A pipe organ had 27 stops, now it has 102!
Schudi Organ Company has worked with Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard (ECGS) since the mid-sixties, by servicing their AEolian Skinner organ and then their Casavsant Feres organ.
In 2007, plans began to expand the Casavant with state-of-the-art digital technology by the Walker Technical Company of Zionville, PA.
Robert Churchill, organist at ECGS, Marvin Judy, owner of Schudi Organ Co., Bob Walker of Walker Technical, and Charlles C. Callahan, went to work to create the 102 stop organ.
This instrument merged the existing two-manual Casavant organ with the tonalities characteristic of the AEolian Skinner organ. This instrumunt is the 11th of 12 collaborations between Schudi and Walker since 1994.
Schudi modified the Casavant console which was moved to the North Transept (in the front of the sanctuary). Schudi also built and installed the two towers of the Antiphonal Division, the new cases on either side of the High Alter.
“After 55 years, the plans for the church building and organ have been completed to a level higher than could ever have been imagined so many years ago. Good things have indeed come to those who waited! Hallelujah!!” - Robert William Churchill
“It’s our hope and desire that the new instrument will provide many years of exciting and reliable service for the congregation of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Dallas Texas.” - Bob Walker
“It was my priviledge to assist in the tonal design of the organ and to work with Robert Walker on its tonal finishing. All involved in this project are happy to have had a part in producing a work of art which will assist in the singing of God’s praises for years to come.” - Charles Callahan
“Behond doubt there is simply no equal to Walker’s genuinely authentic and accurately reproduced sounds of historically significant pipe organs.” - Marvin Judy
I am very grateful for the work Marvin Judy passed to me and for my personal relationship with him. Over our many years of working together, I came to appreciate his wisdom, experience, humor and imagination. I have been able to do work that inspired and challenged me.
To view more images that document the installation process, enjoy the video below. A special thanks to Richard Hill for creating this stunning video montage.
