Hi friends – it may be surprising that I’ve been so quiet over here! After all, we are nearly three months into the installation of the organ – there must be news to share! Well, of course there is. But here’s the thing – I’ve been overwhelmed by it all. Most of us organists spend some portion of our professional lives dreaming of doing a major organ project. And as I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been privileged to be part of two fairly substantial projects in former parishes. But NOTHING like this.
Besides the excitement of the project itself, there are the hundreds of other details that are project-related. Some of these details or issues are in the plan, and many make themselves known at the most unexpected moments: scaffolding, lighting, electrical, carpentry, and eventually a TON of cleaning. All of these things can add up to an eclipsing of the joy of the organ itself.
We have been so fortunate at Grace to have the wonderful guidance and oversight of E.F. O’Donnell and Son for all things non-organ. They have done so much for us to bring all of this together. And the Casavant team has been amazing! Under the direction of their brilliant foreman Fabian Tremblay these artisans have not only completed all their expected tasks, but dealt expertly with all the surprises that arise with a rebuild/restoration project such as this. Despite all the planning over the last two years, many surprises or “left turns” have arisen and the team has dealt with all of them beautifully.
So where are nearly three months in?? Well the Gallery Organ is essentially installed, minus a very few pipes (for spatial and voicing reasons) and final wiring. The team this week has turned their attention to the Chancel organ. While nearly half the size of the Gallery organ, the Chancel installation comes with its own challenges. All the gorgeous repainted gold facade pipes have been unwrapped and are lying in wait for their triumphal return. The Chancel console – a work of art – has been moved to the nave floor just below the pulpit. It is from this position that voicing of the Gallery organ will be done. And that may begin as soon as November 2. This is the most important part of any installation.
The punch list is long, and we are beginning to tackle it one item at a time: building in the floor where the Chancel console will go, replacing light bulbs in all the chandeliers in the nave before the scaffolding comes down, adding lighting for the Gallery organ, dealing with the ancient lighting controls for the Nave and Chancel, tracing miles of historic (and mostly useless) wiring, putting new flooring in the Gallery in anticipation of the March arrival of the Gallery console, and renovating the Gallery stairwell to be an appropriate approach to the Gallery organ. And this doesn’t even begin to address all the things that we have had to “squeeze” into our beautiful, but not large, Pavilion. Just last week we had a funeral with sit down lunch, a wedding and reception, Sunday church, and a rector search meeting with the Canon to the Ordinary, including lunch for all. Each event required a different set-up and all these things occurred between Thursday and Sunday!
Get the picture??
And I’m not complaining – I’m explaining that I think all of this web of complication is partly why many churches/institutions don’t tackle these projects. Yes, of course, money is also a key factor, but truth be told, I actually believe some churches facing projects of this scope might actually opt out of all of the above, even if the financing became available.
BUT NOT GRACE! We were given an extraordinarily generous gift to make this happen and so, in truth, everything else will fall away. By January (or even Christmas), we will be worshipping in a clean church with a gorgeous organ, capable of inspiring our congregation. Even more importantly, we can open our doors again on weekdays and let this glorious instrument speak to all those who are not yet here – all those seeking transcendent and soul-stirring beauty.
What has gotten me through – and gets me through – are my own memories of places I have visited to see beauty, hear thrilling music, and to be transformed. All of those places – churches, chapels, museums, gardens – all at one point had to wrestle a project, or projects, like ours. And thanks be to God they did. And we will. And we are. And I am so excited for you all to come here to this sacred place and be inspired and transformed.
Now, back to that wire that connects to something somewhere . . .
Leave a Reply