First Church Congregational Debuts
New Pipe Organ
(Appeared as a front page feature
Fairfield Sun 10/21)
By Mike Lauterborn
© 2010. All Rights Reserved.
9/17/10
Fairfield, CT – “A… B… C…” Bernhard Althaus called down from the scaffolding to Michael Bessmann seated at the pipe organ keyboard below. As Bessmann pressed each key, Althaus moved methodically from pipe to pipe, listening intently, tapping and adjusting.
It was a mid-September weekday and Master Organ Builder Althaus and his assistant were busy tuning and testing the first 400 or so pipes of a new Tracker Pipe Organ that was being installed in the Sanctuary at First Church Congregational. The installation had begun in early July and this was a particularly critical stage – and one that had to meet the high standards of their boss, Philipp Klais, who had flown over from Germany this day and was due any moment to inspect their work. They were in the homestretch of a project that was ten years in the planning and readying the equipment for its November 14th public debut and concert.
The notes filled the high-ceilinged, Romanesque-style room with a pleasant sound while light filtered through the Tiffany stained glass windows around the perimeter. The smell of fresh sawdust hung in the air, the result of recent cutting and fitting of ramps, ladders and walkways up behind the organ to permit the workers access.
Sweat dripped from Althaus’ brow as he moved about the tin pipes, which were still wrapped in protective plastic. The bench of the organ was likewise wrapped in Styrofoam, to protect and keep clean the equipment. The two wore gloves so that no natural skin oils rubbed off on any surfaces. From Bonn, Germany, and residing in housing in Fairfield’s Beach Area, the pair remarked that their countrymen back home were drinking apple wine at this time of year. Althaus looked like he might enjoy taking a break to enjoy a nice libation like that. But the oval faceplate on the organ with the imprint “Johannes Klais, Bonn 2010” was a constant reminder that he had an important job to accomplish here and a narrowing window in which to complete his tasks.
Faced with the need to replace an aging electronic instrument and receiving funding from the estate of Lewis and Alice Burr, the church, an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ, began active planning for a new pipe organ in 2000. The church interviewed numerous builder candidates before deciding in 2008 to enter into a contract with Johannes Klais Orgelbrau of Bonn. Philipp Klais, 42, great grandson of the founder, now leads the 128-year-old company and 65 skilled workers building organs for churches and concert halls around the world and in all styles, from 17th century European chapels to 21st century contemporary buildings.
Charlotte Dyslin, who has led the church’s organ committee for ten years and been monitoring the installation work, has been very satisfied with the choice of builders. “Working with Phillip and his team has been a wonderful experience. Phillip truly understands the spiritual part that a pipe organ plays in worship and he and his team of craftsmen and craftswomen have been very creative in addressing the particular needs of our physical space,” she commented.
Althaus and Bessmann switched places from time to time and, on occasion, Bessmann would remove a pipe for Althaus to more closely inspect it. Periodically, Althaus would carry one to a makeshift workbench at the rear of the Sanctuary to make a small adjustment or even to hold up the pipe to his mouth and blow through it like some great alpine horn. “We are testing the sound,” he explained, a process known as “voicing.”
Returning to the organ, Bessmann played a particularly low and deep note and, smiling at Bessmann, cackled in a sinister way, like the Phantom of the Opera.
Accompanied by Dyslin and Peggy Gettig, co-chair of the organ committee, Klais, dressed in a black sport coat, jeans and black shoes, arrived on the scene and immediately began conferring with his workers. He had just two hours to give onsite before he had to return to the airport and fly to the Middle East to inspect another installation at a concert hall.
Perching on a bench, Gettig said, “I’m retired and have been fortunate enough to have been working with these guys all summer.” Gettig has been photographing and documenting the whole installation process via the church’s website and Blog, www.firstchurchfairfield.org in a dedicated “Pipe Organ Installation” section.
About the initial development steps, Dyslin explained, “They built the base in Germany, then disassembled it and rebuilt it here. It had to be adjusted further as the installation space was not square.” Joked Gettig, “Like any old thing!”
Gettig noted that only 20% of the pipes had yet been installed. She referred to this as the “principal” or foundation of the organ. “If the principal sounds good – and Philipp is here to listen – then the rest will be good. In total, there are 2,103 pipes, of which 172 are wood. The rest are metal.”
The overall specs and logistics related to this fantastic organ are indeed dizzying. Thirteen thousand man hours of labor to create and install. The longest pipe measuring nearly 20 feet. Combined Tracker length of 5,200 feet. Combined wind duct length of 100 feet. Combined length of structural beams 1,800 feet. A total weight of 14 tons.
The organ itself has three manual keyboards, 36 stops and 41 ranks. It is a moderate, but full-sized organ designed to fill the Sanctuary with a sound that will both inspire and uplift. The room underwent an extensive restoration in 2009 and the style of wood and carvings on the organ’s face have been crafted to match the historic church décor. The organ features an “eclectic tonal style”, meaning that it will be able to lead the congregation in hymns and accompany the choir, while honoring the entire scope of the organ repertoire, spanning the 16th to 21st centuries.
“We anticipate this instrument will be here for 300 years,” said Dyslin. “The member children of the congregation will need to be its stewards.” To this regard, the church contracted Fairfield author/writer Peter Saverine to develop a children’s book, titled “A Little Mouse Music”, that will help them appreciate it and learn more about the history of the church. “It will help the adults, too,” joked Gettig, “who have a harder time with change!” The book, as well as a related CD, will be introduced on the organ’s Inaugural Day.
As Klais took his turn playing notes and scaling the rafters, Pastor David Spollett emerged from his office. “Herr Klais is here!” he noticed, and went to greet him. “It’s just fabulous!” he complimented.
Klais concluded his inspection and felt the work had progressed well. “I’m a pipe organ builder, so I’m always worried. I want an instrument that reaches not only ears, but hearts. It should be singing, not shouting… a member of the congregation, not just an expensive toy of the organist. I’m glad we got the confidence of the church to build it… but I’m not sure I want to let it go! It’s become an important part of my life.”
SIDEBAR
Historic First Church Prepares for Pipe Organ’s Inaugural Day
In a recent meeting at First Church Congregational, Pastor David Spollett offered background about the church’s history and the significance of its new pipe organ. “This is the sixth meeting house on this spot, with the first built in 1639. The current building was established in 1891, the longest-lived of the series. It’s built of red sandstone from the Manchester area of Connecticut.”
The architect was Josiah Cleveland Cady, known for developing the south wing of the American Museum of Natural History, and the Dakota building, in New York City.
The church’s previous organ was electronic, installed in 1971, which replaced an older pipe organ. “It was like a computer,” pipe organ committee co-chair Peggy Gettig remarked. Added Spollett, “An electronic organ is just an amplified sound. The key to the pipe organ is air moving through pipes. You feel the sound, the richness, the warmth. It’s the difference between listening to a recording of a symphony orchestra and listening to the symphony orchestra live.”
Offered organ builder Philipp Klais, “Each pipe has its own soul… and, together, the pipes need to be a good choir, rather than soloists. If the organ is felt and loved by the congregation, it will help spur a feeling of community during church services. Pipe organs have been doing this for centuries.”
November 14th Inaugural Day Schedule (open to the public)
10:15 am - Dedication of Pipe Organ during service
11:20 am - Celebration Reception – Wakeman Hall
11:30 am - Children’s Pipe Organ Concert & book reading/signing (fee)
4:00 pm - Inaugural Concert
5:00 pm - Formal Reception – Meet the Organ Builder, Philipp Klais, and Organist, Justin Bischof
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