Frequently Asked Questions

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Why are we undertaking such a big project?  Isn't the pipe organ we have adequate?

Hollywood Lutheran Church is trying to "grow" a more illustrious music program again after several years of inadequate or disappointing work.  The backbone or spine of high quality church music is still a quality pipe organ.

In recent years, due to unexpected gifts and also the energy of our former Director of Music, Eldon Turner, our church has beefed up its other instrumental music potential:

• A nearly-new Young Chang grand piano, valued at $10,000, the gift of the Sung Man Presbyterian Church in 2006.
• A Salvi concert harp, valued at $15,900, and a Celtic harp were the gifts of Mrs. Oneida Hathaway of Hollywood.
• Three additional octaves of Schulmerich English handbells, valued at nearly $5,000 if new, were the gift of First Lutheran Church when it closed its doors in 2006.
• A Wurlitzer grand piano for use in Durkee Hall, also the gift of First Lutheran Church when it closed its doors in 2006.
• Additional organ pipe parts were also given by Mrs. Hathaway.
• A quality electronic keyboard was given by members of the congregation in 2007.

As we expand our musical efforts and musical commitment to utilize these gifts, the present pipe organ has been the most serious "weak spot" in the music program.  Our present instrument is in serious disrepair, as is explained elsewhere on this site.

What are “ranks”?

A “rank” of pipes is a row or series of pipes—one for each note of the scale—which make a similar sound (flute, trumpet, principal, Krummhorn, celeste, bourdon, etc.). Each individual pipe plays only one note!  So to play up and down the scale requires a minimum of 68 pipes for each type of sound.  This is why typical pipe organs contain thousands of pipes.

Are more ranks necessary? Won't they make it too loud?

More ranks of pipes (creating a larger instrument) do not make the organ louder. More pipe ranks offer a greater variety of sound, offering choices, similar to the various instruments in an orchestra, to meet different musical needs such as congregational singing, support for choir and soloists, concert performances, etc.

The majority of pipes in a quality installation are "under expression" -- they are housed in chambers equipped with shutters which open and close by means of a foot pedal controlled by the organist.  The volume of the sound is the main reason for shuttering the pipes.  Sometimes several different divisions are in separate chambers or spaces with such shutters.  Pipes which are not "under expression" play at full volume.

Why not get something brand new?

A brand new pipe organ, custom-built to similar specifications, could cost as much as $500,000 and take 2-3 years to complete.  For a congregation of our size, a complete replacement would be "out of the question" unless a very generous and large gift was made specifically for that purpose.

Furthermore, our understanding of our Christian mission is not to spend enormous sums of money on a luxury instrument, but to use our resources to further many forms of ministry and outreach.  Although a pipe organ thrills the heart as part of an uplifting worship service, music and worship are only two aspects of what our congregation seeks to do as a church faithful to the Gospel.

How old is our present pipe organ? 

There are interesting but confusing bits of history in the church's files.  An undated tract about the life of HLC's first pastor Rev. Milton Stine, says that the pipe organ was dedicated in 1926.  However, other information said that we acquired the organ from the Warner Bros. theater in Hollywood when the silent motion picture era ended, around 1930.  The only thing we are sure of is that the present instrument is "voiced" as a theater organ, and does not have the kinds of pipes (either diversity of sound or strength) meant to support congregational singing and liturgical music.

Do organs wear out?

Pipe organs last for centuries if properly cared for.  The oldest operating pipe organ in the world is in Europe, and has been playing since the year 1391!  But pipe organs require regular maintenance and periodic overhauls, especially if the valves and wind chests are made with the traditional leather materials.  Leather dries out and cracks (much faster in our dry southwestern climate) and in every generation these parts may need to be replaced. 

A pipe organ, like all human-made tools and instruments, can wear out from use or from neglect.  Our present organ is long overdue for the major work on its leather parts and other valves.

Would all this money be spent right away?

No, it will be expended gradually, between Spring 2008 and Fall 2009.  See the full "November Report" section on Timetable Elements.

How does a pipe organ work?

A pipe organ has been described as "a big box of whistles."  A brief article on how an organ work s can be found on the NPR "Pipe Dreams" web site here.