On the building of organs, and of those who build them

A number of student organists in Victoria during the mid-1970s worked for local organ builder, Hugo Spilker. We loved playing the organ — I speak here of large instruments placed in downtown churches, many comprising four manuals and a pedal division — These were not small electronic substitutes which proliferate where I live today in the BC interior. They were great fun to play, and we were privileged to learn and practice on them.

A stubborn Dutchman by heritage and aptitude, Hugo’s mission in life was to help smaller churches own their own pipe organ. No electronic substitutes for Hugo. He made organs affordable though not necessarily long lived; few remain in action today. Alongside this construction work was the regular tuning and maintenance of all Victoria’s organs. A number of students dating back to the early 1960s  worked through each summer holding notes, moving ladders, and sometimes learning the art of tuning. I was unsuccessful at this, sadly.

Over time, we were made aware of the great historic organs of Western Europe and throughout North America. We also discovered the great builders of the day — Harrison and Harrison, Willis, and Walker in the UK; Flentrop in Holland, Klais and Rieger in Germany, and Aeolian Skinner in the US. And of course, Cassavant Freres and Karl Wilhelm in Quebec, and at the time, Gabriel Kney in Ontario.

Organs are complex machines, each in their own way honouring a centuries-old tradition of crafters. To see the hot metal poured (tin, zinc, and copper), to experience the woodshop in action, saws and drills and worker banter, to watch a console being intricately wired, to hear pipes start to sound, it’s a glorious production process. Some make this their life vocation as it seems do many at C B Fisk in the USA.

Enjoy the story below published on the American builder Fisk Facebook page. Explore the profiles of instruments installed all over the world. In those places where music is appreciated and money is abundant we can thank God, literally, for this glorious sound emanating from what some still call the “King of Instruments.”

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Introducing David Pike!

The picture above (from 1989) is David at the console of the 1885 Cavaillé-Coll organ at St. Etienne in Caen, Normandy, France. 

David started at Fisk in November 1976. Though he’s now semi-retired, he recently celebrated his 49th anniversary at Fisk. He built furniture with his father as a teenager and is an organist with classical training. While working toward a degree in Music Theory with an emphasis in organ at the Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY), David did maintenance for the practice and studio organs at the school.

By the time he graduated he knew he wanted to be an organ builder.

Until recently, David was the Music Director for St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Rockport. He held the position for 40 years! He also studies Spanish and enjoys traveling – especially to Costa Rica.

While the repetitive nature of organ building is sometimes tedious, David says, “Organ building combines science and art in a way that I’ve always felt really suits me.  There’s no other profession like it.  At Fisk, we create beautiful musical instruments that will last for centuries.  I’ve had opportunity to travel to many parts of the globe and spend significant time in each place.  I’ve been very fortunate to work with such terrific people for nearly 50 years now.”

Having semi-retired in December 2024, David and his partner, Linda (who has worked at Fisk longer than he has), spend 6 months of the year at their home in Chontales in the Southern Pacific Zone of Costa Rica.

If you’d like to know more about our team follow along for more employee spotlights or check out our team bios at https://cbfisk.com/staff/

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