Jacobs School of Music acquires Opus 91, 1987 musical organ for student lessons

The Jacobs School of Music announced Friday that it has acquired an Opus 91, a 1987 C.B. Fisk organ, to be installed in Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union during spring 2013.

“The presence of Opus 91 will add a special grandeur to the room,” IMU
Director Bruce Jacobs said in a press release. “All of us at the IMU are thrilled to be working with the Jacobs School faculty, staff and students to bring this wonderful instrument to IU, and we look forward to hearing it played during student practice, recitals and perhaps at a party or wedding.”

The 2,838-pipe organ is the school’s second instrument by the leading organ builder.
The first, a major pipe organ in Auer Hall, was installed two years ago.

The new acquisition was made possible through a gift arrangement with Sandy Littlefield and her children, Jacques and Jeannik.

The instrument was moved from the private residence of the late Jacques Littlefield in Portola Valley, Calif.

“The presence of this landmark instrument in a space that sits at the very crossroads of our campus and community will allow the Jacobs School’s organ department to develop unique and innovative musical experiences that appeal to the widest possible range of listeners,” Janette Fishell, chair of the Jacobs Organ Department, said in a press release.

The organ will be used for recitals and as a learning instrument for music students.

“Those who have never heard a pipe organ before will get a taste for it in lunchtime or coffee break concerts,” said Fishell, who played a series of lunchtime organ concerts in Beck Chapel this semester.

“Halloween at the Union can now include sinister organ music. How fun will
that be?”

— Michelle Sokol