Jessen Auditorium, Butler School of Music
University of Texas at Austin
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Opus 1393

Jessen Auditorium - University of Texas

Jessen Auditorium

We are honored to annouce a project for the university of Texas, Austin. In this project, an Aeolian-Skinner organ from a closed church will be removed, restored and installed in 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.

We will first remove the instrument from the closed Central Presbyterian Church to our shop in Atlanta, Georgia. We will then begin the total re-leathering of this instruments mechanics. We would remove all necessary pouches, primaries and components for professional releathering using the highest quality materials and time-proven techniques.

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 would be 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 Drs. Hancock educate future generations of fine church musicians.

Jessen Auditorium, Butler School of Music
University of Texas at Austin
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company
Opus 1393 - 1963
III - 32
Organ Designed and Originally Finished by Mr Roy Perry

Great Organ
8' Prinzipal
8' Holz Bourdun
4' Oktav
II Sesquialtera (2 2/3' & 1 3/5')
IV Mixture (1 1/3')

Pedal Organ
32' Untersatz
16' Prinzipal
16' Bourdon (extension Great)
16' Contra Viola (Swell)
8' Oktav (extension)
8' Viola (Swell)
8' Gedeckt (Swell)
4' Choral Bass (extension)
4' Gedeckt (Swell)
III Fourniture (4')
16' Bombarde (extension Swell)
8' Trompette
8' Krummhorn
4' Clairon
4' Krummhorn

Swell Organ
16' Contra Viola
8' Viola (extension)
8' Viola Celeste (CC)
8' Gedeckt
4' Prestant
III Plein Jeu (2 2/3')
8' Trompette
4' Hautbois
Tremulant

Choir Organ
8' Rohrflote
8' Klein Erzahler II
4' Koppel Flote
2' Prinzipal
1 1/3' Nasat
1' Oktav
8' Krummhorn
Tremulant