GREAT ORGAN

Hurst, TX — First United Methodist Church
Trois claviers et pédalier, 35 jeux, 42 rangs / Three manuals and pedals, 35 stops, 42 ranks
Console mobile à registres, étendue 61/32 / Movable drawknob console, compass 61/32
Action électro-pneumatique / Electro-pneumatic action
Casavant Opus 2495, 1958; Rénovation et déménagement 2013 /
Casavant Opus 2495, 1958; Refurbishment and relocation 2013
Design: Benoît Gendron
The pipe organ project at First United Methodist Church in Hurst has been a most interesting
journey that started in 2003. Under the leadership of Pastor Michael McKee and Director of
Music Greg Shapley, along with three successive organists (Aaron Medina, Dong-ill Shin, and
Yoon-Mi Lim), we initially discussed the design of a brand new pipe organ for the sanctuary.
Some three years ago, Greg Shapley asked us about the possibility of repurposing a vintage
Casavant organ. The timing was perfect, as we were actively seeking for a new home for a virtually
untouched Casavant organ. Built in 1958 for a large church in Montreal, the instrument was
sitting idle in the decommissioned church. Its fate was in jeopardy, as the building was to be
transformed for secular use. Thanks to our numerous discussions with the organ committee and
visits to the church in the last years, we were able to determine rapidly that this Casavant organ
was a good “match” for First United Methodist Church.
The organ was dismantled in Montréal by Casavant personnel in early summer of 2012. In the
next months, the organ was thoroughly cleaned and refurbished in the Casavant workshops in
Saint-Hyacinthe (Québec), Canada. The original console was rebuilt with solid-state switching
and multilevel combination systems, and relocated on new moveable platform. The original
windchests and wind system were releathered. The original expression enclosures were
reconfigured for installation in the already-prepared organ chambers. New blowers were installed
in the separate rooms located under the two organ chambers. In April-May 2013, the organ was
installed and tonally finished in the church by Casavant personnel.
Tonally, the organ was a good example of Casavant’s work in the American Classic style. This was
one of the very first new organs designed by Lawrence I. Phelps during his tenure as Tonal
Director of Casavant (1958-1972). The completed organ, which has 42 ranks of pipes on three
manuals and pedal, combines the best tonal resources of the Casavant organ, along with the
visible pipe division installed at First United Methodist Church in the late 1990s. Some
modifications and additions were done to enhance the instrument’s tone palette, and to adapt it
to the needs and space of First United Methodist Church. The final organ specification follows.
Grand Orgue
Montre *
Montre *
Violon
Flûte harmonique
Bourdon *
Prestant *
Flûte à fuseau *
Quinte *
Doublette *
Flûte *
Cornet V
Fourniture IV *
Trompette
Chimes on Great
16
8
8
8
8
4
4
2
2 /3
2
2
8
1 1/3
8
Récit
Principal étroit
Bourdon
Viole de gambe
Voix céleste
Prestant
Flûte traverse
Doublette
Plein Jeu IV
Bombarde
Trompette
Hautbois
Clairon
Récit Grave, Muet, Aigu
Tremolo
8
8
8
8
4
4
2
2
16
8
8
4
* from existing organ
Positif expressif
Salicional
Flûte bouchée
Prestant
Flûte à cheminée
Nazard
Quarte de nazard
Tierce
Cromorne (or Clarinette)
Tremolo
Trompette Royale *
Trompette Royale *
Trompette Royale *
* from existing organ
Pédale
8
8
4
4
2 2/3
2
1 1/3
8
16
8
4
Bourdon (resultant)
Contrebasse
Montre (Grand Orgue)
Soubasse
Principal
Flûte bouchée
Basse chorale
Trombone
Bombarde (Récit)
Trompette
Clairon
32
16
16
16
8
8
4
16
16
8
4