Providing the highest quality pipe organ services to the Atlanta and the Southeast since 2003
University of Texas at Austin
Jessen Auditorium, Butler School of Music
Jessen Auditorium, Butler School of Music
Videos by University of Texas at Austin, and Longhorn Network.
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company
Opus 1393 / III - 33 / 1963
Robert I. Coulter - Organbuilders
Restoration & Relocation 2012
Robert I. Coulter - Organbuilders
Restoration & Relocation 2012
Jessen Auditorium
Great OrganManual II (CC-c4)
16' Contra Viola (SW)
8' Prinzipal Pedal Organ(CC-g1)
32' Untersatz |
Swell OrganManual III (CC-c4) / Enclosed
16' Contra Viola Choir OrganManual I (CC-c4) / Enclosed
8' Rohrflote |
We are honored to annouce a project for the University of Texas at Austin.
In this project, an Aeolian-Skinner organ from a closed church was removed, restored and installed in Jessen
Auditorium.
The arrival of Dr. Gerre & Dr. Judith Hancock to the Butler School of Music spurred a renaissance within the organ performance, and church music program. This increase in enrollment lead the drive for another performance worthy instrument for the campus. Given Dr. Gerre Hancock was alumni of the University, received his instruction and performed a majority of his career on Aeolian-Skinner organs, the natural desire was to return an instrument from that revered firm to Jessen Auditorium.
This organ began its life in 1963 as Opus 1393 of the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company. The parent firm of the
Aeolian-Skinner organ company was founded by Ernest M. Skinner in 1901. Within 10 years his firm had rapidly grown to
become the premier organ builder in the United States. In 1932 the Skinner firm purchased the Aeolian pipe organ
company to become Aeolian-Skinner. This firm continued a tradition of excellence until its closure in 1971.
This instrument was designed, supervised and personally finished by Roy Perry of Kilgore, Texas. Mr Perry was
responsible for many of the fine Aeolian-Skinner organs sold in Texas and the southwest. Mr Perry also designed and
finished the Leo Sowerby Memorial Swell division for the Aeolian-Skinner organ at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.
In June 2011, the instrument was removed from the closed Central Presbyterian Church to our shop in Atlanta, Georgia. We
then began the total re-leathering of this instruments mechanics. All necessary pouches, primaries and
components were removed for professional releathering using the highest quality materials and time-proven techniques in our shop.
Due to the age of the materials in the console and the need for greater versatility for numerous musicians, we will install an
all new solid-state electrical switching as built by Integrated Organ Technologies. The exterior of the console would be refinished to a stained wood appearance
to match Jessen Auditorium.
Along with these mechanical improvements, every pipe was removed for cleaning and checked for proper speech
and tone. Given the historical significance of this unaltered instrument, no tonal changes will be made to this fine Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ.
Thanks to the efforts of Philip Klockner of Rice University, Drs. Hanock & Dr Chandler of the University of Texas, and
to the congregation of Central Presbyterian, and their now merged merged congregation with Saint Philip Presbyterian church, this fine instrument will contintue to serve nobly for generations to come. This instrument will help the Butler School, and the University of Texas, at Austin
educate future generations of fine church musicians.
