On Friday, August 28th, two builders from Andover Organ Company visited Church of the Good Shepherd to take back with them several ranks of wooden pipes from our beloved Hook & Hastings tracker organ, 1892. These pipes, made of pine and original to the organ, will be repaired and voiced for some weeks to come at their shop in Methuen.*
What this means is that, although the organ is still playable, there are three stops I will not be able to use; two on the Swell - upper keyboard manual, and one on the Great - lower manual. Additionally there are some notes or keys which will not sound within certain stops. Those of you that participate in live Zoom services on Sundays may notice this difference in certain music I present; in other repertoire, not so much. I will no doubt also play more music on the piano in light of the absence of my usual range of various colors or instrumental sounds at this time. Please bear with me.
On another note (ha!), in the coming months I plan to add additional musicians to our gatherings, including the possibility of soloists and/or vocal duets! It’s been great to have Ray Lyons playing live with me in the sanctuary from the start, and we are separately practicing another piece slated for September.
September 8th marks one year since I began my work here at CGS, so I’d like to say how gracious, generous and congenial all of you have been as I navigate my way in this most wonderful advent in Episcopal music ministry! I have enjoyed working with you, having some laughs here and there, and otherwise doing our best to provide the congregation with music as befits our particular parish. I look forward to the future, learning and growing in my role as church musician.
Deborah Colageo