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A news article difficult to categorize....

Started by KB7DQH, July 25, 2011, 06:42:14 AM

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KB7DQH

This article is rather compact, and covers a whole range of issues and thus is worth reading...

http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_8a440154-a991-11e0-9799-001cc4c002e0.html

QuoteBy Amanda Robbins | Albany Democrat-Herald democratherald.com | Posted: Friday, July 8, 2011 11:36 am


The pipe organ at the Albany First United Methodist Church is finally finished - for now.

The church bought 61 used pipes that add a clarinet solo sound to the instrument that takes up an entire side wall of the sanctuary.

"You can always do more to an organ," said Eric McKirdy, the organist. "But for our purposes it's completed."

When the church moved into its current building at 1115 28th Ave. S.W. in 1962, the 1908 organ moved too, despite not being in great condition.

In 1985, the church's administrative board appointed a committee to look into fixing it. The panel suggested the church buy a new organ instead.

Organs consist of several sets, or ranks, of pipes. Each pipe in a rank makes a single note, so a five-octave organ would have 61 pipes per rank. Each rank produces a different sound, similar to the instruments in an orchestra.

The biggest organ in the area at that time - in Salem - had 35 ranks. First United Methodist wanted a new organ to compete with the one in Salem, which would have cost about $206,000.

The church raised $124,000 and was able to purchase an organ with 34 ranks that mimic trombones, flutes, trumpets and string instruments, among others.

"I guess the committee decided that was good enough," McKirdy said. "They stopped at 34 ranks rather than go into debt."

McKirdy, 34, started playing the organ when he was 10, and studied it in college at the University of Oregon.

"I moved in across the street and the church was nice enough to allow me to play the organ when I wanted," he said. "It's been the best neighbor I have ever had."

McKirdy, who's a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, began playing during First United Methodist services a couple times a month to repay the church for its kindness.

Recently, a church in Portland decided to move and sell its organ piecemeal. First United Methodist bought the rank that makes a clarinet sound for $7,640. New pipes would have cost $30,000.

"I have been looking for clarinet pipes for a while," McKirdy said. "I was ready to jump on the opportunity when I heard about it."

McKirdy said it's very rare to have an organ of this size - which now has 2,135 pipes - in a town the size of Albany.

"It's definitely the most expansive organ in the Lebanon, Albany, Corvallis area," he said.

Now that the new pipes are in, McKirdy and the church want to invite groups to use the church and organ for concerts and performances at no charge. The church can be reached at 541-928-3505.

"We just want to share the organ with the community," McKirdy said. "It's available to any worthy cause and should be enjoyed by any organist who wants to play it."

Read more: http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_8a440154-a991-11e0-9799-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1T62qf6Oy

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

Now in its third home...

Quote
A recent loan from Harvard University to an East Austin church may be a century and a half old, but it has even more life ahead of it.

The ivy-league school recently lent a 150-year-old pipe organ to Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

Though the instrument has been around since the 1850s, it's not past its prime. Some similar organs can last hundreds of years without losing any sound quality.

"The oldest extent organ that looks very similar to it, not the way it looks but it works
the same way, was built in 1390 and is in a church in Sion, Switzerland," organ installer Mark Nelson said.

According to Nelson, this organ is made from chestnut wood which he says is rare. In the early 20th century, a blight devastated much of the chestnut population. Organs made of chestnut are typically only available by salvaging antique instruments like this one.

The church in East Austin is just another stop in this antique organ's long life. Before calling Harvard home, it spent time in a humble home in the Northeast.

"This organ spent most of its life in a little New England meeting house, living a very modest existence playing on Sundays and for funerals and weddings," Nelson said. "It went to Harvard University where it was played frequently for services."

Now that Harvard has moved on to a new organ, this 150-year-old will be loved and appreciated by the East Austin church's congregation.

"The sound, after the age of this instrument, is still as beautiful as it probably ever
was and all of the people through the centuries that have heard it and sung with it. Now it's part of us. That's what I love," Redeemer Church member Jean Russel said.

Another antique organ from Harvard will head to Redeemer Presbyterian Church after the church completes the construction of a larger sanctuary.

http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/280047/antique-organ-brings-music-to-east-austin-church

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.countytimes.com/articles/2011/10/20/entertainment/doc4ea022b8d851b960079607.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Quote

By Jaime Ferris

In 18th- and early 19th-century New England, churches were the centers of municipal and religious life, but it was a stern and stony religious experience, unsoftened by music, other than a capella singing led by the minister. Early Protestants rejected the organ, long used in Roman Catholic services. Eventually, the flute and cello were allowed, but the organ was still banned because of its "popish" connotation.

