The rich sounds from a new organ rang out in the worship space of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Morristown at the start of the 10 a.m. Mass on June 29, after Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney blessed and dedicated the state-of-the-art instrument. The blessing took place before the liturgy that Sunday.
The Peragallo Pipe Organ Company in Paterson hand-built the cherry-wood organ, which replaces an organ installed in 1985 that was failing and had become increasingly difficult to play. Donors to Assumption’s Faith, Family, Future Capital Campaign financed the building and installation of the new organ in addition to many other capital improvements to the historic parish’s facilities.
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The new organ’s dynamic sound originates from 33 ranks (sets) of new pipes, with 2,024 speaking pipes. Three ranks were retained from the old organ pipes that Peragallo was able to salvage. The organ has 36 digitally sampled stops, or sounds, including ones for trumpets and tuba.
The setup also includes an antiphonal organ located near the choir space, to the side of the altar, in the main worship space of the 177-year-old church. This enclosed part of the pipe organ is situated some distance from the main organ and supports the choir’s singing.
“It’s a beautiful instrument. It’s a joy to play,” said Paul Kusler, Assumption’s music minister. He played flourishes before the start of Mass to introduce the congregation to the organ’s new sounds. He then started the liturgy with the hymn “All People on Earth Did Well,” also known as the Old 100th Psalm Tone. “The people were smiling. They were happy. I was happy to show the organ’s grander and softer sounds. The organ plays like a choir. All the voices blend nicely.”
Kusler used the new organ to lead the choir and congregation in hymns of praise, accompanied by the Brass Quartet and Timpani during the June 29 Mass. The organ case features a fleur-de-lis design, a symbol associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary, which matches similar images found throughout the worship space’s design.
Also, the organ loft floor was strengthened and replaced to hold the weight of the new casework. Risers for the choir were added to the music space in front of the church.
After the Mass, the parish community gathered for light refreshments in Rauscher Hall. There, Bishop Sweeney blessed a plaque with the names of the donors to the Faith, Family, Future Capital Campaign, which celebrated the 175th anniversary of the Gothic Revival style church. Msgr. John Hart, Assumption’s pastor, thanked the donors for their generosity and Kusler and the parish organ committee for their work on the new organ project.
“The new organ sounds magnificent and is fitting for this historic church. It will provide music for all who come to our church for Masses, weddings, funerals, and other parish and community events for years to come with very note played and prayed for the glory of God,” said Msgr. Hart, also the Paterson Diocesan clergy personnel director.
