ZION MUSIC:
TASK FORCE UPDATE ON THE CHURCH ORGAN

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Proposed Refurbished Organ

 

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ZION CHURCH ORGAN RESTORATION
Pulling Out All The Stops

Organ Restoration 2010:
Pulling Out All the Stops!

First, a sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Organ Fund!  In 2009, Zion members and friends added over $13,000 to the fund which now totals about $132,000.    We are grateful for all gifts of financial support toward our goal of restoring Zion’s ailing organ.  Your generous support energizes the committee as we plan for the next stage of the organ project.  

Our kickoff event for 2010 was held on March 13 featuring a video presentation about the pipe organ.   We were pleased that over twenty interested members came out on a rainy Saturday afternoon to support this event.  The group learned that an organ is custom built to meet the musical requirements of the space which it occupies.  They viewed the engineering, hand craftsmanship, and musical expertise required to build an instrument that combines so many sounds, from the delicate flutes to the mighty roar of the pedal. 

After viewing the videos, John Heizer gave a demonstration of the current state of Zion’s organ by playing the familiar melody of the Bach chorale, “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring”.  To begin, John tried to evoke the reflective mood of the music, using the flute stops.  The group witnessed John’s hands depressing the keyboard, yet heard only a fraction of the notes.  No one could recognize the melody until John gradually added more and more stops.  He was finally able to play the piece with a grander fuller sound, using a combination of stops that actually produced all the notes of the chorale. 
What an “ear-opening” experience!
Those members in attendance on March 13 are eyewitness to the hundreds of dead notes due to the deterioration of Zion’s organ.  They now recognize that the majestic sound we hear on Sunday morning is due in large part to John Heizer’s ability to work around the non-functioning parts of the organ.  John reports only 3 out of 36 stops play the full complement of notes on the keyboard.  Eventually he will not be able to work around those ever increasing dead notes!

Many members who were unable to attend our March presentation have asked about viewing the videos and learning more for themselves.  We repeated the video presentation on Sunday, May 16, 2010.

Our hope is that this first hand observation will inspire our members to see the organ restoration as a priority project for Zion Church.  As the year progresses, the committee will be planning a fundraising campaign with upcoming events to be announced.

Wishing everyone a blessed Easter and a beautiful Spring!
Irene Duerr

Please consider making a donation to the Organ Fund.
Luther Rose T-Shirts seen below are for sale to benefit the fund.
Information is available from the Organ Restoration Task Force.

Organ Donation Form

Previously drafted specifications for a working instrument follow:

 GREAT

16                                          Bourdon

8                                             Principal

8                                             Bourdon

8                                             Violone

8                                             Harmonic Flute

4                                             Octave

4                                             Koppelflute

2 2/3                Nazard

2                                             Fifteenth

1 3/5                  Tierce

1 1/3                 Mixture IV

8                                             Trumpet

4                                             Clarion

 

SWELL

16                                          Rohrgedackt

8                                             Geigen

8                                             Rohrflute

8                                             Viole de gambe

8                                             Viole Celeste

4                       Principal

4                       Flauto Traverso

2                       Open Flute

2                                             Mixture III-IV

16                                          Trompette

8                                             Trompette

8                                             Oboe

 

CHOIR

8                                             Gemshorn

8                                             Stopped Diapason

8                                             Erzähler

8                                             Erzähler Celeste

4                       Geigen Octave

4                       Chimney Flute

2                                             Super Octave

1 1/3                 Larigot

1                       Mixture III

8                                             Clarinet

                      Tuba

 

PEDAL

32                                          Subbass

16                                          Contrebasse

16                                          Subbass

16                                          Bourdon

8                                             Principal

8                                             Octave

8                                             Subbass

4                       Octave

4                       Harmonic Flute

2                       Mixture

32                                          Trombone

16                                          Trombone

16                                          Trompette

8                                             Trumpet

4                       Clarion 

 

Organ
Proposed Refurbished Organ

SUPPORT ZION'S ORGAN FUND

The Zion Church Pipe Organ needs a great deal of work to remain in service

Please consider making a donation to the Organ Fund.

Luther Rose T-Shirts seen below are for sale to benefit the fund.

Information is available from the Organ Restoration Task Force.

Luther Rose Emblem

T-Shirt Sale
Luther Rose T-Shirts Sale Benefits The Organ Fund

Organ Donation Form


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