Curtis Organ: A musical gem

The organ is the ninth largest in the world; few know about it The huge room reverberated with Bach's majestic "Toccata and Fugue," as concert organist Justin Hartz pounded away at the organ. But the awe-inspiring grandeur of the historic organ, which is the ninth largest in the world, nearly overwhelmed his notes. Located in Irvine Auditorium, the Curtis Organ's more than 10,000 steel and wood pipes and four keyboards blend in with the building's French gothic painting and design. But the sound actually comes from pipes in chambers hidden behind the decorative pipes lining Irvine's walls. The Curtis Organ, which was donated to the University in 1929 by Cyrus Curtis, can be controlled by computer and has a myriad of different inner mechanisms. "Just the air chambers are bigger than a four-bedroom quad in the High Rises, and the motor is so big, it makes the lights in the room dim," according to Kevin Chun, director of the Curtis Organ Restoration Society, which was founded in 1972. Chun added that there are many volunteers who help contribute to the organ's restoration and success, including the society itself, a nonprofit organization comprised of 11 members who meet once a week to make adjustments to the instrument. Its members are graduates and undergraduates from all schools at the University as well as volunteers from the community. "People give of their time because they find the instrument that interesting," Chun explained, adding that the group is the most successful amateur pipe organ society in the country. Besides restoring the organ, the society sponsors concerts, tours and holds free weekly recitals every Tuesday at noon. The recitals are attended by students, faculty and other community members, gathering the largest audience for noontime organ concerts in the city, Chun said. Hartz is just one of the organists who play periodically at the shows, Chun said. Many of the other performers are from the Curtis Institute of Music where many famous musicians have studied. "Anyone who is willing and competent can perform," Chun added. Engineering senior Michael Mirmak has been a member of the society for four years. "I've been interested in the pipe organ ever since I was a little kid," he said. "The sound is the most majestic thing you've ever heard." Mirmak is not an organist, but he is active in the repair of the organ and helps conduct tours. Although the University administration gives a lot of verbal support to the organ and the society, financial support and practice time allotted to the organists is limited. "The organ really needs cleaning, but all that is being worked into the upcoming renovation [for the Perelman Quad]," Chun said. According to both Chun and Mirmak, many people do not recognize the significance of the organ. "A lot of students overlook it until they leave school," Chun said. "The first time they hear it is for freshman convocation, and the last time is for their baccalaureate. The organ has been a part of these Penn ceremonies since 1929." The society will present its annual showing of the original silent version of "Phantom of the Opera," with live organ accompaniment, on Halloween night. The fund raiser is sponsored in conjunction with the Penn Film Society.