The Casavant Frères Organ
On February 10, 1976, a disastrous malfunction in the Cathedral’s fire protection system damaged the historic pipe organ beyond reasonable hope of repair. The original organ was built by the Barckhoff Organ Company, Salem, Ohio, for the Columbian exhibition which was held in Chicago in 1893. Bishop Tobias Mullen purchased the organ from the company that same year. It was kept in storage at the Tellers Organ Company until 1916 when it was installed as a four manual instrument in the Cathedral. In 1932, it was renovated, and in 1952 it was completely redesigned and rebuilt as a large three manual instrument. A separate organ was placed in the chancel with a complete second console. All the work was done very competently by the Tellers Organ Company of Erie, Pennsylvania.
The new Casavant organ is described as an electric instrument which incorporates features of the French Romantic period, which is a significant period in the development of music in the Catholic Tradition. Because of its large size and the variety of its tonal resources, it can be used to accompany congregational hymns and choral music and to play organ literature from all periods.
The organ should not only be heard, it should also be seen. The layout of the pipes and the cabinetwork complements the Gothic lines of the cathedral. The console is both a beautiful piece of cabinetwork and a technical masterpiece. The cabinet and bench are of carved oak. The keys are of ebony with ivory caps on the sharps. The drawknobs, thumb piston controls and pedal sharps are of rosewood. In all it is a suitable instrument for the cathedral and a worthy replacement for the old Barckhoff organ that once made a joyful noise to God.
Casavant Frères Ltée., Opus 3353, 1978
Erie, Pennsylvania St. Peter Catholic Cathedral Casavant Op. 3353 1978 3/82 Casavant Op. 3353 2021 3/80 ___________________________________________________________ GRAND ORGUE POSITIF 16' Violon 61 8' Montre 61 8' Montre 61 8' Bourdon 61 8' Violon (new) 12 8' Flûte céleste II dig a 8' Flûte harmonique 61 4' Prestant 61 8' Flûte à cheminée 61 4' Flûte à cheminée 61 4' Prestant 61 2 2/3' Nasard 61 4' Flûte conique 61 2' Doublette 61 2 2/3' Quinte 61 2' Quarte de nasard 61 2' Doublette 61 1 3/5' Tierce 61 V Cornet (from A22) 200 1 1/3' Larigot 61 VI Fourniture 1 1/2' 366 1' Sifflet 61 IV Cymbale 2/3' 244 V Fourniture 1' 305 d 16' Bombarde 61 8' Trompette 61 8' Trompette 61 8' Cromorne 61 4' Clairon 61 4' Clairon 61 8' Trompette-en-Chamade 61 Tremblant Unison Off Sub Unison Off RECIT 16' Trompette-en-Chamade tc c 8' Trompette-en-Chamade GO c 16' Bourdon doux 61 8' Principal étroit 61 PEDALE 8' Bourdon 61 8' Viole de gambe 61 32' Montre dig a 8' Voix céleste 61 32' Bourdon dig a 8' Flûte céleste II dig a 16' Montre 32 4' Octave 61 16' Soubasse 32 4' Flûte octaviante 61 16' Violon GO 2 2/3' Nasard 61 16' Bourdon doux RE 2' Octavin 61 10 2/3' Quinte (Violon) GO 1 3/5' Tierce 61 8' Octavebasse 32 V Plein Jeu 2' 305 b 8' Bourdon 32 16' Basson 61 4' Octave 32 8' Trompette 61 4' Flûte 32 8' Hautbois 61 V Fourniture 2 2/3' 160 d 8' Voix humaine 61 32' Contre bombarde L/2 32 4' Clairon 61 32' Contre trompette dig a Tremblant 16' Bombarde 32 Sub 16' Bombarde GO Unison Off 16' Basson RE Super 8' Trompette 32 8' Trompette-en-Chamade GO c 4' Clairon 32 8' Trompette-en-Chamade GO a digital stops added by another builder; the two Flûte céleste stops are each of a different tone b recomposed using existing pipes c not affected by couplers d tonally rebalanced on site