The Estey 3-Manual Pipe Organ
The historic “Sanctuary Organ” at Epsilon Spires was originally built in 1906 by the Estey Organ Co. The company was founded by Jacob Estey in Brattleboro and was known throughout the United States as the foremost producer of reed organs. In 1901, the company turned to building pipe organs in addition to their numerous reed organ models. The Estey factory manufactured more than 3,000 organs before its closure in the 1950s. At the height of the company, they shipped instruments around the country and even exported them as far as China and South Africa. The "Sanctuary Organ" was given as a gift to the First Baptist Church in memory of Juilius Jacob Estey (son of Jacob Estey, founder) by his sons Jacob Gray Estey and Julius Harry Estey. The organ was revised in 1958 by Elroy E. Hewitt, but its tonal features remain, for the most part, untouched. The instrument is an excellent example of an early-twentieth century American pipe organ.
Upcoming Events
Thu, Oct 06Epsilon SpiresAn evening of immersive deep listening in our sanctuary with performances on pipe organ, strings, and pedal steel drones.
Sat, Oct 22Epsilon SpiresThs Halloween season, celebrate the Centennial of Nosferatu (1922) by experiencing F.W. Murnau’s iconic horror masterpiece in our haunted Sanctuary with a mesmerizing live soundtrack performed on the 1916 Estey Pipe Organ by Dennis James, one of the nation’s leading silent film accompanists!
Wed, Nov 02Epsilon SpiresThe Vermont Chapter of the American Guild of Organists named Mark Howe Artist of the Year for 2013-14. In Vermont, he has performed as organ soloist with the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, and has given lecture-recitals at UVM.
Fri, Nov 04Epsilon SpiresCharlemagne Palestine is an influental multimedia artist who challenges expectations, his sparse, ritualistic performances nod towards a spectrum of ceremonial music styles. MV Carbon explores the interrelationship between sound, image, and space... weaving lucid dreams into tangibility.
Wed, Oct 05Epsilon SpiresCarson Cooman is an American composer and organist. He holds degrees in music from Harvard University and Carnegie Mellon and is currently the Composer in Residence at the Memorial Church, Harvard University. As an organ recitalist, Cooman specializes in the performance of contemporary music.
“The Sanctuary Organ” Stoplist
Originally built by Estey Organ Co., Opus 300, 1906
Modifications by Elroy E. Hewitt, 1958
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Great (II)
Open Diapason 8
Gross Flute 8
Dulciana 8
Octave 4
Twelfth 2 2/3
Fifteenth 2
Tuba 8
Chimes
Choir (I, expressive)
Concert Flute 8
Aeoline 8
Vox Angelica 8
Hohl Flute 4
Piccolo 2
Cor Glorieux 8
Choir Tremolo
Swell (III, expressive)
Bourdon 16
Stopped Diapason 8
Quintadena 8
Salicional 8
Voix Celeste (from tenor C) 8
Principal 4
Flute Traverso 4
Cornet III
Cornopean 8
Oboe 8
Vox Humana 8
Swell Tremolo
Pedal
Open Diapason 16
Bourdon (from Swell) 16
Dulciana 16
Gedeckt 8
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Couplers:
Great to Pedal 8
Swell to Pedal 8, 4
Choir to Pedal 8
Swell to Great 16, 8, 4
Choir to Great 16, 8, 4
Swell to Choir 16, 8, 4
Great to Great 4
Swell to Swell 16, 4
Choir to Choir 16, 4
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Player Assists:
7 General Pistons (also available as toe studs)
6 Swell Divisional Piston & 1 Divisional Cancel
5 Great Divisional Pistons & 1 Divisional Cancel
5 Choir Divisional Pistons & 1 Divisional Cancel
4 Pedal Divisional Toe Studs & 1 Divisional Cancel
Swell to Pedal Reversible (manual and toe stud)
Great to Pedal Reversible (manual and toe stud)
Choir to Pedal Reversible (manual and toe stud)
Sforzando
General Cancel
Crescendo Pedal
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Manual Compass: C–c4, 61 notes
Pedal Compass: C–g1, 32 notes