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Casavant Frères Ltée. Opus 1241 (1965)

Yorkminster Park Baptist Church
1585 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON, CA

Consoles

Main


Notes

2013-01-27 - New console for existing previously enlarged Casavant organ. -Database Manager

2013-02-02 - Updated through online information from Jeff Scofield. -- The contract dated 29 October 1964 was for extensive tonal revisions; a new console was added by Casavant in 1975 and the old console was sold to the Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Seattle, Washington; many subsequent revisions were contracted via Alan T. Jackson & Co., Ltd., including a Trompette-en-Chamade added in 1992. -Database Manager

2023-08-22 - Since its installation in 1928 (then 4 manuals, 69 stops, and 69 ranks) the organ has undergone several revisions, with alterations both major and minor. 1965 saw a major rebuilding of the instrument to 73 stops, 87 ranks, and 5,045 pipes. At that time came a new Great Organ of 11 stops, including 15 ranks of flues and 3 new reeds. The Swell, Choir, and Positiv divisions received 31 new ranks of flues and reeds, the Pedal 32ʹ reed was revoiced, and the old console was revised. A recital played by Douglas Elliot opened the renovated organ on December 14, 1965. In 1971, the Great Scharf IV pipes and chest were added, as well as the Gedackt 16ʹ pipes from the old Deer Park United Church organ. In 1975 came an entirely new console, dedicated in a recital by Catherine Palmer on October 8 of that year. The Gedackt 16ʹ chest from the old St. Barnabas organ was added the following year, augmenting the organ to 75 stops, 93 ranks, and 5,582 pipes. 1985 saw the Swell and Great reed chests converted to schwimmers and Pitman action. At the same time, the Great and Positiv Organs were cleaned and the Great reeds were dead lengthened. In 1986 the Swell’s main chests likewise were converted to schwimmers and Pitman action, while three Swell reeds were dead lengthened to 16ʹ–8ʹ–4ʹ. The Swell Organ received a cleaning, distributors were releathered, and the Pedal reed reservoir was re-covered. In 1987 the Choir and Pedal Organ chests were the last to be converted to schwimmers and Pitman action. Again, distributors were releathered, the Choir Organ was cleaned, and the Pedal chest was moved. The console was converted to a multi-level, solid-state combination action in 1988. The following year the organ received new pipes and a chest for the Great Organ’s Principal 16ʹ and 8ʹ. At the same time came the new pipes and chest for the Pedal’s wood Contrebasse 16ʹ. 1990 saw the installation of the Swell’s Bourdon 16ʹ, 1991 the same division’s full-length Contra Fagott 16ʹ, and 1992 the horizontal Trompeta Real 8ʹ, all with new pipes and chests. In its present iteration the organ commands 101 ranks and 5,736 pipes. -- *2023 OHS Handbook* -Paul R. Marchesano


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