THE ORGAN AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH

NOTE: Some of the pictures at the end of this article were taken from above the ceiling of the church which give a view of the organ not seen by many people.

ORGAN BUILDER: Rodgers (Digital) / Ruffatti (Pipes)

YEAR: 2004
MANUALS: 3
STOPS: 52
RANKS: 11 (pipes) / 112 (digital)


The 2004 Rodgers (T957 console) / Ruffatti was installed in St. Mary’s during the winter of 2004 and was played for the first time during the Holy Week services of that year. The case work is left from the previous organ (1928, 3 manual, 30 rank Kilgen Organ). It was dedicated on November 28, 2004. The dedication concert was performed by Dan Miller.

The organ is a combination of pipes (11 ranks from the Ruffatti Organ Co. in Italy) and digital and utilizes the MIDI (Musical Instrumental Digital Interface) system. This gives the instrument a huge (almost endless) amount of musical expressions and sounds in the MIDI sound module. In addition, an organist can also use a MIDI sequencer for advanced record-and-playback capabilities. This enables prelude music to be played up to a half hour before the Mass while the organist is warming up the cantor or the choir in the choir room.

Another feature of this instrument is a “Voice Palette” or “VP.” Many of the speaking stops on the organ have alternate voices that can be selected and used in performance through the VP feature. VP was so named because it greatly increases the number of tonal colors at the organist disposal; there are many more ranks available to the organist than the number of actual stops on the instrument. VP gives the organist a tremendous amount of added flexibility. For example, not only can the organist choose whether to use the Great Principal 8’ stop in a registration, but they can also choose whether that particular stop uses the default Principal 8’ rank, or one of the stop’s two VP choices: The Diapason 8’ rank or the Prinzipal 8’ rank, each one with a different tonal characteristic. Any of these three selections can be used.

This organ also has twin consoles; one console up in the balcony (the master console) and an identical console down front (the slave console). This enables the organist to play either location depending on the circumstance. When the organist plays down front, the balcony console also needs to be turned on.


THE SPECIFICATION LIST:

* = Voice Palette. > = actual rank of pipes.
MANUAL 1: Top manual: Swell
16 Bourdon (VP: 16 Contre Gambe)*
8 Geigen Principal (VP: 8 Geigen Diapason)
8 Bourdon (VP: 8 Flute Harmonique, 8 Tibia)
8 Viole Celeste II
8 Flute Celeste II
4 Prestant (VP: 4 Unda Maris II)
4 Flauto Traverso
2 2/3 Nazard
2 Flute a Bec
1 3/5 Tierce (VP: Cymbale III)
IV Plein Jeu
16 Bassoon (VP: 16 Contre Trompette)
8 Trompette (VP: 8 Trumpet)
8 Hautbois (VP: 8 Hautbois mf)
8 Vox Humaine (VP: 8 Vox Humana; Strings; Slow Strings)
4 Clairon (VP: 4 Clarion)
Tremulant
Swell – Swell 16; Unison Off; Swell-Swell 4


MANUAL 2: Second from the top manual (Middle manual): Great
16 Violone (VP: 16 Bourdon)
>8 Principal (VP: 8 Diapason; 8 Prinzipal)
>8 Rohrflute (VP: 8 Chimney Flute; 8 Flute Harmonique)
8 Gemshorm
>4 Octave (VP: 4 Principal; 4 Oktav)
>4 Spitzflote
>2 Super Octave (VP: 2 Fifteenth; 2 Waldflote)
>IV Fourniture
8 Trompete (VP: 8 Trumpet)
Chimes (VP: Harpsichord; Handbells)
Tremulant
16 Swell to Great
8 Swell to Great
4 Swell to Great
8 Choir to Great


MANUAL 3: Third from the top manual (Bottom manual): Choir
8 Spitz Geigen (VP: 8 English Diapason)
8 Holzgedackt (VP: 8 Concert Flute)
8 Erzahler Celeste II (VP: SATB Ah; SATB Oo)
4 Prinzipal (VP: 4 Fugara)
4 Koppelflote (VP: 4 Flute d’Amour)
2 Oktav (VP: 2 Flautino)
1 1/3 Larigot (VP: Sesquialtera II; 1 Sifflote)
IV Mixture (VP: IV Rauschquinte)
8 Cromorne (VP: 8 French Horn; Harp)
8 Festival Trumpet (VP: 8 Tuba)
Tremulant

