Listen to our pipe organ while you view this page!
The pride of our Cathedral is the Ball Room, also known as the "Red Room"
The most admired room within the cathedral at 3500 square feet, 35 foot high ceilings, elegant red carpeting, seats 500 theater style or 225 "sideline" style. Full theatrical lighting, and even an original electrical lightning board system still in existence from its installation in 1916!
An ornamentally detailed stage where Arizona’s Freemasons perform their ceremonies. With it's 65+ stage back-drops created near a century ago, the estimated theatrical value of this little-known venue is well into the millions of dollars!
It is also the home of Tucson's oldest pipe organ, built originally by the California Organ Co. as the echo division of the huge instrument built for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair; the great bulk of the instrument became the core of the famous Wanamaker organ in Philadelphia, and the echo division consisted of a separate set of pipes used for the antiphonal or echo effect. This was the small portion of the instrument that was installed here in the Tucson Cathedral in 1916 at a cost of $20,000.
An earthquake in 1932 severely damaged the organ's mock-harp feature which has never been repaired even after the 1936 rebuilding of the instrument by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company who also expanded the organ at that time. In 1981the organ further maintenance at a cost of $12,000. Today, restoration and rebuilding of this treasure is estimated to be in the area of $275,000.
The Tucson Scottish Rite Cathedral Association is dedicated to maintaining this National treasure.
This organ is every bit as historic as the building and is considered part of the original structure as it was installed the same year the building was dedicated. Because if it's age, the instrument includes features that can't be found in more recent instruments. Its sounds are closer to those of Wurlitzer theatre organs of the period than to cathedral instruments.
When this organ came to town in 1916, it had three manuals (keyboards) and 22 ranks of pipes, a rank essentially corresponding to a single stop on the console. Aeolian-Skinner technicians expanded this in 1936. Frequently, the vox humana option has fooled people passing through the lobby into believing a human choir was singing!
This organ has been frequently played in recitals put on by the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists since 1937.
The Cathedral is an exceptionally attractive venue even though the organ pipes are hidden behind grills in the wall, and the acoustics are live and warm.
See technical specifications of the Tucson Scottish Rite Cathedral organ.
Originally, scaffolding would have to be built in order to change the light bulbs, now, it still takes 3 people, thought the lights can be lowered by pulley.
An advanced glass-enclosed sound booth overlooking the theater
The technical specifications of the Tucson Scottish Rite Cathedral organ are as follows:
Builder: The California Organ Company, Van Nuys, California - 1904 (installed 1916); Rebuilt by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company in 1936.
| GREAT ORGAN - Expressive 16' Open Diapason 8' 1st Open Diapason (silent) 8' 2nd Open Diapason - 12 pipes 8' Melodia 4' Octave Grand Mixture - II rks 8' Tromba Concert Harp (silent)
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SWELL ORGAN - Expressive 16' Bourdon 8' Open Diapason 8' Stopped Diapason 8' Salicional 8' Voix Celest 4' Flute Harmonique 2' Piccolo 8' Trumpet 8' Oboe 8' Vox Humana Tremolo
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| CHOIR - Expressive with GT 8' Quintadena 8' Viol d'Amour 8' Clarabella 4' Flute d'Amour 8' Clarinet Chimes
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PEDAL 16' Bourdon 16' Open Diapason 16' Violine 16' Lieblich Gedeckt 8' Octave 8' Bass Flute 16' Trombone 8' Tromba
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Stay "tuned" as we continue to add to this informational site!