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Celebrating the pipe organ, the King of Instruments |
Mailbag: “Organ in Chico, CA ”
April 27, 2006
Dear Michael,
I wanted to draw your attention to what seems to me a unique organ. This organ is located at California State University-Chico, in Chico, California. It was built back in the late ’70s early ’80s out on the College Farm campus. They contracted with a Japanese fellow who actually poured the brass on a long table and rolled the tubes. He utilized bones from the farm cattle to make keys and their hides for bellows. He could also play the organ. It was eventually installed in one of CSUC’s auditoriums. There is much more to this story but I thought you would be interested. I thoroughly enjoy your program.
Bill Meyer
Fruitland, ID
Dear Bill,
Yes, it is a remarkable instrument, but it was not brass that was poured to make the pipes…rather a blend primarily of lead, tin, bismuth and some other elements.
This was the first project by Munetaka Yokota (google his name and find links to various sites connected with his work). He has gone on from that project at Chico to prove himself to be one of the most interesting and dedicated men working in the field of historic organ sound.
jmb
