April Update from Our Organ Builder

April 11, 2011

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
Attn: Christopher Smith
12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Road
Apple Valley, MN 55124

Dear Pastor Smith:

Our work progress at this point includes the following: our design engineer continues to communicate with the architects to resolve several issues that have come up related to the pipe organ installation. Drawings continue to be produced for the construction and assembly of your pipe organ. The swell box enclosure has been set up in our erecting room. The wind system has progressed rapidly—several windlines have been constructed and fit to specifications. Concussion bellow assemblies have been constructed—fourteen in all. Fan enclosure boxes have also been constructed. The unit windchest components have been constructed and fit together—including the large pedestal unit windchest components.

The new console for your organ has progressed well, most notably the keyboards are now being worked on. Each of the 183 keys mechanisms require special attention. The larger wood pipes are being fitted for use in your pipe organ. Pipe surfaces requiring refinishing have been stripped of their old finish.

Currently, two sets of organ pipes are being worked on—the 8’ Flauto Dolce and the 8’ Spitzviol. Both sets require modifications so that these pipes may fit in the organ chamber. Additionally, the voicing of organ pipes continues—our voicer has been working on several sets of pipes—namely the 8’ Crummhorn, the 16’ Subbass, and the 8’ Tuba. All of the reed pipe sets for your pipe organ are now on our site. Lastly, the releathering of all your existing windchests has been complete.

Sincerely,

F. Christian Holtkamp, President

Organ Update from F. Christian Holtkamp

March 9, 2011

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
Attn: Pastor Christopher Smith
12650 Johnny Cake Road
Apple Valley, MN 55124

Dear Pastor Smith:
Please find enclosed invoice for our work to be done on your pipe organ. Our work progress at this point includes the following: our design engineer has continued to work closely with David Linner so that new construction issues are addressed. The blower has been started and tested. The many blower room components have been manufactured and assembled. Swell shades, frame, roof panels, and enclosure are in the final stages of completion.

Components for the new console for your organ continue to be constructed and assembled. The music rack light and pedal board light has been completed. The key cheeks for the keyboards have been constructed. The console bench has been constructed. Push button components have been constructed.

The zinc for the new bass pipes has arrived in the USA and is waiting for customs to clear it for de livery. All pipe metal casting for new pipes, languids, and mouth inserts has been completed. Construction of the Great 8' Dulciana and the extension for the Choir 8' Bourdon is underway.

Three of the new reed sets arrived at our shop last week: 16' Posaune, 16' Cromome, and 8' Tuba Harmonique. We have revoiced the Swell 16' Bassoon, Swell 8' Trompette, and the majority of the Great 8' Trumpet. The 8' Bourdon rank has been re-scaled and re-voiced.

Sincerely,

F. Christian Holtkamp
President
The Holtkamp Organ Company

Construction Begins!

Construction to reinforce the area where the organ will be began on Monday, March 7! The pipes and organ console are still in Ohio, but progress is being made.

This construction is to reinforce the structure underneath the organ (pipes weigh a lot!). Also, walls absorb a lot of sound, so they will be making the walls more sound-resistant and less sound-absorbing. This way, the sound from the organ goes into the room and not into the wall.

Enjoy the pictures! (Move your mouse over each picture for a caption.)

Pipe Organ Stoplist

The Pipe Organ stoplist (sounds that the pipe organ can make) has been finalized. However, not all the pieces on this stoplist will come with the organ this year. Preparations have been made to add an antiphonal organ which will be on the opposite side of the Sanctuary from the main pipes. (An antiphonal organ is a set of pipes away from the main pipes, but controlled by the same keyboard console as the main organ. It is useful for supporting congregational singing.)

There are many codes in the stoplist. For example (pf) means that it is “prepared for,” but will not be part of the organ when it first comes to Shepherd of the Valley. Also, (gt) and (sw) means that this part of the organ is actually on the Great or the Swell and is playable from this particular manual or pedal.

This list, and a list of all pipe organs in the Twin Cities is available from the Twin Cities American Guild of Organists.

 

City: Apple Valley, MN
Builder: Holtkamp Organ Co
Manuals: III
Divisions: 5
Ranks: 52, (pf) 61
Stops: 41 (pf) 47
Pipes: 3085 (pf) 3549
Action: Pitman, electropneumatic
Date: 1964/2011

GREAT ORGAN

16 Violone (1-7 new pipes, 8-61 existing, all on new chests) 61
8 Diapason (Existing pipes on new chests) 61
8 Violone (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 12
8 Dulciana (New pipes and chests) 61
8 Nachthorn (New pipes and chests) 17
8 Rohrbourdon (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 61
4 Octave (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 61
4 Openflute (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 61
II Sesquialtera (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 122
2 Fifteenth (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 61
IV Mixture 1-1/3 (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests 244
16 Double Trumpet (prepared for)
8 Trumpet (1-44 existing pipes rescaled on new chests,
45-61 new pipes and chests) 61
4 Clarion (New pipes and chests) 12
16 Tuba Harmonique 0
8 Tuba Harmonique (New pipes and chests) 61
8 Reformation Trumpet (pf)
   Tremulant
   Great 16
   Great Unison Off
   Antiphonal of Great (pf)
   Glockenspiel
   Zimbelstern

