Why so many organs?
The House of Hope needed a new organ at the time when Charles Fisk was prepared to build his magnum opus. The work with Fisk led to the discovery of the rare French organs. All four were gifts to the House of Hope by members of its congregation: The Fisk, Merklin and Ducroquet organs from Sarah-Maud and Robert Sivertsen and the Jaeckel organ from Lynn and Norm Schindler.
The House of Hope was one of the first churches in North America to have a carillon when the bells were installed in the tower in 1923. House of Hope’s carillon is a four-octave, fully chromatic instrument with 49 bells ranging in weight from 11 pounds to 5,280 pounds. It operates entirely by mechanical means; that is, each key is connected directly to a bell by means of wires and transmission bars, and the instrument is thereby under the player’s complete expressive control.
This large, mechanical action organ in the rear gallery of the Sanctuary is a landmark of late 20th Century organ building in America. The organ was designed and built by Charles Fisk and his firm for House of Hope in 1979. Fisk considered it his magnum opus. C.B. Fisk, Op. 78, 1979
Worship in the Elizabeth Chapel is enhanced by this two-manual organ which is heard in weddings, vespers, funerals and memorial services. Specifically designed for the chapel, it produces, in Dan Jaeckel’s words, “an intimate sound for an intimate space.” The Jaeckel organ is also featured in an annual chapel organ recital serices. Jaeckel, Op. 41, 2001, rev. 2005
The Choir Organ in the Chancel was purchased from the St. Laurent Church in Aubenas, France in 1983, restored by C.B. Fisk, Inc. and installed at House of Hope in 1987. It provides a rare opportunity for students and organists in this country to experience 19th century French organ building and to hear authentic French organ sounds. It is heard most Sundays in worship services. Joseph Merklin, 1878
The organ in the Assembly Room was purchased from the parish church in Aubusson, France, and was restored by C.B. Fisk, Inc. It ws exhibited at the Paris Exposition of 1855 and is a rare example of this builder’s work. The unique reed stops on this organ were a source of focus during a meeting of the International Society of Organbuilders held at House of Hope in 1990. Ducroquet, 1852
