Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Table of Contents

The Margaret L. Wendt Memorial Organ
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
1080 Main Street, Buffalo, NY
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Official Web Site

Partial reprint
The Margaret L. Wendt Memorial Organ – King of Instruments
BRo Guest Authors
Buffalo Rising, October 15, 2019

Though Mozart knew many significant instruments of the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria at the time, none would compare to the recently renovated Margaret L. Wendt Memorial Organ of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Buffalo. Listed on several websites as the 28th largest organ in the world, it is by far the largest and most comprehensive organ in Buffalo, and is not outranked in New York State with exception to the instruments at the Riverside Church and St. Bartholomew in New York City, and the organ of the USMA Cadet Chapel at the West Point Military Academy.

The Margaret L. Wendt Memorial Organ boasts two antiphonal consoles: a 5-manual Chancel console and a 3-manual Gallery console which control an astounding 151 ranks of approximately 10,000 pipes.

Thanks to the generous support of the Wendt Foundation, major renovations were completed to the instrument in 2016 by Parsons Organ Builders of Canandaigua, NY. From 2014-2016, Parsons undertook a comprehensive re-working of the Chancel divisions, providing a new layout for improved tonal cohesion and access for service and periodic tuning. The project included an all-new 3-storey structure at the front of the nave housing swell boxes, windchests, blower motors, and pipes, and new keyboards and electronics for the Chancel console. One of the most notable features of the projects was the introduction of the “Bigham Tuba,” a solo rank named in honor of James Bigham, Holy Trinity’s illustrious organist-choirmaster from 1977 – 2017.

In 2019, the Chancel Console was dedicated in honor of Mr. Bigham and his significant legacy to Holy Trinity and the musical fabric of the City of Buffalo.

Since its recent debut, the instrument has garnered significant national attention, as has been played in concert by a number of the world’s leading virtuosos, most recently by international organ superstar, Chelsea Chen as part of the 2019 American Guild of Organists Northeast Regional Convention.