It’s a Pipe Organ … and a “Casavant” originally was not a ‘what’ but a ‘who’!
Casavant Frères is a prominent organ building Canadian company in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, which has been building pipe organs since 1879. As of 2014, they have produced over 3,900 organs.
A Brief History of our Casavant:
The specifications of the organ were prepared by our organist and Music Director from 1954 to 1982 Kenneth Davis (1927-2017), in collaboration with J.O. Morel, representative of Casavant Frères. Much of the pipework came from Bridge Street United Church in Belleville, Ontario. Built by Casavant Frères of Ste. Hyacinthe, Quebec, the organ contains 2,441 pipes, 39 ranks, 46 speaking stops, two tremulants, plus couplers and pistons. The console is of the drawknob type and its action is electro-pneumatic.
The organ was dedicated during the church service on Sunday, April 7, 1957. Dr. David Ouchterlony from Timothy Eaton Memorial Church gave the Dedicatory Recital on April 9, 1957.
Our Music Director Sharon Beckstead confessed recently that among many things “the Clarinet stop on the Casavant” was what clinched the decision for her to join Leaside United Church in 1993. For over 24 years as our Music Director, Sharon has enjoyed experimenting and performing with this complex organ, a truly living, breathing component of our faith and worship experience.
Source: Excerpts from Fifty Years of Witness 1928-1978 Leaside United Church ® 1979
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