Music MinistryFirst Inspiration Concert Series OrganContact:Michael Lightfoot |
The Klais Organ
Klais Organ Commemorative DVDThe two-DVD set documents the installation, tuning and voicing and dedication of this magnificent instrument. Now available for purchase online here. In a Klais Of Its OwnBy Mike LightfootFrom "Good Tidings," April 22 and 29, 2005On Wednesday, March 9, Music Director and Organist, Mike and Mary Lightfoot flew to Germany for a close up look at the factory that will produce our new pipe organ. While there, Mary was able to play several organs built by the Klais Organ Builders. Following are highlights from the trip, with a few pictures included. The FactoryOn our first day we arrived in Bonn, the birthplace of one of history 's most famous musicians, Ludwig van Beethoven, and also the location of Johannes Klais Orgelbau, the organ builders who are creating our new pipe organ. The shop was built in 1894 and has about 70 employees. We began our tour in an actual lumberyard of the Klais factory. The company chooses specific wood for their instruments, right down to selecting the trees! The wood is dried (1 to 2 years per inch), stored and pressurized to keep out humidity.
FrechenThe most recent Klais organ installation is in St. Audomar church i n Frechen, not far from Bonn. It had just been dedicated in a recital two weeks earlier. The organ had a nice, warm sound and was probably Mary's favorite to play. The church has a quite long balcony and choir loft with a beautiful rose window. In order to not obstruct the view of the rose window, the Klais team put the organ pipes in two cases on either side of the loft and left a large walkway in between. Since that large space was there between the cases, the team decided to leave a large hole in the floor and put Plexiglas over it so that you can stand behind the organ console and watch the connectors in the organ go up and down while the organ is being played! Also, all the panels of the cases had doorways, making maintenance very easy but also making it very accessible to anyone who might want to actually go stand between the ranks of pipes and watch how the organ works from the inside. There are several other examples of the Klais team's creativity with organ building that we'll have to save for another article. Koln Cathedral
It was, undoubtedly, the coldest we've ever been in a worship service. With no heat, the inside temperature was under 30 degrees. We wore heavy coats and gloves, and were able to see After the organ playing we boarded an elevator on the outside of the building and were taken to a point near the top of the roof, nearly faceto- face with gargoyles! The doors of the elevator were opened and we walked out on to a plank of wood, high above the ground, to the edge of the building. It was breathtaking to be that high in the air with very little security; and yet, there were still over 200 feet of steeples soaring above us. 450 foot spires built in the 13th century; how? St. Peter's Cathedral in MunichAfter spending a relaxing afternoon in the Medieval German village of Rothenburg, we left for the beautiful city of Munchen (or Munich). After driving for two hours, sometimes through heavy snowfall, we arrived at St. Peter's in Munich. Upon arriving we were taken to a cozy restaurant near the church where a wonderful, jovial German gentleman greeted us with hearty handshakes and hugs, then treated us to a delicious dinner. This kind gentleman, Dr. Berndt Jager, a politician in the Bavarian Government, is also organist in the St. Peter's Cathedral.
OurOverall ExperienceOur time in Germany was fastpaced, and yet enlightening. The Klais engineers, especially Guido & Stefan, were extremely helpful. They not only answered all of our questions, but were willing to drop their responsibilities and concentrate on us; including taking us out to eat (this includes translating menus), driving us to area cathedrals with Klais organs, getting us into the Beethoven-Haus (the birthplace of the great composer), meeting with us about final details on our instrument, and most importantly, giving us a tour of the Klais factory where our organ will soon be built. The trip would have been extremely difficult had it not been for the expertise and energy of our organ consultant, Dr. Doug Bush, a Music Professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Dr. Bush, aside from being our expert on organs, also speaks fluent German and has traveled extensively in Germany. I would say that anyone who will set up your flight, drive your car, give advice on the needs of the instrument, and act as interpreter when needed is priceless. Dr. Bush was hired because of his experience as an organist and his vast knowledge of the instrument; all of these other things were simply a bonus. Dr. Bush has agreed to play two recitals after the organ has been completed: one specifically for our church and the other aimed at the entire Dallas community. Of course, you will be encouraged to attend both. We are fortunate to have Dr. Bush working hand in hand with our organist and the Organ Acquisition Committee. Pipe DreamsFrom the first dream of a new pipe organ to when the very first note is played, there are many people involved over many years, making many decisions. First there are the donors, a wonderful couple who has no idea of the impact their gift will have on our church for many years to come. The generosity and selfless spirit of these two is truly amazing, and our biggest debt of gratitude is surely owed to them. Next, there are the committees that have worked for hours and hours to make sure the best instrument was found and then purchased. The initial search was put into the hands of our Organ Committee. This committee, after looking at many organ builders from all over the world, recommended that we look at the Klais Organ Builders in Bonn, Germany. The Organ Acquisition Committee then was given the task of deciding on the organ builders and finding a way to purchase the instrument. After choosing our consultant and meeting with Philip Klais, we agreed with the original committee that Klais would be our organ builder. So, when you hear this grand pipe organ for the first time, be mindful of the donors, the committees that chose and purchased the organ, the organ builders, the consultant, the architects, the acousticians, and the many organists who will play this fine instrument for years to come. We are truly blessed to have received such a gift. |
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Music Makers
We visited on a day when metal was being melted, poured and shaped into thin sheets for making pipes. The sheets were then cut and formed into the various shapes of organ pipes. Some pipes are made of wood, but we were able to observe a worker forming metal pipes by shaping the metal sheet around a cone and then pounding it together at the seam. It looked like somewhat tedious work, but our guides Guido and Stefan told us how each worker is assigned to a certain organ project and they see it through 
from beginning to end. That means that when the pipes are being made for our organ, the technician who is sitting there shaping the pipes will know, 'This pipe is for FUMC in Richardson, Texas!. The technic i a n s t o o k great care and pride in showing us their work. Some of the organs we saw being built were going to Nuremburg, Germany, to Bejing, China, and one was being built for a Sultan's palace.
The next day we drove from Bonn to the neighboring community of Koln (or Cologne) in order to attend a noon prayer service at the Cologne Cathedral, one of the most impressive cathedrals in all of Germany. The tallest points of this cathedral reach 450 feet, and the enormity of the cathedral is breathtaking. All of the music in the prayer service was played on two impressive pipe organs, both built by Klais. Guido, one of the organ designers with Klais, played the organ in this service, and he literally pulled out all the stops for us.
our breath with every word we spoke. Between the extreme temperatures and the cushionless seats, I wonder how we would ever survive worship over there.
Over dinner Dr. Jager shared some of the history of this beautiful cathedral. Originally built in Gothic times, the church was later rebuilt on its original foundation during the Baroque era; probably around 1700. During World War II, St. Peter's was bombed by the allies and the entire ceiling collapsed. Finally, holes were drilled into the walls in preparation for a total demolition of the church, whereupon the priests successfully fought to save the church. Luckily, during the war, all of the art work was put in to safe storage and saved from the bombing. Today this magnificent church has bright arching ceilings covered with beautiful, colorful frescos.
Dr. Yager plays the Klais organ, installed in 2003, and the sound is overwhelming. Stefan, one of the head engineers for Klais, was excited for us to hear this organ, as ours will be almost identical. 'Actually', he said, 'the Klais we're installing in First United Methodist Church Richardson is a bit larger than this'. Having seen this organ and heard the capacity of its sound, I have no doubt that the music in this church is about to change forever.
©2006 FUMCR