The Department of Music installs a new organ

BYU-Idaho music students have a reason to celebrate: A brand-new state-of-the-art pipe organ has been installed on campus, offering an unprecedented opportunity for organ majors and music students alike to practice on a top-quality instrument that rivals some of the top universities in the country.

The organ, which is housed in the Eliza R. Snow Performing Arts Center, is a replica of the university’s existing Ruth H. Barrus Concert Hall organ and offers students an opportunity to rehearse for performances and devotionals under conditions that closely approximate actual performance.

For both music faculty and students, this shift has elevated the quality of practice and education for the department quantifiably.

BYUI student performs in the BYU-Idaho Center Photo Credit: BYU-Idaho Photo Gallery

David Djambov, a senior organ performance major, enjoys the opportunity to practice on an organ similar to the one in the Barrus Concert Hall and the BYU-Idaho Center.

It’s such a beautiful room that’s dedicated to rehearsal and practice,” said Djambov. “There’s a twin down below of the (BYU-Idaho Center) organ. This is a great blessing to have this on campus.”

The plan for a second organ began years ago. Director of the organ program, Dr. Daniel Kerr, began seriously planning in 2019 after visiting other university programs and developing blueprints to fit BYUI’s needs.

“We looked at what did work with them, scaled it to what would be right here, and then bid out with organ companies,” said Dr. Kerr. “It took time to raise the money, but it was worth it.”

Students assisting in organ installation Photo Credit: Dr. Daniel Kerr

With 635 pipes and 11 ranks, the organ is not just a practice piece—Dr. Kerr describes it as an instructional instrument. The buttons and ranks give students the chance to preset groups of sound beforehand so that it is easier to recreate live concert pieces.

From a spire flute to an oboe or a diapason, the instrument can simulate many varied timbres, meaning organists have the ability to orchestrate whole musical compositions.

“Various sounds can be done in the middle of your piece,” Dr. Kerr said. “Various ones can even be combined by matching–each one of them can be paired up.”

This versatility makes it especially handy for students playing challenging accompaniment parts in choirs or devotionals. The new organ has multiple keyboards and a pedalboard, allowing performers to layer up sounds and replicate a series of instruments at once.

“You can play up to four keyboards simultaneously,” Djambov shared. “It’s just to play different and like the sounds of different instruments just at the same time.”

Student assisting in organ installation Photo Credit: Dr. Daniel Kerr

Not only was the installation a professional effort, but the students gained an opportunity to assist with this.

“I helped get some pipes off the truck,” Djambov said. “Other students helped the builders get the pipes onto the chest … it was really kind of neat to be a part of.”

This instrument will be useful not just for organ majors, but for all music students.

The new organ is also attracting students who might not otherwise have considered learning to play it. Djambov supported how simple it can be.

“Take one class, perhaps two,” Dr. Kerr said. “Even if you play only hymns or prelude music, you’ll be a huge asset to your ward.”

The organ is built to duplicate the layout in the concert hall below, so students can rehearse the physical movement and dance of performance—things critical to coordination on an instrument so large. Even volume control box and stop placement are duplicated.

With the new organ now in place, BYUI has cemented its reputation as a university that not only offers the basics, but excellence in music education. Dr. Kerr and other faculty members continue to offer rigorous training, and students now have the tools to do so.

“We have great faculty and great instruments,” Djambov said. “It’s a pleasure doing this, and it’s a great blessing.”

BYU-Idaho Center organ Photo Credit: BYU-Idaho Photo Gallery

The organ is fully functional for practice and lessons, and interested students wishing to learn more about the program are encouraged to contact the Department of Music for information regarding introductory courses.

Feature image: Two musicians playing the organ. Photo Credit: BYU-Idaho Photo Gallery

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