Worcester, February 2020
by Marshall Joos
Marshall Joos at the organ of All Saints, Worcester, Mass.
This past Monday, several of us had the opportunity to visit three magnificent organs in Worcester, Massachusetts. We convened at our first organ at All Saints Episcopal Church, which has a beautiful, four-manual, Aeolian-Skinner organ that was built in 1933. Skinners have a very rich and fluid sound to them, but this one leaned more on the side of the classical sounding organ. I personally love Skinners for their rich sound, so I immediately decided that I would play a movement from Widor’s Symphony VI. It was so beautiful sounding with all the strings and flutes that Chris had pulled out. We had a large plethora of pieces from Arvo Pärt to Bach, to an improvisation on Star Wars.
1864 Hook Organ, Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Mass.
Will Sherwood points out elements of the key action, 1864 Hook Organ, Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Mass.
Our next stop was Mechanics Hall. This hall always amazes me. It’s full of historical significance, the building both outside and inside are ornate, and beautiful paintings surround the hall. The Hook organ was built in 1864, and what is really fascinating about this organ is that the console is still in its original state. Some of the inner workings of the chambers have been restored and fixed, but most of it is original. Some of us stayed and tinkered around with the sounds at the console while small groups took tours inside the organ. When I step into an organ chamber and see all the tiny details (especially in a tracker organ) that make it work, I’m blown away. All the tiny wooden levers and pulleys function so quickly and accurately to create such a unique sound. The layout of stops at the console threw us a curveball. They follow a curious S-like pattern, and I was very thankful for Chris Lane who could quickly navigate the registration for Liszt’s Fantasy and Fugue on B.A.C.H.
1985 Taylor & Boody Organ, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Mass.
Emerson Fang plays music of Arvo Pärt on the 1985 Taylor & Boody organ, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Mass.
St. Joseph Chapel at the College of the Holy Cross was our final destination. I’ve seen this chapel and heard the organ before during an Oliver Latry concert, but was impressed all over again to walk into that gigantic sanctuary. We had to walk up a few flights of stairs to the organ loft, but the view was well worth it. Ezequiel Menendez, who is on faculty at Holy Cross, showed us the organ. It is so beautiful with its intricately carved wooden stops and the ornate case. It is very baroque/classical in its sound, so Bach or Buxtehude sounded perfect on it. What was really special about this organ is the fact that the organ could be pumped manually. Mr. Menendez turned off the blowers and had two of us pump the bellows while Emerson played a piece by Arvo Pärt. Pumping the bellows looked kind of like a cross between riding a bicycle and being on a see-saw!
Visiting these amazing organs here in New England is really a great privilege for me as I grow in both my musicianship and my ability to adjust to each different organ, with its own quarks and personalities.
Members of Boston Organ Studio at Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Mass.
