Featured performers at First-Centenary’s organ celebration concert are Dr. Walker Breland, left, retired UTC professor of music and the church’s organist emeritus, and David Patton, the current organist.First-Centenary United Methodist Church will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the installation of its Schantz organ console in a concert at 7 tonight, Jan. 16.
Noting its long and distinguished history of music-making, First-Centenary hired the Schantz Organ Co. in 1968 to build a pipe organ for its sanctuary at the corner of Lindsey Street and McCallie Avenue. The organ was built with three manuals and 42 ranks of pipes. In 1973, when the new sanctuary was completed, Schantz moved the organ without modifications to its new home.
In 1999, Schantz was commissioned again to replace the existing console and to make substantial additions to the organ, making it appropriate for a building of the size of First-Centenary and for the accompaniment of the many choirs and musical groups of the church. The organ has 3,428 pipes, which are organized into 60 ranks or sets. The pipes are made from an assortment of materials, including zinc, lead, tin and wood. The largest pipe in this instrument is 16 feet in length. By contrast, the smallest pipes are no larger than a pencil.
Tonight’s featured performers will be First-Centenary organist emeritus and retired UTC professor of music Dr. Walker Breland and current organist David Patton. The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, under the direction of guest conductor Jacob Harrison, will perform Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, by Charles-Camille Saints-Saëns, featuring Patton as the soloist.
Admission to the concert is free. For more information, call 423-756-2021.