Jackson, Mississippi, USA
First Presbyterian Church
4 manuals, 53 stops
Opus 3862

Jackson, Mississippi — April 2009

The First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mississippi, was founded in 1837.

Through the years there has been a steady growth in membership. As a result, some ten years ago it became apparent that we would need to enlarge our 750 seat church sanctuary. Attendance at both of our morning services exceeded eighty percent of our seating capacity. Stop-gap measures such as television overflow rooms were used, but these were obviously not good long-term solutions. Our ministers believed it important to have the congregations at these services worshiping together in the same room. They also saw the need for more space for the congregation to continue to grow. The decision was made to increase the seating by an additional 650 seats. To do this the present sanctuary would need to be totally reconstructed. Designed by the well-known Architect Harold Wagoner, the 1951 sanctuary of Georgian colonial design was a beautiful space much appreciated by the congregation. The present architects, Dale and Associates, resolved to build a new sanctuary of the same style and detailing as the old, but to make improvements where desirable. One important area addressed was the acoustics. Acoustical consultants were engaged to assist in creating a good environment for music and the spoken word.  

The original 1951 Möller organ, several times modified and enlarged, was in serious need of a complete overhaul. Because of its scaling and tonal deficiencies we decided to start fresh and purchase a new instrument. Several fine builders were consulted and in the end the Organ Committee chose Casavant Frères. 

In describing to Casavant how our organ would be used, we pointed out that our services, which include a well-attended evening service, are in the Reformed traditional, with its strong emphasis on singing of the great hymns. Every service has at least four, with all stanzas sung. We explained, as well, that our choirs sing a full range of anthems including those from the Baroque era through the twenty-first century, with a healthy dose of oratorio selections, English classics, hymn-based anthems and southern spirituals.  

We knew that Casavant would create a good ensemble with which to lead hymns. To this end we requested that each of the three major divisions, Great, Swell and Choir have complete Diapason choruses and that these be evenly balanced so that no division, in particular the Choir, would be a step-sister to the others. For our varied accompanying needs, including a large number of vocal solos, we asked for a generous selection of solo and accompanying stops to give us a rich tonal color palette from which to choose. In that regard, we requested a Solo division and hoped that we could include vintage E. M. Skinner solo stops, if they could be found.

We had been searching extensively for these even before we contracted with Casavant but could find none available. Churches that had them were not parting with them. As good fortune would have it, Casavant happened to have several fine Skinner solo stops in storage in their shop that became available for us to purchase. Another client of theirs who previously had a Skinner organ had sent them for inclusion in a new organ to be built for them by Casavant. In the end, the client decided not to use them so we obtained them for our new instrument. These included a French Horn, a pair of flared Gamba Celeste ranks, and a dynamic Harmonic Tuba. These stops, plus a vintage Casavant Orchestral Oboe, were reconditioned by them for our use. Other new ranks were supplied to fill out the division. All of these stops are scaled on the broad side and are on higher wind. With Casavant’s very effective swell shutters we are able to get quite a wide dynamic range from these stops. The musical results are a pleasure to hear. 

Working with Tonal Director Jacquelin Rochette and others of the Casavant team was a very satisfying experience. One had the security of knowing that while they were very good listeners, interested in knowing what the church’s desires, hopes and expectations were, they would, at the same time, guide and advise, drawing on their broad experience and thorough knowledge of organ building, so that the results would be musically pleasing and in accordance with the best concepts of the builder’s art. Our congregation, clergy and musicians are extremely pleased with our new instrument and feel that it more than satisfies our expectations. 

The real test, though, of the effectiveness of the instrument came recently with an exciting, very well attended recital by the world-class organist Olivier Latry of Notre-Dame, Paris. He really put the organ through its paces in a program that included Bach, Franck, Widor, Dupré, Messiaen, Duruflé, Escaich, and, of course, one of his own marvelous improvisations. Both Latry and our new Casavant were stars that evening. 

Dr. William Wymond
Minister of Music