Planning for a new pipe organ is a wonderful but challenging experience. Next to the building itself, the pipe organ will be the most expensive purchase for the owner. With this section, we hope to answer some questions that a pipe organ buyer would ask. With this, we hope to address not only the purchaser of a new organ for a new building, but an organ purchaser of a new organ for an existing building.

We are planning for a new building. Should we also consult with an organbuilder if are planning to install a pipe organ as well?

Absolutely! A majority of architects have little, if any, experience in designing either organs, or the necessary space for a pipe organ. We have seen instances where the space for a small closet was planned for the pipe organ by an architect. The organbuilder will first work with the organist and the organ committee (if such exists) to help decide first off the needs of the organ (what the organ needs to do), its sounds, and how large the space that the organ will live in will be. Next a specification will need to be decided (or exactly what type of sounds and controls the organ will have). From this the organbuilder can decide how much space will be needed, and can work either independently or in conjunction with the architect to decide what the visual aspects of the organ will be, and how much space will be required.

We already have an existing building, and now want to purchase a new organ. What are the procedures that we need to go through.

First off it should be decided what the needs of the organ are, and what sounds or the specification of the organ needs to be. After this, it should be decided what the organ should look like. These processes can sometimes be decided by the local organist, but usually an independent organ consultant or organbuilder. This organbuilder or organ consultant does not necessarily need to be the organbuilder that does the project, but should be compensated like the architect. Once all of the information has been gathered, the specifications can be put out to different organbuilders to gather bids and proposals.

When should we begin to plan for a new organ?

As soon as you have decided that a new organ is in order. The longer one waits, the more problems you may encounter.

Does the organbuilder we hire as a consultant necessarily need to be the organbuilder we choose to build the organ?

No. Sometimes organbuilders are hired just as a consultant, and it is specifically understood that they will not act as the builder of the new organ.

Are there alternate consultants that we can hire to assist us that are not organbuilders?

Some local organists can and have acted as consultants. Also, many university organ professors can act as consultants. Lastly, there are professional organ consultants. These are people that were once organbuilders or organ sales representatives, who now provide organ consultation services.

Are their alternatives to a new organ that we can consider?

Of course! If the organ buyer already owns a pipe organ, the existing organ can either be restored, or rebuilt, utilizing some existing components with some new components. If there is no organ to begin with, sometimes a used, recycled, or rebuilt instrument can be obtained at a cost savings.

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