News by Lane Bjelkevig Thompson estimated that the power is equal to that of a 200-piece orchestra.

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous News | Send mail to The Voice New pipe organ will blow away MBC sports competition The new pipe organ recalls a time before hip-hop music and synthesesizers.-Mark Hinkleman, photo Art Thompson, resident computer expert and volunteer, is the main contributor to Multnomah Bible College and Biblical Seminary's latest major development: a theater pipe organ in Lytle Gym. Various contributors have donated the organ, which has cost MBC next to nothing. Parts for the organ have come from Pleasantville, Calif., where the original core was built, and from NewYork. A few parts have been salvaged or restored from other regions of the country. All labor has been a volunteer effort by Thompson. The pipe organ, originally called a unit orchestra, is located in a fire-proof compartment upstairs in the corner of the gym. The original organ has been considerably improved, doubling its size and making it more versatile. Thompson estimated that the power is equal to that of a 200-piece orchestra. He said some of the horns can be as loud as those on a locomotive. "The english horn," according to Thompson, "will peel paint off the wall. This is definitely not your grandmother's organ." Thompson has loved the theater pipe organ ever since he first heard one. Through research using the Internet, he discovered that the theater pipe organ is the loudest and largest instrument ever made. It was originally developed in the 1920s for silent movie theaters but was later adopted into sporting arenas, skating rinks and stadiums. The organ made games more exciting. Thompson hopes to generate excitement during MBC basketball games and also to make it hard for opposing players to hear the coach during timeouts when one minute remains and the game is tied. He pointed out the bass pipes directly over the visitor's bench. "On the right note," Thompson said, "one end of the roof rattles violently, and we don't yet know how to fix it." Coach Reese said, "[I hope] people will be drawn in by the organ and fall in love with the game." The new organ will carry a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), a unique characteristic that will enable the organ to play every popular song ever written. The MIDI uses disks on which songs have been downloaded from the Internet. Once the disk is inserted, the MIDI will convert the instruments used in the song to instruments the organ can imitate. With this technology, Multnomah will not need an organist. However, Thompson said that he would like to bring in a few organists to play at the basketball games. He also said that he will be able to record the organists' performances. Thompson expects to complete the organ in November. It will be the first theater pipe organ to be built in the United States in the past 80 years. MBC will be one of three colleges in the country with a theater pipe organ. The other two colleges are Oregon State University and Long Island University. Another plus for MBC is that organs of this kind require little maintenance. Thompson said, "These types of organs can be played for 50 to 60 years before any real major work is needed." Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous News | Top Of Page Send mail to The Voice| Journalism department website © 2002 The Voice. No part of this publication may be reproduced in written or electronic form without prior written consent from the journalism adviser of Multnomah Bible College. All rights reserved.