Keyboard Instruments
The Frederick Alexander Memorial Organ in Pease Auditorium was built by Æolian-Skinner in 1960 and was renovated and reinstalled by Jerroll Adams, Richard Houghten, and Jack Bethards in 2001. The organ is electro-pneumatic and has three manuals and pedal, 4,397 pipes, 82 ranks, and 59 stops. The organ is a representation of the American Classic style, with a particularly liquid sense of speech and blend among stops. Former EMU Organ Professor Erich Goldschmidt designed and voiced the instrument.
The mechanical-action performance organ in the Organ Recital Hall of the Alexander Music Building was built by Gabriel Kney in 1982. This organ has three manuals and pedal, 44 ranks and 33 stops. The organ is Neo-Baroque in character, featuring sharp speech, and a combination of German and French influences. Organ Professor Emerita Dr. Mary Ida Yost selected and supervised the installation of this instrument, which includes an interesting array of flute stops on the Positiv division.
The exquisite French double harpsichord in the Organ Recital Hall was built by Keith Hill in 2001. The harpsichord stops are 8', 8', 4', and a lute stop. The instrument is unusually resonant and has a colorful, voluptuous sound typical of eighteenth-century French harpsichords.In addition to these three main performance instruments, EMU owns several practice harpsichords and organs.
