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Log inRecently refurbished organ debuts Sunday
Recently refurbished organ debuts Sunday
by Outspoken on Sat Jul 26, 2008 6:44 am
Recently refurbished organ debuts Sunday at Waterville church
BY COLIN HICKEY
Staff Writer Morning Sentinel
WATERVILLE -- Refurbished and rebuilt with a $165,000 investment, the Berkshire organ at First Congregational Church boasts a new look and voice with the addition of more than 800 pipes, increasing the total to about 2,000.
On Sunday, the power of this revitalized musical being will be on full display as accomplished organist Willis Bodine performs a dedication recital at 3 p.m. that will be free and open to all.
"The afternoon program," First Congregational Pastor Alice Anderman said, "is to show off the organ."
It also is the culmination of a long process.
Alice Anderman and husband David Anderman, First Congregational Church's pastoral team, saw the project through from start to finish, beginning with the decision four years ago to raise $175,000 ($10,000 will be dedicated to a ongoing maintenance fund) to expand and restore the organ.
In a technical sense, the organ will make its post-makeover debut Sunday morning at the church's regular service.
But Bodine will test the full range and beauty of the instrument when he plays the organ that afternoon.
William F. Czelusniak will be one of the people in attendance for the recital and his interest will be that of a proud father -- this, after all, is his baby.
Czelusniak, a full-time organ builder since 1975, is the architect behind the restoration.
His challenge was daunting.
In rebuilding the organ, Czelusniak said he had to consider visual, acoustic, musical and physical factors.
Each presented its own set of difficulties and whatever decision he made with one of the variables had an impact on the others.
Visual and physical considerations, for instance, went hand and hand.
Czelusniak could not change the size of the sanctuary or the shape of the ceiling.
Instead, he had to work within the opportunities and restrictions of those dimensions.
"One of the issues," he said, "was how long could we make the central pipe on each side (of the organ console) and still fit them under the curved ceiling in a way that they would still speak in their natural pitch or, rather, the pitch that was needed."
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5262283.html
Staff photo by David Leaming
BY COLIN HICKEY
Staff Writer Morning Sentinel
WATERVILLE -- Refurbished and rebuilt with a $165,000 investment, the Berkshire organ at First Congregational Church boasts a new look and voice with the addition of more than 800 pipes, increasing the total to about 2,000.
On Sunday, the power of this revitalized musical being will be on full display as accomplished organist Willis Bodine performs a dedication recital at 3 p.m. that will be free and open to all.
"The afternoon program," First Congregational Pastor Alice Anderman said, "is to show off the organ."
It also is the culmination of a long process.
Alice Anderman and husband David Anderman, First Congregational Church's pastoral team, saw the project through from start to finish, beginning with the decision four years ago to raise $175,000 ($10,000 will be dedicated to a ongoing maintenance fund) to expand and restore the organ.
In a technical sense, the organ will make its post-makeover debut Sunday morning at the church's regular service.
But Bodine will test the full range and beauty of the instrument when he plays the organ that afternoon.
William F. Czelusniak will be one of the people in attendance for the recital and his interest will be that of a proud father -- this, after all, is his baby.
Czelusniak, a full-time organ builder since 1975, is the architect behind the restoration.
His challenge was daunting.
In rebuilding the organ, Czelusniak said he had to consider visual, acoustic, musical and physical factors.
Each presented its own set of difficulties and whatever decision he made with one of the variables had an impact on the others.
Visual and physical considerations, for instance, went hand and hand.
Czelusniak could not change the size of the sanctuary or the shape of the ceiling.
Instead, he had to work within the opportunities and restrictions of those dimensions.
"One of the issues," he said, "was how long could we make the central pipe on each side (of the organ console) and still fit them under the curved ceiling in a way that they would still speak in their natural pitch or, rather, the pitch that was needed."
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5262283.html
Staff photo by David Leaming
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
