St. Olaf Church, Downtown Minneapolis, MN

Lively-Fulcher Pipe Organ Company

When I came aboard St. Olaf as Director of Worship and Music, the pastor and I had discussed the possibility of a new organ in the sanctuary. Given the dynamic of church music in the Twin Cities I was quite excited about making this project manifest. Within a few years we selected Lively-Fulcher of Alexandria, VA to build the instrument.

I first became familiar with LF’s work when I performed on their instrument at St. Patrick Church in Washington, DC. The broad scale depth of the sound was magnificent and made a great impression on me. I had never heard anything quite like it. The St. Olaf instrument is a masterpiece. I inaugurated it in solo recital on February 9, 2002, with many special concerts the first year and following.

I performed on the instrument with 90 piece orchestra (Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra) on two occasions. It has served as accompaniment to many oratorio performances, professional choirs and orchestras large and small, and brought new life to downtown. I remember the day the instrument arrived at the curb of 8 th Street. Fr. John Forliti, our pastor, led a service outdoors then parishioners followed with a procession of pipes to the front sanctuary.

I had hired a marketing firm to feature the arrival of this grand dame. It appeared on most local tv news stations and newspapers. The Twin Cities had given birth to another great instrument, in a wonderful acoustic, and with a downtown megaphone sure to be heard far and wide. In 2007 the national convention of the American Guild of Organists was held in the Twin Cities which began with recitals at St. Olaf.

I continue to follow the tradition of returning there to serve as the orchestra at the organ for
the Messiah Sing with Minnesota Chorale each December. It is a ‘barn burning’ event with
1000 people singing Messiah with this organ. Every year when we begin the first chorus, I peak at my dear wife Karen, my dedicated pageturner at my side, and together we recognize the phenomenal sound that is surrounding us… as only it can with singing in Minnesota!

Long live this instrument. It is the core of worship at St. Olaf, enhanced by other instruments and vocalists, leading the assembly in reverberant song.