Spreckels Organ Pavilion

Coordinates: 32°43′46″N 117°09′02″W / 32.729391°N 117.150452°W / 32.729391; -117.150452

Spreckels Organ Pavilion

Organ concert at the pavilion, February 1915
General information
Type Pipe organ
Location Balboa Park, San Diego, California
Address 1549 El Prado #10
San Diego, CA 92101
Construction started 1914
Completed 1914
Opened December 31, 1914
Cost Organ: $33,500 ($800,995 today)
Pavilion: $66,500 ($1,590,035 today)
Height 75 feet (23 m)
Design and construction
Architect Harrison Albright
Main contractor Wurster Construction Company
Other information
Seating type Metal benches
Seating capacity 2,500
Website
http://spreckelsorgan.org/

Spreckels Organ Pavilion houses the open-air Spreckels Organ in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. The Spreckels Organ is the world's largest pipe organ in a fully outdoor venue. Constructed for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, it is located at the corner of President's Way and Pan American Road East in the park.

History

John D. Spreckels, son of sugar magnate Claus Spreckels, was one of the wealthiest residents in San Diego County. He supported the Panama-California Exposition, and during its construction, he and his brother Adolph B. Spreckels gave the organ pavilion as a gift to "the people of San Diego" and "the people of all the world" on December 31, 1914.[1] They donated $33,500 ($800,995 today) for the organ and $66,500 ($1,590,035 today) for the pavilion.[1] After Spreckels' announcement, a local orchestra performed Jacques Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld which was then followed by a 250-person chorus that sang pieces from Joseph Haydn's oratorio, The Creation.[2]

On July 27, 1915, former president Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech at the organ pavilion in front of nearly 19,000 people. He touched on topics about world peace and his desire for the United States to maintain a minimum of 200,000 military members.[3] He also requested that San Diegans permanently keep the temporary buildings set up for the exposition.[4] Former president William Howard Taft also spoke at the pavilion to over 7,000 people on September 16, 1915. Taft commended the city on the architecture used for the exposition buildings.[5]

John D. Spreckels also donated the services of renowned organist Humphrey John Stewart for the two-year run of the exposition. After the exposition, Spreckels extended Stewart's contract. When Spreckels died in 1926, the pavilion was used for his memorial service.[6]

The U.S. Navy borrowed Balboa Park during World War II, and no organ concerts were played during 1942–1948.[7] During the 1970s and 1980s, the pavilion fell into disuse and risked being demolished. Around $1.1 million was raised for repairs by the early 1980s from the city and a local non-profit.[7]

Design

Initially, Bertram Goodhue's plans for Balboa Park for the Panama-California Exposition included a music pavilion that would be located north of Plaza de Panama.[8] After Brazil decided not to participate with a building in the exposition, the pavilion was built at its site instead.[8] Spreckels chose Harrison Albright to design the organ pavilion. Albright was a self-taught Los Angeles architect, who previously designed the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego. The semi-circular pavilion was built by the F. Wurster Construction Company in an ornate Italian-Renaissance design. The organ was built by Austin Organs, Inc. as their Opus #453. It has 80 ranks totaling 5,017 pipes and faces north to protect the pipes from the sunlight. The audience therefore faces south. Commercial airplane landings at San Diego International Airport occasionally compete with the organ's sound.[9]

During the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, the stage size was doubled and a fountain added.[1] The fountain can be lit at night and is modeled after one in Chapultepec Park in Mexico City.[1] In 1981 the pavilion was restored, and in 2002 the organ was expanded from 3,400 to 4,518 pipes. In 2015, the organ was expanded to 80 ranks and 5,017 pipes. San Diego's Spreckels Organ is now the world's largest pipe organ in a fully outdoor venue, although western New York has the larger Massey Memorial Organ in an open-air auditorium with a roof.[9]

Concerts and events

Free organ concerts are given each Sunday afternoon, sponsored by San Diego Parks and Recreation Department, the Spreckels Organ Society and private donations. On Monday evenings in the summer, The Spreckels Summer International Organ Festival is also presented by the Spreckels Organ Society. During the summer on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays, "Twilight in the Park" provides mixed popular concerts. The annual December Nights celebration is performed on the Spreckels stage.[10]

On August 31, 2014, Drive Like Jehu reunited for a performance at the pavilion, accompanied by Civic Organist Carol Williams. The collaboration was facilitated by the Spreckels Organ Society board of directors. The novelty of playing with the accompaniment of the organ was a key factor in bringing the band back together.[11]

Civic Organists of San Diego

A Sunday afternoon concert with Carol Williams in December 2013. Nativity scene displays are present in the background in the small green sheds.
A Monday evening concert in 2008

Organ Curators

References

Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 Amero, Richard. "The Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park". San Diego History Center. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014.
  2. ↑ Amero (2013), p. 51
  3. ↑ Amero (2013), p. 93
  4. ↑ Pourade (1965), p. 197
  5. ↑ Amero (2013), p. 99
  6. ↑ Christman (1985), p. 74
  7. 1 2 Steele, Jeanette (December 31, 2004). "At 90, the Spreckels pipes are fine". UT San Diego. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014.
  8. 1 2 Amero (2013), p. 45
  9. 1 2 3 Whitney, Craig R. (April 28, 2007). "With Jets Providing Accompaniment, a Rare City Treasure Stands Exposed". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014.
  10. ↑ Figuracion, Inigo. "Balboa Park's December Nights 2012". About Travel. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  11. ↑ Varga, George (August 19, 2014). "Drive Like Jehu Reunites After 19 years". U-T San Diego. Archived from the original on November 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Spreckels Organ Pavilion". Balboa Park. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
Bibliography
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