The Organs at Gustavus

Christ Chapel Organ

The organ in Christ Chapel was installed when the Chapel was built. It was contracted through Byron Arneson from Hillgreen-Lane. This was the largest instrument they ever produced. There are six divisions: Great, Swell, Choir, Pedal, and a divided Solo. The organ is controlled by a four-manual console. The Great now has an electro-mechanical chest, with the rest of the instrument using electro-pneumatic chests. The original installation included an Antiphonal division underneath the Chancel in the basement, but many of the pipes of that division have been incorporated into the main organ. The console was replaced in 1989 with a new solid state console built by Roger Colby and installed by Hendrickson Organ Company.

 On March 29, 1998, an F4 Tornado moved directly through the campus and town, damaging all buildings on campus, including Christ Chapel. As a result of that damage, considerable repairs were needed to the Chapel Organ, including replacing the Great wind chest, replacing the keyboards in the console, cleaning the entire instrument, especially the reeds, and numerous other smaller repairs. These repairs were completed by Hendrickson Organ Company in August, 1999.

 For pictures and the stoplist, click here.

Youngdahl Organ Studio

Youngdahl Organ Studio, located in the Schaefer Fine Arts Center, houses a wonderful mechanical action organ built by Fritz Noack of Georgetown, MA, in 1975. This instrument, tuned in a modification of the Kirnberger II temperament, is capable of playing a wide variety of literature, especially music of the Baroque era. The studio can seat about 60 people and also contains the College's two harpsichords. The room is used for organ and harpsichord lessons, organ studio classes, student and faculty practice, and some occasional small ensemble rehearsals.

 The instrument features a suspended tracker action and is entirely mechanical except for the electric blower. It is winded by a single-fold wedge bellows, uses wood wind trunks, and has a slightly flexible wind supply. The Pedal facade, in the side towers, features distressed copper pipes. All pipes are cut to length and cone-tuned. Caps are soldered on to the stopped ranks.

 For pictures and the stoplist, click here.

Positiv Organ

A Positiv organ is housed in the organ faculty office, but is mounted on a platform which enables it to be wheeled onto the stage of Björling Recital Hall for use with orchestra, small ensembles, or to accompany individual instrumentalists or singers. This one-manual instrument was built by Rieger Orgelbau in Austria and originally used by a church in Cleveland, OH, from whom the College acquired it in 1980. It has a single manual and a concave but not radiating pedalboard (European style).

 For a picture and stoplist, click here.

Portativ Organ

A Portativ organ, ideal for continuo playing, is housed in Christ Chapel. This instrument was built by Hendrickson Organ Company here in St. Peter, MN. This instrument has a single keyboard which folds down into the case. It has a small compass, (C,D,E,F,G-c''') featuring a short octave in the bass. The short octave, small compass, and folding keyboard were all designed to enable the instrument to be readily moved to other locations as needed. All three stops are divided bass/treble for added flexibility of registration.

 The stoplist consists of:

Practice Organ

Hendrickson Organ Company built a practice instrument for Gustavus in 1974. This instrument, housed in room 121 in the Music Building, is entirely mechanical (except for the blower) and is an ideal instrument for practice. In addition to its clean flute sounds, it features an adjustable bench and a built-in electric metronome.

 The stoplist consists of:

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