Worcester Memorial Auditorium
Main & Highland (Lincoln Square)
Worcester,
MA
01609 US
Organ ID: 7099
I visited the instrument on 10/12/23. The instrument is still operational but in poor musical condition. The pipework, regulators, and console are all in good physical condition, except for dirt and degraded leather. Turning on the instrument results in a flurry of wind leaks but no ciphers, and the console has tutti stuck on meaning one can only play loudly. The miraculous thing is that the instrument is still in tune (reeds included) despite not having been played or tuned since 2016. The blower is a 80hp Spencer in the basement, which had its generator (still present) replaced by an Orgelectra probably in the 1980s. The chambers are very poorly lit, but other than being dusty, there is no further evidence of water damage or destruction from people since 2016.
From the Worcester AUD website: Tonally Untouched, console covered. Main hall areas (first floor) cleaned June 2016. Organ is "playable" and wind leaks and ciphers significantly repaired as of June 2016 (including unenclosed great main reservoir (3'x6') releathering). Roof leaks have split several chests (enclosed great; enclosed solo chambers are on the top levels); the city repaired the roof in the 1990s. Facing the stage, the enclosed Great is on top left, unenclosed Great middle left, Pedal bottom left; Solo is top right, Swell is middle right, Choir is bottom right.
The magnificent AUD organ was designed by Walter Howe, official organist, assistant director, and manager of the Worcester Music Festival; head of music at Abbot Academy, Andover; organist at First Baptist Church, Arlington, Mass.; and choral director at Chautauqua, New York; he was assisted in the planning process by R. P. Elliot, the New York representative of the Kimball Company; Hamilton B. Wood, president of the Worcester Festival Association; and Aldus C. Higgins, a member of the organ committee, who had a large concert organ in his home (Aeolian Op. 1686, 1928, 3-30, later moved to St. Joseph’s Abbey, Spencer).
The drawknob 4-manual console is set on its own elevator, independent of the elevating orchestra pit. There is a “filler” cage/platform which currently sits on the stage (holding up the many-ton stage firewall “curtain”) which was used to “cover” the organ console such that when the console elevator was lowered to the appropriate height, the upper surface of this cage provided a continuous floor to match the orchestra pit elevator floor level, for when the organ was not in use. Additionally there is a wooden stair and gang plank of sorts in the basement where the organist would (almost) crawl onto the organ bench when awaiting ascension by the elevator to be lifted up for an eager audience. This mini-stair and platform is adjacent to a wiring and wind hose supply catch basin “reservoir” of sorts to manage the console’s tethered range of motion. Organ chamber wind pressures range from 5 inches through 6, 7 to 8, 10, 12, 15 to 17 or 20 inches [of water].
Organ dedicated on November 6, 1933, with a recital by Palmer Christian.
War Memorial Auditorium - building exterior: Photograph by William T. Van Pelt, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. 1982
Auditorium interior with front grilles: Photograph by William T. Van Pelt, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. 1982
Right-side grille: Photograph by William T. Van Pelt, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. 1982
Grille detail: Photograph by William T. Van Pelt, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. 1982
Console: Photograph by William T. Van Pelt, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. 1982
Console: Expression and Crescendo indicators: Photograph by William T. Van Pelt, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. 1982
Grille above proscenium: Photograph by William T. Van Pelt, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. 1982
Console: Photograph by Worcester AUD, submitted by John Roper. Taken approx. 2016
Console covered on lift: Photograph by Worcester AUD, submitted by John Roper. Taken approx. 2016
Console keyboards and couplers: Photograph by Worcester AUD, submitted by John Roper. Taken approx. 2016
Console pedalboard and swell pedals: Photograph by Worcester AUD, submitted by John Roper. Taken approx. 2016
Console right stopjamb: Photograph by Worcester AUD, submitted by John Roper. Taken approx. 2016
Console left stopjamb: Photograph by Worcester AUD, submitted by John Roper. Taken approx. 2016
Pipework: Photograph by Worcester AUD, submitted by John Roper.
Pipework: Photograph by Worcester AUD, submitted by John Roper.
Pipework: Photograph by Worcester AUD, submitted by John Roper.
Pipework: Photograph by Worcester AUD, submitted by John Roper.
Pipework: Photograph by Peter Krasinski, submitted by John Roper. Taken approx. 2016
Pipework: Photograph by Peter Krasinski, submitted by John Roper. Taken approx. 2016
Console: Photograph by Morel and Assoc., submitted by John Roper.
Console: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Console: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Choir division pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Choir division pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Choir division pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Blower room: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Blower room: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Blower room: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Blower room: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Blower room: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Choir pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Choir regulators: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Choir pipework and harp: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Choir reed pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Choir harp and pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Choir flue pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Blower: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Relay in blower room: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
Blower: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2023-10-12
