Des Moines, Iowa — The Cathedral Church of Saint Paul

Des Moines, Iowa — The Cathedral Church of Saint Paul
Three manuals and pedals, 51 stops, 68 ranks
Detached drawknob console, compass 61/32
Electro-pneumatic action
Opus 3719, 1993
Photographs: Michael Perrault; Stanley Scheer (Antiphonal)
When St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown Des Moines began to consider
replacing their previous organ they were aware that the parish soon would be
consecrated as a Cathedral. The parish was founded in 1854 and the present
building dedicated in 1885, its architectural style adapted from medieval
architecture found in England. Architects Foster and Liege integrated English
Gothic architecture with Victorian elements, as was the practice at that time. In
1987 the congregation undertook a major renovation that included alterations
designed to improve the acoustics. In 1992, following St. Paul's designation as
The Cathedral and Liturgical Center of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, the chancel
was redesigned to include the Cathedra and stalls for the Dean and Canons. It
was also at this time that the organ was commissioned.
Because the church was not built originally to hold the major liturgical events of a
cathedral, the area provided for the organ was somewhat problematic to house an
instrument appropriate for a cathedral and its use in major diocesan celebrations.
A number of ideas were explored, the most viable being to place the main
instrument on the left side of the chancel where the previous instrument had
been located. Because the previous organ suffered from a lack of adequate tonal
egress, the existing tone opening facing the nave was enlarged to its maxim size
and new casework created with the Grand Orgue Violonbasse 16’ and Pédale
Octavebasse 8’ in façade. In order for sound from the two expressive divisions to
be heard fully by the choristers, the panels in the wainscot on the left side of the
choir under the cantilevered casework containing the Grand Orgue Montre 8’
were opened, made acoustically transparent and finished to match the existing
woodwork. The goal of these modifications was to improve the egress of sound
coming from the instrument while maintaining the chancel’s wood paneled
appearance. With these improvements, the instrument speaks easily and freely
into both chancel and nave.
The Antiphonal division is positioned high on
the rear nave wall just under the large stained
glass window. The division can be used in
ensemble with the main instrument or in
dialogue with it. Since the nave is not overly
long it is also possible to play solo melodic
lines accompanied by the main organ, thus
increasing the tonal possibilities of the organ
while providing appealing spatial effects. The
polished copper resonators of the Trompetteen-chamade complement the colors of the
stained glass window. Its harmonically rich
tonal color contrasts dramatically with the
robust, smooth sound of the Tuba that is
enclosed in the Chœur division at the front of
the cathedral. The organ has been very well
received by the parish and community and is
used frequently in recitals and musical
programs in addition to its primary role as an
instrument for use in worship.
Grand Orgue
Violonbasse (Ext.)
16
Montre
8
Violon
8
Flûte à cheminée
8
Flûte harmonique (common bass)
8
Prestant
4
Flûte ouverte
4
Quinte majeure
2-2/3
Doublette
2
Cornet III
2-2/3
Fourniture IV
1-1/3
Récit
Bourdon doux (Ext.)
Diapason
Flûte majeure
Viole de gambe
Voix céleste (GG)
Octave
Flûte à fuseau
Nazard
Quarte de Nazard
Tierce
Plein Jeu III-IV
16
8
8
8
8
4
4
2-2/3
2
1-3/5
2
Grand Orgue (continued)
Bombarde (Ext.)
Trompette
Tremblant
Grand Orgue Unison Off
Chimes
Tuba Mirabilis (Chœur)
Tuba Clairon (Chœur)
16
8
8
4
Récit (continued)
Basson (Ext.)
Trompette harmonique
Hautbois
Clairon harmonique
Tremblant
Récit 16', Unson Off, Récit 4’
16
8
8
4
Chamade (floating)
Chœur
Principal étroit
8
Voce umana (TC)
8
Bourdon à cheminée
8
Flûte majeure (Récit)
8
Flûte douce
8
Flûte céleste (TC)
8
Principal
4
Flûte octaviante
4
Principal
2
Larigot
1-1/3
Piccolo
1
Cymbale III
2/3
Douçaine (Ext.)
16
Clarinette
8
Voix humaine
8
Cor anglais
4
Tremblant
Chœur 16', Unison Off, Chœur 4’
Carillon
Tuba Magna (TC, from 8’)
16
Tuba Mirabilis
8
Tuba Clairon (Ext.)
4
Antiphonal (floating)
Bourdon (Ext.)
Montre
Bourdon
Prestant
Flûte conique
Principal
Mixture II-IV
Antiphonal Pédale
Bourdon (Antiphonal)
Bourdon (Antiphonal)
© Casavant Frères
16
8
8
4
4
2
1-1/3
16
8
Bombarde-en-chamade (TC, from 8’)
Trompette-en-chamade
Clairon-en-chamade (Ext.)
16
8
4
Pédale
Contre Violon (Ext.)
32
Contrebasse
16
Violonbasse (Grand Orgue)
16
Soubasse
16
Bourdon doux (Récit)
16
Octavebasse (Ext.)
8
Flûte à cheminée (Grand Orgue)
8
Flûte majeure (Récit)
8
Octave
4
Flûte ouverte (Grand Orgue)
4
Théorbe III (Derived)
10-2/3
Mixture V
2-2/3
Contre Trombone (Ext.)
32
Trombone
16
Bombarde (Grand Orgue)
16
Basson (Récit)
16
Douçaine (Chœur)
16
Trompette (Ext.)
8
Trompette (Grand Orgue)
8
Tuba Mirabilis (Chœur)
8
Clarinette
8
Tuba Clairon (Chœur)
4
Hautbois (Récit)
4
Chimes (Grand Orgue)