| Builder: Felgemaker, Opus 664, 1898 Manuals: 2 Ranks: 26 Pipes: 1497 (1493?) Action: Mechanical --Organ Historical Society Organ Database. Photos from the “Pipedreams” website, Facebook and Aaron Tellers. Last Update: 07/2017 |
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GREAT ORGAN 16 Bourdon 8 Open Diapason 8 Melodia 8 Dulciana 4 Octave 2 Flute d'Amour 2-2/3 Twelfth 2 Fifteenth III Mixture 8 Trumpet SWELL ORGAN 8 Violin Diapason 8 Stopped Diapason 8 Salicional 8 Aeoline 4 Violina 4 Flûte Harmonique 2 Flautino III Dolce Cornet 8 Oboe (descant) 8 Bassoon (bass) |
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| PEDAL ORGAN 16 Double Open Diapason 16 Bourdon 8 Violincello |
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| The Felgemaker Organ History When the first Sacred Heart Church burned to the ground, its first organ was lost, too, so the selection of a new organ was part of the planning for the new cathedral. Bishop McGolrick's journal indicates that originally an organ was to be installed in the choir loft of the east transept, with the pipes standing alongside the stained glass window there. During the next two years, however, the bishop changed his mind about the location as well as the builder of the new organ. 27th Sept. '97... Made agreement with A.B. Felgemak(r), Erie, Pa. --- to put up an organ (No. 12) in catalogue for $3,000 ---- $2,000 cash and the balance 3 months after accepting organ. July '98 ... The organ came and organ builder set to work on gallery near the door. The organ takes up much of the gallery and appears to be very fine. The water motor to cost a large sum, so we try hand power for awhile. In 1960, Milwaukee organ technician Norbert Berschdorf made major repairs to the Felgemaker. The entire instrument was taken to a room in the Grade School where it was completely overhauled. All pipes were cleaned, and deteriorated parts were replaced; new tuning rings were installed on all metal pipes up to 4'; and the whole organ was regulated and tuned. Again in 1979 the organ was partially disassembled, cleaned, repaired, reassembled and tuned by Mr. Berschdorf, thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Morris J. Opsahl who donated $6,000 for the work. In summer of 2017 the organ was cleaned, regulated, tuned, and received new work lights by Christoph Wahl. This was in preparation for the national OHS convention in August in the Twin Cities and environs. Dr. Jean Swanson, a local organist and educator, documented the quality and significance of the Sacred Heart Felgemaker organ in the Spring 1981 issue of The Tracker (journal of the National Organ Historical Society): |
Extant old organs are not numerous in northeastern Minnesota. Of the few which remain in the Twin Ports area, the one at Sacred Heart... is the best known... [Dr.] Kim Kasling [of St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota], in his "Survey of Some Extant Minnesota Organs," considers it "by far the most impressive old organ in the entire state." The organ, Felgemaker Opus 664, remains almost unchanged in the back gallery where it was installed years ago. Needed alterations have been largely mechanical and have not affected the tonal qualities of the organ. The sforzando pedal was disconnected [in 1936] to provide needed space behind the pipe facade. A slightly concave pedal board has replaced the original straight one. Although the "bellows signal" drawknob remains on the console, the hand pump, long since removed and lost, has been replaced by an electric motor. The organ is in good playing condition except for occasional tuning problems in the Oboe and Bassoon rank. A two-manual 26-rank organ with 1,493 pipes, the Sacred Heart organ is among the last trackers built by Felgemaker. It is one of the few surviving organs with Barker levers which facilitate playing when the manuals are coupled. Another somewhat unusual feature is the trumpet rank with its nickel plated shallots designed to keep reeds free of dust and other foreign materials. The overall tonal quality is greatly enhanced by the excellent acoustics of the building, as well as by its placement in the back balcony. Charles Hendrickson, a noted St Peter, Minnesota organ builder, described the tonal qualities of the Sacred Heart organ in his Survey of Old Pipe Organs: The Felgemaker organ in Sacred Heart... is not particularly old, by European standards, but it is certainly the largest old organ indigenous to the state... The value of this instrument is in its tonality. It is an ear opening instrument of a sound that is not expected in this era of organ building. The sound is large and reveberant in this marvelous building. Few organs in Minnesota, old or new, can produce such a sound. |
| A note to Michael Barone from Aaron Tellers, July, 2017: I enjoyed listening to your Pipedreams program, Minnesota Muse. I thought you might be interested in seeing the original Felgemaker order document for the Sacred Heart, Duluth organ. I've attached a photo of the order and also a photograph of Mr. Felgemaker. The instrument is Opus 664. It was shipped June 27, 1898 via Anchor Line Boats. My great grandfather Herman Tellers and his two sons, Henry and Ignatius, worked at ABF from 1892-1906. There is a great chance Henry and Ignatius worked on this installation. They were responsible for most of the installations as notated in the order book from 1900-1906. If your travels ever take you to Erie, PA there are several extant examples as one might expect in their hometown. A sister instrument to the Duluth organ remains unaltered except for the original bellows. Opus 673 was completed September 22, 1898 and has a detached reversed console. It is the same size instrument as Duluth but has a slightly different specification. Both organs have a 16' on the Great but the Erie organ also has 16' Bourdon on the Swell but omitted the 8' Violoncello in the Pedal. Erie is also home to many Tellers Organs, a couple Anton Gottfried and a Phelps. |
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