Seattle, St. Mark's Cathedral, Flentrop organ, Paul Fritts

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D. A. Flentrop - 1965
Paul Fritts & Co., Organ Builders - 1992/95 renovation

4 Manuals & Pedals 58 Stops/79 Ranks 3,944 Pipes

One of the most extraordinary things about the organ at St. Mark’s is the fact that it sits in an Episcopal cathedral. Built in 1965 by the Dirk Flentrop Orgelbouw of Zaandam, The Netherlands, the instrument represents that decade’s best understanding of 18th-century North European organ building. When Peter Hallock, organist and choirmaster of the St. Mark's, chose an organ designed primarily for playing the music of Bach, he broke new ground for an Anglican cathedral.

The organ is situated in a large rear gallery, with plenty of room for a choir and instrumentalists. The unfinished concrete structure of the cathedral provides six-and-one-half seconds of reverberation, which is surprisingly clear everywhere in the room. Gentle voicing and good acoustics makes the organ quite suitable for accompanying Anglican organ-choir anthems, while a full complement of reeds and warm foundations enrich the performance of Romantic repertoire.

The organ design was the larger of two proposed by Flentrop. It features a full-length 32-foot Prestant in the pedal, one of the few ever made by the Flentrop firm. In 1992, the organ was renovated by Paul Fritts & Co. to address minor problems caused by age. The organ was cleaned, mechanical elements were made to work as new, pipes with sagging languids were restored, but the original voicing of the instrument was left undisturbed. In addition to these renovations, three new reed stops were added: 16' and 8' Hoofdwerk Trompets inside the case to complement the en chamde reeds, and a full-length 32-foot pedal reed. The 60's-era electric stop/combination action was replaced with a more reliable modern combination action, some of the keyboards were converted to suspended action, and a I + III coupler was added to aid the performance of French Romantic literature. In 1995, following earthquake damage, scaffolding was erected in front of the main case, enabling the Fritts firm to improve the operation of the swell mechanism (which was not accessible during the 1992 renovation). The structural stability of the organ was also improved, and repairs were made to a few broken pipes and trackers.

St. Mark’s Flentrop is one of the largest 20th-century organs employing mechanical (“tracker”) key action, and its success has influenced organ building throughout the United States. It remains a “landmark instrument” of international note.

Stop List (Note: Boldface Type indicates new work completed in 1992/1995)

Hoofdwerk II - 56 notes
16 Prestant
8 Prestant
8 Roerfluit
4 Octaaf
4 Speelfluit
2-2/3 Quint
2 Octaaf
1-3/5 Terts
IV Mixtuur (224 Pipes)
III Scherp (186 Pipes)
16 Trompet
8 Trompet
16 Trompet (horizontal)
8 Trompet (horizontal)

Rugwerk I - 56 notes
8 Prestant
8 Gedekt
8 Quintadeen
4 Octaf
4 Roerfluit
2 Octaaf
II Sesquialter (112 Pipes)
III Mixtuur (168 Pipes)
III Scherp (168 Pipes)
16 Dulciaan
8 Schalmei
- Tremulant

Bovenwerk III (Swell*) 56 notes
8 Prestant
8 Fluit
8 Gemshoorn
8 Zweving (44 Pipes)
4 Octaaf
4 Koppelfluit
2-2/3 Nasard
2 Flageolet
1 Octaaf
V Mixtuur (280 Pipes)
8 Trompet
8 Kromhoorn
- Tremulant

*Mechanically Operated Swell Shutters

Borstwerk IV - 56 notes
8 Gedekt (wood)
4 Prestant
4 Fluit
2 Gemshoorn
1-1/3 Larigot
II Cymbel (112 Pipes)
8 Regaal
- Tremulant

Pedaal - 32 notes
32 Prestant (12 + 20 from 16')
16 Prestant
16 Subbas (wood)
8 Octaaf
4 Octaaf
8 Gedekt
4 Spitsgedekt
2 + 1 Nacthoorn (64 Pipes)
VII Mixtuur (224 Pipes)
32 Bazuin (8w/24m)
16 Bazuin
8 Trompet
4 Trompet
2 Cornet

Zymbelstern

Suspended key action and electric stop action

Solid state combination action (255 memory levels)
Couplers and general pistons duplicated on toe studs.

