RUFFATTI

ORGAN

LEADING VOICES FOR FOUR DECADES

THE RUFFATTI ORGAN

The Coral Ridge Ruffatti organ has led millions in singing for over four decades, with the 6,600 voices of the organ joining God’s people in worship each week. At the time of its installation, the Coral Ridge organ was the largest pipe organ in the Southern United States and the largest European-built pipe organ in America.

FEBRUARY 25 AT 4PM

ORGAN REDEDICATION CONCERT

Join us on Sunday, February 25th at 4pm for a special organ rededication concert. Paul Jacobs, from the Juilliard School of Music will be performing. He is the first organist to receive a Grammy Award. This is a free concert, tickets are not required.

ORGAN RESTORATION FUND

In 1974, the famous Italian Organ Builder, Ruffatti, installed a new pipe organ in the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale. Pipe organs tend to last about 40-50 years, and just like the roof on a home, it needs to be refurbished so that it can last for another fifty years.

Will you partner with us as we continue to make music for the glory of God and the furthering of his Kingdom?

ORGAN RESTORATION FUND

In 1974, the famous Italian Organ Builder, Ruffatti, installed a new pipe organ in the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale. Pipe organs tend to last about 40-50 years, and just like the roof on a home, it needs to be refurbished so that it can last for another fifty years.

Will you partner with us as we continue to make music for the glory of God and the furthering of his Kingdom?

ORGAN COMMITTEE, 1974
(Richard MacDonald, Diane Bish, Anne Kennedy, Mary Watson, Roger McMurrin)

CAREFULLY CRAFTED

SELECTION & DESIGN

In the late 1960s, an organ committee was assembled and spent several years searching for an instrument suitable to the church’s needs. After much deliberation, the committee felt that God had answered their prayers in leading them to an instrument made by the company Fratelli Ruffatti of Padua, Italy. By its tonal magnitude, visual aesthetics, and economic feasibility, it met all the musical requirements of the church ministry. Specifications and plans for the organ were drawn up by organist Diane Bish in collaboration with organ-builder Piero Ruffatti and architect Harold Wagoner.

THE RUFFATTI SPECIFICATIONS

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GREAT

The Great division is the lower center set of pipes and provides the primary foundation stops called “Principals.” With German, Italian, and French-style stops, this is the main point of reference for the entire organ.

GREAT

The Great division is the lower center set of pipes and provides the primary foundation stops called “Principals.” With German, Italian, and French-style stops, this is the main point of reference for the entire organ.

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POSITIV

The Positiv division of the organ is a Crown Positiv, located at the top-center. At the top of the Crown Positiv is a Zimbelstern in the shape of a gold star.

POSITIV

The Positiv division of the organ is a Crown Positiv, located at the top-center. At the top of the Crown Positiv is a Zimbelstern in the shape of a gold star.

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TROMPETERIA

The organ has a unique Trompeteria division, consisting of horizontal trumpet-style pipes. From the Antiphonal, at the rear of the Sanctuary, a powerful English State Trompette de Fête is used for festive fanfares and in solo against the main organ. In the front of the Sanctuary, there is a Spanish Trompeta Real and a French Trompette en Chamade.

TROMPETERIA

The organ has a unique Trompeteria division, consisting of horizontal trumpet-style pipes. From the Antiphonal, at the rear of the Sanctuary, a powerful English State Trompette de Fête is used for festive fanfares and in solo against the main organ. In the front of the Sanctuary, there is a Spanish Trompeta Real and a French Trompette en Chamade.

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PEDAL

On the right and left of the main organ case are the large pedal towers framing the other divisions of the organ. The Pedal division houses the tones of greatest depth which are produced by the longest pipes, the longest being 32 feet.

PEDAL

On the right and left of the main organ case are the large pedal towers framing the other divisions of the organ. The Pedal division houses the tones of greatest depth which are produced by the longest pipes, the longest being 32 feet.

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CHOIR & SWELL

The supplementary tonal considerations of the organ exist in the Choir and Swell divisions. Sounds range from strings and reeds to flutes, mutations, and mixtures.

CHOIR & SWELL

The supplementary tonal considerations of the organ exist in the Choir and Swell divisions. Sounds range from strings and reeds to flutes, mutations, and mixtures.

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ANTIPHONAL

The Antiphonal division is located at the rear of the Sanctuary. It contains voices similar to the main organ divisions as well as the English State Trompette de Fête, orchestral chimes, and strings.

ANTIPHONAL

The Antiphonal division is located at the rear of the Sanctuary. It contains voices similar to the main organ divisions as well as the English State Trompette de Fête, orchestral chimes, and strings.

THE BEGINNING

INSTALLATION & DEDICATION

The organ was built in Padua, Italy, and delivered to Port Everglades on two ships. The organ was en route to America at the time of the Building Dedication in February of 1974. Installation of the organ began in March of 1974, and the Dedication Service and Diane Bish recital was held on January 5, 1975.

ORGAN INSTALLATION – SUN-SENTINEL, AUGUST 24, 1974

COMPLETED RUFFATTI ORGAN, 1974

NEW ADDITIONS

30th ANNIVERSARY

On its 30th anniversary in 2004, the Ruffatti organ was expanded with digital stops by the Walker Technical Company. Three new digital divisions were added: Solo, Ethereal, and Celestial which include orchestral and percussion stops. Additional stops were added to the Great, Choir, Swell, Positiv, and Pedal divisions. Sixty-one ranks were added in the expansion, giving the organ a total of 178 ranks.

ORGANIST EMERITUS

DIANE BISH

Diane Bish led the design of the Coral Ridge Ruffatti organ in the early 1970s, making two trips to Italy during the organ’s construction and working closely with organ-builder Piero Ruffatti. Bish served as organist and artist-in-residence at Coral Ridge for over 20 years. Bish was also instrumental in developing the Coral Ridge Concert Series, one of the country’s first church concert series, and she created an annual church music workshop for musicians around the globe.

During Bish’s time at Coral Ridge, she began producing a weekly television program of organ music, The Joy of Music.

On October 26, 2016, Bish was named Organist Emeritus of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church.

DIANE BISH

SEE THE RUFFATTI

HEAR THE MUSIC

LEARN MORE

THE HISTORY & MUSIC OF CORAL RIDGE