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The Asbury Casavant
We would do well to reflect on the significance of a moment that continues a remarkable influence on our corporate worship to this day as it will for many generations to follow. The installation of one of the most prominent instruments on the Eastern Shore, The Asbury Casavant Organ, Opus 2720; installed in 1962, standing three stories tall, 74 ranks, 3,160 pipes, valued in the year 2002 at almost one million dollars.
Opus 2720
74 Ranks, 4 Manuals
Installed September 1962
Contracted August 10, 1961
Refurbished Summer 2009
Click above to enter the restoration pages
The installation of this instrument
was and continues to be something akin to a person getting a heart transplant.
After all, the organ provides the heartbeat of our worship experience.
It renews vitality, pumping energy into the gathered Body of Christ
as a result of its power. Under the skilled hands of Asbury musicians,
the organ consecrates time and space, beckoning us from the business
of life to focus on the task of faith.
The
driving bass shake us out of our apathy and preoccupation
with self like a great earthquake. |
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The sounds
driven from the myriad ranks of pipes call us to worship God. The strains
of high notes waft down from
the sanctuary ceiling like manna from heaven. The driving bass notes
shake us out of our apathy and preoccupation with self like a great
earthquake. The hymns that we sing together are more powerful in
the proclamation of God’s word.
As far back as 1955, when it was
decided that Asbury Church should move from downtown Salisbury to the
southern suburbs, the Music Committee and Mr. Josef Privette, Minister
of Music, were planning and collaberating with the preeminent organ builder from St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, Casavant
Freres, Limitee, (Casavant Brothers) to build a pipe organ
for the new structure on the 12-acre
campus just south of Salisbury University.
 The new organ was an instrument
of 55 ranks, 2884 pipes, designed and voiced in the "North German" style. Three of the
five divisions are exposed, or unenclosed. The room seats 550 with a
4-5 second reverberation. The chancel is designed in the English Cathedral
style, divided chancel, with the console placed within the choir stalls
on the pulpit side, in a conducting position, slightly lowered.
The total price of the organ in
1962 was $45,000.00. No changes were made to the organ for several years.
During the tenure of Mr. Homer Jackson as organist and choirmaster, the Erzahler Celeste and 32' Unersatz were added by Casavant. The chimes were added in March
1973, given by Dr. Justin Wood, a fine singer and long time choir member,
in loving memory of his wife.
In 1980, during the tenure of Taylor Harvey, Director of Music, extensive repair was
done to the organ due to the furnace exploding into the organ and sanctuary through the blower, rendering it unuseable for about six months. It was at this time that the main blower was moved from the basement into the organ chambers in the choir loft. During
the same period the Solo Trumpet stops were added in the Swell Division
by Trivo Pipe Makers in Hagerstown, Maryland. This is a unit rank (85 pipes) being offered at 16', 8', and 4' pitch on the Solo Division, with the 16' being duplicated as the Bombarde in the Pedal Division. In February  1985, the 73 pipe Vox
Humana stop was added and in May of 1985 a contract was signed with Moller
Organ Builders in Hagerstown, Maryland to build a four manual console
to include an electrically adjustable bench, digital clock, 4 levels
of digital combination action memory, and 20 additional couplers. This work was done in honor of Winnie & George Kitzmiller, life-long supporters and members of the Chancel Choir. In April 1997 Bob Walker was contracted to install twelve ranks and a harp to the instrument. An 8' Flute Celeste was installed in the Swell Division, playable on the Positive. Two 32' stops and the 16' Basson were added to the Pedal Division. In the Swell Division a 3-rank reed chorus was installed (16' Basson, 8' Trumpet, 4' Clarion), and a 4' Principal; and, the Solo Division was started with an 8" Flauto Mirabilis, Gamba & Celeste, and the 8' English Horn. These additions helped tremendously in shifting the Baroque Design of the instrument towards that of a more Romantic Organ better capable of accompanying choirs and soloists, leading service music in worship, as well as performing music in the styles of the English and French.
