The Jaeckel Organ
Specifications | Stops and features | Construction | 1899 and 1999 | Dan Jaeckel
Dan Jaeckel
Dan Jaeckel was chosen to build the
new instrument after six months of intensive search by the organ
committee. Some 75 builders were considered and some or
all committee members visited organs across the country (Oregon,
Washington, California, New Mexico, Utah, Minnesota, Virginia,
Washington DC).
The qualities sought were:
Distinguishing Dan Jaeckel from other organ builders are the remarkable musical and technological talents he brings to his craft: Jaeckel is an accomplished organist, composer, and historian of liturgical music. He also has a background in math, engineering, and architecture. His musical knowledge and refined "ear" enable him to coax the finest "voice" and acoustical sounds out of his instruments.
In 1972, Jaeckel began his employment with the first of four builders of mechanical action organs; included was the organ building company Rieger Orgelbau in Austria.
In 1978, Jaeckel incorporated Jaeckel, Inc. in Duluth, Minnesota, with the express purpose of custom-designing and custom-building mechanical action pipe organs. The pipe organs he builds exhibit a clear understanding of the differences and strengths among varying organ building styles. Thus, both highly stylized organs as well as somewhat eclectic organs have been produced in his shop.
Since 1970, Jaeckel has undertaken extensive study almost yearly throughout Europe in order to understand and then build organs in the various organ styles which have existed from the 14th to the 20th centuries. Jaeckel, Inc. is recognized, more than any other builder, as having very successfully accomplished the building of stylized organs in various genres. Successful organ installations include various English, French, and German styles. Jaeckel has also been involved in the design of organs in the Spanish and Mexican traditions.
Since its formation in 1978, Jaeckel has built forty-three organs of various sizes and styles. Restorations have been successfully done within the guidelines of the US-based Organ Historical Society. In 1999, an 1875 mechanical action pipe organ was refurbished and installed in a new building in the Bahamas. Often, existing pipes and organ parts are reused in newly-constructed organs after a sensitive and thorough refurbishing of the historic items.
Mr. Jaeckel is a longtime member of the International Society of Organ Builders, the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society, and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders. A recent president of this I.S.O. (and, of course, a bidding competitor at various times) described Jaeckel to the other organ builders at an I.S.O. conference as "the rising star to watch in the world of organ building."
Jaeckel undertook undergraduate university curricula in mathematics, civil engineering, music, and education. Undergraduate degrees were in education and music. Graduate degree curricula included organ performance, choral conducting, music composition, and acoustics.