5-Manual Rodgers Becomes Southern California's Largest All-Digital Drawknob Organ
An incredible series of events in a large Methodist church has led to the installation of the largest all-digital drawknob organ in California - and it happened virtually overnight.
The Church of the Good Shepherd is one of southern California's largest Methodist congregations. It is located in Arcadia, a quiet city nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in the center of San Gabriel Valley. The church held its first service in May 1945 in a school auditorium. In 1947, the congregation moved into its new Gothic-style chapel and offices located at 400 West Duarte Road.
Over the years, under able leadership, the church expanded to the large campus it enjoys today including a large sanctuary known for its walls of colorful stained glass windows. Presently, Reverend Dr. Philip Bertolo Wood serves as Senior Pastor, a position he has held since 1996. Timothy Durkovic is Director of Music, Principal Organist and Carol Choir Director. The music ministry involves over 130 people.
Robert Tall & Associates, Inc., San Dimas, California has enjoyed an ongoing friendship with the church over the past several years, so when the chapel organ needed replacement in early 2010, the prestigious Southern California company was contacted to install a new 3-manual Rodgers Masterpiece Series 958 classical organ. The Rodgers 958 with the latest in digital sampling technology was installed in the Chapel chancel area. Also, an Antiphonal Division and Festival Trumpet were mounted high in the rear to great aural effect.
The results in the Chapel were so successful that the church developed a renewed and immediate interest in installing a new organ in the Sanctuary. Through a generous donation, funds were immediately available and plans were made for the installation of a new 5-manual Rodgers in time for Easter - just two weeks away.
The Masterpiece organ selected for the Sanctuary is a state-of-the-art digital instrument that is equivalent to 195 pipe ranks, larger than any other all-digital drawknob instrument in Southern California, according to Dr. Robert Tall. A handsome dark oak casework for the rear gallery is under construction and will be installed mid-summer. The new casework will be visually pleasing with its new facade pipes and a new flamed copper Trumpet en Chamade.
The existing Moller pipe organ served the congregation well, but it was in need of rebuilding and was not adequate for the size of the building. The church opted not to incorporate the Moller instrument into the new organ. Instead, the pipes were removed and given to several organ builders to be reused in local projects.
This enormous undertaking was surprisingly accomplished in one week. The removal of the pipe organ and the installation of 28 independent audio channels -including an Antiphonal Division in the rear gallery along with the Resurrection Trumpet division - was accomplished under the direction of David Demers, Director of Technical Services for Robert Tall & Associates along with an army of skilled laborers. Dr. Tall accomplished the tonal finishing.
