The new organ of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Springfield, Illinois

[@RonN448]

Congratulations on the new organ! And, thank you, Mark Gifford, for giving us a tour of this wonderful instrument!

[@taylorharvey9669]

Mucho congrats on this fine sounding (and looking) organ!! The congregation will be blessed for years with this organ...Thanks for the wonderful video re. this organ.....

[@robertwilson75]

This is most enjoyable to see and hear. I love the Aeolian-Skinner style console appointments. Those drawknobs and the EM Skinner s-curve keycheeks. It just wreaks of class! Congratulations. One thing is missing. The instrument needs 32' registers in the Pedal Division. Think how a Double open Wood might roll around in that marvelous room and an EM Skinner type Contra Bombarde (Tuba Profunda). Let Robert walker Technical Company do it for you - no one does it better. And put them on thumb or toe pistons if necessary, but don't miss that for your parishioners. The psycho/physical effect of the low frequencies on our beings in worship can never be overestimated. You would also need a quiet 32' that would fit nicely with strings, flute celestes and vox humana. (slush chorus). What could be more delicious?! Don't miss it. Those sounds are worth their weight in gold.

[@Chesterbarnes1]

You are blessed to have that job. The ORGAN IS POWERFUL! I would like to visit

[@bhigdaddymark]

Wonderful video, gorgeous organ! CONGRATULATIONS !!

[@Lilkenneyofficial]

Lol I always run into you during organ videos. I just wanted to let you know that our church is done expanding our organ 😀

[@wisebee]

We built a lovely little Reuter 30 years ago at St Matthew Indianapolis. Dr Oswald Ragatz was our consultant and Franklin Mitchell did the tonal finishing, so between Ozzie's smarts and Franklin's genius, it's a little gem. I hope that you enjoy your new installation as much as I enjoyed ours.

[@tedphillips2501]

If there is any American organ company that has suffered from being underrated, it is Reuter. It is time they came into their own. For my own input, I wish organ builders would realize the advantage of using Pittman chests with direct electric primaries. Dennis Unks at Organ supply did this for me in the late 1980's. There have been absolutely no issues with this construction for over 40 years.

[@martinwright4125]

i so much enjoyed hearing the instrument, and i loved viewing the nave and hearing the wonderful acoustic. there is no other feeling of excitement and stir---maybe just one---much better than the opening salvo of a prelude or voluntary by the mighty organ. beautiful aesthetics in so many ways. ya'll are very fortunate. it is nice to hear a musician speak of his first love and his position in the service of the Lord...and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you...let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, clamour and evil-speaking be put away from you, with all malice. i know that you most likely are familiar with this old anthem, i sure would love hearing your choir and the cathedral organ, as a musical offering sometime in the future. best to you and yours.

[@grahaml6668]

What a lovely acoustic space you have there! Classic dimensions. Lots of hard surfaces. Five + seconds of reverb. A worthy organ is long overdue there, and I congratulate you. I hope your music program there is up to the same standard.

[@Durufle68]

The acoustic is certainly generous to this instrument!

[@matthewray7065]

The organist's mannerisms and voice remind me a great deal of the late Virgil Fox!

[@saa82vik]

Matthew Ray I know right? Love him!

[@Chesterbarnes1]

Smart Pastor and ORGANIST.....they used wisdom

[@CurtisBooksMusic]

And got hella lucky!

[@johnnyjames7139]

I shall never forget taking a tour of the Tabernacle organ in Salt Lake City and seeing a WurliTzer pressure regulator in the mostly Skinner organ feeding the tuba mirabilis rank so it has a decent tremulant. Something sorely lacking in most church organs.

[@saa82vik]

Towards the end, when the padre says "While we allow for other expression of music and instruments..." I can see him half smiling and having this slight Vietnam veteran ptsd like moment where crowds of crazed grimacing nuns and deacons are dancing to the tune of guitars and tambourines...

[@quentinbellamy]

Most interesting, and a stunning pipe organ.

[@ajmiller7102]

Would have been an nice addition to have the organist perform showing how the building is filled with sound

[@OrganMediaFoundation]

A follow-up video was produced a little later: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5q3mnyad7anhNU

[@garfixit]

That is beautiful

[@georgefelty6357]

I would love to see this instrument and maybe get to play!

[@davef.2811]

@ 8:25, look lik a rank of diaphones. Any 32' ranks yet, or maybe soon coming? Beautiful, organized (no pun intended) layout in the pipe chambers. Can easily see where this instrument is your pride and joy!

[@thebog11]

I believe that is a pedal reed with pneumatic starters for prompter speech. Might be the 32' reed. This is just a guess.

[@jerryhubbard4461]

long video and no music from the organ.

[@achatinaslak742]

Jerry Hubbard, here is a video, where you can hear more of this beautyful organ. Enjoy!

[@jerryhubbard4461]

you did not link the site

[@Richard-vq7ud]

I know. Gee wiz, a video where they do nothing but talk about an organ and how great it is. Thats like going to a banquet where the host talks about the wonderful food, but you dont get to eat it. Am i going crazy here or has the world gone crazy???

