Organ

The Abbott & Sieker Organ

Dedicated on Reformation Sunday

October 27, 1974

Proposals to rebuild the original 1927 ArtCraft organ were collected in early 1963 when the organ had already deteriorated into poor condition. The cost of rebuilding was about $12,000 while the cost of a similar new instrument was $15,000. No decision was made at the time to proceed with either option. Instead, the congregation bought the Baldwin “Hamilton” piano still in use in the parish hall in April 1963 for $669.24.

Several organ builders presented proposals for new organs again in 1969 but the project was derailed at a May 28, 1969 meeting of the congregation amid unclear resolutions and financial concerns. These plans were quickly and successfully revisited in 1971 after the organ breathed its last during a Christmas rehearsal. By March 1972, Abbott and Sieker Organ Builders were commissioned to build a new organ. The church would go for almost 3 years renting a small portable organ before the new organ could be installed.

The organ was built in 1973-74, constructed according to the tonal and mechanical principals used by organ builders of Bach’s time. This instrument has tracker (mechanical) key action, slider windchests, low wind pressure, and clearly voiced unnicked pipes. The organ consists of three divisions, two manuals and pedal. The Swell division is directly above the music rack and is under expression. The Great division is exposed above the swell. The Pedal division is situated behind the great in a shallow chamber. The organ has 17 ranks (or sets of pipes) for a total of 892 pipes. Four ranks of pipes, the blower, swell shutters, and pedal windchest are from the 1927 ArtCraft organ. The remainder of the original organ was removed for $750. The cost of the new organ was $20,995 plus tax. The organ took about one year to build and two weeks to install in the church. The 25-note chimes and 16’ Fagott of 32 pipes were added in 1974 and 1975.

The organ was dedicated on Reformation Sunday, October 27, 1974. The Rev. S. Richard Baglien, pastor of St. Paul’s and the Rev. Howard Weeg of the Pacific Southwest Synod conducted the service. Boude Moore, Director of Music at St. Paul’s gave an organ recital that afternoon including the works of J. S. Bach, Felix Mendelssohn, Hugo Distler, Henri Carol and Vicent Lubeck.

In 2019, the organ was rededicated to the glory of God and in honor of Barbara Hoffman, St. Paul’s Director of Music from 1991 to 2019.

St. Paul's celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Barbara Hoffman organ on Reformation Sunday, October 27, 2024 with the dedication of the Joe Hoffman Zimbelstern and the start of a capital campaign to fund the restoration of the organ by Rosales Organ Builders. Mark Sedio was the organist and Barbara Hoffman was the guest of honor.