Randall Dyer & Associates, Inc.

In addition to being an instrument of "sound", a pipe organ can be a tactile object of art, much like sculpture or a stained glass window. Fine hardwoods used in the organ and console case, finished with rich stains and hand-rubbed to a smooth finish, are only the start of an elegant appearance.

Generally, we select a wood for the organ casing that is already present in the room, and use a color sample from existing furniture to make the organ blend in as if it had always been there. Moldings, screens and pipe shade designs are all chosen to blend and enhance.

The physical layout of the pipes in our facades often reflects the layout of the divisions, and is nearly always "formal". Most installations are fronted with speaking pipes of the Great and Pedal Principals, frequently in polished tin. Not only is the tone of a tin pipe richer, but its appearance is free of the annoying spots frequently seen on pipes where the organ is functionally exposed in a "flower box" manner.

Because of ongoing problems with electrolytic zinc, we use a specially finished aluminum for larger pipes, and horizontally mounted reeds are of copper, either polished or flamed.

The details of our consoles are equally well thought out. Keyboards may be of maple, polished bone, or ivory, with rosewood sharps - a distinctly better feel than the plastic used on many consoles.

Drawknobs are of hand-turned polished walnut, with ivory colored faces and black legends for easy reading. A.G.O. style pedalboards, expression pedals and manual and toe pistons are all laid out for the comfort and convenience of the organist. Our Micro-Processor based relay and combination system provides multiple memory levels, transposing, record and playback and MIDI features, all at no extra cost.

Our organ at the First United Methodist Church, in Frankfort, Kentucky is installed in a building that dates to 1856. To complement the period furnishings, the organ case was constructed of honduras mahogany in a dark finish. The pipe shade grilles are made of natural red oak, with carved circular Christian symbols, enhancing the restored Christ portrait, long an important visual feature of the room.