1985 Bigelow Pipe Organ - New Melleray Abbey - Peosta, Iowa

Brent, Andrew, and Organ Media Foundation, thank you for visiting New Melleray Abbey and creating this wonderful program. We are grateful for the Bigelow organ and your presence.

On behalf of Bigelow & Co., thanks very much for that beautiful demo! The stoplist is available by clicking on "Stop List" on the above. That will answer some questions, such as the number of ranks in the mixture - just two: 1 1/3' + 1'. Breaks folllow the classic Italian model: each rank breaks back after 1/8' c, so the 1' becomes 2' at C#4 on the keyboard and 4' at c#5, the 1 1/3' becomes 2 2/3' at f#4, and so on. The 4' flute is open and cylindrical with a 1/5 mouth. The apparent "breaks" reveal the need to do a little regulating next time we're there! The organ was originally installed with three stops planned for future addition: Sesquialtera (which plays on the other manual as a 2 2/3' Quinte), Mixture, and Dulcian. As Andrew pointed out, when funds became available for the additions it was determined that an actual Dulcian (cylindrical reed) would see little use, and that a very soft string would prove very useful, so just think of it as a Dulciana that lost its last letter. Dan Johnson is right: Bruce Fowkes voiced the original seven ranks/stops, and I had my first voicing lesson on that Gedackt. Mike Bigelow came out for finishing touches and the dedication. Mike and someone else voiced the added ranks. It was Mike's first hands-on experience with a string. (Good job, Mike!)

Mike Bigelow here. The colorful temperament is historic Kirnberger III, which lends peaceful solidity to chords. This organ's tone/voicing was inspired by the gentle, low-wind-pressure Italian baroque style. We felt this was most appropriate for this Cistercian monastery, where monks live in austerity and simplicity. We last tuned Opus 11 in January, 2019 -- 6 1/2 years ago! Hurray for cone tuning!

Andrew is great! He should be in all your videos from now on.

The chapel is sublimely austere and the organ not only has a mellifluous sound with clearly a very broad range but a super elegance, and its design is wonderfully representative of the 80’s. Thanks so much for sharing this video.

My beloved New Melleray and this Bigelow organ in this wonderful space. It is used 7 times a day 7 days a week.

Thanks for featuring small instruments as in this Abby, along with other small one manual instruments that support many churches and reminding us quirkey organists that NOT all instruments play ALL organ music. Small well designed organs designed for the space and use they serve, can be a fabulous experience

This is a lovely instrument that I could spend hours just enjoying!

This organ was voiced by Bruce Fowkes when the instrument was first installed, with the exception of the mixture, which was added later. The organ was originally voiced on 55mm of wind. Over the years, someone saw fit to increase this, to the detriment of the sound. Fortunately, this change was corrected and hopefully it is remaining at 55mm. The chapel used to be a bunkhouse when there were more monks in residence. The second floor was removed and the chapel was created, which has won architectural recognition. It has a walk-in tabernacle! This organ is a joy to play! Dan Johnson

What an absolutely beautiful organ throughout! Just the right amount of tone available and just a little articulation in the speech.

I'm a big fan of Bigelow Organs. I will be visiting them this week as part of an organ workshop. My dream is to one day commission an organ from them. All I need is a bunch of money

What a sweet and glowing sound. Perfect acoustics. Thank you, Brent and Andrew.

That is a full room filling sound that few instruments can obtain.

Why is that man standing in the background 🤔

That "Dulcian" is very beautifully voiced! Thanks!

These videos make my day! Thank you!

Interesting and unique instrument with look lots of personality! Nice demo!

Sehr schönes Instrument. Grüße aus Lohr Franconia Germany

Brent, If you are ever back in Iowa you should definitely check out this pipe organ's slightly bigger brother at St Andrew Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. It has the same unique inter manual stop concept albeit built later in 1992 and has some stops under expression.

Perfection. Thank you!