The photos and descriptions of pipe organs are published on this website to demonstrate the wide range of styles and sizes of organs that are available. We invite you to look through them. But in order to choose the best instrument for your church, school, or home we encourage you to consider several important factors:
1. The organ should complement the existing architecture.
It is possible to blend styles, for example by placing a Victorian organ in a contemporary setting, and we can provide advice on how to reconfigure organs for new settings. We will ask you for photographs of the interior and exterior your building so we can offer you choices of instruments that we think will look good in your building.
2. The organ should complement the existing acoustics.
We take into consideration the area and volume of a room, the materials used to build it, and the location of the organ within the room as if we were planning a new organ. These factors inform us as to appropriate wind pressures, pipe scales, and the other tonal considerations that affect the character of an organ.
3. The organ should be stylistically appropriate for the liturgical, public, or community situation.
Some organs are designed and built to be best for the performance of specific styles of music, some sound bright and powerful, while some sound dark and mysterious. We will work with you to make certain that you get the type of instrument that’s best for your musicians, congregation, liturgy, and community.
4. And of course, the organ must fit in the available space.
Once the ideal location for an organ has been determined you can help us by providing accurate measurements of the space, or even better, original architect’s measured drawings.
Although not necessary, it is always advantageous for us to make a personal visit so that we can assess your building and your current instrument, and to meet with musicians, clergy, and lay leaders to learn about the worship life of your community. With the information acquired from this visit, we will work with you to search through available instruments to find the right one. Our consultation fees for site visits are based on a daily rate plus expenses, and are in addition to Finder’s Fees for the purchase of the organ.
When we have identified the right organ for your needs, we will assist in the negotiation of a final purchase price. In return for making this variety of instruments available and assisting you in choice we charge a one-time Finder’s Fee ($2500 or 10% of the actual purchase price, whichever is greater). This fee is payable by the purchaser at the time of the closing of the sale and is in addition to any consulting fees that may have been agreed on.
The total cost of acquiring a pipe organ will include the purchase price, the cost of dismantling, repairs, transportation, installation, and any additions or revisions required to make an instrument ideal for your building. With experience in all facets of this work, we can offer comprehensive project management, beginning with the purchase, removing the organ from its original home, overseeing repairs, completing any onsite work to prepare the new chambers, and installing it in your church.
Alternatively, we can work with the organbuilder of your choice to facilitate a seamless relocation.
We welcome your inquiries and look forward to working with you to help you acquire the ideal instrument.