Choir Unison Off
16 Swell to Choir
8 Swell to Choir
4 Swell to Choir


FLOATING DIVISION: Solo
8 Violincello Celeste II (VP: Stings, Slow Strings; Boy Choir Ah)
4 Harmonic Flute (VP: SATB Ah; SATB Oo; Brass)
8 French Horn (VP: Orchestral Oboe; Soprano Ah; Amens / Alleluias)
8 English Horn (VP: Harpsichord; 8 Festival Trumpet, 8 Tuba)
Tremulant
Solo on II
Solo on III
Solo on Pedal


PEDAL DIVISION:
32 Contre Bourdon (VP: 32 Contre Violone)
>16 Principal (VP: 16 Open Wood)
16 Subbass (VP: 16 Bordun)
16 Violone
16 Bourdon Doux (Sw)
>8 Octave
8 Gedackt
4 Choral Bass (VP: 4 Nachthorn)
IV Mixture
32 Contre Bombarde (VP: 32 Contre Basson)
16 Basson (Sw) (VP: 16 Contre Trompette [Sw])
8 Trompette
4 Rohrschalmei (VP: 4 Clarion)


8 Great to Pedal
8 Swell to Pedal
4 Swell to Pedal
8 Choir to Pedal



THUMB PISTONS:
Memory 1, 2, 3, 4
General 1-10
Swell 1-5
Great 1-5
Choir 1-5

MIDI Great A
MIDI Great B
MIDI Swell A
MIDI Swell B
MIDI Pedal A
MIDI Pedal B
MIDI Choir A
MIDI Choir B

Great/Pedal Pipes Off
Great/Pedal Ancillary On
Choir Pipes Off
Choir Ancillary On
Melody From Swell
Melody From Choir
Bass

Main Off
Antiphonal On
Main Tremulant II
Flute Tremulant II
Quick Menu
Set
All Swells to Swells Expression
Solo to Choir Expression
Great / Pedal Enclosed
Festival Trumpet (on Choir) Enclosed
Swell to Pedal
Great to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Swell to Choir
Alternate Crescendo
Choir / Great Transfer
Tutti
Zimbelstern


TOE PISTONS:
General 1-10
Pedal 1-5
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
32 Bourdon
32 Bombarde
Tutti

EXPRESSION PEDALS:
Choir (and Great)
Swell
Crescendo


PICTURES:


The console down front






The console down front

The only organ in the state of Ohio believed to utilize the Staple's "Easy" button! Yep, when the music gets tough, the Staples Easy Button is just an arms reach away!

A view of the rear gallery or balcony.

The rear gallery or balcony console.

The "C" side of the organ in the balcony.

The dedication plaque.

The blower and reservoir.

The 6 "Reflective" speakers can be seen along the wall on the right. There are 6 of these speakers on each side of the organ. These speakers fire early and cause the sound to reflect off the back wall of the church, then down the naive. The 6 regular speakers (again, 6 on each side) which fire directly into the naive of the church can be seen to the left behind the bass / pedal pipes.

Two of the four huge "Woofer" speakers in the organ.

Behind the organ taken from one of the windows in the

steeple stairway.

Balcony organ taken from above the church ceiling.

Closeup of the antiphonal speakers which lay on top of the reredos.

Above the altar platform with the antiphonal speakers laying on top of the reredos.

Balcony C-Side of the organ taken from above the church ceiling.

The C# side of the balcony organ taken above the church ceiling.

MUSIC MINISTRY BANQUET, WHAT FUN !

The annual end - of - the - year Music Ministry Banquet took place Wednesday evening, June 10 with 57 people in attendance from the Contemporary Choir, Parish Choir, Vocati Praising Choir (Funeral Choir), and Cantors. A great time was had by all ! ! !

A year of hard work well done! ! !

Now unto next season!

Pictures below: (pictures were left off of people eating! Those will be saved for use at a later date). Just Joking! :)

Ron Smith, Jim Grimm, and Pete Dubois

Mary Conley Riedy, Jim Riedy, Kathy Erney, & Heather Gerber

Carol Icsman, Ralph May, Eileen May

Connie Napper, Monica Deubel, Jeff Claar, Dave Proy,

Kay Proy, Deb Claar

Judy Guendelsberger, Shirley Dubois, Julie Castello,

& Ron Blake

Gary & Judy Guendelsberger & Shirley Dubois

Eileen May, Hank Pfanner, and Pat Pfanner

Rosemary Manner, Barb Harkness, and Leann Ward

Pete Dubois, Fr. Phil Feltman, Jim Grimm, &

Ron Smith

Daughter and Mom: Stephanie Rowland, &

Marsha Mulvin

Contemporary Choir Members: Kathy Kirner, Jen Kustec,

Marie Grimm, Heather Gerber, Ceci Wightman, AJ Kreidler,

& Marianna Kreidler.