Indeed, so fixed was the concept that when Thomas Brattle, a Puritan, willed the first organ in New England to a Puritan church in 1713, the church rejected the instrument, "believing it improper to use musical instruments in worship" and sent the organ to the nearby Anglican parish. Such resistance continued. In the 1760s, an Englishman offered 500 pounds to the first "dissenting" church that would build a pipe organ, while, in Boston, a wealthy member of its Brattle Street Church offered "to refund the entire cost of an organ" the church was buying "if the evil thing might be thrown to the bottom of Boston harbor."

But as Puritanism lost it hold and the colonies became more settled and affluent, social and religious life was enhanced by the addition of instrumental music. According to Lynn Wellings, a member of the congregation at the New Preston Congregational Church, "Owning an organ and bringing the resultant musical enhancement to a church service was the "cause célèbre" in the mid-to-late 1800s. Churches of every denomination were the centers of their communities and churchgoers were dedicated to making members' worship the penultimate experience."

Such was the case for the New Preston Congregational Church's congregation when, in 1886, after raising $875, it ordered a Steere & Turner Opus #221, a small tracker action organ with one manual (keyboard), one pedal board (a set of foot pedals), and seven ranks (sets of pipes). It was quite a sum of money at a time when the average laborer earned less than a dollar a day.

Alas, for all their rich history, organs have largely slipped from the public's consciousness in the 21st century. Rarely used outside church sanctuaries and, oddly, baseball parks, they have been superseded by electronics. Even the venerable Opus #221 almost lost its central place in New Preston's history when, in the 1960s, the church considered replacing it in favor of an electric organ. Church organist Margaret Lundeen, wife of then-minister L. Reinald, started a campaign to save the aging organ by urging its restoration. Her efforts caught the attention of Aubrey Thompson-Allen, an organ builder and curator of organs at Yale, and Charles Russell Krigbaum, then-head of the organ department at Yale, who presented a concert June 29, 1969, to showcase the newly restored organ.

As the 125th anniversary of the instrument approached this year, Amy Vinisko, the church's minister of music, saw an opportunity to not only celebrate the Opus #221, but to raise awareness of an instrument that has long since been pushed to the sidelines.

The New Preston Congregational Church has been celebrating its organ every Sunday at 10 a.m. in what it calls "Organ Preludes and Postludes," revealing the varied repertoire played upon it for more than a century. The real celebration, however, comes Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. with a presentation by historian and author Barbara Owen, a member of the American Guild of Organists and Organ Historical Society, who will discuss the importance of organs to many New England communities. That talk will be followed by a recital by concert organist and Rice and Yale alumnus Jason Roberts at 4 p.m., and a catered "Meet the Artists" reception. Among those in attendance will be Jane Taylor, Margaret Lundeen's daughter.

"We uncovered a remarkable history as we started preparing for the 125th anniversary celebration," Ms. Vinisko recalled. "Not only will [the events] demonstrate the diversity of our organ, but it shows how tight-knit a community this congregation was, and how important the organ was to that community."

There is a suggested donation of $10 per person and $20 per family, with proceeds benefiting the continued maintenance of the organ. Reception admission is $25 per person.

"We have hosted a concert series here for years, but this has been a true celebration," Ms. Vinisko said. "There has been a reemergence ... a renaissance for these old organs. It is a speaking monument to the art and craftsmanship of 19th-century America ... and, as Margaret Lundeen pointed out, this organ has some bite."

"Certainly there is today, as never before, a concern with the organ as a musical instrument. Because of this concern, organs built before 1900 have become precious in the sight of many musicians," Ms. Owen wrote in her book, "The Organ in New England." "In quiet rural towns ... we will find untouched old buildings, landmarks and organs. More and more of the better examples are being preserved ... a tribute to the growing sensitivity of organists and organ builders alike ... [who] have done much to make the general public cognizant of the innate worth of these old instruments."

Just before leaving for a lecture she is giving in Berlin, Germany, Ms. Owen said that the New Preston organ is unique because if its size. It is among the smaller organs Steere & Turner made.

"All organs built in the 19th century by these small companies are special, especially when they are in original condition like the one in New Preston," she said. "Unfortunately, many of these organs have been lost to time—they have either been replaced by electric organs or destroyed when a church has closed. New Preston's organ has been loved and appreciated for 125 years, which is increasingly rare.

"Before the 1920s and 1930s, organs were handcrafted. The organ in New Preston is beautiful—a true work of art," she continued. "I shudder to think what an organ like this would cost today."

