OHS Database: Instrument Details

Casavant Frères Ltée., Opus 3636, 1987

Birmingham-Southern College
800 Arkadelphia Road
Birmingham, Alabama 35254

The organ is in center chambers at the front of the room with visible façade pipes or case front. There are hinged doors that enclose keyboards. There is an attached keydesk en fenêtre.

We record information both on an organ's state (as an aspect of its existence as an historical artifact) and on its condition (as an aspect of its existence as a useful musical instrument)

The organ is in an unaltered state from its installation as described on this page.
The organ is in good condition and in regular use.
We received the most recent update on this organ's state and condition 2010-09-24.

Three manuals. 4 divisions. 36 stops. 53 ranks. 2685 pipes. Manual compass is 58 notes. Pedal compass is 32 notes.

Slider chests. Sliders moved by electric motors. Balanced mechanical key action. Electric stop action.

Drawknobs in vertical rows on angled jambs. Balanced swell shoes/pedals, standard AGO placement. Combination Action: Computerized/Digital system. AGO Standard (concave radiating) pedalboard. Reversible full organ/tutti toe stud. Combination action thumb pistons. Coupler reversible toe studs.

Notes:

Gift of Distinguished Alumnus Coleman Cooper (OHS PC Database. 2004-10-30)
The original plan did not call for a Full Organ piston, and a reversible toe stud for the Clochettes was installed where one normally expects a Full Organ toe stud to be. Two months later, the Clochettes toe stud was moved to the opposite side of the knee board, and a Full Organ toe stud installed. There is still no Full Organ thumb piston on the organ. (James Cook. 2004-11-16)
Updated through on-line information from James R. Stettner. (Database Manager. 2006-12-04)
Updated through on-line information from Jim Cook. (Database Manager. 2010-01-26)

The OHS Pipe Organ Database does include auxiliary documents that pertain to this organ. They can be seen using links that are available in the on-screen version of this page.

Proposed Specification for an Organ for Birmingham-Southern College. In-house Builder's Form, completed. (The document is a PDF file. ) Initial proposal and specification, later modified. Document Date: 1980-12-15.
Proposed Stoplist. Typed document. (The document is a PDF file. ) Stoplist with pencil notes added. Document Date: 1981-06-10.
Proposed Stoplist: BSC Counter-Proposal. Typed document. (The document is a PDF file. ) Annotated Stoplist. Document Date: 1981-06-10.

Other web sites:

http://faculty.bsc.edu/~jhcook/MSClasses/cavstop.html. BSC: Casavant Organ stoplist, photograph.[Last accessed 2005-10-25.]

When they are available, stoplists for organs are included in the Database.

Photographs. Larger images are available through the online version of this page.

Organ Façade; impost and above. . 1988-01-14.

Organ Façade; full height, diagonal view.. . 1988-01-14.

Console. Photograph by Jeff Scofield. 2006-12-21.

Organ Case. Photograph by Jeff Scofield. 2006-12-21.

Stoplist copied from the factory specifications

       Birmingham, Alabama
       Birmingham Southern College
       Hill Music Building Recital Hall

       Casavant   Op. 3636   1987   3/53

       Courtesy of Casavant Frères Archives
       Saint-Hyacnithe, Québec, Canada

       GRAND ORGUE                      RÉCIT
   16' Bourdon              58       8' Cor de nuit           58
    8' Montre               58       8' Viole de gambe        58
    8' Flûte à cheminée     58       8' Voix céleste (tc)     46 
    8' Flûte harmonique     46 *     4' Principal             58
    4' Prestant             58       4' Flûte octaviante      58
    2' Doublette            58       2' Octavin               58
       Cornet V (g)        195       2' Plein jeu V          290
1 1/3' Fourniture IV       232      16' Basson (1-12 L/2)     58
    8' Trompette            58       8' Trompette harmonique  58
                                     8' Hautbois              58
                                     4' Clairon               58
                                        Tremblant
       POSITIF
    8' Montre               58          PÉDALE
    8' Bourdon              58      16' Soubasse              32
    4' Prestant             58       8' Octavebasse           32
    4' Flûte à fuseau       58       8' Flûte bouchée         32
2 2/3' Nazard               58       4' Octave                32
    2' Quarte de nazard     58          Mixture IV           128
1 3/5' Tierce               58      16' Bombarde              32
    1' Cymbale IV          232       8' Trompette             32
    8' Cromorne             58
       Tremblant

    *  1-12 from Flûte à cheminée

[Received on line from Jeff Scofield March 08, 2010.]

Additional content may be available through the online page: http://database.organsociety.org/NewDetailsB.php?OrganID=1