This completely new organ of 4 manuals and 82 ranks is designed in the American Classic tradition as developed by the Aeolian-Skinner Company. In great measure, it is modeled after the G. Donald Harrison instrument at All Saints Episcopal Church, Worcester, Massachusetts. James Metzler, former Organist and Choirmaster at the Cathedral, sang treble as a boy in the Choir of Men and Boys at All Saints and studied with Henry Hokans on that instrument.
The organ features independent and complete principal choruses on the Great, Swell, Choir, Antiphonal, and Pedal. A wide variety of flutes and strings are found throughout the organ, complementing the character of each division. French style reeds, fashioned after those of the All Saints organ, were used exclusively throughout the organ and provide a characteristic flair for the full organ sound. Several solo reeds, such as the Cromorne, Cor Anglais, and Clarinet, provide a colorful palette from which to draw for softer passages. For triumphant fanfares, the Solo boasts a chorus of Trompette Harmonique stops, and the Antiphonal contains the definitive Trompette en Chamade. The Pedal is unusually complete for an instrument of this size, and contains a solo Harmonic Flute and a full length 32' reed.
The expression boxes make use of tight fitting horizontal shutters and 16-stage motors for an unusually successful crescendo with the full Swell. The movable console is a measured reproduction Aeolian-Skinner and is of quarter sawn and rift cut oak. The tracker touch keyboards have bone naturals and ebony sharps, and the console features reproduction Aeolian-Skinner components throughout. It is fully equipped with multiple memory level combination action, piston sequencer, MIDI, transposer, and record/playback sequencer. The full array of couplers includes Great to Choir as well as Great/Choir transfer.
The installation of the new organ was made possible through funds for a multimillion dollar restoration program at the Cathedral, which dates from the 1800s. Martin Neary, former Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey in London, England, played the dedication recitals.
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Little Rock, Arkansas