Over the years, money donated to the church in Margaret Lundeen's memory was used to maintain the organ. In 1985, almost $20,000 was put toward further restoration, funded, again, by generous donations from the congregation. Charles Aiken, who immigrated from England to the U.S. in 1963 and had an organ business based in Torrington, completed the restoration and maintained the organ until his passing in March. It is now maintained by Richard Hamar of Norwich, a specialist in tracker-action organs.

The Oct. 30 recital, Ms. Vinisko said, will be a varied program, revealing that sacred music is not all that can be played on these old organs. In fact, she said Mr. Roberts, who is performing that afternoon, improvs on the organ like some of the jazz's best musicians, and that the award-winning organist also plays for silent movie screenings, such as Charlie Chaplin in "Gold Rush."

"The recital will bring awareness to the organ culture and keep that culture alive," Ms. Wellings said. "I'm really looking forward to hearing music, other than classical Baroque, being played. It will be a joyous afternoon."

The New Preston Congregational Church is located at 15 Church St., New Preston. For reservations, call 860-868-7854, or visit www.newprestoncongregational.org.

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

Yet another anniversary celebration 8) 8) 8)


http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20111022/LIFESTYLE/110220326

and

http://wbco.com/Galion-Historical-Society-to-host-pipe-organ-and-b/11253276

QuoteGalion Historical Society to host pip organ and brass concert


This Sunday, October 23rd at 2:00pm the doors of Historic Grace Episcopal Church will open to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the church's Pipe Organ! There will be a variety of songs performed on this beautiful, well-tuned organ, as well as a local Brass Trio that will play a few numbers for everyone.
Music has an important place in the history of Galion. One particularly strong musical tradition is in the area of pipe organs and organists. Native son Arthur Poister became known world-wide as a concert organist and teacher, and in 2011 Galion still boasts an amazing seven functioning pipe organs in working condition – at St. Joseph Roman Catholic, Trinity Lutheran, First United Church of Christ, First Lutheran, Christ United Methodist, Peace Lutheran, and Historic Grace Church (the former Grace Episcopal Church).

Galion may well hold the distinction of having more organs per capita than any other city in Ohio – and perhaps nationally!

This Sunday, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Historic Grace Church pipe organ with music and song.The five-rank organ, though not a large instrument, has an important history connected with its unique builder, Homer D. Blanchard. A decreasing number of Blanchard organs are still in use.

Blanchard held a Doctorate in Music from The Ohio State University, and authored several publications on organ history. In addition to teaching at Ohio Wesleyan University, he operated a pipe organ service, repair, and building business, and served as an organ consultant for numerous churches and institutions in the Midwest. Each year at OWU, the Homer D. Blanchard Organ Recital Series honors his contribution to the field. He also served as Co-Founder and long-time Archivist of the Organ Historical Society.

Included in the program will be selections played by Thomas Palmer. Palmer served as Parish Organist for Grace Episcopal Church from 1995 through its closing three years ago.
Please join the Galion Historical Society for an afternoon of beautiful, relaxing music at Historic Grace Church located at 130 West Walnut Street in Galion. Remember this is a free concert, which will be open to the public.Refreshments will be provided afterward.


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

My best guess is this is some sort of "documentary presentation" ??? celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Wanamaker Organ...

http://www.mukilteobeacon.com/stepping-out/article.exm/2011-10-26_local_pianist_pays_tribute_to_the_king_of_instruments

Quote Local pianist/historian Rick Seifert is performing "The Greatest Musical Wonder in the World," a tribute to the Wanamaker pipe organ on Friday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. at Mukilteo Presbyterian Church.



Although the mammoth 520 ton Wanamaker instrument resides over 2,600 miles from Mukilteo, on Nov. 4, local pianist/historian Rick Seifert will perform a bit of digital magic to bring the Wanamaker Organ – and its riveting history to the Pacific Northwest – here, for your entertainment.



Seifert is performing "The Greatest Musical Wonder in the World," a tribute to the Wanamaker pipe organ on Friday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. in the Mukilteo Presbyterian Church Auditorium.



The year 2011 marks the Centennial of the Wanamaker Organ, a National Historic Landmark, which is unlikely housed in The Macy's Department Store in Philadelphia's Center City location.



John Wanamaker, "The Founder" of the store once named for him, was a retail pioneer whose influence on American culture can be felt to this day. He is the inventor of:  "The Price Tag," "Guaranteed Merchandise," and "Cash Refunds." 



As a U.S. post master general, he invented the Commemorative Postal Stamps that we all prize, and as a dedicated Christian he formed the largest Sunday school in the United States.