ORDINARY TIME

By Tim Claubaugh

Ordinary Time. What is "Ordinary Time?" Simply put, Ordinary Time is the time during the Liturgical Year (Advent - the Feast of Christ the King at the end of November) that does not celebrate the mysteries of the other liturgical seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, or Easter). Where Advent focuses on Christ's coming for Christmas as well as his second coming, Christmas focuses on Christ's nativity, Lent focuses on reconciliation, and Easter focuses on his Resurrection; Ordinary Time focuses on the many other aspects of Christ and our faith and salvation journey. Considering all the areas that this encompasses, there really is nothing "ordinary" about Ordinary Time.

What are some of the things that we do during Ordinary Time this summer?

Here at St. Mary's Church, we use Mass Parts (or Service Music) which is known throughout the country during specific times of the year when we may get more than the usual amount of visitors to our parish. For example, during the Advent and Christmas seasons we will use the "Mass of Light" by David Haas and during the Easter season we will use "Mass of Creation" by Marty Haugen. These 2 Mass settings are known by about 95% of the Catholic population in the United States. So people that are visiting during those holiday seasons will feel "at home" by knowing and singing those Mass parts.

The same is true during the summer since we get a very large number of visitors who are vacationing in the area. For that reason, during the summer we use the "People's Mass" and the "Danish Amen" Eucharistic Acclamations as well as the Gloria from the "New Mass for Congregation" by Carroll T. Andrews and the Lamb of God from the "Holy Cross Mass" by David Clark Isele. Again, these Mass parts are known by a very large number of Catholics across the country, so when we sing them during the summer, our visitors will feel "at home" by knowing and singing these Mass parts.

We will also sing some hymns this summer using the "Cross Tune" technique. But more on that in a later article in our upcoming "Hymnody Series."

I pray that everyone has a relaxing, enjoyable, and safe summer. And don't forget to worship God and give Him thanks for all your many blessings at Sunday Mass; even during the summer!

MONTHLY UPDATES

Besides our weekly "This Sunday's Music" being updated every week, be sure to check out our monthly updates for June on "This Month in St. Mary's History," and "Monthly Videos" pages. Also, check out the "This Month in Music History" on the Sandusky Chapter of the American Guild of Organists web site! These links are also in our sidebar for your future use.

LEXINGTON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL CHAMBER CHOIR CONCERT WRAP UP

BACKGROUND

Monday, June 1 at 7:30 pm, the Lexington (Kentucky) Catholic High School Chamber Choir gave an outstanding performance at St. Mary's Church. Intonation and blending never seemed to be a problem for this group of high school juniors and seniors under the direction of Adam Beeken. They performed many works a cappella and a few pieces were either accompanied on organ or piano by faculty member Robert Vanover, who also performed two solo organ pieces.

The Chamber choir is on a 5 day tour which included Sunrise Assisted Living (Cincinnati), Trintiy Lutheran Church (Columbus), St. Mary's Catholic Church (Columbus), St. Joseph Cathedral (Columbus), St. Mary's (Sandusky), Sandusky Central Catholic High School, and St. Paul Catholic Church (Lexington, KY).

Earlier this year, the group performed for the Kentucky Music Educators Association state convention and performed the Rutter "Requiem" with a professional orchestra as well as many other performances throughout the year.

The choir program at LCHS, under the direction of Adam Beeken and Robert Vanover, is a young program. In recent years the choir has grown from under 30 students with one part time instructor to over 200 students with two full-time instructors. The school has six curricular ensembles and three extra curricular groups. The music department has developed its curriculum to include Honors Music Theory, AP Music Theory, Introduction to Piano, and Advanced Piano.

The choir commissions a new choral composition each year; this year being the world premiere of "Song of Creation" by Joseph Martin. They also took their first international tour during the Summer of 2008 to France and Italy which included performances at Notre Dame and St. Peter's Basilica.

