On October 19, 1979, our magnificent new hand-crafted pipe organ was dedicated during a Festival Eucharist.  Thanks to the vision of church leaders and Director of Music Ministries, David P. Dahl, a new instrument was commissioned from the renowned American organ builder, John Brombaugh & Associates of Eugene, Oregon.

Built with mechanical key action in the great historic tradition of liturgical instruments, the Brombaugh organ, Opus No. 22, is based on models from Europe's Golden Age of Organ Building during the 17th and 18th centuries.  The organ is housed in a free-standing case made from hand-planed white oak and western cedar; and is adorned with hand carved pipe shades of yellow cedar.

The case design is a modern adaptation of the famed 1483 organ by Lorenzo di Giacomo da Prato (and still playing) in the church of San Petronio, Bologna, Italy.  The keyboards, made from bone and ebony, are connected to the valves (pallets) under the pipes by slender wooden "trackers;" this provides a direct and sensitive control over the key action for the performer.  A single wedge-shaped bellows, located at the side of the organ, supplies a traditional flexible, "living" resilient wind.  The only electricity needed for the organ is for the small blower and light bulbs illuminating the music desk.

The organ is voiced with a vocale tonal ideal, in which both blend and tonal color are optimally realized in a vocal manner.  This is partially accomplished by the historic use of hammered high lead content pipework.  In 1989 the organ was enlarged with new "string" pipes (The Erzähler 8' + Erzähler Celeste) as well as a full length Posaune 16' (Trombone) in the pedal, replacing a half length Fagott 16'.

Since its installation, more than one-hundred and fifty organ recitals have been performed on the organ by local, national and international artists.  Furthermore, this instrument has served the Christ Church parish for more than 28 years now and is a wonderful example of collaborative help from the parish's rector, musicians, donors and the builder's staff and many organbuilding colleagues, particular David Dahl, Kathryn & Gary Habedank, Paul Fritts, Martin Pasi, Bill & Phyllis Gill, and the "Frugal Gourmet" Jeff Smith.

Begun in 2001, Third Fridays at Noon, a series of monthly organ recitals continues year around with forty-minute programs.  A major organ recital is also presented each year as part of the Music at Christ Church program, our annual concert series. The Brombaugh organ has been featured in national and regional conventions of The American Guild of Organists, The Organ Historical Society, The American Institute of Organ Builders, and the The Westfield Center.

No small part of the success of the Brombaugh organ is due to the favorably live acoustical environment of the 1969 church building, designed by award winning architect, Paul Thiry.  Christ Church welcomes visitors to the organ.

Please contact the Parish Administrator (253 383 1569) to arrange a visit.

Specification of 1979 John Brombaugh & Associates Pipe Organ, Opus 22

Diposition

This organ has 26 stops on 31 ranks, with 1430 pipes and 4 bells

Great:  58 notes
16'       Quintadena
8'         Praestant  (lower facade)
8'         Holpijp
4'         Octave
4'         Spitzflöte
3'         Quint
II         Sesquialter (Quint 3' + Tierce 1 3/5' on double draw)
2'         Octave
III-V    Mixture 1'
8'         Harfenregal
8'         Trumpet
            Cymbelstern (4 tempered steel rod "bells" struck by hammers, wind operated)

Positive:  58 notes
8'         Gedackt
8'         Erzähler 8' (tapered string)  
8'         Erzähler Celeste (ten. f - d''') (on double draw) (*added in 1989)
4'         Praestant (upper facade)
4'         Rohrflöte
3'         Nasard (full compass)
II         Cornet (Nasard 3' + Tierce 1 3/5'), from c' (on double draw)-
     (adds Tierce 1 3/5' on double draw and turns off the Nasard 3' below middle c')
2'         Cigarflute                                                                 
III        Scharf 1/2'
8'         Krummhorn (musette shape)

Pedal:  30 notes (C - f') Flat pedal board
16'       Subbass
8'         Octave
4'         Octave
16'       Posaune
8'         Trumpet (from Great)

Couplers:  Great to Pedal; Positive to Great; Positive to Pedal
Key Action:  Mechanical (tracker) action, suspended
Stop Action:  Mechanical
Tremulant:  Variable speed and depth, affecting entire organ
Temperament:  Unequal = Kellner, with five fifth comma 5ths
Bellows:  Single wedge bellows, with flexible winding
Wind Pressure:  83 mm.
Casework:  Fumed white oak, with hand carved pipe shades from basswood, in the Italian manner