Above, architect Russell Johnson walks the Chancel roof to get the big picture and some measurements to design the new organ chamber.

HOLLYWOOD LUTHERAN CHURCH'S
"NEW" PIPE ORGAN

Hello, friends!

In 2007-2009, we are undertaking the refurbishing and enlarging of our 1920s-era pipe organ.  Originally purchased from Warner Bros. Theater in the 1930s, when the silent movies were coming to an end and "talkies" began to capture the movie maker's imagination, our pipe organ has served well beyond its years without a major rennovation.

Everyone knows the term "deferred maintenance"-- the euphemism for chronic neglect.  By 2007 our pipe organ had become a prime example of such neglect.

Today, the 6-rank instrument needs re-leathering and other work because there are many "dead notes."  When the air supply coming to each pipe can no longer be controlled because of a defective valve, the note is said to be "cyphering" -- it plays continuously even when no one is holding down a key.  The pipe must therefore be removed until the valve can be repaired.  At present we have dead notes in almost all of the organ's ranks of pipes, making it difficult to play.

The 80-year old wind chests are literally being held together with duct tape!  This will be the case until at least Spring/Summer of 2009 when the new work is beginning to be installed.

"Miss Wheezie" 

In recent years, it has been painful to hear the "old lady" gasping for air.  Our former music director, Eldon Turner, affectionately dubbed the organ "Miss Wheezie" because the escaping wind from leaking wind chests is a constant reminder that the instrument is suffering badly. 

After months of careful planning, research and discussion by an Organ Committee, the voters of Hollywood Lutheran Church made the decision in November 2007 to set aside funds for the complete re-working and enlargement of the instrument.  Here is the general plan taking shape since  January 2008:

  • We have purchased a 22-rank Reuter oran built in the 1960s from  Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Beverly Hills (which is completely replacing it with an organ costing more than $700,000).  The thousands of pipes, wind chests, console, relays and other parts were packed and brought to Hollywood Lutheran Church on June 10-11, 2008, where they are carefully stored away.
  • A second organ chamber has been designed to provide more room above the Sacristy.  Both the existing chamber and the new chamber "speak" directly into the Nave.  But see "Reports" for the latest issues and complications to this plan!
  • Organs are traditionally designed in disivions, called Great, Swell, Choir, Pedal, etc.  The preliminary design for our refurbished organ calls for the Great organ to be housed in one chamber and the Choir division in the present chamber above the Choir office (right side) directly above the Choir seating.
  • Some ranks of exposed decorative pipes may be placed in the rear of the Sanctuary as well.
  • When the second organ chamber is completed, the complicated work begins to marry two instruments into one, and to revoice each individual pipe to provide the appropriate sound and quality for our space.

The entire Sanctuary building is part of the instrument.  The architecture and materials of both the organ chambers and the Nave itself affect the sound.  Soft, spongy materials eat up sound and defeat one of the major purposes of a pipe organ -- to support congregational singing.  As part of the restoration and refurbishing project, sound-deadening material in our Nave will be removed, including acoustic boards on the rear wall and excess carpet. 

This website will allow interested parties to see the developing plans and watch the progress of the work.

 

HOLLYWOOD LUTHERAN CHURCH  +  1733 N. New Hampshire Avenue

Los Angeles, CA  90027  +  (323) 667-1212  +  Fax:  (323) 667-1222  www.hollywoodlutheran.org

Other ministries and programs of Hollywood Lutheran Church:

 

Top  |  Design  |  Reports