Rodeheaver
Auditorium,
built at the same time as the War Memorial
Chapel, is almost always in use for concerts,
plays, operas, or vesper programs.
Recently,
the organ underwent an extensive renovation
which included a new console and digital
enhancements.
In February of 2004, the Rodeheaver organ was
renovated and revoiced as Opus 79 by
Cornel Zimmer Organ
Builders
of Denver, NC. After 35 years, the time
had come for a new console as well as the
addition of digital enhancements as part of the
project. You may
click here
to see the new specification list.
Click here
to read an article written by music faculty
member, Dr. Paul Overly, describing the organ
dedication.
 Below,
you will find information taken from the
dedicatory recital program which was given by
Dr. Ed Dunbar, the University organist, on
February 14, 2004. The recital celebrated
Dr. Dunbar's 25th anniversary of his first
faculty recital at Bob Jones University. A
sample from the recital,
Choral-Improvisation sur le "Victimę paschali"
by Charles Tournemire, is available for
downloading (524 KB in mp3 format). You
may also view the
entire program.
Bob Jones University recently released a new
Christmas CD entitled, " A Christmas
Celebration". You may
listen to an excerpt
(971 KB in mp3 format) from a piece from the CD
titled "The Lord of Glory, Who Has Bought Us"
arranged by Paul Manz and performed by Dr. Ed
Dunbar. The piece provides insight into
the "softer" side of the new organ in which it
showcases the zimbelstern with flutes.
Click HERE to
listen to a musical excerpt of the Rodeheaver
organ on BJU's website and be sure to visit the "Sounds" page to hear more of the Rodeheaver organ!
"The organ in
Rodeheaver Auditorium was designed and built by W. Zimmer & Sons
of Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1968 and contained 57 ranks.
Specifications were planned by Karl Stahl, then head of the
Organ Department at BJU. This organ was the primary service instrument for church and
chapel until 1973 and has continued to be used for church and
Vespers as well as for teaching and practice.
The console and additions are by Cornel Zimmer Organ
Builders of Denver, North Carolina.
Cornel Zimmer is the grandson and son of the men who built
the original instrument.
  Cornel
Zimmer began his career with W. Zimmer & Sons and after
extensive research, became intrigued by the merits of
digital technology and combining that technology with the pipe
organ. In 1992, he left W. Zimmer & Sons and started Cornel
Zimmer Organ Builders and soon began working with Walker
Technical Company because of their strong innovative digital
products.
After much study and work, he built his own pipe organ shop
in order to achieve the desired overall quality that was
necessary to match the integrity of the Walker technology.
Over time, he bought pipe shop equipment from W. Zimmer &
Sons and hired highly trained technicians and artists to create
exquisite organs of the highest quality, durability, and
dependability. The
company has completed instruments of various designs including
all-pipe to all-digital to many combinations in between.
Cornel Zimmer Organ Builders have developed excellent
working relations with several other builders, voicers, and
technicians, both locally and nationally, and have collaborated
with them on several projects.
These projects foster a sharing of ideas, philosophies, and
methods that help all concerned to grow and learn.
It is this attitude of constantly seeking new ideas and
better ways of doing things that will keep Cornel Zimmer Organ
Builders fresh and on a track of continued improvement for many
years to come.
  The
specifications for this instrument, their Opus 79, were designed
by Cornel Zimmer and Jim Twyne in consultation with Ed Dunbar.
The console was built by George Zong and was finished by
Marty Lemons.
Electrical work was done by Eric Molenaar, and voicing was by
Jim Twyne.
The University Crests on the side panels were carved by J.
David Caldwell.
The console is
constructed of quarter-sawn oak, and the interior is walnut.
Forty-three digital stops were added to the specification, and
the organ now contains a multiple level capture action with
sixteen banks of memory, with eleven levels per bank.
Each level provides ten general pistons along with a full
complement of divisionals.
Standard couplers and reversibles are also included."
 The
following information is regarding the original 1968 Rodeheaver
Auditorium organ. This organ replaced an older organ which
was installed when the University moved to Greenville. The
W. Zimmer and Sons
organ was installed in 1968, at the height of North-German
influence on American organ building. The organ has been
voiced along classic Baroque lines. It has a total of 57
ranks, 53 stops and a grand total of 3,141 pipes. Click
here for the original
specification list.
This organ had been used
greatly over the years. It was used for church and chapel
services until the FMA was built in 1974 and was also used for
private
lessons until 1988 when the War Memorial Chapel organ was
installed. Now, the auditorium is used
mainly for concerts, plays,
operas, and vesper programs. The auditorium can be
viewed in 360°
at the BJU website.
The dedication recital was played by Thomas Richner of Rutgers
University on October 19, 1968. Included in this
performance were pieces by J.S. Bach, Buxtehude, DuMage, and
Franck. Please click to view an image of the
actual recital program. |
