Texas A&M International
University
Laredo,
Texas
In August, 2003, Texas A&M International University
at Laredo
opened its new Recital Hall, part of the new, large Center for Fine and
Performing Arts complex. It was the dream of University President Dr.
Ray Keck that the new hall have a fine pipe organ specially designed
for its needs. On July 23, 2006, his dream was realized. Known as the Sharkey-Corrigan Pipe Organ, the
new organ is the gift of the E.
H. Corrigan Foundation and its president, E. H. Corrigan, in memory of
Mr. Corrigan's mother.
After a national search, the Kegg company was chosen to build this
landmark instrument, and we are most honored. The new organ is 69
ranks and 52 stops. Global in the heritage of its resources, the
approach to the flexible use of those resources is decidedly
American. The tonal scheme seeks not to simply reproduce sounds
from any historic period, but to give the instrument its own voice with
the integrity to convey with conviction the musical language of
composers of all eras to contemporary listeners. For this
instrument we have taken care to provide four complete flue and reed
choruses that are specially designed, scaled and voiced to let the
music of J. S. Bach and his contemporaries sing and sparkle with
life. The same resources, blended in different ways, create a
versatile romantic instrument well capable of dialogue with a full
orchestra, accompanying choral ensembles, and the wide dynamic range of
romantic and contemporary organ literature.
As with many recent Kegg instruments, the Solo division has
a Solo Diapason IV, which is one of Kegg's Ensemble stops.
The organ was opened in concert by consultant Dr. David Heller on July
23,
2006. Click
here for a local review of the event. Click here to hear
audio files of selections from this concert.
The complete specification is
available by clicking here.
