Joy for Generations | NLC Organ Restoration Project

Organ music sets the stage, moves our hearts, and leads us to sacred space. The remarkable qualities of the pipe organ reflect the immensity and magnificence of God’s love, allowing us to express our response to this love in song. The organ resonates with all our emotions -- from joy to sadness, contemplation to praise. It sustains and strengthens congregational singing, breathing life into every part of God’s story.

 

• Build a smaller, more versatile console which houses the inner works: new pistons & controls, stops, couplers, & keyboards.

• Remove fourth keyboard & reconfigure stops.

• Replace electrical system, including wiring & switching systems.

• Introduce solid state system to replace failing fiber optic system.

• Restore aging wind chests & replace slider motors.

• Repair antiphonal organ & console.

• Clean & adjust all 4,000 pipes!

• Voice the organ (modify its sound) to better lead congregational singing.

The restoration work is be carried out by the premier Dobson Pipe Organ Builders (dobsonorgan.com). John Ferguson, our interim organist and consultant, is sharing his expertise and experience throughout the project.

 

Restoration work on our organ began on April 22. Each week since then, anywhere from 3-8 workers from the Dobson Organ Company have made the 4 ½ hour trek from Lake City, IA (southwest of Des Moines) to complete their meticulous work on our organ, returning to Iowa each Friday. This professional team, along with several NLC volunteers, have made much progress since April 22 and anticipate having the organ ready for worship again by Pentecost Sunday, June 9, 2019!

 

In the first week, NLC volunteers helped carefully remove all the pipes from the “attic” above the choir robe room (think “pipe brigade”). Most pipes were taken to holding areas on the 3rd floor, though some were taken back to IA for repairs, and a few were replaced.

 

In the second and third weeks, while our volunteers cleaned and blew dust out of pipes, the Dobson team hoisted the old organ console out of the choir loft via a large crane and hoisted the new one up. They also worked on the wiring and electrical work and repaired the woodwork that supports the pipes. A nightingale and a new Zimbelstern (the star pictured between the pipes above), both crafted by owner Lynn Dobson, were transported up from Iowa and put into place during this time.

 

During the fourth week, our NLC volunteers returned to their pipe brigade, this time with surgical gloves on to protect the clean pipes, to help the Dobson team replace the pipes in the specified order. This work will continue through June 3, at which point Dobson will begin the work of tuning each pipe. Though the organ will be operational on June 7, Dobson will stay on to complete tonal work (making sure every pipe in each “rank” of pipes has a similar sound) through mid-July.

 

Completing these renovations and adding several ranks of pipes will grant more tonal possibilities with fuller and richer capabilities, enhance the organ’s ability to accompany our choirs, enable it to interpret a wide range of musical styles, and lift the voices of the congregation in joyful song. Our restored pipe organ will serve those worshiping at Normandale for generations to come! We will fall in love with the organ all over again!