Section Meeting Report
by Gary Louie, Secretary
April 17, 2000

Tour of the Paul Fritts Organ Builders
and the
Gottfried and Mary Fuchs Pipe Organ
at Pacific Lutheran University
Presented by Paul Fritts

The PNW section gathered on Saturday, February 5, 2000 at Lagerquist Concert Hall on the campus of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. Over 44 people came to view the magnificent Gottfried and Mary Fuchs pipe organ, originally costing one million dollars. PNW chair Aurika Hays opened the meeting and had everyone briefly introduce themselves. Then PLU music professor David Dahl described the organ.

Handouts with the organ's specifications were given out: 3,849 pipes, traditional tracker action, 30,000 hours of labor, 2 years to construct, 54 stops, 4 divisions and keyboards, weight 8 tons. Builder Paul Fritts spoke about the construction of the organ, his shop's largest project to date. They built nearly every part, except hardware items like screws and small metal parts for the key action. The blower, a one horsepower turbine, was imported from Germany. Inspiration for this organ came from baroque north German and Dutch instruments. The case is built of local reclaimed old growth fir; elaborate basswood carvings adorn the case, carved by Paul's sister Jude. Paul mentioned that university organs can be decorated more stylishly than church organs, which sometimes have more decoration constraints.

Professor Dahl then "pulled out all the stops" and played while the acoustic wall curtains were raised, lengthening the reverberation time to one better suited to the organ. He then played a mini recital program of several short pieces, which demonstrated various aspects of the organ's capabilities and the room acoustics. Attendees were encouraged to walk around the hall, which normally seats 534, to hear the acoustics from various areas. PNW Chair Aurika Hays pulled "rank" and requested Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Afterwards, questions were fielded while attendees went, 8 at a time, up the spiral stairs to the gallery keydesk.

The next phase of the meeting moved 12 blocks east to the timber-framed shop of the Paul Fritts and Co. Organ Builders. The shop is one of about 20 firms in the country which builds completely custom "tracker" or mechanical-action organs, as opposed to electric or pneumatic actuation. This means the action allowing air to pass to the pipes is purely mechanical. The design of the tracker organ hasn't changed much since medieval times. Pressing a key activates a series of levers, springs and push rods that let the air pass to the pipes. A "tracker" is a thin strip of pine that connects the key to the valve in the windchest. The distance between the keys and the pipes can exceed 30 feet.

Paul Fritts is a Tacoma native. He had formed a partnership with Ralph Richards, and the Fritts-Richards shop built eight organs from 1986-89. The partnership was reorganized as a sole proprietorship at the end of 1989. Paul has earned a worldwide reputation for excellent wood craftsmanship and attention to detail. The installation at Pacific Lutheran University is the 21st instrument to be built by the firm. The group has built or renovated organs in churches, universities and private homes all over the country, including St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle, Grace Lutheran Church in Tacoma, the University of Washington, Arizona State University and Stanford University's Memorial Church. Future projects include an organ for Princeton Theological Seminary, a "Bach" Central German inspired organ for Vassar College, a chapel organ for St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle and a major recital organ for Notre Dame University.

Attendees had some refreshments while they viewed the birth of the company's next project being constructed now in the shop. Paul Fritts, two of his employees and David Dahl answered many questions about the construction of organs, as attendees viewed the shop areas for woodworking and pipe manufacturing. Fritts commented on many aspects of the business, from design to promotion, construction schedules, and the growth of his shop and improvements to their designs and techniques. He described in detail the hand forming and tuning of metal pipes, and the sheet metal casting done in the shop. Entire organs are completely constructed in the soaring cathedral-like shop, then disassembled and shipped to the customer. Months are spent voicing the organ on the final site.

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Last modified 11/4/2001.