The Pieter J. Schiller Memorial Pipe Organ
A new 2-manual mechanical action pipe organ was installed in the spring and early summer of 2021, placed in the rear of the church, behind where the choirs sit. The organ was built by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd. (Op. 98), of Lake City, Iowa. The instrument is comprised of 32 ranks of pipes (1,855 pipes). A new choir loft space was installed in the rear of the church in 2020. The instrument’s visual design is modern, with nautical elements employed throughout (Note the appearance of sails at the top of the case; the “waves” of pipes; the pipe shades of sky and stars; the bowed line toward the bottom of the case, suggesting the hull of a ship; and the ship lath at the base of the casework.). The instrument’s tonal design is based on a previous Dobson instrument built for Rock Creek Parish, Washington, D.C. (Op. 80), created especially to play music of the Anglican organ and choral traditions, as well as to support congregational singing. To view a stoplist, please click here.
In the autumn of 2020, the Vestry designated the forthcoming pipe organ to be named the Pieter J. Schiller Memorial Pipe Organ, in loving memory of the man whose vision, ceaseless work, and tenacity made this instrument a reality. Click here to read about Pieter’s life.
Photo of the completed instrument (May 10, 2021):
Photos of the construction of the instrument at St. Christopher’s (April 27, 2021):
Photos of the construction of the instrument at St. Christopher’s (April 20, 2021):
Photos from the delivery of the organ to St. Christopher’s in Chatham (April 12, 2021):
Photos from a visit to the Dobson Shop in Lake City, Iowa (March 10, 2021) (Photos: Erik Bertrand):
BOUNDLESS VIEWS AS ONE APPROACHES LAKE CITY
THE TOWN SQUARE
THE DOBSON SHOP, PERCHED AT ONE CORNER OF THE SQUARE.
LYNN DOBSON, VISUAL DESIGNER, SHARES ABOUT THE FACADE.
FACADE PIPES. THE BLUE ON THE PIPES IS A PROTECTIVE COVERING THAT WILL BE REMOVED, LEAVING ALL SILVER PIPES.
PEDAL PIPES GRACE THE SIDES OF THE CASE.
JOHN PANNING, PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY, GOES OVER DRAWINGS WITH MAURY CASTRO (right) AND ERIC RASMUSSEN (ORGANIST AND COLLEAGUE) (middle)
INSERT PIPES HERE.
RATHER COMPLICATED.
MORE COMPLICATION.
JOHN PANNING DEMONSTRATES THE SOUND OF PIPES THAT WILL BE USED IN THE ORGAN.
GOING OVER CONSOLE SPECIFICATIONS ON THE PEDAL BOARD.
DETAILING (FOR NO EXTRA CHARGE) ON THE SIDE OF THE ORGAN BENCH.
Construction Photos from the Dobson Shop (February 2021):
Construction Photos from the Dobson Shop (January 2021):
Construction Photos from the Dobson Shop (December 2020):
Construction Photos from the Dobson Shop (November 2020):
Construction Photos from the Dobson Shop (August 2020):
Hymn Competition
In preparation for the dedication of the new pipe organ, a task force was created in 2019 to oversee the dedicatory Choral Evensong, opening reception, dedicatory solo organ recitals, and inaugural collaborative recitals with organ and community musical ensembles. The task force is comprised of Sarah Anderson, Jeff Arnold, Maury A. Castro, Peggy Davis, Jennifer Golini, Lee Tashjian, and Haskell Thomson. In order to commemorate the dedicatory Choral Evensong, the task force initiated a hymn contest for the creation of a new hymn text (the hymn tune will be chosen by St. Christopher’s, and will be a tune familiar to the parish). The hymn text was to celebrate, to the Glory of God, the mission and ministry of St. Christopher’s Church, in its sea-side context (as opposed to celebrating the new instrument). The contest announcement reached a worldwide audience, and 29 submissions were received by the May 1, 2020 deadline. Lee Tashjian, head of this project, coalesced the submissions, delivered them to the jury (comprised of Maury A. Castro, The Rev. Dr. Carl Daw, Jr., Anne LeClaire, The Rev. Dr. John Martiner, The Rev. Brian W. McGurk, and Haskell Thomson). After careful consideration, a winning entry was identified:
Wind, Who Whispered into Being
Wind, who whispered into being
all that is in earth and space,
plants and creatures, stars and microbes,
mountains, seas, the human race:
use us as your co-creators,
sowing beauty, truth, and good,
stewards of the world you gave us,
called to love through servanthood.
Wind, who spoke through your Beloved
words of comfort to the poor,
offered mercy to the sinner,
preached an open heavenly door:
help us live by his example,
speak as echoes of his voice;
that our words, lived out in action,
may make hurting hearts rejoice.
Wind, who with a sacred purpose
fanned the flames of Pentecost,
energizing with your power
all the fearful, lone, and lost:
make of us renewed disciples;
come, inspire us; help us be
open to each other’s language,
welcoming diversity.
Wind, once sweeping over chaos,
taming, shaping, ordering;
holy Breath, move here among us
as we worship, as we sing.
Woodwinds, trumpets, organ joining
human voices, glad in praise:
make our lives a mighty chorus
that proclaims your wondrous ways!
©2020 Lydia Pedersen
Dr. Lydia Pedersen, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, says of her winning the hymn competition, “I am deeply honoured by this decision, knowing how many excellent hymn writers there are in America and Canada. It is the first time I have won such a competition. What engaged me from the start was a confluence of things I hold dear: Cape Cod, the location of many happy memories; the purpose, inaugurating a new organ; and the stated wish for a text that lifts up music in the context of Pentecost, one of my favourite church festivals. I feel grateful and very privileged to think that my words will help St. Christopher’s congregation celebrate this memorable, festive occasion, and I extend my most heartfelt congratulations to you in your rejoicing. May your new instrument bring you many years of delight, comfort, faith, hope and joy through the unique blessings of music.”