recollection

David M. Waddell, from a family of long-time Rockport boat builders, was Charlie’s first employee in 1961. After serving as Shop Foreman, he and his wife Janice (herself Fisk office manager) retired in 1985 to Florida. He returned each summer to work at the shop until his death in 2007. I never felt like an […]

Co-Owner, Taylor and Boody Organbuilders As I think back on Charlie’s influence on me two incidents come to mind. First, after trying in vain to get me to join him for the Wellesley project, he learned that I was interested in starting a business by exploring a contract with Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville. They

The following address was given by Peter Sykes at Old West Church as an introduction to his recital there on January 5, 2001 celebrating the completion of the cleaning work on the Opus 55. “What makes the Charles Fisk organ at Old West Church so special?” This is a question perhaps better asked by one

Member of the DUPC organ committee, an attorney and a music enthusiast. Memories of Opus 83, Downtown United Presbyterian Church, Rochester, NY DUPC members carrying in the metal pipes with classy dress white gloves — not the ugly disposables available today. David and Brian Pike performing like circus acrobats on the organ’s skeletal structure —

Sister Throughout my childhood, I always admired my brother Charlie on almost all counts, but the sentiment was far from reciprocated. He criticized me often, ridiculing my weak points until he made me cry. I guess this kind of teasing was to be expected from a brother three years older than his only sibling, given

Charles Fisk’s Niece It’s funny what one remembers about a person years later. It’s so personal and individual. Even within my family, people who experienced the same events don’t seem to remember the same things. I knew my Uncle Charlie for 23 years of my life. We’d see each other mostly at Thanksgiving and during

Charles Fisk was installing the Swell (Echo) division of the organ in Center Church, New Haven. This was about 1975 or so. I was a student at Yale at the time, and went by the church to see Fisk work. He was very patient and kind as always. I noticed that the Dulciana 8′ in

Organ culture wars raged in the in the 1970’s. “Tracker backers” exalted Charles Fisk, ranking him somewhere between King Solomon and The Savior of the Heathens. “Charlie” generously shared his wisdom with them and patiently bore the burdens of Sainthood. A dilemma arose during the final hours of installing a new Bozeman-Gibson organ at St.

King’s Chapel 1964 When I was appointed Music Director of King’s Chapel in 1958, I inherited a large 1909 E. M. Skinner instrument. The Great, primarily an 8′ division, was loud, opaque, and quite unsuited for any kind of accompaniment function. The Swell and Choir divisions, in chambers above the ceiling, were audible to the

CBF Employee from 1975, sculptor and designer, carving facade sculpture for 10 instruments. Some Things Charlie Said To Me In October 1975, a friend who had worked for Charlie suggested that I call him to ask for a job. I was a 22 year old sculpture graduate, flat broke and full of strong opinions about