The Pump Organ Blues Here in Oysterville

 

First 2015 Vesper Service: Sunday, June 21st

First 2015 Vesper Service: Sunday, June 21st

The 38th Annual Music Vespers season begins Sunday and, so far, it looks as if this will be known in the inner circles as “The Year of the Organ.” We seem to be on some brink at every turn. (I should say from the onset that it is a vespers tradition to use the old-fashioned pump organ as accompaniment for the congregational singing. It’s not ‘necessary’; we have a piano available. But ‘necessary’ is not the operable word here. ‘Tradition’ is what’s important in a historic church.)

Our first cause for alarm was when one of our main organists moved away. Finding someone to step into her shoes has not been easy. In fact, it has been impossible so far. Plus, it’s a busy summer for our other three stalwart organists and they are hard-pressed to take up the slack. I do hope the congregation feels okay with a cappella hymn singing on a couple of Sundays. Or maybe another miracle will happen…

Oysterville's Stalwart Old Pump Organ

Oysterville’s Stalwart Old Pump Organ

And then there is the matter of the organ, itself. For some years the little parlor organ has been a bit cranky and our volunteer organists have had to baby it along. We have been on the search for an organ repairman and have actually been recommended to several but, alas, they deal with pipe, not pump, organs – a different animal altogether.

Then, last year we were given a ‘new’ organ of similar vintage and style. It seemed to be the answer to our prayers, at least for a few Sundays, and then it, too, got cranky. (Both organs are about my own age and I know the feeling. Some days it’s just difficult to have all of one’s parts moving smoothly.)

Bonnie Masson, Organist

Bonnie Masson, Organist

We continued looking for an organ repair expert and, last winter our our first miracle occurred! Through a friend of a friend we managed to get in touch with a remarkable man who knows all about the inner workings of organs. He finally came to Oysterville in April, took our old organ completely apart, pronounced it in “amazingly good” condition and returned to Portland to order a few replacement parts. The organ is not quite back together now, awaiting new felts. Try as we might, we’ve been unable to get a commitment for a return date from our organ repair master.

As I see it, we have the next three days and that’s it. On Friday there’s a wedding at the church, on Saturday a memorial service and then, Sunday… Vespers! We’ll just have to hope that the back-up organ is all rested up since last summer and feels young and frisky. Like me… on a good day. Meanwhile, we are praying for that second miracle.

One Response to “The Pump Organ Blues Here in Oysterville”

  1. Stephanie Frieze says:

    I understand your desire to give visitors an authentic vespers with the organ bought with egg money. I wish you could find some inducement for the repairman to return!

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