Bowling Green, Kentucky —First Baptist Church

Bowling Green, Kentucky — First Baptist Church
Three manuals and pedals, 42 stops, 57 ranks
Movable drawknob console, compass 61/32
Electro-pneumatic action
Opus 3718, 1994
Photograph: Stanley Scheer
Following a devastating fire in 1991 that destroyed the 1915 Greek revival
building of First Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the congregation
began to make plans to construct a new building. Due to the very negative
acoustic in the previous building the leaders were committed to having a new
worship space that would support their fine music program and encourage
congregational singing. The architect, acoustician and organ builder were
selected and met together with the congregation for a weekend of discussion and
planning before anything was committed to paper. We came away from this
series of meetings with the basic dimensions of the church that included the
height, which was determined by the amount of reverberation that was desired,
plus general dimensions for the chancel level, choir risers, etc. The church
indicated that the visual focal point at the front of the nave should be a stainedglass rose window. We worked with the basic dimensions and created the visual
design of the instrument using the organ specification that we planned during
discussions with the organist and music director. The result of employing the
textbook model for procedure is an extremely fine room both visually and aurally.
The instrument sits on a shelf at the front of the space where it speaks totally
unhindered by any obstruction in the building. In front of the organ there is an
architectural railing that is cantilevered over the rear choir riser, its shape and
depth of projection planned by the acoustician to provide sound reflection for the
choir. A glass acoustic shell over the chancel can be raised or lowered for different
events, which is especially useful when the church is used for concerts by the local
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music ministry, which includes solo organ recitals and concerts with other
instrumentalists, choirs and orchestra.
Grand Orgue
Bourdon
Montre
Flûte à cheminée
Prestant
Flûte
Doublette
Fourniture IV-V
Trompette
Chimes
Grand Orgue Unison Off
Trompette-en-chamade
Positif Expressif
Principal
Bourdon
Flûte douce
Flûte céleste (TC)
Octave
Flûte à fuseau
Principal
Larigot
Sesquialtera II
Cymbale IV
Cromorne
Tremblant
Pos
i
t
i
f1
6’
Trompette-en-chamade (GO)
© Casavant Frères
16
8
8
4
4
2
1-1/3
8
8
8
8
8
8
4
4
2
1-1/3
2-2/3
2/3
8
8
Récit
Bourdon doux (Ext.)
Cor de nuit
Viole de gambe
Voix céleste (GG)
Principal
Flûte à cheminée
Nazard
Quarte de nazard
Tierce
Plein Jeu V
Basson
Trompette harmonique
Hautbois
Clairon harmonique
Tremblant
Ré
c
i
t1
6’
Trompette-en-chamade (GO)
Pédale
Basse acoustique I
Basse acoustique II
Montre
Soubasse
Bourdon (Grand Orgue)
Bourdon doux (Récit)
Octavebasse
Flûte bouchée
Octave
Flûte (Grand Orgue)
Mixture IV
Contre Bombarde (Ext.)
Bombarde
Basson (Récit)
Trompette
Trompette-en-chamade (GO)
Clairon
Hautbois (Récit)
16
8
8
8
4
4
2
2-2/3
1-3/5
2
16
8
8
4
8
32
32
16
16
16
16
8
8
4
4
2-2/3
32
16
16
8
8
4
4