Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church
Houston, Texas

J. W. Walker & Sons

II - 24 / 1987

Pipe organ at Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church,
Houston Texas

J. W. Walker pipe organ

Great Organ

Manual I (CC-a3)

8' Open Diapason
8' Stopped Diapason
4' Octave
4' Spindle Flute
2-2/3' Twelfth
2' Fifteenth)
1 3/5' Seventeenth
IV Mixture (1 1/3')
8' Cremona
Tremulant

Pedal Organ

(CC-f1)

16' Principal
16' Bourdon
8' Principal
8' Bass Flute
4' Octave
16' Trombone

Swell Organ

Manual II (CC-a3) / Enclosed

8' Salicional
8' Voix Celeste
8' Chimney Flute
4' Principal
4' Wald Flute
2' Flagolet
III Sharp Mixture (1')
8' Trumpet
Sub Octave Coupler
Tremulant

We were honored to have been contacted by Dr. Philip Kloeckner to inspect and provide recommendations for the fine pipe organ at Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas. This instrument was originally built by the English firm of J. W. Walker in 1987.

Upon our inspection we found a great many of the pipes in this instrument speak clearly and with a full tone. There are a number of pipes in the Great 8' Principal that do not produce their proper full tone, and some that do not even speak in the correct octave. Many of these pipes have fatigued over the years and need corrective voicing to ensure their proper function. In addition to the Great 8' Principal, which is the backbone of the instrument, the Pedal 8' Octave is the foundation stop for the organ, and it is also plagued by similar speech problems. Along with those stops, the Great 4' Spindle Flute is extremely uneven in tone throughout its compass.

Additionally, the three reed stops present in this instrument, (Great 8' Cremona, Swell 8' Trumpet, Pedal 16' Trombone) provide both solo sounds as well as fill out the organ tone with richness and power unavailable through other means. Unfortunately, the Great Cremona and Pedal Trombone both show signs of dirt and lack of maintenance. These ranks will be removed, professionally cleaned and then closely regulated for volume and tone.

As part of our work, we completely revoiced the Great Principal stops (8', 4', 2 2/3', 2', 1 3/5'), along with the Pedal Principals (8', 4') and the Great 4' Spindle Flute. The Great 8' Open Diapason now speaks with a richness and warmth of tone rarely encountered in pipe organs of the past 60 years, with out being dull or lifeless. This stop can now serve its proper function of leading congregational singing, as well as functioning as a beautiful solo voice for organ literature.

The Pedal Principals now speak with power, richness and color without being forced or harsh. These stops now function equally well as bass voices for congregational singing, as well as Cantus Firmus voices and even the 'cello' for trio-sonatas.

It is an honor to assist Saint Stephen's in the care and enhancement of this fine small pipe organ. We look forward to the upcoming presentation of the organ and church as part of the AAM (Association of Anglican Musicians) conference. The postlude of which will be performed by our good friend Bruce Neswick, recently of the Cathedral of Saint Philip in Atlanta, and now of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City.

We have a rich history of the highest quality pipe organ work in the greater Houston, Texas area. We assisted in the revoicing of the Fisk organ at Palmer Memorial Church, performed other voicing at Saint Luke's Methodist Church, and have performed service and restorative repairs at Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Houston; as well as churches from Sugar Land to Galveston. It is our pleasure to return to Houston and look forward to other opprotunities in the future.

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