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Are you an "Organ Donor?"

Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos Organ Fund Drive

You can help restore our Moeller Pipe Organ to its original glory and be part of its new upgrade. You can adopt one or more of the over 171 new pipes, windchest, regulator, pedal toe studs, or digital electronic components to dedicate to your memory or memory of your loved ones for all time with a donation that will restore and enhance our fantastic instrument. If this interests you, please read on....

History: PCLG Moeller Pipe Organ

The organ at the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos is a Moeller, built by the M.P. Moeller Company of Haggerstown, Maryland. The Moeller company was recommended to the church in 1957 by an original organ committee whose members were Mrs. E.F. Colvin, Mrs. James B. Julk, and Mr. Clifford Hansen. Details of the organ design and specifications were determined by Mr. Eugene Poole of the Moeller company and the church's organist at that time, Mr. Hansen. The organ was custom designed for this particular building to accommodate the service requirements of this congregation.

The contract was signed on November 1, 1957 and the original instrument was dedicated in worship on March 15, 1959. The original instrument was built for a cost of $33,835 and contained 20 ranks with 1222 pipes, with preparations made for adding 16 more ranks at a later time, plus console, blower, and motor. A dedicatory recital was played by Cliff Hansen on April 19, 1959. The minister at that time was Jim Miller.

The organ is a three manual instrument containing four separate divisions: Great Organ, Swell Organ, Choir Organ and Pedal Organ. These divisions are located behind the grillwork at the rear of the Chancel in specially designed and constructed tome chambers. The Great Organ is directly behind the Celtic cross, the Choir organ is located on the lectern side of the Chancel, the Swell organ is located on the pulpit side of the Chancel and the Pedal organ is distributed throughout the three chambers. The console or playing desk is placed in the choir loft to your right.

The drawknob console allows the organist to control the instrument. It has 53 drawknobs, 25 couplers, 30 combination pistons operated manually, 10 toe studs, expression shoes for the Swell and Choir organs, and several other standard accessories.

At the time the Sanctuary was constructed, only a portion of the organ was built and installed as mentioned above. In the spring of 1979, an additional 16 ranks, consisting of 889 pipes, were installed by Bob Rhoads of the Schoenstein Organ Company of San Francisco, CA. The cost of this addition was $60, 679. There were 36 ranks of pipes in the completed organ. Each rank produces all the necessary pitches of a given tone quality. There were a total of 2111 pipes in the instrument ranging in size from 16 feet to about the size of an ordinary lead pencil.

The selection of tonal components for the organ is such that it may be played at all degrees of volume from barely audible to a forte. The "voicing" is such that each rank of pipes has its individual tone quality but also blends into the total ensemble. It is quite possible to play music from all periods with a reasonable authenticity of registration.

The completed organ was consecrated to its sacred use during the morning worship service on April 27, 1980, using the same prayer of consecration that was used at its original dedication in 1959 (at right). On October 26, 1980 a Dedication Concert of the completion of the organ was played by Roger Nyquist, Concert Organist.

The Schoenstein Organ Company has maintained the organ up to the present day. Current renovation and upgrade construction began on June 20, 2005.

Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos organists:

• Clifford E. Hansen -- 1953 - 1971
• Edith P. Marshall -- 1971 - 1972
• Clifford E. Hansen -- 1972 - 1973
• James D. Lang -- 1973 - 1974
• Edith P. Marshall -- 1974 - 2004 (now Organist Emeritus)
• Organists during 2004 -- 2005
  • Margaret Kvamme
  • Carolyn Pryor
  • Alison Luedeke

Prayer of Dedication in 1959 and 1980

"Our God and Father, whom the generations have worshipped with concord of sweet sound; be pleased to accept this completed organ as a song of praise unto thee. Grant that its music, with accompanying song, may come as a blessed benediction upon all who worship here. May this organ become undying music in the world as its notes of cheer, comfort, communion, and courage are modulated into human lives for daily task and noble service. To all organists who shall sound its notes, and to all worshipers who shall be lifted Godward by its voice, may there come at times the sweep of hallelujahs from the throne of the redeemed, until earth below shall be attuned to heaven above, singing, hallelujah to Him who reigneth, Lord of Lords, the King of Kings."