Wooddale Church Organ

The Visser-Rowland Pipe Organ was built and designed by Pieter Visser and dedicated January 6, 1991. The organ has 114 ranks, 74 stops, 6294 pipes, 5 manuals in the Tracker console, 4 manuals in the remote console, and 8 divisions. Total weight of the organ is 40 tons. The casework inscription, “SOLI DEO GLORIA’ means “Glory to God Alone.” The installation time was 5 months (154 days).

While this organ is rooted in European design, unique elements are combined to make it distinctly American. The wide variety and large number of stops on the organ serve to make it ideal for service playing and concert use.

Visually, the instrument is designed using classical 18th century Dutch principles of balance and symmetry. Subtle symbolism is also present. Flamed copper pipes from the 32’ Prinzipal stop are arranged in three large towers to represent the Trinity. The center tower and the copper horizontal trumpets serve to form a huge cross which is outlined by the surrounding tin pipes of the Kronpositiv. The horizontal trumpets also symbolize victory over the cross.

The stops of the organ, which are labeled in German, illustrate yet another of the many backgrounds drawn upon to create this instrument. These stops can be divided into four families of pipes.

The Prinzipal stops form the tonal background of the organ. These pipes, which range in size from the huge copper facades to pipes inside the organ much smaller than a pencil, cover the entire spectrum of human hearing. Some pitches are felt more than they are heard. Together these sets of pipes give the organ its rich and broad tone character.

Flute stops are also abundantly present in this instrument. They vary from soft wooden flutes such as the Holzgedeckt 8; to rich singing flutes such as the Flote 4’.

This organ is particularly rich in string stops. The Dulciana and Unda Maris are designed to whisper during quiet parts of the service while the stronger strings such as the Salizional Celeste are warm and rich enough to accompany the choir.

The fourth family of pipes is the reed family. These stops, which are often named for their orchestral counterparts, are the most complex and colorful of all the stops on the organ. A vibrating brass tongue in each pipe generates the sound in conjunction with the resonating body of the pipe. The most prominent of the reed stops are the two sets of horizontal trumpets in the façade of the organ.

The key action on the main console of this instrument is call “tracker,” meaning there is a direct mechanical linkage between the keys and the windchest on which the pipes stand. There is also a second movable console that can play the pipes electrically. The stop action uses state-of-the-art electronics to turn the various ranks of pipes on and off.

The organ’s sound becomes part of the ambiance of the building and covers such a pitch range that the whole human body, not just the ears, experiences them. For these and other reasons, the pipe organ became the primary musical instrument for Christian worship centuries ago. The reasons are still valid today.