Skinner Organ brought back to life

By Susan Bailey | CFP Correspondent

Elizabeth Noone, music director for Blessed Sacrament Parish in Worcester, had noticed some problems with the church’s pipe organ. The instrument, installed in 1928, is an opus 736 Skinner. It was maintained over the last 12 years by the A. Thompson-Allen Company LCC.
“They are known for their authentic, meticulous craftsmanship,” said Ms. Noone, adding that they had a particular relationship with Skinner organs much like the one at Blessed Sacrament.
Nicholas Thompson-Allen, co-director of the company, noted that the organ had several dead notes and would not stay in tune.
“The organ had survived remarkably well and had very little done to it since 1928,” he said. “Normal wear and tear combined with some water damage from the church’s tower made it clear it was time to give the organ a full restoration back to its original condition.”
Such an undertaking required funds, more perhaps than the parish could raise on its own. Fortunately Mr. Thompson-Allen knew of a foundation that could help.
“When Nicholas Thompson-Allen first began maintaining the instrument he told me about the Bradley Foundation,” said Ms. Noone. “The Joseph Bradley Foundation awards matching grants for the complete, historically accurate restorations of Skinner organs installed in the 1920s (the company’s best years) that have never had any alteration to the pipework or console. The opus 736 Skinner at Blessed Sacrament fits those requirements.”
Before restoration could be considered, the organ’s environment in the church’s loft had to be addressed.
“There were three covered windows within the chamber that were collapsing, leaking and drafty. These could only be repaired by first removing the entire instrument,” Mr. Thompson-Allen said.
Consisting of 1,694 pipes, the organ had to be dismantled piece by piece and transported to New Haven, Connecticut, to be reconstructed and restored.
“We did this in 2017,” Mr. Thompson-Allen said. “While all the components of the organ were in our shop, we fully restored the organ without any changes to the pipes or the chassis. All of the perishable materials in the organ mechanism have been fully replaced.”
He added, “Skinner organs are world famous for being the very finest that money can buy, and opus 736 is no exception. Now restored, its beauty of tone can be fully appreciated. It is truly a masterpiece!”
The organ can now perform for another 90 to 100 years, Mr. Thompson-Allen said. The quality of design, construction and materials means that the organ can be renewed again and again.
As the instrument was being repaired, the environmental issues in the loft-chamber at Blessed Sacrament were addressed. The St. Cecilia window in the tower, which had been sealed up since the organ’s installation in 1928, was restored.
“The roof and tower have all been properly repaired to keep the interior of the church and the organ dry and free from plaster debris,” said Mr. Thompson-Allen.
While all the work was being done, Ms. Noone used an Essex baby grand piano near the sanctuary to provide music for the weekend liturgies.
The return of the organ to the parish proved to be both poetic and dramatic.
“The reinstallation of the organ began shortly before Holy Week this year,” Ms. Noone said. “The great division of the organ (most of the louder pipes) was in place just in time for the Easter Vigil. At the vigil I played the Liturgy of the Word in darkness at the piano. After the final Psalm I went to the choir loft. The lights were turned on and I played the Gloria on the organ! It was the first time the parish heard the restored instrument. It was a memorable moment!”
Ms. Noone has been delighted with the results of the restoration.
“Playing the completed instrument for the first time in June, I was amazed. Balance, clarity and brightness were restored as expected, but it surpasses expectations. The restoration has brought to light the total color and richness that had not been heard from this instrument for decades.”
“We are happy and grateful that we were able to complete this project so that the parish can enjoy it for another hundred years,” she said. “Both Father Chester Misiewicz (pastor when the project was initiated) and Father Richard Trainor have been completely supportive throughout the process.”
Wishing to share the beauty of this organ with the public, Blessed Sacrament Parish will have a rededication of the organ on Oct. 6 with a recital featuring world-renowned Yale University organist and professor emeritus, Thomas Murray. The program will begin at 2 p.m. with a lecture and demonstration of the instrument followed at 3 p.m. by the recital.
“It is really interesting and important for parishioners to gain an appreciation when they have a fantastic instrument like this,” said Professor Murray. “People look up and see the tall bass pipes and often think ‘that’s all there is.’ But hidden inside is a silvery forest of pipes  –  thousands of them – in separate enclosures that provide musical expression. In our demonstration/sonic tour I’ll play individual sounds and colors and show how these will be heard in the pieces in the concert.”
Professor Murray professes a deep connection with the Skinner organ.
“Ernest Skinner developed the level of color and subtlety never known before the mid-20th century. He was a visionary, and he was committed to the goal of making these instruments the equal of the orchestra in expression. The happiest experiences I have in playing come when exploring the whole sound vocabulary he developed,” he said.
The concert, co-sponsored by the Worcester Chamber of the American Guild of Organists, is free and open to the public. A reception will follow. Blessed Sacrament is located at 555 Pleasant St. in Worcester.