The Asbury Casavant is now 48 years of age, in great need of repair to major systems at a cost of about $485,000.00. After assessing the situation thoroughly, the Trustees have contracted Casavant Freres and David Storey Organ Company to refurbish the instrument, and established
a fund drive in our effort towards raising the necessary monies. The organ is presently in the shop of Casavant and David Storey being refurbished. The work began in April 2009, and is scheduled to be completed the end of November 2009. Further information on this project is available on line by clicking on the button at the top of this page entitled, "Casavant Organ to Undergo Restoration."
Here are some interesting facts about the
Casavant:
- The organ cost about $45,000.00 in 1962.
- The organ was appraised in 2002 for almost
$1,000,000.00.
- The new console cost $61,000.00.
- The organ ranks in size with the larger instruments
in Baltimore, Washington, and New York.
- The console alone weighs over 2,000 pounds.
- There are over 30 miles of wiring in the organ.
- The organ contains 3,160 pipes.
- The pipes vary in height from about 2-3 inches
to 16 feet high.
- The entire organ is three stories high.
Specifications of the Asbury
Casavant:
Great:
16’ Bourdon
8’ Principal
8’ Flute Harmonique
8’ Chimney Flute
8’ Salicional
4’ Octave
4’ Spire Flute
2 2/3 Twelfth
2’ Fifteenth
1 3/5 Seventeenth
IV Mixture
8’ Trumpet
Great Off
Harp |
Positive:
8’ Bourdon
4’ Octave
4’ Spindle Flute
2 2/3 Nazard
2’ Recorder
1 3/5 Tierce
1 1/3 Larigot
IV Cymbal
8’ Cromorne
Positiv Off
Positiv 16'
Tremulant
16' Erzahler Celeste
8' Erzahler Celeste
8’ Flute Dolce
4' Erzahler Celeste |
Swell:
16' Violone
8’ Principal
8’ Stopped Flute
8’ Viola
8’ Viola Celeste
8' Erzhaler
8’ Erzhaler Celeste
4’ Octave
4’ Open Flute
2’ Super Octave
III Grave Mixture
III Sharp Mixture
16' Contra Trumpet
16’ Basson
8’ Trumpet
8’ Oboe
8’ Vox Humana
4' Clarion
Swell 16'
Swell Off
Swell 4'
Tremulant |
Solo:
8’ Flute Harmonique
8’ Salicional
8' Salicional Celeste
8’ English Horn
8' Clarinet
8’ Oboe (Sw)
Tremulant
Solo 16'
Solo Off
Solo 4'
Bombarde:
16’ Bombarde
8’ Trumpet
4’ Clarion |
Pedal:
32’ Contra Bass
32’ Contra Violone
32’ Contra Bourdon
16’ Open Wood
16’ Principal
16’ Subbass
16' Bourdon (Gt)
16’ Violone (Sw)
8' Octave
8’ Bass Flute
4' Choral Bass
4’ Spire Flute
2’ Open Flute
IV Mixture
32’ Contra Bombarde
32' Contra Basson (Sw)
16' Trombone
16’ Bombarde (Solo)
16’ Basson (Sw)
8’ Trumpet
4' Clarion
Zimbelstern Toe Stud |
Couplers: 8' Great to Pedal
8' Swell to Pedal
4' Swell to Pedal
8' Positive to Pedal
8' Solo to Pedal
4' Solo to Pedal
8' Bombarde to Pedal
16' Swell to Great
8' Swell to Great
4' Swell to Great
16' Positive to Great
8' Positive to Great
16' Solo to Great
8' Solo to Great
4' Solo to Great
8' Bombarde to Great
8' Great to Positive
16' Swell to Positive
8' Swell to Positive
4' Swell to Positive
16' Solo to Positive
8' Solo to Positive
4' Solo to Positive
8' Bombarde to Positive
8' Bombarde to Solo |
Relevant Links:
Casavant
Brothers in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
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