THE PROGRAM
SONG OF CREATION - Joseph Martin
(Commissioned 2009 for LCHS Chamber Choir)

SICUT CERVUS - Giovanni Perluigi da Palestrina

DIXIT DOMINUS from "Vesperae solennes de confessore" - W. A. Mozart

SELECTIONS FROM "12 CANTICLES" - Randall Thompson
II. "God is a Spirit"
III. "When Thou Liest Down"
IV. My Grace is Sufficient"

SAUL - Egil Hovland

SALVATION IS CREATED - Pavel Tschenekoff

YE FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB - E. E. Ferguson

APPALACHIAN CELEBRATION - Earlene Rentz

VADO CON SPESSO CANGIANDO LOCO - Salvatore Rosa
Bass Soloist: Clay Thompson

SEASONS OF LOVE - arr. by Mark Brymer

BLUE SKIES - arr. by Steve Zegree

GEORGIA - arr. by Ed Lojeski

EVERYTIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT - arr. by William Dawson

HOME IN D' ROCK - arr. by Brian Tate

WITNESS - arr. by Jack Halloran


PICTURES


Lexington Catholic High School Chamber Choir

Adam Beeken, Director

Rob Vanover, Organist / Pianist

FUNERAL FOR BEVERLY V. VAITH

Funeral Mass for Beverly V. Vaith will be on Monday, June 1 at 10:00 a.m. Choir members are asked to be in church by 9:45.

For the Sandusky Register obituary link, click here.

LEXINGTON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR COMING TO ST. MARY'S

The Lexington Catholic High School (Lexington, Kentucky) Chamber Choir is coming to Sandusky to perform a concert in St. Mary's Church on Monday Evening, June 1 at 7:30 p.m.

The Chamber Choir is a small group of around 16 students and they are the top choir of Lexington Catholic High School (a program of 200 students). This very talented choir of young high school students recently performed at the Kentucky Music Educators Association convention. The concert is free and open to the public.

Come on Monday June 1 at 7:30 to hear this young group of High School students perform! !

SPRING CONCERT WRAP UP

This past Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 in the evening, the 27th Annual Spring Concert took place in the church with roughly 150 people in attendance.

This year the concert was dedicated to our pastor, Fr. Philip Feltman who will be retiring June 30 of this year after 18 years of leadership and service to God here at St. Mary's.

Four choir anthems were also done in memory of long time organist and Music Director Paul V. Becker who passed away last July. Paul was Organist and Music Director at St. Mary's from 1955-1980.The concert featured the Firelands String Quartet, Contemporary Choir, Parish Choir and flute soloist, Jennifer Kustec.

Anytime we have a High School senior who has been involved in the St. Mary's Music Ministries (and who will be going on to college to major in music), we have them play a solo at our Spring Concert. This year, Jennifer Kustec, the daughter of John and Peggy Kustec, (and who is a senior at Perkins High School) will be attending Bowling Green State University this fall to major in music. Jennifer has played flute with the Contemporary Choir since the 8th grade.




27TH SPRING CONCERT PROGRAM
Saturday, May 16, 2009
7:30 p.m.

FIRELANDS STRING QUARTET
Ron Brooker, Violin
Alice Weiss, Violin
Monica Gregory, Viola
Brian Shifflet, Cello

BRANDENBURG CONCERTO NO. 5 - J. S. Bach

PASSACAILE - G. F. Handel

LA REJOUISSANCE (From “Royal Fireworks Music”) - G. F. Handel



FLUTE SOLO

CONCERTINO, Op. 107 - C. Chaminade
Jennifer Kustec, Flute
Lori Schlessman, Piano



ST. MARY’S CONTEMPORARY CHOIR
Heather Gerber, Director

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! LET THE HOLY ANTHEM RISE - Timothy R. Smith
& Ludwig Van Beethoven
Text by Edward Caswall

AMAZING GRACE / MY CHAINS ARE GONE - John Newton, John P. Rees,
Edwin Othello Excell, Chris Tomlin,
and Louie Giglio

CHRIST BEFORE US - Janet Sullivan Whitaker

IN CHRIST ALONE - Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

O SACRED HEAD - Bob Hurd
Text: vs. 1 & 2 ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux; Vs. 3 & 4 by Bob Hurd

HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US - Stuart Townend

ADORATION - Matt Maher
Text by St. Thomas Aquinas

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD - Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, & Ed Cash
Text “How Great Thou Art” refrain by Stuart K. Kline




ST. MARY’S PARISH CHOIR
Timothy L. Claubaugh, Sr., Director

FOUR SEASONAL MARIAN ANTHEMS - Gregorian Chant
“Alma Redemptoris Mater” (Advent – Presentation of the Lord)
“Ave Regina Caelorum” (Candlemas – Wednesday of Holy Week)
“Regina Caeli” (Easter Sunday – Pentecost Sunday)
“Salve Regina” (Day after Pentecost – Christ the King)
(to see the translations and more on the "4 Seasonal Marian Anthems", click here).

