Morrow Church’s new organ was built by the Allen Organ Company of Macungie, PA, and installed by Lee Stadele and the dedicated crew from Stadele’s Allen Organs of Branchburg, NJ in the Fall of 2011. It was first played in worship on December 18, 2011. Beginning in January 2012, the voicing of the organ was carefully refined by John Nelson over a period of several weeks. The result is an instrument that excels at leading congregational singing, accompanying choral anthems, collaborating with instrumental ensembles, and playing every era of organ literature.
Some special aspects of the installation are worth noting. All divisions except String can be assigned to antiphonal speakers discreetly installed in the rafters over the balcony. This allows for greater support of congregational singing and permits special dialogue effects between the front of the sanctuary and the rear. The string division is installed over the central transept area, inspired by the celestial divisions that builders would regularly install in transept domes during the pre-Depression heyday of organ building. The Festival Trumpet accessory transforms the Solo Tuba Mirabilis into a horizontal trumpet which speaks from the balcony and is suitable for fanfares and ushering a bride down the aisle.
This organ was designed to make worship more inspiring. A congregation hears its pipe organ week after week, so it is a challenge for the organist to keep it sounding fresh every Sunday. This instrument is rich with a kaleidoscope of different sounds, able to be plaintive or triumphant, mysterious or declamatory, whispering or roaring.
The decision to embark upon an organ project was made before I joined the church staff in September 2010. We are indebted to the efforts of Chip Madsen, Jason Tramm, Mark Cook, Bobbie Rambach, the trustees, and many others who made this a priority for the capital campaign. I am grateful that all the relevant staff and committees had full confidence in me to chart the course of the organ project. I wish to acknowledge my gratitude to the many members of the church who have pledged so generously to the organ project and the overall campaign. We have a King of Instruments which will serve us for decades to come. Soli Deo Gloria!
Dr. Holland Jancaitis, Director of Music Ministry