Massey Memorial Organ

The Massey Memorial Organ is located on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York. It is the largest outdoor pipe organ in the world, with 5,640 pipes.^[1] The organ was built in Chautauqua's 5,000-seat wooden Amphitheater and was dedicated in 1907. The instrument was a donation from the Massey family of Toronto.

History

Beginning in late 1992 and completed in June 1993, the organ was reconstructed by the Fischer Pipe Organ Company of Erie, PA. A video documentary showing the instrument's 1992-1993 re-construction was made by Rochester Institute of Technology student Fred Rueckert. In 2003, a 32' Bombarde stop was added to the instrument by Fischer Pipe Organ Company. This specialized organ stop, was donated to Chautauqua Institution by Rueckert, in memory of his grandparents and his college project.

During the Chautauqua season, which runs from late June to late August, there are recitals on the Massey Organ most Wednesdays by organist Jared Jacobsen. There are also tours of the organ and "Children's Encounter" programs on alternating Sunday evenings.^[2]

References

1. ^ "Last free Sunday during the 135th Chautauqua season". The Observer. August 23, 2008. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60QWCfqtr. 
2. ^ Vidaver, Lois (August 2007). "One Hundred Years of Massey Magic". FindArticles. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7161/is_200708/ai_n32235492/. Retrieved July 24, 2011.