Casavant Frères Ltée. Opus 2734
Opened as Christ Church in 1910, the original organ at Christ and St. Luke’s was a 50-rank Austin (Hartford, CT) with an Echo Division. A fire in 1915 led to its replacement with a near replica by the same firm, both instruments reflecting the darker, liturgical tonal style of the time.
This changed in 1963 with the installation of a new Casavant organ. Its brighter tonal character was later considered too brittle, leading to additions by Casavant in the 1980s and Orgues Létourneau in the 1990s to rebalance and darken the sound. Over time, these layered changes created an instrument with unrealized potential, requiring both tonal and structural reconsideration.
Foley-Baker’s work focused on unifying and refining the instrument. The organ was revoiced and expanded to create a more cohesive tonal palette, with a broader foundation of 8′ tone, strengthened ensembles, and expanded chorus reeds. The Pedal division was augmented to support the increased manual resources.
From a mechanical standpoint, the Swell and Choir divisions were converted to modern, nearly leather-free slider chests, joining the already converted Great, while retained components were releathered as needed.
The organ was also physically reconfigured into a more traditional Great, Swell, Choir, and Pedal layout, incorporating a newly enlarged Pedal chamber. This redesign relieved long-standing crowding and provided the space needed for expanded resources and improved tonal balance.
The instrument is now in excellent mechanical condition, with improved serviceability and a cohesive tonal design suited to modern performance.
Removal took place in February 2018, and the project was completed in April 2019.
Watch concert organist Nathan Laube perform on the reconditioned instrument:
Let’s Preserve Your Pipe Organ
Whether you are planning a reconditioning or addressing tuning and mechanical issues, Foley-Baker provides expert guidance from assessment through completion. We'd love to hear from you.