2009 marks an important milestone in the life of Glenview Community Church.  Our sanctuary organ, built by John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, turns 10 this year.  In the months ahead, the Music Board and Music Staff will share information about this tremendous instrument, its history and the roll it has played in the spiritual life of our congregation.  The birthday celebration will culminate in a series of concerts and events this fall that showcase the beauty and majesty of our organ.

Did you know:

• The Buzard Organ, Opus 21 was installed in 1999 over a 7 week period
• Over 200 church members and friends contributed to the $750,000 cost of building and installing the organ
• There are 3865 pipes in the organ, 49 stops and 4 manuals or keyboards (3 for the hands, 1 for the feet)
• The organ can reproduce sounds of 12 different instruments

Our organ was the largest installation on the north shore of Chicago in decades and today is recognized as one of the finest musical instruments in the area.  It has been played by internationally acclaimed organists, has been used with orchestras and jazz bands, has attracted people from near and far to experience its grandeur, and most importantly has been the backbone of our congregation’s musical ministry. 

Our organ supports hymn singing, accompanies and adds color to the choirs, prepares us for worship as we enter, and joyously takes us back out into the world at the end of our services.  It is among the most heroic “Kings of Instruments” you will find in Chicagoland.  For more information on John-Paul Buzard’s vision and our organ, visit http://www.buzardorgans.com/opus21.html

A Little History
The original sanctuary organ was built and installed by the M.P. Möeller Organ Company in 1956.  Expansions of the sanctuary space took place in 1959 and again in the 1960s resulting in a space almost twice the original size.  In 1990 a committee began to explore avenues for its replacement.  Among a list of concerns, the instrument was sized to fit the acoustical space of the sanctuary in 1956 and provided a distant and flat sound in the expanded sanctuary.  Further, the leather components of the organ were wearing out, causing air leaks that resulted in ciphers – air blowing through pipes without playing the organ.  Replacing the leathers would have cost approximately $100,000 and would have lasted only 20 years until the work would have to be done again.  After some stops and starts, an organ renewal committee formed in 1996 to tackle the problem.  They met weekly, researched intensively, communicated diligently, and ultimately agreed on the building of the organ we have come to know and love.

The Birthday Party
Over the next year, we will feature music in worship that demonstrates the organ’s versatility.  We are also commissioning a new work for organ and handbells and will give organ demonstrations for adults and kids alike. 

To ensure an asset of this size and quality continue to grow with our church, we will present a list of “Birthday Gifts” that you may wish to donate toward.  Stay tuned for details on the events and the opportunities for supporting the celebration.