Marilyn Mason Organ

Blanche Anderson Moore Hall, E.V. Moore Building

In 1985, the 300th anniversary of Bach’s birth, the University of Michigan inaugurated Blanche Anderson Moore Hall and its C. B. Fisk organ, modeled after the instruments of Gottfried Silbermann (1683-1753). Johann Sebastian Bach said of Silbermann, “His organs are excellent; he is appropriately named ‘Silbermann,’ for his organs have a silvery tone and thundering basses.” C. B. Fisk, Opus 87 draws its inspiration from the instruments of Silbermann but is not an exact replica of any single organ. It closely resembles several of the extant 2-manual Silbermann organs, most notably that of the St. Georgen-Kirche in Rötha, Germany.

The commission of this important addition to the Organ Department’s facilities was made possible in part through a generous gift from the estate of Judith Barnett Metz and Dr. Fred L. Metz. The School of Music, Theatre & Dance has named this organ the Marilyn Mason Organ, honoring Professor Mason for her many contributions to the Organ Department and the University of Michigan.