The Blessing and Recital of the Pilcher Pipe Organ--St. Catherine Church, New Haven, KY

The Blessing and Recital of the Pilcher Pipe Organ
St. Catherine Church, New Haven, KY
Sunday, April 10, 2005

BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. CATHERINE PARISH

St. Catherine's rich heritage goes back to 1844 wenn this parish was first established.

The first church erected on this site in 1844 was destroyed by fire in 1928. This church was described as being the finest church in the United States for a small town. Lost in this devastating fire was the Van Dinter organ, made in Mishawaka, Indiana. This organ was possibly the first instrument made in the state designed so the organist would sit with his/her back to the instrument while playing it.

The present church of Romanesque architecture, designed by Carl J. Epping, was dedicated on Sunday, March 30, 1930.

These words were taken from the dedication brochure:
"Today, all obstacles surmounted, this new church stands, a monument to the zeal and energy of this parish..." (This same zeal and energy still exists in our parish today.)

The main altar and two side altars are of the finest statuary and Poanazzo marble, inlaid with Venetian Mosaics. The Stations of the Cross, by Feuerstein, were imported from Munich, Germany, a gift from the Rt. Rev. Obrecht, at that time, Abbot of the Abbey of Gethsemani.

The stained glass windows in St. Catherine's Church were researched in 1993 by Father Fred W. Klotter, who was then a seminarian assigned to St. Catherine. Father Klotter found a name on one of the windows "signed" Emil Frei, Inc. of St. Louis and Munich, a company still in operation, but their company experienced a fire and lost all the records of their work done during 1930.

The pipe organ was installed in this church in Many 1931 at a cost of $1,350. This modest jewel of an organ was built in the 1890's by the firm of Henry Pilcher's Sons of Louisville, their Opus 83. Mr. John Gunther and Mr. Roy Heimerdinger, employees of the Pilcher Co., installed this organ. The organ was played for the first time on Sunday, May 17, 1931.

This historic organ is one of the last few remaining unaltered organs built by the prestigious firm of Henry Pilcher's Sons, Louisville, Kentucky. Where this instrument was originally installed is a mystery.

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ORGAN RESTORATION

This fine example of late 19th century organ building has two manual deyboards and a pedal keyboard which access 10 ranks (or sets) of pipes totaling 514 pipes in all. This is a "tracker" organ. It has mechanical action where the organist, through a series of verious levers, trackers, squares, rollers, backfalls and pulldowns, actually opens the valves which let air into the pipes. The organ was in very good original condition. Prior to 2002, this organ was not played for about 10 years, but with periodic repairs, it has been in regular use since January 2002.

Major renovation of the organ began in February 2004. Work was carried out following guidelines set up by the Organ Historical Society which is dedicated to preserving these fine old instruments.

The renovation included replacing all leather parts, a thorough cleaning, replacing some missing and damaged pipes and a final regulation of voicing and turning to maintain the original tonal levels and balances of the organ.

Te single largest part of the project was releathering the four by seven foot reservoir including the feeder pumping bellows. Also, another significant part of the project was turning the organ 90 degrees out of the balcony alcove where it had been installed so that it now speaks directly out into the church.

New case sides were also added.

With the renovation of this instrument completed, we expect another 110 year of organ music for St. Cathering and the community.

We would like to thank everyone in St. Catherine Parish and the New Haven community for the courtesy shown to us during our time here at St. Catherine.

Pete Webber,
Webber and Borne Organ Builders
Louisville, KY

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SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ORGAN

Great Swell Pedal

8' Open Diapason
8' Violin Diapason
16' Bourdon
8' Melodia
8' Stopped Diapason
8' Common Bass
8' Common Bass Couplers
8' Dulciana
4' Harmonic Flute Swell to Great
4' Octave
8' Oboe
2' Super Octave
(Reed pipes t.c.) Swell to Great Octaves
Tremolo Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal

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BLESSING OF THE ORGAN

Opening Hymn Gather and Remember (Finlandia)
...accompanist, Roberta Tannahill

Greeting and Welcome
...Father Clarence Howard, pastor

Psalm 98: All the Ends of the Earth (David Haas, Marty Haugen)
...Cantor: Randy Stephens
...Accompanist: Roberta Tannahill

Blessing Prayer
"We dedicate this organ for your glory and your praise!"

The deacon sprinkles and incenses the instrument.
Psalm 47: Ascendit Deus,
"God mounts his throne to shouts of joy, a blare of trumpets for the Lord."
...Amy Hettinger, vocalist
...Gregorian Choir, Director, Maggie Hettinger

Song of Mary (Magnificat) Schola and assembly
...Bro. Luke Armour, OCSO, organist
...Gregorian Choir, Director, Maggie Hettinger
...Carmel Bowman, cantor

The Lord's Prayer

Final Prayer

Hymn: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Beethoven)
...Choir made up of members of many, many, local choirs.

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RECITAL
Fubue in C Major ("the Great") Johann Sebastian Bach
...Bro. Luke Armour, OCSO, Organist

Canon in D Pachelbel
...Maggie Hettinger, Flutist
...Bro. Luke Armour, OCSO, Organist

Voluntary VI, Set II, Opus 6 John Stanley (1713-1786)
...John Marcum, organist

Meditation Richard Lloyd
...Bro. Luke Armour, OCSO, Organist

Finale (Organ Sonata, Six, Opus 65) Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
...John Marcum, organist

Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock Johann Sebastian Bach
...Maggie Hettinger, Flutist
...Bro. Luke Armour, OCSO, Organist

Two Hymns:
Chorale Prelude on Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Johann Gottfried Walter (1684-1748)
Lobe den Herren
Exaltation on Christ the Lord is Risen Today Alice Jordan (b. 1916)
Easter Hymn
...John Marcum, Organist

After the recital, you are invited to the balcony to greet Mrs. Maggie Hettinger, Ms. Amy Hettinger, Bro Luke Armour, OCSO, and Mr. John Marcum.

Mr Pete Webber, of Webber & Borne Organ Builders, will also be in the balcony to greet you and answer any questions about the organ restoration.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

For their invaluable assistance, we wish to express our thanks and gratitude to Bro Luke Armour, OCSO, Mrs. Thelma Ford, Mrs. Carol Ann Haynes, Ms. Amy Hettinger, Mrs. Maggie Hettinger, Mr. Philip Hines, Mr. John Marcum, Mrs Joan O'Bryan and Pete Webber and staff.

We would like also to thank those in news media, expecailly, Mr. Mike Grosso, Mr. Barry Bernson, The LaRue County Herald News, The Kentucky Standard, PLG TV-13, and WAVE-TV News.

A special note of appreciation to all our benefactors, the Sa. Catherine parishioners and our pastor , Father Clarence J. Howard. Without your generosity, support and encouragement, this organ restoration would not have been possible.

Organ Restoration Committee:
Billie J. Alvey
Fred Boone
Totsie Boone
Sissie Clark
Julia Sims
Randy Stephens
Betty Vittitow
Martha Vittitow
Leigh Ann Wimsett

Notes:
The weather was beautiful, sunny and warm. Attendance was good, the church was full. An exceptional meal was served by the parish, and a great time was had by all.
Prelude music by a flutist and violinist is not listed on the program.
Thanks Martha!!!