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This in from the Wall Street Journal...

Started by KB7DQH, May 29, 2011, 06:55:51 PM

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KB7DQH

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP4127ee9106b64bb390073fd5781f9753.html

Quote"For years, great organists who have played this renowned instrument have asked the question, 'Will it ever rise again?" he said. "Is there a tomorrow for this great instrument?'"

QuoteJOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The soaring sounds of a pipe organ silenced when dust from the collapsing World Trade Center invaded its church sanctuary nearly a decade ago could soon fill a place of worship once again.

The historic instrument was dismantled and put in storage days after the terror attacks and hasn't been played since.

Now, as the 10-year anniversary of the attacks approaches, Trinity Wall Street is donating the instrument to Johns Creek United Methodist Church outside Atlanta, leaders from both churches confirmed this week.

"There are many who have prayed that it will rise again and bring glorious music once more," the Rev. D. B. Shelnutt Jr. told his congregation at Johns Creek on a recent Sunday.

Eric
KB7DQH
The objective is to reach human immortality—that is, to create things which are necessary to mankind, necessary to the purpose of the existence of mankind, and which have become the fruit that drives the creation of a higher state of mankind than ever existed before."

dragonser

Quote from: Voix Cynique on May 29, 2011, 09:08:27 PM
So if it can be restored, WHY AREN'T TCWS GIVING THAT DAMNED TOASTER ITS MARCHING ORDERS?

Hi,
that is a very good question and what I thought when I read this.
I'm guessing that there must be some politics involved ?

regards Peter

KB7DQH

All good questions ;D

TCWS is actually GIVING  John's Creek UMC what remains of the organ, and they will have to spend a cool mil to get it playing again, the result being a $4 Million instrument when it's all said and done...
And the new home will literally be a new home.  Reading the full article reveals that John's Creek UMC is building a whole new church and was in search of an appropriate instrument for their new building.

Chalk another "saved" organ up to the Organ Clearinghouse...

Eric
KB7DQH
The objective is to reach human immortality—that is, to create things which are necessary to mankind, necessary to the purpose of the existence of mankind, and which have become the fruit that drives the creation of a higher state of mankind than ever existed before."

KB7DQH

And this story hit the Associated Press "wire service" and got picked up by media outlets in New York and in Georgia... the following story is abbreviated considerably from what appeared in the WSJ and another news outlet which had the same text, word-for-word, as the story released in the online version of the Wall Street Journal... linked in the original post in this topic...

However... This link carries pictures of the partially disassembled console being restored...

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/churches-aim-to-restore-961297.html

Eric
KB7DQH
The objective is to reach human immortality—that is, to create things which are necessary to mankind, necessary to the purpose of the existence of mankind, and which have become the fruit that drives the creation of a higher state of mankind than ever existed before."

KB7DQH

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/28112367/detail.html

Quote
Metro Church To Restore Organ Damaged In 9/11 Attacks

Posted: 4:51 pm EDT June 2, 2011Updated: 5:44 pm EDT June 2, 2011
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. -- A church organ damaged in the 9/11 attacks on New York City and destined to be thrown away will find a new home in metro Atlanta.

Johns Creek United Methodist organist Randy Elkins' told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik that the church had been searching for a pipe organ to put in a new sanctuary the church plans to build.

Elkins contacted a clearing house where churches find organs and learned about one that was damaged in the Trinity Wall Street Episcopal Church in Lower Manhattan when the World Trade Center towers collapsed.

"Trinity Wall Street wanted to let that organ go, but knew it needed a new home," he said. "They were about to throw it out."

Elkins told Petchenik he knew he had to save the treasured instrument.

"My teachers have played on it. All of the most famous organists around the world of the last half of the 20th century have played that organ," he said.

Church music pastor Beth Brown Shugart told Petchenik that Johns Creek UMC is honored to play a part in restoring and recycling the organ.


Quote"Aeolian-Skinner is just a fabulous instrument," she said. "It's an American-made instrument, it survived 9/11, and it's coming here."

Elkins said the restoration project would cost the congregation between $1.5 million and $2 million, a fraction of what a new pipe organ would run. He said it could take up to four years for the organ to be restored and brought to Atlanta.


So... How much DID that M&O toaster #1  cost Trinity Wall Street???

Eric
KB7DQH
The objective is to reach human immortality—that is, to create things which are necessary to mankind, necessary to the purpose of the existence of mankind, and which have become the fruit that drives the creation of a higher state of mankind than ever existed before."

David Pinnegar

Quote from: Voix Cynique on May 29, 2011, 09:08:27 PM
So if it can be restored, WHY AREN'T TCWS GIVING THAT DAMNED TOASTER ITS MARCHING ORDERS? The whole premise for making that 'temporary' instrument permanent was that the pipe organ had been too greatly damaged by dust and AVTUR to be restored... and, while the toaster is a remarkable specimen of its type, being vastly more musical than most, so it jolly well should be, it cost them as much as a world-class pipe organ of generous size for the building would have done! And, in any case, it'll be finished in the next 15-20 years... TCWS are making a big mistake here, though their loss is the gain of the buyers of the instrument. When will TCWS get a pipe organ? And who will build it? They'll have to do it at some point in the not-too-distant future...

