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About the Pipe Organ |
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Did you know that our pipe organ was installed in 1974? (Twenty-nine is such an awkward age.) Installed by Fritzsche Organ Company (no longer in business) the organ features 27 ranks of pipes controlled as 24 stops, or voices. (Some voices contain more than one rank of pipes.) Four keyboards (three manual keyboards of 61 notes and one pedal keyboard of 32 notes) control which pipes are blown with air (exactly the same as a whistle) and cause them to sound. There are also 2 octaves of chimes, and a 4-octave voice called “harp” (although the harp has not been playable for many years). About ½ of the pipes were recycled from the Estey Organ Co. instrument installed in 1927. The 1927 instrument replaced what was likely a wonderful organ – dating from the construction of the current sanctuary, and built by the now-legendary Boston firm Hook-Hastings. A new twin to our original organ is located in Danville’s Mahoning Presbyterian Church, and was recently host to a hymn sing by the Organ Historical Society as part of their 2003 national convention, and a Welsh hymn sing as part of the Iron Heritage Festival. Sadly, there is no information about the fate of our church’s first instrument. Estey apparently took it in trade for the new Estey organ. The 1927 organ was purchased to allow for the change to a “split” chancel – separate pulpit and lectern (Minister and Lay reader) and central choir. Previously, there was a single central pulpit, with the organ centered on a platform above the pulpit – approximately where the three blue stained glass lancet windows are today. These windows contained clear glass until the early 1950’s, when a memorial gift allowed for the stained glass to be designed and installed. The lungs of the organ (the blower) resides in the catacombs of the (unfinished) sanctuary basement; and yes, just as it sounds, the catacombs are not the best surroundings for such a vital element of the church’s primary musical instrument. Any dust or dirt in the basement (which has a dirt floor) are sucked up, and blown throughout the mechanisms of the entire instrument. The air that supplies the pipes with wind also controls many functions within the organ console. The pressurized air is conducted to the organ chambers by ductwork, and there are bellows to store the pressurized air in each chamber. The bellows for the “Great” organ’s wind supply was re-leathered in 1995. The console (the keyboards, pedals, and other controls that allow control of the instrument) dates from the early 1950’s, or earlier. The console is showing its age, and now requires the most maintenance. Contacts are failing, and stop knobs are literally crumbing. Playing the organ is not nearly as simple as our musician, Mr. Martenas makes it appear. Much like a drummer, each hand and foot are doing different jobs, and often to different parts of the beat in order to create the smooth and melodious sounds we meditate and worship to each Sunday. And once you’ve mastered the complicated working of the pipe organ, your job has just begun. You must have the musical intuitiveness to select the correct stops for each piece, and then adding and subtracting stops as the hymn, anthem, or organ solo requires. At times, this can include changing all the stops at once, or using pistons, a primitive form of computer memory, which store pre-selected combinations of stops. And, at least in First Church, you must have the musical ear and ability to hear the in-tune (or out of tune) pitch of each pipe as you play, and know when the building conditions will require you to substitute one stop for another, one pedal instead of the preferred or another key instead of the intended. And yes, many of these needs arise because of the age and condition of the instrument. The organ is maintained by Patrick Murphy & Associates, known throughout Eastern Pennsylvania for their maintenance abilities and professionalism, as well as national recognition of their expertise in constructing new organs and rehabilitating historic organs. (Murphy also maintains the organs at St. Paul Episcopal, St. Matthew Lutheran, and Wesley UMC.) With the continued aging of the instrument, more extensive care is becoming necessary. The organ chambers are not insulated and each have two exterior walls. The main tuning problems are caused by temperature fluctuations between the two chambers. Since the Sanctuary is not climate controlled, the many wooden parts of the organ absorb humidity (swell) in the summer, and become too dry (shrink) in the winter heating season. We have lived with less than perfect conditions since the instrument was installed, but, overall, the organ has given very good service. Over the next few years, the decision of whether to rebuild the existing instrument or replace it with a new one will have to be made. Neither option is inexpensive. The organ has served well, but was never a particularly distinguished instrument. An entirely new instrument (keeping the best of the existing pipework) would create the opportunity for a truly fine instrument – a custom-built work of art for our sanctuary. It would allow for a much greater range of the organ literature to be played, and significantly enhance the accompaniment of hymns and choral anthems. We are blessed, however, to have an excellent musician and professional (Mr. Martenas) caring for our instrument. Working with a small committee of the Church and professional advice from Jonathan Ambrosino and Stephen Bicknell, a report was made to Session that recommends the church plan to replace the instrument within the next 10 years. The reports of the two consultants are available for your review. The current phase of our Seeds of Faith campaign does not address the organ. But with your prayers, your faith, your love of this church and your pledges, we will be able to address more than the immediate weather-tightening needs of the church, and begin to tackle some of the many other needs of our beloved church home – like our wonderful pipe organ. Our community deserves such, our Church deserves such and each of you, God’s children and disciples, deserves such. |
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