1936 W.W. Kimball Organ - First Church of Christ Scientist - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Brent Johnson talks with Frederick MacArthur about the 1936 Kimball organ in the First Church of Christ Scientist in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Spec of the organ: pipeorgandatab...
First Church of Christ Scientist, Cambridge: www.christians...
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[@bhigdaddymark]

THOSE STRINGS!!! Yet another fantastic demonstration loaded with beautiful playing. Thank you!

[@fluteceleste]

Always the same guys around here 😀 hope you're well. And yes, I second that, very lush stuff!

[@ebenbildable]

What a FANTASTIC demonstration! Haunting at the very end with those few strings resolving ohhhh soooo silently!

[@rbaltimo]

Kimball knew how to build a wonderful pipe organ

[@matthieubazile3350]

Definitely a surprising Kimbal instrument, but surprising in a good way. It’s always nice to have some nice upper work in addition to warm and supportive foundations. Nice to hear MacArthur demonstrate the organ again.

[@GZ9090]

This demonstration is without doubt one of the most moving of any on the channel. Thank you!

[@SuperLQQK]

Welp, I guess I should start planning a trip to Cambridge, Mass. now. I really enjoy the way MacArthur demonstrates the organ. Here is the sound and here is a way it can be used. Thanks for this, OMF.

[@samschaeffer8236]

Why do we repeatedly refer to Dulcianas as "strings"? Aren't they really diminutive foundations, which are more akin to soft Diapasons? It certainly sounds that way on this organ. Just because a rank has a celeste rank to go with it doesn't always make it a string. It is the same thing with the Dolcan and Dolcan Celeste, which is a soft warm foundation sound.

[@OrganNLou]

What a GORGEOUS organ!!!!!!

[@billydavis7630]

OH MY GOSH!! What incredible playing. If I didn't know better I'd believe I was listening to Tom Hazelton. Well done sir, well done!

[@timothytikker1147]

It sounds like GD Harrison had "issues" with Christ Scientist churches, since he was also dismissed from the Mother Church, Boston project -- though Æolian-Skinner did build that organ in the end, but with Lawrence Phelps completing the tonal design.

[@KSL1972LLC]

GDH had a few run-ins with a number of CS churches. This organ predates the Mother Church Extension project by a year or more. Yet it may have a connection to others. The MC organ's contract (opus 1203) was executed in 1937 with a projected delivery in '42. It was supposed to be Aeolian-Skinner's magnum opus and a demonstration organ for the firm with five manuals and close to 250 ranks. According to the late Dr. Thomas Richner (Past organist of the Mother Church Boston) the instrument was supposed to be a GDH signature instrument. (Personally finished, note by note, by Harrison) However it was not to be. Everything was delayed by WWII, and when the organ was finally delivered in 1952 during the annual meeting, it was decreased to four manuals and 235 ranks. There were many issues that had changed the design and scope drastically from 1937 to '52. The Church Board, Lawrence and Ruth Barrett Phelps (the MC organist), along with inflation and some contractual disagreements created a degree of contention and ill feelings with Harrison. He in turn, had his regular crew finish the organ quickly and moved onto the next big project (The Mormon Tabernacle Organ). Years back I'd spoken with an organ enthusiast who'd worked for Aeolian-Skinner as a teen back in the early 50's. He recalled a few major arguments between Harrison and Phelps on op. 1203. Said Harrison told Phelps "It was time to move on from this mess" and he could "Work on the instrument on his own time as we have more profitable instruments to build" It was during the rebuilds done in the late '70s and again early '80s, where plenty of mixture ranks had taped up toes or showed incomplete tonal finishing. The instrument was never really completed until the late '90s when Foley-Baker International and Lawrence Phelps finally restored and finished the instrument. It goes without saying there was no loveloss between Harrison and the Christian Scientist Churches in Boston.

[@timothytikker1147]

@@KSL1972LLC the story I was told in re the Mother Church project was that Harrison was caught drinking alcohol in the organ chamber, whereupon he was fired and replaced with Phelps.

[@KSL1972LLC]

@@timothytikker1147 Well, GDH was known to be a hard drinking Lincoln, so it's plausible. According to Dr. Richner, he was always sneaking up to the roof for cigarette breaks during the install. Years later technicians were finding cigarette butts under wind chests or other hiding spots. Either way, he really didn't care. He wanted the job done. It was a loss for him professionally and monetarily for the firm.

[@bob94109]

This is a video that I enjoy playing over and over. Such a beautiful organ and equally beautiful playing and demonstration by Mr. MacArthur! I've been thinking about the "Incident" that kept GDH from getting this contract. Perhaps it had something to do with his heavy drinking and/or smoking, two things frowned upon by Christian Scientists.

[@WilliamMitchell-sc3fe]

I love the 16' Trombone in the pedal!

[@Diapason16ft]

Comparing this with St. John’s Denver which came 2yrs later, one has to wonder if there is a Harrison influence? Complete choruses and mixtures are found there as well.

[@heatherapastore7352]

Good question.

[@Yaledmot]

"We" have a 1940 Kimball in a Central, CA Presbyterian Church. It is a smaller organ on 3mns, but has the strings, reeds, and colors. The console is of very similar deco design.

[@bob94109]

Outstanding ! Really enjoyed it and the fine playing.

[@louisglen1653]

Very nice organ! Great demonstration!

[@davef.2329]

Amazing workmanship from the height of the depression. Thanks, Mr. MacArthur, and Brett.

[@stepheneggert9474]

A vary well kept Kimball.. they love there organ..as seen in this video.

[@paulh5293]

What a glorious sounding instrument. Have to agree with the other comments here - Mr. MacArthur demonstrates it perfectly, a lovely opportunity to hear the various ranks in context rather than just alone. Intrigued by the four random pipes on that offset chest in the Swell at 22'36" - poor things look a bit lonely! And I'd love to see more of that incredible restored Kimball combination action - a tantalizing glimpse at 25'05 onwards. As always, beautifully recorded and put together - thanks to Brent and the OMF team for yet another excellent video.

[@timbo389]

The Spindletop Kimball, not 3 miles away from me, has a similar Deco type console. It’s a shame this console isn’t out where people can actually see it.

[@Tracygriffith-dz2ys]

Nice organ and sound

[@thomasredman3777]

Always wonder about this organ...first time hearing it. So warm and inviting. Also, Wagnerian. I would imagine Skinner took into account the accustics of the room and, I think the Church of Christ Scientist uses only hymn singing and soloists instead of a choir, and the kind of music that would be chosen for the soloists, and E. M. gave them the perfect organ, even though Kimball built it. What do you think?

[@maxwellfowler3091]

Beautiful instrument! The closing hymn is glorious!

[@yaelpalombo4093]

Magnifico.

[@thomasredman3777]

Oh, and I forgot to say, this organ could be a little sister to the Skinner at the Tabernacle. What do you think?

[@heatherapastore7352]

You mean a big sister. The tabernacle organ came in 1945.

[@thomaswalters4365]

Swell Oboe suggests the Wanamaker sound.

[@mitchquade]

Great demonstration--thanks! What's the hymn tune on the demo of the great diapasons?

[@thomaswalters4365]

Swell Diapason sounds a bit like a Horn Diapason.

[@natepultorakmusic928]

at 22:36, what is that tiny chest with 4 pipes and a lot of empty holes on it?

[@MicksFlics]

Gorgeous instrument in marvelous room, wonderful commentary by Brent & brilliant beautiful improv playing by Mr. MacArthur

[@timdaugherty5921]

Screens are ugly