The great organ of the Louisville Memorial Auditorium, Louisville, Kentucky, was played for the first time during a program by Donnie Rankin on October 29, after an extensive period of silence. Henry Pilcher’s Sons Opus 1454, a four-manual, 80-rank organ, the largest organ of this builder, was completed in 1929, its pipework distributed around the four corners of the large auditorium. Despite neglect over the past half century, the organ has been made playable in recent decades largely through volunteer labor and donations for some materials.
During an ice storm in February 2015 leakage infiltrated the Orchestral division, causing severe damage to chestwork. The pipework of this division has been removed, and work in this area has been suspended to allow continued restoration of other divisions. The recent recital was co-sponsored by the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society and the Louisville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Additional programs are in the planning stages. Donations may be sent to the William H. Bauer Foundation, 970 S. Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky, 40203. For more information: www.facebook.com/worldslargestpilcher.
Pictured are Malcolm Kelly (right), descendent of Pilcher organbuilding family, with Donnie Rankin (left)
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