Congregation identifies need for building an organ custom fit to church architecture and establishes organ procurement committee including Pastor, Organist, Director of music, Trustees, Council members and other leadership of the congregation. The committee may choose to consult with a Professor of Organ at a local institution for additional expert advice on types of organs etc.
Preliminary research conducted by committee to identify type of organ i.e. Tracker or Electro-pneumatic etc. That best suits the congregations music liturgy needs. An initial contact will need to take place by the organist, trustees or pastor to the organ-builder.
Organ committee visits and listens to the sounds of at least three other churches in the area with traditional pipe organs including a sampling of both tracker and electro-pneumatic organs.
Proper acoustics enhance the quality of sound throughout the sanctuary. A decision will need to be made on the type of instrument that would be best suited to the room and the type of action.
An architect may need to be engaged by the church to determine possible structural alterations to the church to make space to install organ and its components.
Organ committee prepares a wish list of the specifications of they would want in the new pipe organ, a budget for the custom build and a fund raising plan to contact major donors in congregation.
Committee solicits meetings with at least three to five local or national organ builders - especially those certified by AIO or APOBA and shares wish list with them.
Committee obtains commitment from major donors for at least 1/3rd to half of the budget for the organ build.
Organ Builders submit preliminary construction designs of an organ that fits the room/chambers and also submits cost estimates on custom organ build.
Committee & Potential Donors together review cost bids and select the company most suitable for their needs.
A meeting is scheduled with the organ builder and organist to confirm the particular specification and requirements of the church, including type or instrument, placement, features, disposition, the type of console, etc.
Once both parties are clear about expectations these are recorded in a formal contract and submitted to the church leadership for the necessary signatures.
The church will need to address other matters such as fund raising, acoustics, building contractual matters that will deal with preparing the location for the organ placement.
In the process of building the selection of good quality pipes are important. These pipes are selected for the agreed upon disposition, facade design and the size of the instrument and it is highly advisable that the committee pay close attention to this aspect of the project. Pipe material must be selected to give consideration to its manufacture, stability and price. Alloys of tin and lead are most commonly used. However, copper and zinc have also been used for larger pipes.
Pipe must be scaled properly as the shape of the pipe body will affect the structure of the harmonic series. The pipes should be voiced to produce the sound that is natural for the pipes as related to its construction and scale.
The organ builder begins to build other organ components for which wood and other related organ building materials are obtained for the project. The framing, Swell box and casework are constructed.
Proper and adequate sized blower and bellows must be in the design. One of the major issues is the inadequacy of the wind supply to the stops on a chest leading to diminished wind to the pipes causing out of tune pipes.
The wind-chests are designed and built to suit the particular needs of the sanctuary and placement.
The console is constructed for the size of the instrument. The keyboards and stop knobs or stop keys and installed. The switching, control systems and power supplies are designed for the project specifications.
The Instrument is then assembled and built up at the church. The wind and electrical systems are installed and tested to ensure that they are in compliance with electrical code and industry standards.
All aesthetic matters regarding the facade of the organ and the console are completed at this time.
Following the testing stage the organ pipes are installed and the final voicing and tuning process takes place.
The organist is invited to test out the instrument and any final mechanical, electrical, voicing issues are ironed out by the organ builder. This at times can take a few months until all the kinks are worked out.
Once the final regulating, voicing and tuning have been completed, the church may choose to inaugurate the newly installed instrument with a dedication service and recital. Publicity in local newspapers, local AGO chapters and other organ publications is highly advisable.
The organ committee reviews all construction guarantees and future service contracts with the organ builder.
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