Lost Pipe Organs of America by Rollin Smith
Like many of us, I am interested in playing both old and new organs. I have been fascinated by pipe organs—and how they work—since I was in high school—a long time ago. Back then I think I was more interested in the mechanics of an organ than I was in knowing how to play one.
This summer I came upon a great new book by Rollin Smith. Perhaps you are familiar with his previous books about organs (etc.) published by OHS. This new book tells a lot about 33 organs. I have not read the whole book—yet. These were great American pipe organs that are now only remembered in history. If you “relish” reading things like this, you would enjoy the book.
Having lived in the Chicago area my entire life, and having begun my first paid church organist job on the South Side of Chicago, I started the book by reading about The Chicago Stadium Barton Organ (chapter 27). I had heard a lot about that organ and remember hearing it—before the Stadium was torn down (1995), and replaced by the United Center. That chaper (eight pages) gives great details I had never heard (or remembered) about that organ. Also, there are some great photos of that organ—including the world’s largest organ blower—which weighed 9,500 pounds and produced 13,600 cubic feet of air per minute.
The book contains 33 chapters and 241 illustrations.
If you want to see the book, I can bring it to one of our chapter meetings, but I highly recommend it—especially if you “relish” reading about some of the finest organs in America—that are now gone.
Karl Bruhn