FOUR MOTETS - Aaron Copland
These 4 Copland Motets are dedicated to the memory of
Paul V. Becker (March 28, 1931 – July 28, 2008),
Organist / Music Director at St. Mary’s Church 1956 – 1980.
“Help Us, O Lord”
“Thou, O Jehovah, Abideth Forever”
“Have Mercy on Us, O My Lord”
“Sing Ye Praises to Our King”
Quartet: Glenda Lindquist, Soprano
Peggy Ramhoff, Alto
Phil Dinovo, Tenor
Randy Ramhoff, Bass
(for more information on the "4 Copland Motets, click here).

ANTHEMS FOR THE YEAR OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE:
“Faith, Hope, & Love” - Christopher Walker
(based on I Corinthians 13)
“Rejoice in the Lord Always” - Anonymous, 16th Cent.
(Philippians 4: 4-7)
“Let This Mind be in You” - John Yarrington
Glenda Lindquist, Soloist
(Philippians 2: 5-11)

MY SHEPHERD WILL SUPPLY MY NEED - Virgil Thomson

TU ES SACERDOS - Noel Goemanne


COMBINED CHOIRS

GOD BE WITH YOU TILL WE MEET AGAIN - William G. Tomer


Scroll down for pictures from the concert! !


A special thanks goes out to our photographer, Rose Nath! !
To view any picture in a larger format, simply click on the picture.



The Firelands String Quartet

The Firelands String Quartet

Jennifer Kustec performing her flute solo, CONCERTINO, Op. 107 by C. Chaminade

Jennifer Kustec taking her final bows to an immediate standing ovation! !

Heather Gerber, Director of the Contemporary Choir

A. J. Kreidler, drummer for the Contemporary Choir

The St. Mary's Contemporary Choir

The St. Mary's Parish Choir

Fr. Phil Feltman, to whom the concert was dedicated,

enjoying the concert. Fr. Phil will retire as Pastor of

St. Mary's on June 30 after serving the parish as pastor

for the past 18 years.

Tim Claubaugh, Organist and Music Director posing

with Paul Becker's wife, Clare. Paul was Organist and

Music Director at St. Mary's from 1955 - 1980. Paul

passed away on July 28, 2008.

Click on our Parish Web site here to see more pictures from the concert.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW

The Lexington Catholic High School (Lexington, Kentucky) Chamber Choir is coming to Sandusky to perform a concert in St. Mary's Church on Monday Evening, June 1! The time will be announced soon.

The Chamber Choir is a small group of around 16 students and they are the top choir of Lexington Catholic High School (a program of 200 students). The Chamber Choir recently were selected to perform for the Kentucky Music Educators Association.

See there website here.

FUNERAL FOR AUDREY A. WINDAU

Funeral Mass for Audrey A. Windau will be on Friday, May 15 at 10:00 a.m. Choir members are asked to be in church by 9:45.

For the Sandusky Register obituary link, click here.

TWO IMPORTANT EVENTS THIS WEEKEND: MAY 16 & 17

There are two important events happening this weekend that you will not want to miss.

The first is the 27th Annual Spring Concert on Saturday evening, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. For more information on the concert, click here.

The second is the Blue Mass on Sunday afternoon, May 17, beginning at 1:30 downtown at the Police and Fire memorials with Mass beginning at 2:00 at St. Mary's Church. For more information on the Blue Mass, click here.

MAY: THE MONTH OF MARY

May (and October) have been traditionally associated with Mary. Because of this, we will be singing some Marian Hymns throughout the month of May. Besides at some of the daily Masses, we will also sing a Marian Hymn as the closing song on 3 out of the 5 Sundays of May; those Sundays being May 3, 10, & 17. Since May 24 is the feast of the Ascension and May 31 is the feast of Pentecost, we will not sing Marian Hymns on those Sundays.

FUNERAL FOR ALDEN A. WINTERSTELLER

Funeral Mass for Alden A. Wintersteller on Tuesday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m. Al was a former cantor for our Parish. Choir members are asked to be in church by 9:45.

For the Sandusky Register obituary link, click here.