JMU music professor to perform recital on world-famous Great Stalacpipe Organ

Visitors to Luray Caverns, just 36 minutes from James Madison University's campus, will have the rare opportunity to hear a live organ recital on the world-famous Great Stalacpipe Organ on Tuesday, September 12, with performances at 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. The program is presented by Dr. Judith Ofcarcik, organist and Assistant Professor of Music Theory at JMU.

The recital features a selection of works showcasing the organ's extraordinary sound, including three pieces written specifically for the Great Stalacpipe Organ. Carved out of nature itself, this one-of-a-kind instrument uses the cavern's stalactites to produce its tones. Admission to the recital is included with regular caverns admission - $36 for adults and $18 for children ages 6-12.

The Great Stalacpipe Organ was invented by Mr. Leland W. Sprinkle of Springfield, Virginia, in 1954, who worked at the Pentagon as a mathematician and electronics scientist. While exploring this natural wonder, Mr. Sprinkle watched as a tour guide tapped the ancient stone formations with a small mallet, creating a beautiful musical tone.

This sparked an idea in Mr. Sprinkle, who embarked on a three-year endeavor to explore the caverns' chambers using 13 English tuning forks. He meticulously tapped various formations to find the perfect sounds. Stalactites were carefully chosen from over 3 ½ acres of the caverns and finely tuned to match the necessary pitch, becoming what would eventually be the world's largest musical instrument.

The design included electronic mallets installed throughout the caverns, all connected to a large four-manual console. When a key is pressed, a tone resonates as a rubber-tipped plunger strikes the precisely tuned stalactite.

Today, this unique organ can be operated automatically, functioning similarly to a child's music box. It is also fully capable of manual play, a skill that Leland Sprinkle mastered and enjoyed for many years. The Great Stalacpipe Organ has received the notoriety of several national organizations and media such as National Public Radio, ABC's Good Morning America, Voice of America, and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

To purchase tickets and learn more, visit https://luraycaverns.com/. For information on JMU and the School of Music, visit https://www.jmu.edu/music/index.shtml. 

Accessibility: Luray Caverns currently is one of the few underground wonders providing tours on all-paved, well-lighted walkways with step-free entry. Their step-free entrance will accommodate wheelchairs; however, Luray Caverns is not listed as handicapped accessible and visitors in wheelchairs will require assistance.

About Luray Caverns:
Discovered in 1878, Luray Caverns is the largest and most visited cavern in the eastern United States. Visitors walk along paved, step-free pathways through cathedral-sized chambers filled with towering stone columns, shimmering pools, and intricate formations in a dazzling range of colors. A highlight of every visit is hearing the haunting sounds of the Great Stalacpipe Organ, the world’s largest musical instrument, which uses the cavern itself to create its unique tones.