The Cornell Baroque Organ Project

A New Organ for Anabel Taylor Chapel

Cornell University has commissioned a new organ for Anabel Taylor Chapel as part of an international research project involving three academic institutions in the field of organ studies: Cornell, the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and the Eastman School of Music, Rochester NY. This interdisciplinary and international effort encompasses scholars, physical scientists, musicians, craftsmen and visual artists from Sweden, Japan, The Netherlands, Germany and New York State. Joining their efforts under the artistic direction of Munetaka Yokota at the Gothenburg Organ Art Center (GOART), the members of this team will create an organ that is not just a fine vehicle for teaching, performance and scholarship, but also a magnificent work of art.

Historical Models

The Cornell Baroque Organ will reconstruct the tonal design of the celebrated instrument at the Charlottenburg-Schlosskapelle built in the first decade of the 18th century in Berlin by Arp Schnitger, one of history’s greatest organ builders. The instrument’s layout and visual design will be based on Schnitger’s breathtaking organ case at Clausthal-Zellerfeld in central Germany. See Photo Gallery.

Tragically destroyed in the Second World War, the Charlottenburg organ and its unique tonal qualities can be recreated today using original documentation alongside early 20th-century studies and recordings of the instrument. Unique to this Berlin instrument, and still little-understood, is the way in which Schnitger combined North- and Central-German organ aesthetics in its design, to result in an unusual, even exceptional, tonal concept. This recreation will allow us to explore this fascinating sound world once again. See Specification.

Research, Collaboration and Outreach

The project involves extensive research into the art of woodworking, metallurgy, organ construction and the crucial voicing of organ pipes in the early 18th century, The project seeks to go farther than simply revivifying these skills, but attempts to place them in the cultural and aesthetic contexts so particular to Berlin and its environs.  As part of this process, Cornell’s new organ is being built using sophisticated handcraft techniques, replicating the construction techniques of its storied historical models. In a landmark collaboration with local talent, Cornell is engaged not just with GOArt, but also with Ithaca-based master woodworkers Christopher Lowe and Peter De Boer, who are currently building the organ case, and with the Canandaigua-based organ-building firm Parsons Pipe Organ Builders (See Construction gallery). This is more than an academic exercise, The historical entity that was the Berlin organ will enrich the active musical culture of Cornell, Ithaca, and Central New York and will provide valuable data and insights that can be drawn on by kindred projects globally.

Performance and Teaching

The Cornell Baroque Organ will be ideal both for the glorious solo repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries, especially the music of J. S. Bach, and for the accompaniment of ensemble music for instruments and voices; in addition, it will be versatile enough for performance of music from the 16th to the 19th centuries and beyond. This instrument, unique not only in North America but in the world, will act as a magnet for top student organists, as well as being an inspiring tool for teaching, solo and group performance, and new composition. The Cornell Baroque Organ will complement the existing strengths of the Cornell music department in performance and research, especially in the music of the 17th to 19th centuries. In addition, it will contribute to the university and wider community in diverse and unforeseen ways. This project does not simply import a historic organ into Central New York, but seeks to transplant and nurture the skills required to make and maintain such an instrument, and of course to play and use it, drawing on the best of the past in pursuit of a rich future. This is not an exercise in reconstruction and museum-style curatorship but an effort to invigorate a constellation of skills and musical activities to help further energize both local culture and the University’s international standing.

Specification: