The Rildia Bee O'Bryan Cliburn Organ

Since its founding in 1882, Broadway Baptist Church's inspiring music ministry has become an integral part of the church's life. The Rildia Bee O'Bryan Cliburn Organ ensures that the rich tradition will continue into the next century.

This magnificent instrument has been made possible through the dedication, support, and vision of the entire Broadway family. In keeping with their desire to share and serve, the members offer the organ as a gift to God and to the community.

The Cliburn Organ was handcrafted by Casavant Frères Limitée, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. Established in 1879, Casavant is one of the significant builders of fine pipe organs in North America.

The organ is the largest that Casavant has built, and it is the largest organ in Texas. It also is the largest organ of French aesthetics in the world, reflecting the basic design concept of the 18th and 19th century French organ builders.

Designed for use in worship, organ solo concerts, and symphonic concerts, the organ stands among the finest pipe organs in the world. Its sound is full, warm, vital, and vibrant in color.

The Cliburn Organ makes a powerful statement about worship, the first priority of the church. In its most profound role as an aid to worship, the organ helps us to become more receptive to God. It literally helps us to explore the mysteries of God by unlocking our hearts. Sounds of the organ have the capacity to set the mood for worship and to prepare us for new and life-changing encounters with God.

In addition to worship services, the organ is available to accompany community programs, hymn festivals, choral groups of all ages, weddings, funerals, recitals, concerts, and celebrations.

The Cliburn Organ add another jewel to Fort Worth's cultural crown, along with the Fort Worth Dallas Ballet, the Fort Worth Opera, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall, the Texas Boys' Choir, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and the Amon Carter, Kimbell, and Modern Art Museums.

Music has been defined as an aperture, a window through which we can better see the glory of God. The Rildia Bee O'Bryan Cliburn Organ greatly enhances the clarity and quality of Broadway's spiritual vision.

The front organ console at Broadway To see a larger view, click on the photo

The Cliburn Organ's pipes, two consoles, and oak cases were crafted to fit the grand proportions of the sanctuary's modified Gothic architecture. With a reverberation time of over five seconds, the sanctuary is a near perfect acoustical environment for the organ.

Two unique features of the organ are the horizontal trumpets in the front and back of the sanctuary and the addition of a Bombarde division specifically designed to play with orchestral forces.

Opus 3750 is an electro-pneumatic instrument, a type of organ Casavant began making in 1904. When an organist plays a note, electrical circuitry carries the impulse to open a valve, thus letting air into the pipe, as opposed to mechanical action (tracker) instruments in which the keys are attached by mechanical linkage to valves admitting air into the pipes.

The electro-pneumatic instrument was chosen because of the placement of the instrument in two areas of the sanctuary. This type of instrument also allows the front console to be moved to several locations for a variety of programs. Any combination of the 10,615 pipes is playable from either one or both of the five-manual (keyboard) consoles located at each end of the sanctuary.

Unlike most large organs that are built and installed in stages over many years, the Cliburn Organ was designed as a complete instrument. It was built and installed over a two-year period.

The rear organ console at Broadway To see a larger view, click on the photo

Casavant's skilled artisans painstakingly made by hand and assembled both the chancel and antiphonal organs at their shop in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec. They used the most beautiful woods to build the Cliburn Organ - red oak for the consoles and cases; maples for the swell boxes and pedals; yellow poplar for the wooden pipes, chests and reservoirs; and rosewood and ebony for the keys. Tin and zinc alloys were used to make the metal pipes.

Construction of the antiphonal organ began in February 1994. Physical installation was completed in February 1995, and the tonal finishers complete voicing the instrument in April 1995. It was first played on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1995.

Installation of the chancel organ began in early February 1996 and was completed the first week of May 1996. The tonal finishers arrived in May and completed voicing the chancel instrument in September 1996. The entire organ was first played on Friday, October 11, 1996.