In memoriam
George P. Schner, SJ
(November 11, 2000)
At the beginning of each month I am delighted to receive in the mail a copy of The American Organist. This magazine is the journal of the American Guild of Organists, an organization with wide membership in the United States and throughout the world. Each issue of The American Organist features an article on a recently built pipe organ. During the past six years (2008 to 2014) the journal has featured four new pipe organs in Jesuit churches: Madonna Della Strada Chapel at Loyola Chicago, Fordham University Chapel, St. Francis Xavier Church in New York City, and the Dahlgren Chapel at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
The Madonna Della Strada organ was part of an overall renovation. It was designed and built by Goulding and Wood of Indianapolis, and was dedicated in 2008. The organ pipes numbering 3,739 are grouped into 70 ranks that make up 67 stops played on three key and pedal boards. The pipes range in size from 32 feet to several inches in length. The sound is patterned on that of the classical French organ, and is versatile for congregational singing, choir accompaniment, and organ recitals. The new pipe organ serves not only the chapel liturgy, but also the University’s music department and the arts in general in Chicago.
In 2013 Schoenstein and Co. of San Francisco completed the rebuilding of two organs in the University Church at Fordham University. The smaller organ in the sanctuary of the church is played on two keyboards and has 14 independent stops. The larger organ in the gallery of the church has three keyboards and 35 independent stops. Together the organ is composed of 2,931 pipes. The two organs can be played together and give a balanced sound within the church. Like the Madonna Della Strada organ the Fordham organs reflect French organ building. They provide accompaniment for congregational and choir music. The sanctuary organ can also serve for concerts. Both are helpful practice instruments for music students.
The third new organ is housed in a large Manhattan parish, St. Francis Xavier on 16th Street, built in 1878. In 2000 reconstruction in the building was needed and part of this included a new pipe organ to replace one installed in 1957 that replaced an even earlier one built in 1881. The 1957 organ had been badly damaged in structural accidents. The new organ was built by Peragallo Organ Company of Patterson, N.J. It is situated in a gallery at the back of the church and on both sides of the sanctuary. The 52 stops contain pipes from the 1957 organ and new ones. Once again it reflects French organ building. It is a fitting addition to a magnificent building and its liturgy.
The fourth organ is a smaller instrument in the newly renovated Dahlgren Chapel at Georgetown University. It, like Fordham’s, was built by Schoenstein & Co. of San Francisco. It is a smaller organ with 19 sets of pipes that are shared by 49 stops played on three keyboards and a pedal board. These stops represent every possible tonal family of the pipe organ, and provide the possibility of a large diversity in sound. The organ serves multi-purposes: liturgy, concerts and organ study. For students the new organ is an opportunity to hear and to study the instrument at close range.
The commissioning, building and installation of these four organs is an encouraging sign of the continuing commitment of the members of the Society of Jesus and their colleagues to the fine arts. Each of these pipe organs is a strong contribution to both the liturgical and musical life of their community. An added benefit is that in their construction each is based on an age-old art of creating beauty from the most natural sources – air, wood, metal, leather, and the work of human hands.