Yes - I quite agree. The toaster should have been an adequate inspiration for the restoration of the pipe-organ, as at St Columbs, Londonderry Cathedral. That is the proper purpose of an electronic instrument, not to supplant a pipe organ.

Best wishes

David P

KB7DQH

Trinity Lutheran Wall Street could still "redeem" itself at some later date, I suppose...

BUT... they nearly "threw away" an historically significant instrument for want of the "space" where what remained of the Aeolian-Skinner was being stored...

However...

One must think  "positively" here, folks... A congregation, building a NEW church building,
sought a PIPE organ for their worship space :o ??? 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)    NOT some
                   "damned Toaster"

or even worse... NO ORGAN at all...   moreover, were ready, willing, and able to facilitate the rescue of the orphaned Aeolian-Skinner.   

Obviously Trinity should have "rescued" its OWN instrument, rather than threatening to toss it into a skip...

One could only hope that when M&O#1 goes the way of its predecessor that the political wind will shift within the Trinity congregation and a worthy instrument in need of rescue presents itself ;D

Maybe this one?http://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,236.0.html
But they had better hurry...

Eric
KB7DQH



The objective is to reach human immortality—that is, to create things which are necessary to mankind, necessary to the purpose of the existence of mankind, and which have become the fruit that drives the creation of a higher state of mankind than ever existed before."

KB7DQH

And... given the significance of the day on which I received this bit of news

http://johnscreek.patch.com/articles/church-prepping-for-national-treasure

The plot thickens....

QuoteChurch Prepping for 'National Treasure'

Johns Creek United Methodist Church's pipe organ has unique connection to 9/11.

    By Elsa Simcik
    Email the author
    8:45am

The organ that was once housed in Trinity Wall Street will be refurbished and transported to Johns Creek United Methodist Church.
Parts of the organ are being stored at The Organ Clearing House in Maine.
The pipes were unloaded and are now being stored at The Organ Clearing House's other facility in New Hampshire.


With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 falling today on a Sunday, churches across the country will undoubtedly pay special tribute during their services.

Johns Creek United Methodist Church has chosen the theme "Remembering with Hope." The church has a unique connection to the tragic day because they are in the process of bringing a pipe organ donated from Trinity Wall Street to their soon-to-be built sanctuary.  Some dust and debris from the attacks affected the New York City church, which sits down the street from the World Trade Center site.

While there has been a lot of buzz—both in TV and in print—about the transfer of this large pipe organ, organist Randy Elkins of JCUMC says a lot of it has been false.


"There has been a misconception that we are rescuing an organ that was significantly damaged in the 9/11 attacks. That is not correct," said Elkins.  Rather, the 53-year-old organ simply had standard wear and tear and some dust residue from the attacks, according to Elkins.


"I found the organ as I was looking for a way to put a beautiful pipe organ in our new sanctuary at less than the cost of a brand-new one," said Elkins. "I contacted The Organ Clearing House and they proposed that I consider an instrument of monumental proportion that might be uniquely suited to our situation. This is the organ from Trinity Wall Street, which was about to be disposed and which we are bringing back to life and service."

Reverend Beth Brown Shugart, pastor of worship and music for JCUMC, said, "It's interesting that it has that connection [to 9/11] but that's not why we got it." Shugart explained that most pipe organs they had priced were $2 million or more. And while Trinity Wall Street is donating the pipe organ to JCUMC, it's going to cost an estimated one-and-a-half million to refurbish, redesign and install it. Still, compared to the price of a new and smaller one, "This is quite a bargain in the grand scheme of things," said Shugart.

Shugart added, "A pipe organ is so worth the investment. Being able to recycle an instrument that's not being used is a great thing in many different ways. You don't have to be concerned that you're getting something old fashioned or out of date. It's still good."


Restoring an older pipe organ doesn't just take plenty of money, it also takes plenty of time. "Every pipe has to be gone through by hand and cleaned. All of the reservoirs that the air is carried into have to be opened up, cleaned out and put back together," said Elkins. And even after all that happens, "It will take probably three weeks to physically install it and another two months at least to do all the balancing," he said. The organ is currently dismantled and parts are stored in New Hampshire and other parts in Maine.

While the church congregation has already raised more than $80,000 to move and catalogue the organ, Elkins plans to start the major fundraising campaign to design, rebuild and install it in January of 2012.  "Our people are into this," he said. "I have great faith in this community." They are set to break ground on the new sanctuary this November and hope to have that completed 13 months later. Although JCUMC will then have a space big enough to house the enormous organ, it will most likely take another three years of fundraising, designing and rebuilding before the installation can even begin. Just getting the organ from the Northeast to Georgia will require several semitrucks.

So today as the congregation takes a moment to look back, they can also look forward to the day when they will enjoy music from what Elkins calls "a national treasure," perhaps by the 15th anniversary of 9/11.

Eric
KB7DQH
The objective is to reach human immortality—that is, to create things which are necessary to mankind, necessary to the purpose of the existence of mankind, and which have become the fruit that drives the creation of a higher state of mankind than ever existed before."