‘The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem’

A closer look at the internationally renowned Cathedral pipe organ and why our diocese is lucky to have such an instrument

By ANDREW HANSEN

     Editor

When the Reuter pipe organ was installed in May of 2016 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, it was called the “final jewel in the crown” of the church renovation project. Today, this internationally renowned instrument is played by Mark Gifford, the director of music.

“Our pipe organ creates so many sounds and emotions,” Gifford said. “You can actually feel it move you. It can roar like a lion and purr like a kitten.”

The Cathedral organ has 3,369 individual pipes, allowing it to make many sounds at one time such as flutes, trumpets, oboes, strings, trombones, clarinets, chimes, and the pure organ sound.

“Think of that as 3,369 singers in a choir all working and singing together to praise God,” Gifford said.

The Cathedral organ has the largest number of pipes of any church in Springfield, but that’s not the only thing that makes it special.

“When a pipe organ is installed in a church, each individual pipe is ‘voiced’ to the room it’s singing into,” Gifford said. “The stunning musical acoustic of our Cathedral with its 5.5 second acoustic gives our pipe organ an extra special blessing in how the sound develops and fills the Cathedral whether empty or full.”

All of these reasons have led the Cathedral organ to become known around the world. Thanks to the organ being featured in American Organist Magazine and to social media, organists from places like Japan, Austria, and the U.S. have either read about the organ, viewed Gifford’s organ videos, or made the trip to Central Illinois to play the instrument.

“Also, by hosting organ concerts during our First Friday Concert Series at the Cathedral and inviting some of the finest organists in the world to come play for us, these organists leave with the beautiful sound of playing here singing in their head and are quick to tell others about it,” Gifford said. “One compared it to playing in The Wiener Musikverein, the Music Society Hall in Vienna, Austria.

“These musicians are amazed to find such a structure as our Cathedral in Springfield. It is truly the ‘pearl in the midst of the field.’ Then, when they discover the acoustics of the Cathedral, which is usually just the two of us in the empty church, and I sing one note and then stop to let them hear it ring in the room, at that moment, the musician is so excited to hear the organ sing into the room. So, most ask me to go up and play it so they can listen to it on the main floor. Once they hear a bit of it, they bolt to the balcony to see and play.”

Gifford adds that “things that are cool to the touch are kind to sound such as marble and plaster.” The Cathedral, being nearly 100 years old, was built before microphones, so the sacred space in the majestic church was designed in a specific way to enhance the presentation of the sacred liturgy.

“Music can soothe the soul like nothing else can,” Gifford said. “For centuries, music has been used to call people to worship. Sometimes with just a bell ringing out into the countryside — calling all to Mass. Then once they are inside, the organ playing a beautiful prelude adds to that invitation, and it goes from there. “

The Vatican II document on sacred liturgy states that, “The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem.” Gifford agrees that the organ is the perfect instrument for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

“A well-built and properly installed pipe organ, and some new digital organs have such a variety of sounds available to the organists that they can create or enhance whatever mood of the Mass is needed such as joy, contemplation, sorrow, strength, prayer, and on and on,” Gifford said. “So, as Mozart said, ‘It’s the King of Instruments.’”

Gifford invites you to the Cathedral on Sundays for the 10 a.m. Mass to hear this magnificent instrument, or especially at ordination Masses when it really shines. If you cannot make it, there is a CD of classical organ music recorded of the Cathedral organ. Contact Gifford for a copy: [email protected].

Gifford also invites you to hear incredible music inside the acoustically beautiful Cathedral during the First Friday Concert Series presented by Staab Funeral Home. The concerts are no charge to attend and begin at 7 p.m. There are also other concerts later this year at the Cathedral you can attend at no cost, including the popular Carols at Noon the day after Christmas. See the schedule below.