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The Hope-Jones/Shaw Organ

The Great Auditorium Organ was built in 1907 by Robert Hope Jones, an Englishman who came to this country in 1903. His mechanical genius produced revolutionary ideas in organ design and many of his innovations are standard on today’s pipe organs. He is credited with 90% of the industry’s innovations during the first decade of the 20th century. The Great Auditorium Organ is the first and most famous instrument built by Hope Jones in America.

It is housed in 4 concrete chambers located directly behind the choir loft, the walls of which are 14” thick and about 25’ high. The swell shutters (visible on the upper left over the choir loft) are kind of like and look like huge Venetian blinds. They are positioned directly over the pipes making possible unusual dynamic control. The arched wooden ceiling behind the center of the choir loft acts as a sounding board, projecting the tones of the organ. The wind pressure is generated by 2 huge blowers in the basement. This organ was designed as an orchestral instrument. As such, it can produce many sounds of the orchestra including several percussion instruments (drums, etc.).

The organ was inaugurated on July 3, 1908 before an audience of 8,000. Recitals were given daily for the following 2 months by renowned American and British organists.

Major rebuilding was done to it in 1930 and in 1969 it was deemed necessary to completely rebuild and enlarge the instrument. This was a 5 year project and included a new 4-manual console. A substantial renovation took place between 2022 and 2023, after which the instrument was renamed the Hope-Jones/Shaw organ to honor the decades of contributions made by longtime curator John Shaw.

While this organ is no longer the largest in the U.S, it remains one of the most unique. Artist in Residence and Great Auditorium Organist Gordon Turk gives 2 recitals each week through the summers: Wednesday 7:30 P.M. and Saturday, 12 P.M. as well as playing for all worship services.