Built by Dirk A. Flentrop of Holland, the Benjamin N. Duke
Memorial Organ was completed in 1976, and is located in the
great arch separating the narthex and the nave. This tracker-action
instrument contains more than 5,000 speaking pipes, controlled
by four manual keyboards and pedal. There are two cases, connected
only by the key action and the wind supply: the main case and
the smaller Rugwerk division situated on the gallery rail.
The main case rises approximately 40 feet above the gallery
floor, and is made of solid mahogany painted in various hues
and accented with gold leaf. The gallery that supports the
organ is constructed of solid oak. Both tonally and visually,
the Flentrop organ reflects the techniques of Dutch and French
organ building in the 18th century.
At Mr. Flentrop’s suggestion, the acoustics of the
Chapel were improved to provide an ideal environment for the
organ. When the Chapel was first built, its acoustics were
deliberately deadened through the use of special sound-absorbing
stone tile. The absorptive tile was sealed, increasing the
maximum reverberation time, and a time-delay speech-reinforcement
system was installed to accommodate the spoken word.
The Benjamin N. Duke memorial organ contains 5,033 speaking
pipes, played by four manual keyboards and a pedal keyboard.
The main
case
houses
four divisions
of pipes; it rises approximately 40 feet above the gallery
floor and is only about 4-1/2 feet deep. A smaller case, located
on the gallery rail, houses one division of pipes; it is 10
feet high and 4 feet deep. The cases are made of solid African
mahogany, painted and decorated in gold leaf and harmonized
colors. The gallery, designed and built for this instrument
in Durham by William T. Muirhead, is constructed of solid oak
in the classical style.
The organ was first played publicly in an informal preview
for Duke University students on December 6, 1976, and in the
Sunday morning worship service on Founders Day, December 12,
1976. An inaugural recital was played at 5:00 that afternoon
by Fenner Douglass, University Organist at that time.
The Flentrop organ is used mainly for recitals and for hymns
and voluntaries at worship services and university events.
The organ gallery is not open to the public, but demonstration
concerts are presented most weekdays at 12:30 p.m. Recordings
of the Flentrop organ are on our CD
Recordings page.