[@Gg-jq7ht]

Is it still intact and working?

[@jmariliou]

the elbow on the keyboard......

[@martinwright4125]

i commented and then read the comments. i noticed the comments re: acoustics. i just wondered if any musicians, architects, building engineers, or committee chairs have ever experienced the ridiculously poor acoustics of churches, especially those in which congregational singing and musical programs are regularly presented. it is amazing when i hear the poor acoustics of new buildings and public worship spaces. sometimes it seems these designs are intentionally designed to impede the very sound that congregationalist and more desire. when such conditions occur, it is even more amazing when massive financial resources have to be appropriated for sound systems, humidity/enviornmental stablization devices or building redesign, in order to effectively deal with acoustic inadequacy/failure. it is vital to have a decent acoustic component in the nave, the parish hall, commons, or the garden columbarium. any thoughts?

[@TheProsaicCult]

What did you think about the organ?

[@martinwright4125]

@@TheProsaicCult phenomenal. i listened to the vid w/ my bose headphones, and, at times, it sounded so much like i was there. the strings and the flutes are particularly wonderful. principal chorus and mixtures very nice. i am one who loves the old austin-like sounds, walker english sounds, and some of the casavant reed sounds. to me, my ear found that wonderful lushness in tonality and depth, and that is almost like eating a well marbled wagyu steak, if you can transfer the taste memory to that of the experience and thrill of sound. the sounds permeated the nave. the resonance was so satisfying. i would have driven to springfield to hear the dedicatory recital.

[@fluteceleste]

Thanks much for the interesting presentation. I just couldn't understand why not more than a mere 5 ranks of the old Wicks organ was retained, since romantic pipework is nowadays most sought after. was it in such bad condition? Anyway, a great Instrument, congrats. Would love to hear a stop demonstration.

[@praestant8]

fluteceleste Because Reuter has lots of mouths to feed.

[@Chesterbarnes1]

Mark Gifford what is the name brand of the ORGAN, and how many ranks. Where is the inauguration program.

[@bhigdaddymark]

Chesterbarnes1 It's a REUTER as he mentioned...

[@Chesterbarnes1]

Wish I have Pastor Chris House mailing address or email address can someone get that for me?

[@mudog35]

What type of piano is that ?

[@mudog35]

@@jakedarmstadter6943 your so stupid you fell for it !!! hahah

[@JDvorak2009]

Can a person go deaf from listening to a large instrument like that?

[@OrganMediaFoundation]

While the organ is large and has loud stops, the instrument is voiced so that it fills the room sufficiently without being overly loud. It's a testament to the skill of the organ builder. That being said, a technician must stand directly next to the pipes to tune them, the loudest ones included. A smart technician will use ear plugs to protect their hearing. The organist and congregation are in no such danger.

[@johnthorn7989]

OrganMediaFoundation 0

[@Richard-vq7ud]

Actually, a real pipe organ will not hurt your ears even with all stops out. An electric organ, however, can easily be too loud and cause the congregation to complain that it is too loud or hurts their ears

[@karlrovey]

Yes, if exposed to high enough decibel levels for a long enough period of time. Ideally, only the largest registrations get to that point and and are only used for short enough durations that you stay within the the recommended limits for sound exposure. The organist and technicians are most at risk because they spend a lot of time in close proximity to the instrument where the sound is at its highest intensity. The congregation on the other hand is far enough away that the sound has some space to blend and dissipate. This is why it is generally a good idea for the organist to practice with softer registrations (and use earplugs when trying out larger registrations when practicing). I use hi-fidelity earplugs if the console is near the pipes (or during a practice session, I generally limit the registrations to soft 8' flutes).

[@davidellsworth173]

Registration? Demonstration? Disappointed, sorry.

[@OrganMediaFoundation]

That video was uploaded almost 2 years ago to promote a concert. We went back here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5q3mnyad7anhNU

[@PJBearstein]

It is not necessary to say "just" all the time.

[@chrishopewynne2845]

Too much talk and too little Organ Music....organ enthusiasts go to recitals to HEAR ...

[@OrganMediaFoundation]

There was a recital to hear, the streamed dedication in 2017 that this video was promoting. You can hear more of this organ at kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5q3mnyad7anhNU.

[@p.e.gottrocks4528]

WAYYYY too much talk. Let the organ speak for itself.

[@Richard-vq7ud]

P.E. Gottrocks Eeee gads, i agree. I kept skipping all around trying to hear what it sounded like. It probably sounds great🤔

[@jmariliou]

All these videos on the organs are the same. Blah blah blah. Those who listen to these videos already know how an organ works. Differences and particularities are interesting, to make them heard too. But the side "I show you my tips ... ... we do not care royally"!

[@charlesbrown1934]

Too much talk.

[@achatinaslak742]

Here is a video with sounds of this magnificent organ: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5Ove4l3Z96dlbc

[@RezaChity-G]

The new organ looks ugly.