Taylor Organ
The Taylor Organ was made possible by a gift in 2000 from Jane and Tom Taylor to the members of FPCO and the community at large. The pipe organ is one of the oldest musical instruments, representing the longest and largest continuous literature of any instrument. Indeed Mozart named it “the King of Instruments!” This new organ at FPCO is a unique combination of ancient organ building techniques and modern, digital technology. Patterned after the French Symphonic and American Classic styles, this instrument will be capable of playing the most demanding literature from the softest service music to the glorious concert repertoire. Equally at home in worship, solo, choral accompaniment, or to a complement full orchestra, the organ at FPCO dates from 1955, originally built by the Moller Company of Hagerstown, MD. We have used many of its best pipes and wind chests and have added new pipes from Northern Ireland, Czechoslovakia, as well as new pipes and chests from the Jim Lauck workshop in Michigan, who restored and installed the organ to its present state. There are 36 ranks of pipes numbering 2,196 individual pipes. This is supplemented by a vast array of digital voices which are sampled pipe stops from many of the finest organs in the world, including 3 ranks of Arp Schnitzger diapasons dating from the time of J.S. Bach. This entire apparatus is controlled by a new 4 Manual Custom Allen Renaissance™ console. Added together, the organ speaks with the equivalent of 163 ranks of pipes, making it one of the largest instruments in Florida! An unusual feature of this organ is the “floating” string division, which is playable from any manual and pedals. Patterned after the famed Skinner string sections in many of their larger installations, it speaks from either the front or rear of the church.
Dedicated in January, 2000, by renowned organist, Alan Morrison, the instrument stands as a testament to the majesty and beauty of God’s creation. The Taylor organ has and will continue to offer praise in worship, weddings, memorial services, concerts, and other special events that touch the lives of all who enter our sanctuary. J.S. Bach inscribed many of his compositions with the dedication “Soli Deo Gloria”…to God alone be the Glory. It is within this spirit that we strive to provide a suitable offering of excellence and adoration in the use of this magnificent instrument.