Peek Inside the Organ
Right now we have a wonderful opportunity to see the artistry and mechanical engineering that go into constructing a beautiful pipe organ.
This is possible while the façade pipes are displaced during the second phase of renovation and enhancement. Please feel free to visit the balcony after any Sunday service to take a look.
Phase One
The first phase of the organ work was completed at the beginning of the year. This included rewiring and digitizing the organ’s electrical system, as well as updating the keyboards, pedal boards and stop pistons to interface with the new digital system.
Phase Two
The current phase includes reworking parts of the wind ducting and some wind chests for the new pipes, which will arrive this summer.
Over 25 percent of our organ pipes need be replaced, because the metal alloy used for the original pipes was too soft; as a result, the pipes have been bending and collapsing. Our organ’s problem is not unique. This is now a common problem in organs across the country that were constructed during the same period.
Some of the collapsing pipes in our organ were just removed. Originally, the organ committee planned to recycle the pipes at a scrap yard; however, Bill Gazeley located an artist in Portland who wanted the pipes to use in his artwork. We are so pleased with this solution. The pipes will be transformed into another kind of art, and the purchase price was better than what we would have been paid at the scrap yard. The funds we receive from the old pipes will go into the ongoing organ fund.
Thank you to all who helped moving these pipes!
Phase Three
The new pipes are being made by hand now at the Schopp artisan workshop in Ohio. We expect to receive them this summer; then the remainder of collapsing pipes will be removed and new pipes installed. Subsequently, the organ pipes will be tuned and balanced to create a cohesive and vibrant sound. During this process the organ will again be out of commission for several weeks.
If you want to see how pipes are made by hand at the Schopp pipe workshop, take a look!
Casting organ pipe metal (Facebook video)
Building a pipe (Instagram video)
Phase Four
The final phase of the organ project, for which funds are still being raised, will add up to three new voices to the organ. The new voices will complete the tone color palette, giving more depth and variety to support congregational singing as well as organ solo work.
Thank you all for your support, past and continuing, of the organ project. Together, we’re upholding a deep tradition and bright future of excellent music at the Good Samaritan Church.