Dallas, Texas —NorthPark Presbyterian Church

Dallas, Texas — NorthPark Presbyterian Church
Three manuals and pedals, 47 stops, 63 ranks
Movable drawknob console, compass 56/32
Electro-pneumatic action
Opus 3609, 1986-2006
Photographs: Stanley Scheer
The present contemporary campus of NorthPark Presbyterian Church located
north of the city on the North Central Expressway gives little clue to the fact that
the congregation is cited in The History of Texas for building the first
Presbyterian Church and second house of worship in Dallas in 1868. The
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congregation. In 1904 the church hosted the Cumberland General Assembly at
which time the reunion with the Presbyterian Church USA was approved. In 1919
the church dedicated its third building in downtown Dallas. Known as The City
Temple of the Central Presbyterian Church, it had facilities intended to benefit
the whole community at a time when there were no public halls for lectures,
concerts or recreation. Shortly after occupying the building, the church dropped
The City Temple from its name. After relocating in 1962 to its present location,
the name was changed to NorthPark Presbyterian Church to reflect the new
location.
When the congregation decided to relocate from their downtown location to an
area with more space north of the city they knew that they would occupy a
temporary building until such time as a permanent structure could be built.
Under such circumstances most congregations postpone plans to install a new
organ knowing that it would be moved in a few years to another home. However
this congregation decided to proceed in order to have a fine instrument to use
with their excellent music ministry. Careful planning, all with the knowledge of
relocation to a larger space in the future, was made in order to assure that the
organ could be moved successfully.
When the new church was being planned, space was allocated in a favorable
position at the front of the nave to house the completed instrument. The interior
of the church is made of all hard, reflective surfaces providing excellent acoustics
for music making including vibrant congregational singing. The instrument
speaks directly into the nave from its elevated position. Open contemporary
woodwork, emulating flats of an organ case, contain principal pipes from the
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copper resonators of the Trompette-en-chamade provide a dramatic visual
contrast in the center. The instrument is used for the active music ministry of the
church and for recitals and concerts including use during the 1994 National
Convention of the American Guild of Organists. In 2006, the addition of the stops
prepared in the original plan plus others made possible by the generous space in
the organ loft gives the instrument a total of 47 independent stops, 63 ranks.
Grand Orgue
Bourdon
16
Montre
8
Flûte à cheminée
8
1
Flûte harmonique(common bass)
8
Prestant
4
Flûte
4
Doublette
2
Cornet III
2-2/3
Fourniture IV
1-1/3
Trompette 1
8
1
Clairon
4
Grand Orgue Unison Off
Bombarde-en-chamade (
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16
Trompette-en-chamade
8
Chimes
Clochettes
1 Stops
added in 2006
Récit
Quintaton 1
Principal étroit 1
Flûte majeure
Viole de gambe
Voix céleste (GG)
Principal
Flûte
Nazard
Quarte de nazard
Tierce
Plein Jeu V
Basson
Trompette
Hautbois
Voix humaine 1
Clairon
Tremblant
16
8
8
8
8
4
4
2-2/3
2
1-3/5
2
16
8
8
8
4
Positif Expressif
Salicional
Voce umana (GG)
Bourdon
Flûtes célestes II
Salicet
Flûte à fuseau
Principal italien
Quinte
Sifflet
Sesquialtera II
Cymbale III
Cromorne
Bombarde (Prepared)
Tremblant
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Trompette-en-chamade (GO)
1 Stops
added in 2006
8
8
8
8
4
4
2
1-1/3
1
2-2/3
1/2
8
8
8
Pédale
Soubasse 2
Bourdon 2
Montre
Soubasse
Bourdon (Grand Orgue)
Quintaton (Récit)
Octavebasse
Bourdon (Grand Orgue)
Octave
Flûte 1
Mixture IV
Contre Bombarde (Ext.)
Bombarde
Basson (Récit)
Trompette (Ext.)
Trompette-en-chamade (GO) 1
Cromorne (Positif)
2
Digital
Stainedglass windows from the previous church are installed along the side wall of the nave
© Casavant Frères
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