SWELL ORGAN

16 Lieblich Gedackt(Existing pipes rescaled, 1-18 on new chests, rest on existing chests) 61
8 Geigen Diapason (New pipes and chests) 61
8 Spitz Viol (Existing pipes, 1-6 new unit) 61
8 Viol Celeste (Existing pipes, 1-6 new unit) 61
8 Hohlflute (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 61
8 Lieblich Gedackt (Existing pipes rescaled on existing chests) 61
4 Octave Geigen (New pipes and chests) 61
4 Traverse Flute (New pipes on existing chest) 61
2 Zauberflute (Existing pipes rescaled on existing chests) 61
III-V Plein Jeu 2-2/3 (Existing pipes rescaled on existing chests) 269
16 Basson (Existing pipes rescaled on existing chests) 61
8 Trompette (1-12 new pipes, 13-61 existing, on existing chests) 61
8 Hautbois (New pipes on existing chests) 61
16 Tuba Harmonique (Gt)
16 Reformation Trumpet (pf)
16 Double Trumpet (Gt)
8 Tuba Harmonique (Gt)
8 Reformation Trumpet (pf)
8 Trumpet (Gt)
   Tremulant
   Sw 16
   Sw Unison Off
   Sw 4
   Antiphonal on Swell

CHOIR ORGAN

8 Viola Pomposa (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests)
8 Viola Celeste g8 (Existing pipes rescaled on existing chests) 54
8 Bourdon (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 61
8 Flauto Dolce (Existing pipes, 1-6 new unit) 61
8 Flute Celeste (Existing pipes, 1-6 new unit) 61
4 Octave (Existing pipes rescaled on existing chests) 61
4 Rohrflute (Existing pipes rescaled on existing chests) 61
2-2/3 Nazard (Existing pipes rescaled on existing chests)
2 Doublette (Existing pipes rescaled on existing chests) 61
1-3/5 Tierce (Existing pipes rescaled on existing chests) 61
III Scharf 1-1/3 (Existing pipes rescaled on existing chests) 244
16 Cromorne (New pipes and chests) 61
8 English Horn (New pipes on existing chests) 61
8 Cromorne (New pipes and chests) 12
16 Tuba Harmonique (Gt)
8 Tuba Harmonique (Gt)
8 Reformation Trumpet (pf)
   Tremulant
   Ch 16
   Ch Unison Off
   Ch 4
   Antiphonal on Choir
   Glockenspiel

ANTIPHONAL ORGAN (Prepared for)

8 Gemshorn  (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 61
8 Flute (1-12 new pipes, rest existing pipes) 61
4 Octave (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 61
4 Flute (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 12
2 Gemshorn (New pipes and chests) 24
8 Reformation Trumpet (New Pipes and chests) 61

PEDAL ORGAN

32 Violone (12 electronic tones) 0
32 Bourdon Bass (12 electronic tones) 0
16 Principal (1-18 new pipes, 19-32 existing, new chests) 32
16 Violone (Gt)
16 Bourdon (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 32
16 Lieblich Gedackt (Sw)
16 Flute (pf) 12
8 Octave (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 12
8 Violone (Gt)
8 Octave Bourdon (new pipes and chests) 12
8 Nachthorn (1-12 new pipes rescaled on new chests) 32
8 Lieblich Gedackt (Sw)
4 Superoctave (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 32
4 Nachthorn (Existing pipes rescaled on new chests) 12
2 Nachthorn (New pipes and chests) 12
IV Mixture (pf) 128
32 Trombone Bass (12 electric tones) 0
16 Trombone (New pipes and chests) 32
16 Double Trompet (pf) (Gt)
8 Trompette (pf) 32
8 Trombone (New pipes and chests) 12
16 Bassoon (Sw)
8 Bassoon (Sw)
4 Trompette (pf) 12
4 Clairon (Existing pipes on new chests) 12
8 Tuba Harmonique (Gt)
8 Reformation Trumpet (pf) (Ant.)
   Glockenspiel
   Antiphonal on Pedal (pf)

A Letter from Our Pipe Organ Builder

February 10, 2011

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
Attn: Pastor Christopher Smith
12650 Johnny Cake Road
Apple Valley, MN 55 124

Dear Pastor Chris,
Please find enclosed invoice for our work to be done on your pipe organ. Our work progress at this point includes the following:
Our design engineer has worked closely with David Linner so that all pertinent installation details have been addressed, and design layout of all major organ components has been finalized.
The lead and tin for the new pipes and rescaling of existing pipes has arrived. I have to admit that I have never seen such beautiful tin. It is Bolivian, and has the trade name Mamore. You expect it to be a bright silver color. These ingots are silver with a slight sheen of pale gold. They are producing outstanding sheets of pipe metal. The first round of pipe metal casting should be completed by 16 February. All existing pipework to be used for the organ has been analyzed for modifications. All pipes have been cleaned and placed in shop storage trays and bins.
The stoppers for existing wood pipes have been releathered. Bellows releathering will be complete by the end of next week. ReIeathering of the existing windchests, which will be repurposed in your new organ, has begun.
For your new organ console, the bench has been constructed. Many console components, such as key contacts, piston contacts, and piston springs, are complete.
The two 16 stage Whiffle·tree expression motors for your organ have been constructed, assembled, and are complete. The wood for the Swell and Choir shades and expression frames is being milled out at this time.
Wood for numerous unit chests frames, topboards and bottom boards is in the rough milling process.

Very truly yours,
F. Christian Holtkamp
President
The Holtkamp Organ Company