St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church: Sanctuary; rear gallery
1 Morse Road
Sudbury, MA
Images
2021-09-15 - Pedalboard (Photograph by Richard R. Bunbury, submitted by Jim Stettner/Jim Stettner)
2021-09-15 - Left stopjamb (Photograph by Richard R. Bunbury, submitted by Jim Stettner/Jim Stettner)
2021-09-15 - Right stopjamb (Photograph by Richard R. Bunbury, submitted by Jim Stettner/Jim Stettner)
2021-09-15 - Keydesk (Photograph by Richard R. Bunbury, submitted by Jim Stettner/Jim Stettner)
2021-09-15 - Organ case with keydesk and facade (Photograph by Richard R. Bunbury, submitted by Jim Stettner/Jim Stettner)
ca. 2020 - Church interior with organ in rear gallery (Photograph from an archival source: Still capture from interactive 360° tour, submitted by Jim Stettner/Jim Stettner)
2020-05-30 - Church exterior (Photograph from an archival source: Church Facebook page, submitted by Jim Stettner/Jim Stettner)
Consoles
Main
- Organ type: Traditional Without Cover
- Console position: Keydesk Attached
- 2 manuals
- 19 registers
- 3 divisions
- Key action Type: Mechanical (Details Unknown)
- Stop action Type: Mechanical
- Stop layout Type: Drawknobs in Vertical Rows on Flat Jambs
- Manual compass: 54 notes
- Pedal compass: 30 notes
- Pedal Type: Flat Straight
- Expression Type: No Enclosed Divisions
- Combination action: None
- Has hitchdown couplers
Notes
2024-11-01 - This very fine instrument was new to the building and the first U.S. instrument by William Drake. The organist at the time was an early-music musician and the congregation favored Renaissance and baroque choral music. Subsequent organists who can't perform without a celeste and Swell box have disparaged the organ for years and agitated for its replacement with a symphonic-style instrument. A clear case of limited musicians, not a limited instrument. Originally, the church had wall-to-wall carpet and the negative acoustic typical of A-frame buildings. Not surprisingly the organ was bland and lacking in power in the negative acoustic. About 15 years ago the church replaced the carpet with a flagstone floor. The church still does not have any reverb but does now have ring, a sense of space, and music in the gallery blooms into the room. The organ is now effective and fulsome in the enhanced acoustic. They have recently hired (2024) a sympathetic musician and the church has newly fallen in love with their organ and the music of its era. The wind pressure is low (under 3"), fed by a wedge regulator, and the temperament is Young-Valotti. The key action is balanced of all wood components. The pipework is scaled and built in historic English style. The Diapason tends toward flutey but the upperwork is more bright. The flutes are mild but colorful, and the reeds are quite fiery and powerful. The full plenum is quite impactful in the room while seeming underpowered to the performer at the console--the sound going out over one's head. -Scot Huntington
Stoplist
Source: Stoplist taken from photos of the organ and keydesk September 15, 2021
MANUAL I Open Diapason [8], Stopped Diapason [8], Principal [4], Twelfth [2 2/3], Fifteenth [2], Sesquialtera [III-IV], Mixture [IV-V], Cornet [V], Trumpet Treble [8], Trumpet Bass [8]
MANUAL II (Brustwerk position) Stopped Diapason [8], Principal [4], Flute [4], Fifteenth [2], Cremona [8], Tremulant
PEDAL Bourdon [16], Principal [8] (Partial transmission from Great), Fagott [16] (Prepared-for), Trumpet [8] (Transmission from the Great)
MANUAL II to PEDAL 8, MANUAL I to PEDAL 8, MANUAL II to MANUAL I 8
Documents
Other Links
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