Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2016-03-17 - This entry describes an original installation of a new pipe organ. Identified by Scot Huntington, based on personal knowledge of the organ.<br><br>The third-floor organ suite in the New Mason Hall addition was originally intended to contain two unit practice organs and a three-manual mechanical-action Schlicker teaching studio organ. The practice instruments were a 1958 Moller Artiste moved from the basement practice room in adjoining Old Mason, and a 1973 Moller unit organ purchased by the University in a compromise deal: intended that both new organs would be Schlickers, the University was forced to take the practice organ low-bid from Moller in exchange for the more costly teaching organ instead of the low-bid electric-action organ from a Highland, IL builder.<br><br>During Schlicker's preliminary design as part of the sealed bid proposal, it was determined the teaching studio would be too small to accommodate the organ as specified, and its destination was moved to an unused classroom in Old Mason. Left with an empty practice room, high-level negotiation by a former organ professor, who was later Chair of the Music Department and ultimately Dean of Fine Arts, resulted in the procurement of a third and unplanned practice organ for the empty teaching studio.<br><br>The 5-rank Schlicker unit organ originally planned for the practice room now occupied by the smaller Moller- this instrument was appended to the order for the three-manual teaching organ, and Schlicker cut the price for both organs as low as they could go as a favor to the Dean and organ professor, both close personal friends of Hermann Schlicker. (The Dean of Fine Arts, Dr. Howard Marsh, had been one of the first employees of the Schlicker Organ Company in the 1930s before moving to academia).<br><br>Like the unexpectedly non-portable Moller, this organ was also made portable, with the chassis on casters, the console with detachable pedalboard installed on a moveable platform, and two 16' Untersatz cubes. After its initial installation, it was moved to the Harry King Concert Hall and dedicated in a concert for two organs with chamber ensemble, also utilizing the larger Schlicker concert organ. Organ Professor Dr. John Hofmann and his wife Carol Hofmann played solo pieces and chamber ensemble works, including a Handel organ concerto and a Soler concerto for two organs.<br><br>While more portable than the smaller Moller, relocating it was still an ordeal, and except for being moved and used once more in the Old Mason Recital Hall, the organ was never moved from the practice suite again, until it was sold.<br><br>In the late 1980s, the School of Music made the remarkably short-sighted decision to close the Organ Department, and in the early 2000s the three practice organs (2 Mollers and this Schlicker) were taken in trade by a local piano dealer as partial payment on a new grand piano for the recently constructed addition to New Mason-- the Rosch Recital Hall. The dealer in turn sold all three organs in a single lot for the astounding cost of only $5,000, and this organ was acquired as part of the sale by a private individual for his home in Erie, Pennsylvania.<br><br> This organ cost $10,500 and was delivered in March, 1974, installed by David Dickson and Louis Rothenberger Jr. three months after the arrival of the larger studio organ, and voiced on-site by Rothenberger. At some point after 1976 but before its sale, the organ was revoiced and softened. Its original voicing was both bold and noble in the excellent acoustics of the large studio-sized practice room. Its console and casework were walnut-stained oak veneer.<br><br>This correspondent spent countless hours memorizing all three movements of Bach's Second Trio Sonata and the Wedge Prelude and Fugue on this organ. -Database Manager
stoplist from console, 1974 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Fredonia, New York State University of New York at Fredonia New Mason Hall, School of Music Organ Suite Schlicker Organ Co. 1974 GREAT 8' Principal (t.c.) 8' Gedeckt 4' Octave 2' Rohrfloete II Mixture POSITIV 8' Gedeckt 4' Rohrfloete (1-12 Gedeckt) 2' Principal 1 1/3' Larigot (ext. Rohrfloete) 1' Siffloete (ext. Rohrfloete) Tremolo PEDAL 16' Untersatz 8' Gedeckt 4' Principal 2' Rohrfloete II Rauschquint (2 2/3', 2' throughout; derived) ANALYSIS 16' Untersatz 2 moveable wood cubes: 12-note extension of Gedeckt 8' Gedeckt (oak) 4' Principal (tin, cone-tuned) 2' Rohrfloete (spotted metal, spitzflute trebles,cone-tuned) II Mixture (2/3, 1/; repeats on c's; tin, cone-tuned) [Received from Scot Huntington 2016-03-21.]
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