Seifert's acclaimed family friendly 85-minute program was selected to be shown at Macy's, both in June and October of this year as part of the Wanamaker Centennial events in Philadelphia, and has been shown to historical associations across the country.



Admission is a suggested donation of $2. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Organ. Please bring a canned food item for the Mukilteo Food Bank.


There will be a student art contest with prizes awarded by the Mukilteo Chocolate Company.  Wanamaker CD's will be for sale, with a Wanamaker Centennial Cake and coffee at the reception. 
This program is sponsored in part by SCMTA, Snohomish County Music Teachers Association, an extension of the Marilyn Hesby Pipe Organ Project.

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.winnipegfreepress.com/local/the-pipes-keep-calling-them-149344475.html

QuoteWhen she pulls out all the stops, organist Linda Fearn can shake the floors of her River Heights church.

"The sound can be a thundering, vibrate-the-building thing to the most gentle sound," explains the music director at St. Peter's Anglican Church.

"There's nothing else that can produce that sound. It's quite thrilling to hear."

Once a musical fixture in most Christian churches, the pipe organ is an instrument in decline, as more and more churches turn to praise bands as their main accompaniment, explains Fearn, president of the local chapter of the Royal Canadian College of Organists.

"We have an aging stock of organs and an aging stock of organists," says Fearn, 60.

"That's a brutal fact."

One city congregation bucking that trend is Westminster United Church, home to a century-old pipe organ about to undergo a $225,000 facelift.

Longtime church organist Don Menzies performs on the four-manual Casavant organ, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, in the final concert of the Westminster Concert Organ Series.

After the concert, the console with its keyboards, foot pedals and 61 stops, will be dismantled and shipped back to the factory in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que. The refurbishments include adding another octave of pipes to the lower range and computerizing the mechanical aspects of the console, explains Menzies.

"The entire console is being computerized so we have multiple levels of memory. Right now, we have one level of memory," he says.

Playing hymns, preludes and postludes on the organ's 3,167 pipes, some as small as a pencil, has been instrumental to Westminster's worship since the construction of the building at the corner of Westminster Avenue and Maryland Street in 1912.

"The time has just whizzed by and it's a marvellous instrument and I enjoy playing it," says the retired credit manager at Manitoba Hydro, now 72, organist for the past 45 years.

While the organ is being refurbished over the summer, Menzies will perform on a smaller electronic organ during morning worship, weddings and funerals.

Even the least discerning ears in the congregation will hear the difference in the instruments, predicts Rev. Robert Campbell.

"It will be good, but people will clearly appreciate why we need a pipe organ for that space," he says.

Several other large churches in Winnipeg are facing similar costly repairs and updates to their aging pipe organs.

The four-manual pipe organ at Holy Trinity Anglican Church is due for a refurbishment of its console, estimated at $75,000. The downtown congregation purchased the pipe organ from St. Matthew's Anglican Church for its parts, and plans to install pipes at the back of its sanctuary to produce an antiphonal sound, explains music director Bev De'Athe.

"It's quite an outstanding sound (already), but it's not a sound people are used to hearing on the radio," she says of the current century-old organ.

"By giving us this surround sound, we hope (the organ sound) appeals to future generations."

St. Matthew's sold their organ and other fixtures in their 1,200-seat sanctuary as part of the conversion of the building into 24 low-income apartments. The West End congregation held a special service last Sunday with the organ before dismantling it, says Rev. Cathy Campbell.

"Lots of people came to say goodbye (to the building) and everyone knows that we're reaching for the future."

The parishioners of All Saints' Anglican, located at Broadway and Osborne, are considering upgrades and repairs to their instrument, estimated to cost $300,000, says organist Dietrich Bartel.

"I've played some really old instruments in Europe and it's a wonderful gift from one generation to the next," says Bartel, whose day job is dean of the school of music at Canadian Mennonite University.

But he has no illusions that every church with an aging organ will decide to spend the money to update and refurbish their instrument. Some congregations will decide they can't afford to keep their organs, while others might seek a compromise, he says.

"I am hopeful there will be a number of churches who want to keep old traditions while fostering contemporary music," says Bartel, adding that church music is fluid and adapts to the culture.

At All Saints', adapting to the culture includes incorporating six steel drums into the liturgy alongside traditional hymns and anthems accompanied by the pipe organ.

Fearn agrees church musicians need be creative to incorporate organ music into worship so worshippers of the future can sing to the swell of the organ and maybe even feel a few vibrations underneath them.

"It seems to me that there should be a middle ground and the organ could be used in conjunction with other instruments," she says.

brenda@suderman.com

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."