PIPE ORGANS OF TEMPLE SQUARE SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

The Assembly Hall basement rehearsal studios were built as part of the extensive renovation and remodeling of the Assembly Hall in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The studio doors have acoustical dampers which seal out extraneous noise once the doors are shut. There are no parallel surfaces in any of these rooms, in order to avoid an acoustical phenomenon known as "slap."

Casavant practice organ

The practice organ in the northeast studio was built in 1979 by Casavant Frères of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, as part of the major renovation and remodeling of the Assembly Hall.  The organ has 8 speaking stops.

specification

(Coming soon: MP3 recording)

Coulter practice organ

Description of Kenneth Coulter practice organ

Comments: "One of three practice organs housed in the Assembly Hall, this mechanical-action instrument has been designed to minimize physical adjustments when moving to and from other organs on Temple Square. The need was for a three-manual instrument with clear, independent stops on each manual; however, complete choruses were not a priority. A light and responsive key action was achieved through the use of suspended action. The case is fumed oak, with pipe shades carved from Alaskan cedar. Manual keyboards have bone-covered naturals and cocobolo accidentals. Hammered lead has been used for all metal pipes. The temperament is Kirnberger III and the organ was voiced on a wind pressure of 60 mm. Wind supplied by the electric blower is fed through a single wedge bellows; a second bellows was provided to facilitate hand pumping, wherein the air in one bellows is replenished while the other is being exhausted." (from The American Organist, citation above)

specification

(Coming soon: MP3 recording)

Austin practice organ

The practice organ in the southwest studio was built by the Austin Organ Company in 1982, utilizing a console from a previous practice instrument. It includes three manuals, 13 stops, and 12 ranks of pipes. The room also contains a one-manual harpsichord built by William Dowd in 1981.

specification

(Coming soon: MP3 recording)