Five months after its removal, the full renovation of our pipe organ is complete! On the pleasantly warm morning of March 4th, trailers filled with our organ’s many pieces arrived at the church. For two weeks, Patrick Murphy & his team assembled the organ’s casework and mechanical components and many pipes. After months of meticulous work and artistry in the workshop, it was thrilling to throw the switch on and hear the organ quietly whir to life and see the wind chests inflate with air for the first time.
The serious condition of the organ and the many modifications made to the organ over two centuries before this renovation certainly presented an interesting challenge to the organ builder. As a sign of what was to be found inside, no fewer than seven layers of paint in various colors were discovered while restoring the original casework!
While most of the oldest pipes and internal work of the Krauss family had been replaced in 1900s, we were pleased to find that that one rank of pipes dating to 1799 survived, and three others from an 1864 expansion. It’s especially meaningful to think how these pipes, after not functioning for several years, will again lead us in praising God in His Temple. The skill, creativity, and very evident care of Patrick Murphy has provided us an instrument to match the beauty of our church – now with the very old and new alike working together in magnificent and literal harmony. One can now immediately observe the way the new casework is modeled after the 1799 baroque style casework of the oldest section of the organ, now restored. Any historical materials that were too damaged or otherwise unusable will remain in our possession and worked into a museum display. 
 
Patrick Murphy and his crewconpleted the last critical step—the voicing/tuning of each pipe. Each pipe is like a separate instrument that needs to be formed into a chorus that works and blends together perfectly, and is suited to match our church’s generous acoustics. This tonal finishing requires each pipe to receive physical manipulations by those with years of experience in making the slightest fraction-of-an-inch scale adjustments. 

Please save the date of Sunday October 6th at 3:00 PM. Bishop Schlert will come to bless and dedicate the organ and we will have an organ/choral concert in praise and thanksgiving to God. With such a beautiful church and organ, we look forward to hosting other sacred music events and organ recitals. Please consider sponsoring a pipe from our organ to support this remarkable project. More information can be found at mbsbally.org or at the displays in the back of church. Thank you for all of you who very generously funded this project with your donations and sponsorships! To date over 200 pipes have been sponsored!
 







Pipe Sponsorships: information and cards found in the back of the church. While many of us have Masses said for deceased family members or friends, the organ restoration offers another alternative. For as little as $50.00 you can sponsor a pipe in the organ in their memory. All sponsors and those memorialized will be listed in the dedication event program, and listed in the organ historical information book to be held in the church museum and library.


Pipe Sponsorship donations can be made online, or by using the donation/pledge cards found in the church. Sponsorship books are also available! 

Our organ's history begins in 1799 when the Krauss brothers built the oldest parts of our organ and its casework.

Over the years, the organ has been significantly modified by many organ builders. Having been in a state of severe disrepair for some time, a major organ project was needed.

Click the picture above to learn all about our organ's history and its bright futute!