Couplers II + I, II + III, I + III, Ped + I (Rugwerk), Ped + II (Hoofdwerk), Ped + III (Bovenwerk)
Combinations
6 Combinations per Division
8 General Pistons
1 General Cancel
1 Setter Position

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Hallock: Cathedral Anthems/Choral Arts Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!	French on the Flentrop/J. Melvin Butler Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!	Advent Procession 'O' Antiphons/St Mark's Cathedral, Seattle Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!

This CD includes both large and small-scale works for choir, with and without instruments, most recorded here for the first time. Hallock was the organist and choirmaster of St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle for forty years, composing an impressive array of original choral works in the Anglican tradition. "To listen to this disc is to be in the grip of a great magnetic force...visionary... breathtaking in every way."--- Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians	Saint Mark's Cathedral organist Mel Butler plays a program of French music, from de Grigny to Tournemire. Although it is a Dutch organ, the 1965 Flentrop is surprisingly well-suited to French repertoire. With an abundance of reeds, beautiful flutes and six seconds of reverberation, the organ renders French music in an highlyeffective, if not authentic style. Mel Butler lives a superb performance, which is captured with our proprietary 24-bit recording technology. Highly recommended!	The famous Advent Sunday service at St Mark's Cathedral consists of seven lessons and carols done in procession. Each is lesson/carol set is based on one of the "O" Antiphons," seven ancient Advent verses that each begin with the word "O". These antiphons later became the basis of the hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". Musicians: Mel Butler, director of Saint Mark's Cathedal Choir Peter Hallock, director of The Compline Choir Roger W. Sherman and Mel Butler, organists


Out of This World/Boston Brass & Mel Butler Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!	Decker Plays Decker (v.1) Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!	Decker Plays Decker, v.2 Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!

The Boston Brass is paired with Mel Butler on the landmark Flentrop organ of St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle for this sonic spectacular! "Blast Off" with the world premiere recordings of Bruce Edward Miller's Pluto: The Last Planet; land in stormy Seattle with "Here's That Rainy Day" (Jimmy van Heusen). Also included: Solemn Entry by Strauss, Poeme Heroique by Dupre and Grand Choeur Dialogue by Gigout. 24-bit recording. This is a CD of quality that should long be remembered. - The Organ magazine (UK)	Pamela Decker has won prizes in national and international competitions as both performer and composer. Her critically acclaimed compositions have been performed by various artists in at least eighteen countries, at national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists, and for many other festivals and conferences. This recording features the composer at the organ, playing works that incorporate influences as varied as Gregorian chant, chorale tunes, and American jazz and blues. World Premiere Recordings!	Following the success of the first volume, composer Pamela Decker performs another program of her highly acclaimed work. Decker's definitive recordings were both made on the great 4M/58-stop Flentrop organ of St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle. With six seconds of reverberation and 24-bit-recording technology, these CDs are audiophile gems as well as world-premiere recordings!


In Recital at St. Mark's Cathedral/Rakich Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!	How Brightly Shines the Morning Star/St. Mark's Cathedral (Seattle) Choir/Mel Butler Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!	Decker Plays Decker, v.3 Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!

This recording documents a recital given as part of the American Guild of Organists national Convention in July of 2000. Played on the landmark Flentrop organ of St. Mark's Cathedral, Rakich's program was among the most popular at the convention.	The chorale “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” (“How brightly shines the Morning Star”) is presented on this CD in a wide variety of musical styles, along with other hymns, anthems and voluntaries for the season of Epiphany. J. Melvin Butler directs the cathedral choir in this program of familiar–and unusual–works.	Following the success of the first two volumes, composer Pamela Decker performs another program of her highly acclaimed work. Decker's definitive recordings were both made on the great 4M/58-stop Flentrop organ of St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle. With six seconds of reverberation and 24-bit-recording technology, these CDs are audiophile gems as well as world-premiere recordings!


