SAN DIEGO, CA – As the centennial anniversary of the Spreckels Organ in Balboa Park approaches, the Spreckels Organ Society has announced that the historic jewel in Balboa Park will receive a new console thanks to gifts from Las Patronas and the Legler Benbough Foundation.

The gifts, totaling $150,000, will pay for the commissioning of a new console, only the fourth control center ever built for the Spreckels Organ, the largest outdoor organ in the United States.

The local firm of L.W. Blackinton & Associates will design and build the new console at their fully equipped shop in El Cajon, CA.  L.W. Blackinton produces hand-built instruments both large and small, known nationally for their tonal excellence, thoughtful design, reliability, craftsmanship and practicality of maintenance.  The console will include a sequencing combination-control system with “next” and “back” pistons requested by the many Spreckels Organ Society European guest performers and will match the footprint of its predecessors in order to fit behind the five-ton steel door of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.  In addition, two new bolsters of stop-keys on either side of the manuals will allow control of acoustical colors selected to enhance, but not change, the unique Spreckels Organ sound.

The original Spreckels organ console, installed in 1914 for the organ’s dedication on New Year’s Eve 1915, featured the Austin Organ Company’s patented all-electric design that was a relatively new concept at the time.  Using electro-mechanical tripper-style action, the console was very compact and allowed for a luxurious number of combination pistons and other registrational aids.  In addition, it did not require air pressure to operate the console mechanism, which meant that the console could be moved around the entire organ pavilion stage.

From 1915 through 1935, the organ was played in concert every day.  Humphrey John Stewart, San Diego’s first Civic Organist logged an amazing 4,375 concerts on the original console before he died in 1932, and by the time of the California-Pacific Exposition in 1935, the organ was in need of work beyond routine tuning and maintenance.  The Austin Organ Company built a new four-manual console for the Spreckels Organ in 1935. 

By the 1970’s, the second console was showing its age, as were some of the chest mechanisms and the pipework was in need of cleaning.  A major restoration of the organ and the entire pavilion was undertaken in 1979 and completed in 1981.  The third console provided more blank stop-keys to accommodate new ranks which have been subsequently added by the Spreckels Organ Society.

The installation of the newest Spreckels Organ console will begin soon after the Summer International Organ Festival this year and is scheduled for completion and a gala dedication sometime near the organ’s 95^th birthday on New Year’s Eve 2010.

The Spreckels Organ is the largest outdoor pipe organ in America and is sponsored by the City of San Diego, The Department of Parks and Recreation and the non-profit Spreckels Organ Society who assure that this civic treasure entertains music lovers throughout the year.  Afternoon organ concerts by Dr. Carol Williams, San Diego Civic Organist, and guest artists are performed every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. free of charge.  In addition, the Spreckels Organ Society sponsors the annual Summer International Organ Festival featuring 11 free Monday evening concerts by world-class organists throughout the summer season.

The not-for-profit Spreckels Organ Society was founded in 1988 with a mission to preserve, program and promote the Spreckels Organ as a world treasure for all people.  With over 1,900 members world-wide, and governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees, the Society presents more than 100 free concerts a year which attract over 100,000 people annually.  For more information about the Spreckels Organ Society including a listing of upcoming concerts, visit sosorgan.org or the Spreckels Organ Society Facebook fan page.

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