The organ at Bethany was built by the Halbert Gober Organ Builders of Elora, Ontario, Canada in 2002. Known affectionately to the music staff as “Agnes,” it is a classical mechanical action organ containing 21 stops and 26 ranks in three manuals.
Bethany Lutheran Church’s is featured on the cover of Pipe Organs of Chicago, Vol. II. In the words of David Schrader, who consulted on its design and performed the debut recital, “the sounds this organ can make under the hands of a good performer are remarkable.”
Specification, Gober Organ, Opus 11:
Hauptwerk, Manual I, C – g”
(expressive) |
Schwellwerk, Manual II, C – g” |
• Praestant
• Gedackt
• Octave
• Spitzflöte
• Quinte
• Oktave
• Terz
• Mixture
• Trompete |
8'
8'
4'
4'
3'
2'
1 3/5
V
8' |
• Rohrflöte
• Viola da Gamba
• Celeste
• Traversflöte
• Feldfeife
• Cornet
• Oboe |
8'
8'
8'
4'
2'
II
8' |
| Pedal, C – f |
Other Features |
• Subbass
• Octavbass
• Bassflöte
• Choralbass
• Posaune 16’ |
16’
8’
8’
4’
16’ |
• Zimbelstern
• Tremulant
• Normal couplers
• 21 stops, 26 ranks
• Flat pedalboard |
|
 |
History of the Organ Task Force
Bethany’s organ is the result of many years of committee meetings, donated time and labor, and prayerful thought and consideration of many individuals. The seeds for this project were planted in 1996 and 1997 with the efforts and report of the Worship and Music Task Force. Partly as a result of that committee, the Organ Task Force was established by our Church Council with the purpose of obtaining an updated proposal to replace the existing Rodgers Electronic Organ with a new pipe organ.
In January of 1999, the committee started its work. We were very fortunate to secure the services of David Schrader as our consultant. With his guidance, we carefully studied and considered the various types of organs available, best possible placement within our sanctuary, and expected costs and time lines. By mid-June of 1999, we had solicited responses from fourteen prospective organ builders and narrowed the list to nine.
Over the summer, almost all of the builders visited our sanctuary. On October 7 of 1999, the Task Force narrowed the list down to two, both of which were similar in size, design, scope, and price. David Schrader characterized both proposals as innovative and showing excellent workmanship and references. In late October, Task Force Members visited existing installations of both organ builders. Final meetings in late January of 2000 resulted in the unanimous recommendation to hire Gober Organs, Inc.
After some fine tuning, the Gober proposal was approved at a congregational meeting on March 20, 2000. Construction began in the summer at Gober’s facility in Elora, Ontario. With the wonderful news of the estate gift from the Carlsons in the spring of 2001, several stops were added to the approved organ, and the result is the twenty-one stop organ we have today. The organ was delivered to Bethany on April 20, 2002 and with volunteer help we had the casework assembled in the balcony by evening. Installation and voicing were completed by early July.
Organ Task Force Members:
Paul Beringer (in memoriam), Allison Boccia, Gwen Boje, Kathy Knapp, Pastor Robert Linstrom, John Michaels, Carolyn Wahl, Frank Zimmerman, Organ Task Force Chair |
