Perkinson Organ (Noack, Op. 110)
Click here to view the 2009 Organ Report From Fritz Noack
An organ has the unique ability to offer congregations and artists the opportunity to experience worship in both an inspirational and meditative manner. Through the variety of sonorities available, the Perkinson Organ (Noack, Op. 110) supports congregational singing, inspires worship and moves those in attendance to experience the very voice of God.
Installed in 1988, Opus 110 is one of Fritz Noack’s larger installations and remains one of the largest unassisted mechanical action organs in the region. The striking façade with speaking tin pipes serves as an ideal visual backdrop for the central focus of the chancel and enjoys positive acoustical placement down the main axis of the room. Many, many persons contributed to the Organ Fund in the 1980’s. The Perkinson Family contributed a major portion of the funds anonymously. After their estate was settled in 2007, it was decided to re-name the organ in memory of sisters, Mary and Louise Perkinson.
The organ resembles an historic recreation; however, its design and execution bears unmistakable classic Germanic traits, but with English nomenclature. The manual divisions are stacked atop one another (Choir-Swell-Great at the top) with pedal pipes flanking on either side. The swell division is expressive. The 3,300 pipes are made from tin, lead, and a tin/lead alloy. The two largest wooden ranks (32’ Bourdon & 16’ Open Bass) are recycled material from an 1889 Hutchings and McFarlin’s former Hilgreen-Lane organ. Opus 110 consists of 50 stops/68 ranks/3330 pipes and boasts a suspended mechanical key action and direct-electric stop action with 8-level combination action (couplers are unaffected by combination action). The organ has two interchangeable pedalboards, one a 32-note concave/radiating pedalboard and the other a 30-note flat pedalboard. For a complete stoplist, follow the link to the Noack website: http://www.noackorgan.com/instruments/opus/opus_110.html
USE OF PIPE ORGANS IN WORSHIP
As our culture continues to move into the age of global worship, the organ must continue to change as it has so many times in the past millennium. There is no other instrument that offers the entire breadth of human emotion or the depth of inspirational and meditative worship as the pipe organ. One significant issue we face in all churches is the shrinking availability of organists. The McFarlin mandate of being a University Church built for the youth of Oklahoma and our mission of creating deeply committed Christians leads us to a vision of educating students in all aspects of church musicianship, especially that of congregational singing and worship support through the organ.
The American Organ Institute at the University of Oklahoma is working to develop the finest church musicians by teaching them to interpret all styles of music with integrity and creativity so as to inspire whatever congregation they may serve. They are doing this through a three-part curriculum that consists of Classical/Sacred, Theatrical, and Organ technology (building and maintenance). Through our collaboration McFarlin will play a significant role in developing the world’s future church musicians.
CHURCH MUSIC INTERN/ORGANIST
McFarlin’s mission and mandate combined with the mission of the AOI presents an unprecedented and unequalled opportunity. We have designed a system that maximizes flexibility of the keyboard artists, teaches and trains future professional church musicians and provides McFarlin with the presence of one of the leading organists of our time. The Church Music Intern Program is designed to help develop fully formed church musicians upon graduation from their degree program. Typically, the program is for graduate students majoring in organ at the university. At McFarlin their duties include playing for Sunday services or attending services when the Principal Organist plays to learn through observation and listening. The intern also accompanies a variety of choirs as well as assisting with conducting other ensembles in the church. They serve as one of the music assistants and learn to plan, administer and lead one of the largest, most comprehensive and vibrant sacred music programs in the United States. Dr. John Schwandt serves as the Director of the American Organ Institute and as the Principal Organist at McFarlin. He is in demand as a concert performer, clinician, organ consultant, and performance adjudicator. Dr. Schwandt is most noted for his improvisational ability. As Principal Organist , John plays frequently in worship and actively participates in worship planning, administration of the music program, conducts some of the ensembles in the Minister of Music’s absence and mentors and teaches the Church Music Intern on a weekly basis around the music for their duties at McFarlin. Dr. Schwandt also attends various rehearsals and services to listen, observe and teach the music intern as part of his duties as the Principal Organist.
USE OF OUR ORGAN OUTSIDE WORSHIP
The Perkinson Organ is used almost daily, which is a very good thing for any instrument. There are several instances where the instrument is used beyond that of service playing or even practice. For instance, there have been several organ demonstrations given by Dr. Schwandt and his students for members of the congregation and/or community. We have an active concert series that features the Perkinson Organ as well as studio classes for OU organ students. If you are interested in learning more about the Perkinson Organ or the Church Music Intern/Principal Organist Program please contact Boyd Hamilton, Interim Coordinator of Music & Curator of Instruments, or Dr. John Schwandt, Principal Organist .