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March 21, 2005
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(SEATTLE) Blessed Sacrament Church is seizing a unique opportunity to acquire an 1878 Henry Erben organ. The organ will become the first Henry Erben Organ in Washington and one of the oldest church organs in the state. "The chance to acquire an antique organ on favorable terms could not be passed over by our church, nor could the opportunity to provide such a rich offering for area arts and music," says Fr. Daniel Syverstad, OP, Parish Administrator at Blessed Sacrament.
With repair work at St. Dominic Church in San Francisco that cannot begin until the Erben is removed, St. Dominic offered the organ to Blessed Sacrament on the condition that it be transferred no later than May 1, 2005.
"We have only to raise $25,000 for the dismantling, move, and reassembly of the Erben, and the parish can celebrate finally having an instrument to match the size and splendor of its church," says Fr. Syverstad. Currently, Blessed Sacrament's liturgical and musical program subsists on a demonstration organ left over from a 1970 organ convention, its volume & sound relying mainly on the acoustics of the brick & mortar church. The Erben will have four times as many pipes as the demo, and will be placed in the church's south transept.
"Henry Erben set a precedent for American organ builders," according to historian James Stettner of the Pipe Organ Foundation and Puget Sound Pipe Organs. "The Erben will be a huge addition to the organ scene in Seattle."
Experts in the organ & music field have agreed in their excitement about the Erben: "How delighted I am to hear that your church is acquiring this fine organ! Erben was the organ builder in New York for most of the 19th century," commented Barbara Owen of the Organ Historical Society. According to David Dahl, Professor of Organ Emeritus at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, "It would indeed be a rich addition to the Seattle region organ culture." From Tom Hall, Cello Technologies in Seattle: "The organ in combination with the classic European cruciform and brick structure of the church will produce an excellent sound."
Fr. Syverstad is optimistic that funds for the project can be found in time. "We hope that music and organ lovers will help us make the move possible. With our proximity to the University of Washington and the downtown area, there is immense potential for concerts, even recordings. Already many organists have asked for invitations to perform. We do need help to make this happen, however."
Towering above I-5 at 50th Street, Blessed Sacrament is a visible reminder of Christian history in Seattle, as well as a rare example of English Gothic architecture. The combination of the Erben organ with the recent $3.6 million restoration will make Blessed Sacrament one of Seattle's most attractive churches, says Fr. Syverstad.
About Blessed Sacrament Parish
Blessed Sacrament Church was founded in 1908 by the Friars of the Western Dominican Province, upon the request of Bishop O'Dea to establish a community in his diocese and to assume the care of the students and residents of the University District in Seattle. Blessed Sacrament provides a place of worship for Catholics throughout the Northwest, being Seattle's only Dominican parish. The church was registered as a Seattle landmark in 1981 and a national landmark in 1984. Blessed Sacrament is significantly involved in care for the homeless and indigent, led by its 30 member food bank (25 years), dinner program (feeding hundreds weekly for 35 years), plus rent and living assistance. Blessed Sacrament is not a wealthy parish; ranked 15th out of 16th for median family income in its Deanery. In 2003, damage from the Nisqually Earthquake was repaired, along with significant restoration, at a cost of $3.6 million. www.blessed-sacrament.org
Contact: Fr. Daniel Syverstad, OP
or Christopher Murray
206.547.3020
info*XNOSPAMX*blessed-sacrament.org
(replace *XNOSPAMX* with @ sign to send)
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