For generations, musical artists have brought forth melodic beauty from the Salt Lake Tabernacle Organ. Now, a visual artist has reflected the physical beauty of the instrument in a series of 28 paintings.
Fred D. Howard formally presented the works to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir organization April 17 during a program and reception in the Tabernacle. The audience of invited guests included current and former artists, staff and leaders associated with the organization, as well as members of the artist's family.
Brother Howard, a judge in the 4th District Court of Utah comprising Juab, Millard, Utah and Wasatch counties, paints in his spare time.
Speaking to the audience, He told of having grown up loving to hear the choir's radio program "Music and the Spoken Word." He said it has been his blessing and opportunity years later to listen to the choir as his wife, Carolyn, has been among its members.
He said that some time ago, while sitting in the audience in the Tabernacle, he was stirred with the majesty of the organ and the choir. "As a part-time artist, I was intrigued with the extraordinary craftsmanship and beauty of the organ and thought how wonderful it would be to paint a series of studies on the organ itself."
He sought and was granted permission from choir president Mac Christensen, who asked him his purpose in painting the organ.
"Well, I hemmed and hawed my way out of the room and began the process," he said. "That process began roughly a year ago with simple studies and progressed to more elaborate depictions which you will be able to observe this evening. In process of time, it became clear to me that the paintings were to serve as a tribute and an honor to the choir and the great contributions of our present and past organists, who have given such wonderful and skilled service to the Church. And I'm hopeful that the paintings will be an enjoyable reminder to their families of that great contribution. We have all been blessed by that service."
Also speaking to the group was John Longhurst, who served as Tabernacle organist from 1977 to 2007. He was a key member of the committee that recommended the construction of an organ in the Conference Center, and he authored a book, Magnificent Opus, about the construction of that instrument.
"The Tabernacle Organ's imposing facade ranks as one of the most readily recognized symbols of the Church," he observed. "Its massive wooden case and array of gilded pipes has achieved iconic status both within and outside of the Church."
Brother Longhurst said that Mormon pioneer Joseph Ridges was still quite inexperienced when he undertook the original construction of the organ. He was skilled in cabinet making, his professional trade, and could build the wooden portions with confidence, including the making of wooden pipes, structural components, wind chests and the casework.
He traveled to Boston, Mass., at the time the center of organ building, to obtain needed parts and materials for the metal pipes. He was likely influenced by an exciting new instrument that was being installed in the Boston Music Hall, as evidenced by its similarity to the Tabernacle Organ.
However, "Ridges did not enjoy the luxury of black walnut," in building the organ case, Brother Longhurst said. "Rather, he made do with native pine, full-grained to give the appearance of hardwood."
He also fashioned the organ's 10 largest speaking pipes and its facade from pine, painted gold initially but later covered with an imitation gold leaf called Dutch gold. Not until the Tabernacle's renovation a few years ago was real 23 1/2 carat gold leaf used to cover the front pipes.
Later, at the urging of Tabernacle Organist John J. McCleallan, the Austin Organ Co. was contracted to enlarge the organ, extending it with 15-foot wings on each side, Brother Longhurst noted. It was specified that the additions in every detail were to correspond with the original instrument so that Tabernacle attendees would feel at home with the enlarged instrument.
That same thinking guided the construction of the organ for the Conference Center, Brother Longhurst said.
"After seeing the two cases side by side as they appear in my book about the Conference Center organ, a reader from France, noting the similarities, wrote asking if there is some particular aspect of Mormon theology that is reflected in the design of LDS organ facades," he said. "The point I'm trying to make is that the Conference Center Organ case is a fresh interpretation of the Tabernacle case. It is the 21st century offspring of a 19th century icon. They share common genes. Joseph Ridges' grand vision lives on in both organs and will continue to do so as long as both buildings stand."
Performing solos on the organ during the program were three of the current Tabernacle Organists: Andrew Unsworth, Clay Christiansen and Richard D. Elliott. Brother Christensen conducted the program, and Tabernacle Choir musical director Mack Wilberg introduced the speakers.
