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Late Saturday afternoon, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Evanston, was filled to the rafters with music as participants lifted their voices in song in celebration of the centennial anniversary of the mighty E.M. Skinner Opus 327 pipe organ.
The Festival of Hymns and Anthems presented an uplifting program of congregational hymns and choral anthems with majestic support by the brass ensemble, percussion, chorus, and of course, the Opus 327 organ.
The Choir of St. Luke’s was joined by Richard Webster, organist and choirmaster emeritus.
“This great organ has been refurbished to its original mint condition, providing endless joy and accompaniment, as it continues at St. Luke’s as a symbol of the power of song and creativity,” Webster said.
Peggy Newton, executive director of Opus 327, says this is a celebration of the centennial anniversary of the organ itself becoming part of St. Luke’s and of its contribution to the music program there.
“Opus 327 is the name of the organ, and also the name of the nonprofit, that works to ensure that funding is available to maintain the organ, to keep this century-old treasure working for future generations,” Newton said.
According to the Opus 327 organizational website, the Ernest M. Skinner’s Opus 327, installed in 1922, is a four-manual pipe organ of noble size and scale, which has weathered the relentless forces of time.
Opus 327 was built to mimic the sounds of a full orchestra. The organ’s console, to the left of the chancel, allows the musician to create sound using “a sophisticated electro-pneumatic computer” that Ernest M. Skinner invented and perfected. The voice of each of its thousands of metal and wooden pipes is controlled by air that enters a leather pouch through a valve. The pipes sit in windchests that receive air from reservoirs that must be kept at optimal pressure and humidity. A motor forces air into the reservoirs through a blower in the church’s lower level.
Newton says, E.M. Skinner built and installed one of the finest organs in the world, and beyond the instrument itself, it symbolizes a marvel of music technology with its 4,000 pipes, loft blower, ranges floors below and chimes and bells.
The organ has given life to a robust and active enduring music and choral program at the church where kids, parents and grandparents sing together in the choir.
“This 100-year celebration serves as a homecoming for members of our St. Luke’s music program and we are grateful for this opportunity to gather in fellowship,” St. Luke’s reverend, Kathryn Banakis said.
According to director of music and choirmaster, Andrew Lewis, the organ is both a spectacular solo instrument as well as a sensitive, supporting one for the choir.
Lewis says, Saturday’s concert included great works performed from the choral-organ repertory, many of these arranged by Richard Webster.
The Opus 327 Centennial Celebration Weekend, held Oct. 14 through 16, included a festive reception at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, the Festival of Hymns & Anthems, Saturday at 4 p.m., and the Feast of St. Luke Service on Sunday at 10 a.m.
“It’s a joyful celebration, as we rejoice 100 years of remarkable music being performed in a gorgeous church building and a perfect, resplendent acoustic,” Lewis said.
Gina Grillo is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.