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Private residence - 4/23 Wurlitzer
Magalia, CA
Organ installation timeframe: 1999 - present
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This organ in Magalia, California is made up of various parts including the former Seattle Ridge Rink Wurlitzer purchased from the Neighborhood Church in Chico, California.
According to Dave Schutt, posting to the PIPORG-L Internet list in 1999, Dave Moreno served as an advisor to the project. The instrument is controlled by a French-style four-manual Devtronix console and an Emutek relay. Rank list is as follows:
MAIN
Tuba Horn (Wurlitzer)
Diaphonic Diapason (Wurlitzer)
Orchestral Oboe (prepared for)
Clarinet (Gottfried)
Salicional (Wurlitzer)
Salicional Celeste (Kimball)
Oboe Horn (Morton, prepared)
Viola (Kimball)
Viola Celeste (Kimball)
Concert Flute (Wurlitzer)
Flute Celeste (Kimball)
Vox Humana (Wurlitzer)
Harp/Marimba
Chyrsoglott
Toy counter
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SOLO
English Horn (Barton)
Tuba Mirabilis (Kimball)
Trumpet (Morton)
Stentorphone (Kimball)
Tibia Clausa (Morton)
Violin (Kimball)
Viol Celeste (Kimball)
French Horn (Moller)
Kinura (??)
Mixture III (Kimball)
Glockenspiel
Xylophone
Cathedral Chimes |
UNENCLOSED
Piano (MIDI)
Solo Chimes
Solo Glockenspiel |
From Tim Gentry, November 2007...
"Unfortunately, ten years of storage in a hot, dry climate was more than the original console and bench (and various other parts of the organ) could stand. The wood shrank, resulting in large gaps in and cracks in the finish. Since the new owner had planned on upgrading the organ anyway, the case was parted out and a brand new four-manual electronic console was installed. A new electronic control system was installed since the original would have required extensive work to re-leather and repair. The new system gets along much better in the dry climate, and requires substantially less maintenance than the old. After some repair work in the owner's own on-site woodshop, all of the original pipes are still speaking, and at least four new ranks have been added."
"Recently, I was able to track down and contact the new owners, who graciously agreed to let me visit and view the installation. Their hospitality was wonderful, to put it mildly. The owner and his mother treated me to a tour of the house and grounds where they and the organ now live. It was installed into an absolutely magnificent private residence which was designed and built with the organ in mind. Played daily, it speaks into a large two and a half story ballroom with (I'm guessing) close to 2,000 square feet of floor space, while the rest of the house "flows" around the ballroom area. The ballroom is adjacent to a catering-quality kitchen and reception area, and is used semi-frequently for weddings and other gatherings where, of course, the organ plays a prominent role as well."
"The installation itself is obviously a labor of love. The console's woodwork is exceptional, and the framed louvers connecting the pipe chamber to the ballroom are truly a craftsman's showpiece. The pipe chamber itself is immaculate, with the pipes beautifully and artfully laid out to show off the artistry of the organ. The plumbing is first-rate, and the chamber was clean enough to eat in."
"While I was there, the owner mentioned that he was looking at putting the house up for sale, and that if the buyer was as enthusiastic as he is about the organ then the organ will stay with the house. If not, he's pretty sure that he'll be taking the organ with him to wherever he moves."
The house has been for sale for several years. The following photos were posted on multiple real estate websites in 2019:
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