On Monday evening, 25 February 2008, the late concert organist Cj Sambach, well known for his innovative pipe organ INformances, played the opening recital on our first hybrid (pipe/digital) organ.
Sunday 19 August 2007 had marked the first use of the digital portion of the organ, and the pipes were playing again for Christmas.
The organ was originally built by Wicks in 1952, and was completely rebuilt in 1980 by Ontko & Young of Charleston, SC. It was our first organ installation in South Carolina. By 2006, the original 1952 console was showing signs of advanced age, and a new console was contracted to be built.
In
the winter of 2006, that contract was amended to provide for a new Johannus
Sweelinck 37 console, with a Johannus Pipe Control System. The Johannus arrived
on 14 August, and was in place and ready to play within two days. Organist Jim
Moore and Director of Music Deborah Stiles are very pleased with the new sounds, the
expanded range of tone colors, and especially the large number of accompanimental
voices.
The
speakers are placed atop the pipe casework at both sides of the choir area,
allowing good tonal spread throughout the building. A set of Antiphonal speakers helps sound
dispersion into the acoustically isolated former Sunday School area at the rear of the sanctuary.