′ Nazard 2′ Piccolo 8′ Herald Tuba Gallery Pedal Organ 16′ Gedackt Bass 8′ Principal 8′ Gedackt 4′ Octave 4′ Flute 8′ Herald Tuba 4′ Herald Tuba [Received from Keegan Meyer 2012-10-19.]
From Wicks website Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Cathedral of St. Helena, Helena, MT 2009 Wicks Organ Company Opus 6442 Great: 16' Gemshorn 8' First Open Diapason 8' Second Open Diapason 8' Harmonic Flute 8' Gemshorn 8' Violone (Sw.) 8' Violone Celeste II (Sw.) 4' Octave 4' Open Flute 2' Fifteenth IV Mixture 8' Tromba 4' Tromba Clarion Tremolo Blank Swell: 16' Lieblich Bass 8' Stopped Diapason 8' Violone 8' Violone Celeste II 4' Octave 4' Traverse Flute 4' Violone Celeste II 2' Flageolet II Sesquialtera IV-V Chorus Mixture 16' Bassoon 8' Trumpet 8' Oboe 4' Clarion Tremolo Blank Choir: 8' Geigen Principal 8' Clarabella 8' Flute Celeste II 4' Octave 4' Magic Flute 2' Fifteenth 2' Piccolo 1 1/3' Nineteenth 8' Clarinet Tremolo Chimes Zimbelstern Blank Pedal: 16' Open Wood 16' Double Diapason 16' Gemshorn (Gt.) 16' Bourdon 16' Lieblich Bass (Sw.) 10 2/3' Sub Quint (Sw.) 8' Diapason 8' Gemshorn (Gt.) 8' Stopped Diapason (Sw.) 6 2/5' Sub Tierce 5 1/3' Quint (Sw.) 4' Choral Bass 4' Gemshorn (Gt.) 3 1/5' Tierce IV Mixture 16' Trombone 16' Bassoon (Sw.) 8' Tromba (Gt.) 8' Trumpet (Sw.) 8' Clarinet (Ch.) 4' Tromba Clarion (Gt.) 4' Oboe (Sw.) 4' Clarinet (Ch.) Blank Gallery I: 8' Principal 4' Octave 2' Fifteenth 8' Herald Tuba Gallery II: 16' Gedeckt Bass 8' Gedeckt 8' Salicional 8' Voix Celeste II 4' Gedeckt 2 2/3' Nazard 2' Flautino 8' Herald Tuba (Gal. I) Gallery Pedal: 16' Gedeckt Bass (Gal. II) 8' Principal (Gal. I) 8' Gedeckt (Gal. II) 8' Salicional (Gal. II) 4' Octave (Gal. I) 8' Herald Tuba (Gal. I) 4' Herald Tuba (Gal. I) [Received from Connor Annable 2011-07-20.]
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