Wesleyan College completes $1 million renovation of its historic 1925 organ
Experience the majesty of Aeolian Opus 1542! Wesleyan’s historic Goodwyn-Candler-Panoz organ, the largest musical instrument in central Georgia, is the centerpiece of much celebration. Recently redesigned and expanded through a million dollar renovation project, the 1925 instrument (and its nearly 5,000 pipes) is vibrating the Wesleyan campus with new energy.
Wesleyan invites the community to celebrate the re-designed and expanded instrument through a spectacular rededication ceremony featuring a concert performance by Peter Richard Conte on Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 7:30PM. Conte is the Grand Court Organist of the world-famous Wanamaker organ at Macy’s Department Store in Philadelphia, home of the world’s largest playing organ. He performs extensively throughout the United States and Canada and was a featured artist at the American Guild of Organists' National Convention in 2002 and at the International Organ Festival in Aosta, Italy in 2004. The dedication event is free and open to the public!
In 2007, the organ’s 4,764 pipes were packed in crates and sent to the Schantz Organ Company in Orville, Ohio for repairs, cleaning, and re-voicing. The removal of the organ took ten days and the work in the organ shop was completed over eight months. The organ returned to Wesleyan’s campus in July of 2008, and the reinstallation continued through August. A team from Schantz spent an additional seven weeks voicing and tuning each pipe individually so that they sound properly in Wesleyan’s auditorium.
The largest pipe of the organ, at a height of 32 feet, is the largest single organ pipe in central Georgia. Wesleyan’s organ has 72 ranks totaling 4,764 pipes that are controlled by a four manual console. The console is now moveable and is placed on a lift in the orchestra pit. A stunning new façade of pipes was added in front of the tone openings of the chambers in Wesleyan’s auditorium. The most notable addition to the organ is the Tuba Magna stop, which produces the most prominent sound on the organ. This stop speaks on 20 inches of wind pressure; for comparison, the rest of the organ is on 4 inches of wind pressure.
“Wesleyan's 1925 Aeolian organ is a superb example of the American orchestral organ that was being built in the early twentieth century,” according to Wesleyan College Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Michael McGhee. “Organs like the one in Wesleyan’s auditorium are rare because organ-building practices changed dramatically later in the twentieth century and many organs from the early 1900's were replaced with a different style of instrument.”
Originally, Wesleyan’s 72-rank Goodwyn-Candler-Panoz organ was a gift to the school by Asa Candler, Jr., the son of Coca-Cola's founder. The current $1 million renovation project is possible through a generous donation from Nancy C. Panoz, a friend of the College who was honored in 2003 when she received an honorary doctor of commercial science.
The American Guild of Organists has designated 2008-2009 as the International Year of the Organ. Churches and music organizations across the world will offer special programs on or around Sunday, October 19, 2008 through the International Organ Spectacular. Wesleyan will play special tribute to the International Organ celebration through several events, including the dedication ceremony and concert, plus a Macon Symphony Orchestra Masterworks event with Wesleyan Organist and Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Michael McGhee on October 18, 2008 at 8PM in the Wesleyan College Porter Auditorium. This event will feature a performance of Guilmant’s Symphony for Organ and Orchestra, op. 42. For information and tickets, call Macon Symphony Orchestra 478-301-5300.
Event Details:
Wesleyan Organ Rededication Ceremony
with Peter Richard Conte in Concert
Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 7:30PM
Join us for an evening of celebration! Wesleyan’s organ has undergone a $1 million dollar renovation and expansion and is now reinstalled in Porter Auditorium. Our Guest Organist is Peter Richard Conte, Grand Organist of the world-famous Wanamaker organ at Macy’s Department Store in Philadelphia, home of the world’s largest playing organ.
Wesleyan College Porter Auditorium
4760 Forsyth Road, Macon GA 31210
Free and open to the public. For information call 478.757.5171.
Macon Symphony Orchestra Masterworks
with Wesleyan Organist Dr. Michael McGhee
October 18, 2008 at 8PM
Wesleyan College Porter Auditorium
4760 Forsyth Road, Macon GA 31210
Join the Symphony’s Masterworks Series featuring Wesleyan’s Organist and Assistant Professor of Music, Dr. Michael McGhee for a performance of Guilmant’s Symphony for Organ and Orchestra, op. 42. For information and tickets, call Macon Symphony Orchestra 301-5300. |
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