Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Cathedral Project

This project included two phases an audio phase and an organ phase.

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Audio Phase Highlights:

• D&B audiotechnik Column Speakers

• Q-Sys control system

• 4k Panasonic PTZ cameras for high definition livestream and broadcast

• Audio-technica Lectern/Podium microphones

• Audix Microboom Choir microphones

• Audio, video, network connectivity between the cathedral and parish center

• Audio and video monitoring and distribution to overflow locations on campus

• Choir loft sound reinforcement to congregation, live-stream, and overflow

 

Organ Phase Highlights:

In the initial conversations with the organ project committee we had discussions about what excited them most. The pivotal question was would you like to build a new organ that is custom built for our space and congregation or would you prefer to locate a historic, one-of-a-kind, instrument that could be considered a landmark instrument. That is to say an instrument that would bring acclaim and prestige to the music program at the Cathedral of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. The committee unanimously voted that they would rather acquire a historic and important organ that embodies the finest of american romantic organ building. This also proved to be the most cost effective option. 

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Upon making this decision the cathedral acquired two vintage E.M. Skinner organs. A small transept organ and the large grand organ that will live in the choir loft in twin towers on each side of the St. Cecilia stained glass window. Please see the write up from Reverend Father Michael Radowicz.

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St. Bernard is currently in the process of bringing an historic organ to our newly renovated cathedral to replace the former Tellers pipe organ from the 1960's.  Please continue reading to learn more about the history of the instrument and the great blessing it will bring to our cathedral.

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The instrument we have acquired has a very rich history in the city of Portland, Ore.  On July 4, 1917, more than 5,000 gathered on the steps of the brand new public auditorium in Portland’s downtown area.  This was the beginning of Portland’s public arts story.  The auditorium was home to the second largest pipe organ west of the Rocky Mountains, and the eighth largest in the world.  Built in 1916 by the Ernest Skinner Co. of Boston, as the firm's op. 265, the organ contains more than 5,000 pipes.  The instrument was a great source of pride for the auditorium in the years which followed and  many world-renowned organists traveled to Portland to play the instrument, including the great French organists, Marcel Dupre and Joseph Bonnet, as well as Pietro Yon, legendary organist of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York.

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In 1965, the auditorium was to be renovated.  There was no specific plan for the historic organ.  Due to the instrument’s size, it was decided that there was no additional room in the renovated space for the instrument.  There were many heated city council meetings and strongly-worded letters to preserve the instrument.  In the end, the council decided to install an electronic instrument in the auditorium, stating that it wasn’t worth the cost to re-install the aging instrument.

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The organ was packaged and put into city storage for a number of years.  It was auctioned off in 1972, and was purchased by the Alpenrose Dairy for $2,800.00.  The instrument was relocated to the dairy and installed in a custom-built opera house.  A large restoration of the instrument began over a period of three and a half years.  The dairy employed a full-time organist, whose primary responsibilities included playing the instrument and keeping it in top condition.  This arrangement continued to the present day.

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Due to the sale of the dairy, the owners decided to put the instrument up for sale.  Andrew Kreigh, former Director of Music, discovered the post offering the instrument for sale on Facebook and immediately contacted the owner.  Due to the COVID pandemic, it was not possible to inspect the instrument in person during purchase negotiations, so the parish employed Bond Organ Co. of Portland to conduct a thorough inspection.  They found an instrument that has been pristinely preserved, in excellent condition and entirely intact.  A small window of opportunity opened up for Andrew and staff from the Quimby Pipe Organ Co. to travel to Portland to inspect the instrument.  They found it just as Bond Organ Co. had described it.  The parish moved to acquire the instrument.  It was disassembled in Portland and transported to the Quimby Pipe Organ Co. in Warrensburg, Mo. in mid-May of 2020.  Quimby has restored the instrument and it awaits installation in the newly renovated cathedral next summer.  

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Also coming to the church will be a second, smaller organ which will be housed in the east transept.  This organ was also manufactured by the E.M. Skinner Organ Co. (op. 738) and was built for the Second Congregational Church of Shelburne Falls, MA.   It will be a wonderful complement to the larger organ in the choir loft and will be used for smaller gatherings and liturgical events.  The gallery organ will be able to draw upon pipes from this instrument, making it very versatile and filling the church with beautiful sound.  The transept organ is also at the Quimby shop, and we look forward to its installation next year.

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St. Bernard Parish is affectionately known as the Mother Church of East Madison.  Built in 1927, the church contains some of the most beautiful stained glass in the city.  Its traditional cruciform style and stone exterior has been a towering presence on Atwood Avenue, a main thoroughfare through the east side of Madison, for decades.  Receiving this instrument will be a tremendous blessing for our parish, for the Diocese of Madison and the city as a whole.  The parish has enjoyed a prominent place here in the city since its construction.  We look forward to opening our doors as the diocesan cathedral to all people from far and wide to enjoy the beautiful music of these instruments in a setting of great aesthetical beauty.

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Click on the links below to view the stoplists of both Skinner organs.

StBernardsParish_Tonal-Specification.pdf (quimbypipeorgans.com)
https://pipeorgandatabase.org/instruments/23489#stoplists

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