Surprise - Hazel Wright Organ & Christ Cathedral

[SchnarrHorn]

I was surprised to see what's become of the Crystal Cathedral and its Hazel Wright organ. I had only vague recollections - large Ruffatti, Virgil Fox, Fred Swann, damaged from roof leaks, hard to keep in tune because of sunlight, etc., etc. Well, imagine my surprise - Hour of Power ministry declared bankruptcy and the Crystal Cathedral was sold to the Catholic diocese of Orange, California and was remodeled to be their new Cathedral - renamed the Christ Cathedral. That's what happens when you go hermit for two decades. hahahaha

The organ was removed and shipped to Ruffatti to be refurbished in 2013. It was reinstalled in 2020 with voicing delayed because of Covid. All was completed early this February, 2022, although there are YouTube videos of the organ from 2021. From what I've read, the re-dedication concert scheduled for 2021 will be held later in 2022. This organ is one of the largest in the world - fifth largest, with 273 ranks according to Wikipedia although the cathedral website says it has 287 ranks and in another spot 293 ranks, but what's a few ranks more or less. The five manual console is huuuuuge. There is also a secondary console. The cathedral campus has a 52 note carillon that is playable from the console. Here's a picture of the console and part of the pipework:



There's a trickle of recent YouTube videos of the refurbished organ using a "Hazel Wright Organ" search. The white oak pipe cases were originally a natural color but were apparently painted white for the restoration. That's a good way to to determine if a YouTube video is of the restored organ. The following short video spins around to provide a look at all the divisions spread throughout the church.

Are the above details correct? Has anyone heard (or better yet, played!) the restored instrument?

George

[SchnarrHorn]

The stop list (current stop list of restored organ????) is available at the pipe organ database. Insane (in a good way, if you like organs on steroids 😊 ). The main (front) pedal organ not only has a 5 1/3 and a 10 2/3 but also a 21 1/3. Four 32' and eleven 16' flues and four 32' reeds and six 16' reeds (some borrowed and extensions, but still). And that's not counting the pedal in other divisions. Wow, that would be fun to spend an afternoon at that console.

George

[AllenAnalog]

My dear departed friend Dave Junchen wrote an organ work titled something like Composition for Quadraphonic State Trumpet for a convention being held in LA that had a event at Crystal Cathedral - I think it was the ATOS. I don't remember who played it but it might have been Fred Swann since they were friends.

I'll have to dig around and see if I can find any details. It's the only venue where something like that could work unless you built an electronic copy.

[SchnarrHorn]

Also, a bit of history - this organ contains the Aeolian-Skinner organ opus 1388 which was originally installed in Lincoln Center, New York City in 1962. Lincoln Center and its various venues that have gone through name changes over the years is home to the New York Philharmonic and the Met. The Philharmonic Hall dedication concert was in trouble because the organ needed a few more months to be completed, so the management called in Allen Organ Company to provide an electronic (analog at the time, of course) organ. Conductor Leonard Bernstein had programmed Mahler's 8th symphony and the Veni Creator Spiritus section requires the organ (see video below). Allen Organ milked the reviews (and rightfully so) because one or more music critics acclaimed the wonderful sound of the new pipe organ, not realizing it was the Allen, not the Aeolian-Skinner. When Philharmonic Hall was renovated in 1976, the Aeolian Skinner organ was removed and eventually sold to the ministry that became the Crystal Cathedral (now Christ Cathedral). A shame that it lasted only 14 years in its original venue.

George

[SchnarrHorn]

Oh and BTW, if you're wondering who Hazel Wright was - she was a wealthy gal who lived in Chicago and a viewer of the Hour of Power ministry broadcasts. She donated some millions of dollars for the organ along with a maintenance fund. She also donated to many other institutions. She passed away in 1984 at the age of 79. To put a face to the name:



George

[gtc]

After all of the talk, it seems digital has won over pipe at Lincoln Hall. I guess that means Allen:

A digital organ will be installed at the hall, which has been without an organ since the original 45,000-pound Aeolian-Skinner organ with 5,498 pipes was removed in a 1976 renovation.

https://www.fox5ny.com/news/geffen-h...reconstruction

[SchnarrHorn]

Interesting how many times its gone through major renovations and the acoustics were (are?) never right. Someone's got money to burn.

George

[myorgan]

George,

No, they actually just keep using other people's money. It's cheaper that way!;-)

Michael

[Admin]

[AllenAnalog]

The story about the organ restoration has amazing distribution. It was in the religion section of the Grand Junction, CO, newspaper today with a full page spread and multiple photos.