Perhaps nothing has contributed more to the renowned reputation of Rodgers then the company's dedication to creating superb church organs with real windblown pipes.
The history and priorities of the company have been significantly influenced by the invention of the Rodgers Pipe Combination Organ. Churches around the world have embraced this technology since the concept was first introduced by Rodgers in 1972. For two decades, Rodgers stood alone in the organ industry as the sole champion of the idea of combining pipes and electronic sounds.
Today, every builder of digital organs and most builders of pipe organs, build pipe combination instruments. It is clear that Rodgers’ courageous position taken in the early 1970’s has been proven right. More than 4,000 Rodgers combination pipe organs have been built to serve the musical requirements of institutions around the world - a number far surpassing the sum of all competitors’ installations in the realm of combination organ building.
Since those early days, Tadlock & Associates have completed numerous pipe combination installations.
We have the experience, the staff, and the facilities to handle any kind of pipe or combination organ project, from a brand new custom pipe organ to a rebuild and expansion of existing pipe organs to a new combination pipe/digital organ utilizing Rodger’s newest Masterpiece Technology.
The specialists at Tadlock & Associates will work with you to design the appropriate instrument to serve your musical needs now, and for generations to come.
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
St. Simons Island, Georgia
In 2010, Lord of Life Lutheran Church on St. Simons Island completely renovated its 150 seat sanctuary.
Originally the sanctuary had wall to wall carpeting on the floor, sound absorbing material on the ceiling and unsealed concrete blocks on the walls. The renovation included the removal of the ceiling tiles and the installation of a sealed wood ceiling. The walls were covered with stucco and sealed, and after the carpeting was removed, the original hardwood floors were refinished and sealed. The result is a space with superb acoustics for worship.
For many years, the church desired the sound of an actual pipe organ to support the liturgy. It was decided that the organ would part of a major renovation project to the building. After evaluating the cost of a complete pipe organ and realizing that the same sound could be created with just a few ranks of pipes combined with superb digital samples procured from Rodgers extensive library of sounds, the church chose a 2 manual Rodgers organ, the equivalent of 60 ranks of pipes, and combined that with four ranks of actual windblown pipes.
Under the direction of James Freeman, the pipes were designed in beautiful handcrafted casework to surround the chancel window above the altar.
There are eight pipe stops derived from the four ranks of pipes. They are:
PIPES STOPS
Principal 8' (79 pipes) Great - Princ 8' and Super Octave 2' / Pedal - Octave 8'
Rohrflote 8' (85 pipes) Great - Rohrflote 8' and Waldflote 2'
Octave 4' (61 pipes) Great - Octave 4' / Pedal - Choral bass 4'
Koppelflote 4' (61 pipes) Great - Koppelflote 4'
All of the components to the organ are located within the casework. The manual speakers are positioned behind the pipes and speak straight up using the ceiling and rear wall to project sound into the room. The sub-woofers are located inside the case and speak through grilled openings in the case side panels into the masonry walls to project the bass. The organ operates on 3-1/4 wind pressure.
The organ speaks with great warmth and clarity in supporting both the choral and congregational aspects of worship. It is also an outstanding recital instrument in a space that feels both intimate and at the same time, spacious.
Gulf Shores United Methodist Church
Gulf Shores, Alabama
In the Fall of 2006, our technicians completely restored and interfaced 17 ranks of Reuter pipes at Gulf Shores United Methodist Church with a new Rodgers Masterpiece Organ.
The church's Reuter Organ, which was just over 10 years old, had been severely damaged in Hurricane Ivan in 2004, when the roof was blown off of the church and water poured down into the organ chambers.
The pipes were removed and dried, new wind chests were built and the organ was completely restored and enlarged with a new Rodgers console.
The new Rodgers/Reuter Organ is comprised of 104 digital ranks and 17 ranks of live Reuter pipes. The result is an exciting instrument in which the voicing between the pipe and digital portions of the organ is cohesive, uniform and undetectable.
This, one of our warmer and more engaging church organs, supports both choral and congregational singing. It is also a superb recital instrument.
St. Andrew Baptist Church
Panama City, Florida
From the old “Church on the Hill” with its wood-fired heating system and its first organ purchased for $40, St. Andrew Baptist Church has enjoyed a rich history of good music using church organs. As the church grew the need for a large space for worshippers was realized and along with this was the dream of having a real pipe organ. Working with the architects and the church building committee, Tadlock & Associates was able to help make this dream a reality.
Dedicated by renowned organist, Diane Bish, the St. Andrew's Rodgers combination organ is of an American classic specification. It is comprised of 67 stops and and three percussions on three manuals and controls 17 ranks of live, wind-blown pipes. The pipes are controlled by stops on the great, choir and pedal divisions and include the 8’ Principal, 4’ Octave, 2’ Super Octave, 8’ Gemshorn, 8’ Rohrflote, 8’ Gedackt, 1-1/3 Nasat, 1-3/5 Tierce, IV-V Mixture and III-IV Scharf. The specification is further enlarged by Rodgers virtual pipe sounds. In addition, the organ contains a full antiphonal organ and a Trompette En Chamade, both speaking from the rear of the sanctuary.
Listen For Yourself!
Compare the sounds of one of the world's most famous pipe organs, the Walcker Pipe Organ (David Ogletree, Organist) at Methuen Memorial Music Hall, Methuen, Massachusetts, with a Rodgers Masterpiece Organ (Doug Marshall, Organist) in the following video:
