The organ contains 66 stops, with 4781 pipes of 79
ranks. Its tonal design can best be described as Neo Classic which employs the
best principles of the past three centuries of organ building. In broad terms,
it comprises the Pleno or Grand Jeu of the 17th and 18th on every division, plus
the brilliant Trompette choruses of the 19th century and the colorful solo stops
of all three centuries.centuries. While most pipes are made of metal, the
largest pipes, those of the 32' Untersatz are built of pine. The largest pipe of
this stop , low CCCC, is 32 feet high and nearly two feet square. Many of the
smaller pipes are the size of pencils.
In 1983, the college received a gift from Alfred M.C. MacColl, '54 to add the
organ's most powerful stop,a high pressure horizontal reed, the Trompette de
Jubilé 8'' in celebration of the Chapels 50th anniversary. David Broome, then
Tonal Director of Austin Organs, Inc., together with College Organist John Rose
determined the specifications for the desired tonal character of this important
addition to the original tonal scheme.
The Music gallery, beneath the organ casework, was given by family and friends
in memory of A. Henry Moses '28, a Trustee of the College for 36 years. The
gallery was designed by another alumnus Charles Nazarian '73, and was dedicated
in 1984.
With the support of then College President James F. English, Jr. and the late
Vice President of Development, Constance Ware, plans were drawn up for the
carved oak casework of the organ by designer Charles Nazarian, '72. Funding for
this project was provided by the Stone Foundation of Darien, CT in honor of Paul
Adams, '34. The completed casework, built by Mr. Nazarian's firm in Gloucester,
MA was dedicated in 1986. The detailed oak carvings in the casework were carved
by sculptor Morgan Faulds Pike.
In 1992 a new 5 stop mechanical action pipe organ by Nicholson & Co. of Malvern,
England was installed in the Crypt Chapel.