Bach: Under the influence / Sherman Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!	Michael Kleinschmidt - Recital at Saint Mark's Cathedral Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!	Famous and Infamous Music for Trumpet and Organ / Sautter, Sherman Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!

In this recital, Roger Sherman traces influences on Bach---and Bach influencing others. The first in a series of recordings celebrating 50 years of the Flentrop organ at Saint Mark's Cathedral (Seattle)! "The playing is fine, the Flentrop organ is grand, and the recording is clear, yet spacious. All in all, a delightful CD." - The Tracker	The second in a series celebrating 50 years of concert recordings of the Flentrop organ at Saint Mark's Cathedral (Seattle) features the current Canon for Music, Michael Kleinschmidt. His program includes several works played by E. Power Biggs in the inaugural recitals.	The third in a series celebrating 50 years of the Flentrop organ at Saint Mark's Cathedral in Seattle! Trumpeter Fred Sautter and organist Roger Sherman team up to play both famous and infamous works for trumpet and organ. "The Prince of Denmark", Purcell Trumpet Voluntary and the theme from Masterpiece Theatre are all here, along with famous solo works for organ: Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, the "Little" G minor Fugue, and Franck's Chorale in E major. Also included is William Albright's "Jericho: Battle Music"---a dramatic work for trumpet and organ which is infamous for the virtuosity required of both players.


Decker Plays Decker, v.4 - Museum of the Dance / Decker, Freese Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!	Roger W. Sherman: Here & Elsewhere Our Price: $18.98	Decker plays Decker vol. 5: Tributes Our Price: $18.98 - includes Free Shipping!

Composer Pamela Decker performs another program of her highly acclaimed work! This time she is joined by Faythe Freese, who plays "The Freese Suite" which was commissioned and dedicated to her. Both organists were recorded on the great 4M/58-stop Flentrop organ of St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle. With six seconds of reverberation and 24-bit-recording technology, these CDs are audiophile gems as well as world-premiere recordings!	A collection of performances from live recitals "here and elsewhere" by Roger W. Sherman. Three organs are featured: the Flentrop at Saint Mark's Cathedral (Seattle), the Fritts organ at Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma) and the 1750 Nacchini organ at San Giorgio Maggiore (Venice, Italy).	This fifth volume in the series Decker Plays Decker includes the premier recording of "The Seven Last Words and Triumph of Christ" - played by Doug Cleveland. Edward Landin Senn plays Decker's Praeludium and Decker plays her own Fantasy on the name of Roy Andrew Johnson. Also included is a beautiful "Meditation" by Decker's husband, Ken Yukl. All performance on the Flentrop organ of Saint Mark's Cathedral (Seattle). Decker's playing in awe-inspiring, commanding, and exhilarating." -- Fanfare


Bach: From Luneburg to Weimar / Roger Sherman Our Price: $18.98	Bach at Saint Mark's / Roger Sherman Our Price: $18.98

Part a series of concert recordings celebrating 50 years of the Flentrop organ at Saint Mark's Cathedral (Seattle). This concert explores works from Bach's earliest days through the end of his time in Weimar. Major works on this program include the Chorale Partita: "O Gott, du frommer Gott", The "Gigue" G major Fugue, the Prelude and Fugue in F minor (BWV 534), and the Prelude and Fugue in A minor (BWV 543). Fanfare: "A major release, superbly recorded."	Superior NEW review in The American Organist, October 2022! Part a series of concert recordings celebrating 50 years of the Flentrop organ at Saint Mark's Cathedral (Seattle). Major works on this program include the Prelude and Fugue in C minor ("Arnstadt"), Toccata and Fugue in D minor ("Dorian"), Fantasie and Fugue in G minor (BWV 542), Fugue on the Magnificat and three large "Leipzig" chorales.


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