The Pipe Organ Culminating 15 years of effort, First Lutheran’s pipe organ was dedicated on Jan 2, 1994. The organ is unique in that it is the first parish organ to be completely built on-site in perhaps three centuries. It was created by Munetaka Yokota, with the help of three talented craftsmen, and the hands of many parishioners. While not a copy, the organ is identical in appearance and in voicing to the seventeenth century North German Baroque instruments Bach would have known. Its crispness, clarity and balance are exceptional. The pipe organ is a suspended tracker action, 14 rank instrument, with two-keyboards and pedal. Because of their acoustical superiority and visual beauty, the case style repeats that of the North German baroque pipe organs of the early 1700’s, and was fabricated in exactly the same manner--using only natural wood, and pipes poured from the molten metal here on site, then each hand crafted. The black walnut elements of the console were shaped from a tree which once grew where the sanctuary now stands. The casework was stained, painted and glazed under Mr. Yokota’s direction by members of the congregation, and the fine calligraphy and related art work was accomplished by still another generous and gifted member. High on the casework one finds a traditional “Cymbelstern” (bell-star) which lends its beauty to our songs of praise and thanksgiving. This pipe organ, together with the Concert Organ at California State University at Chico, completed by Mr. Yokota just prior to his work at First Lutheran, have received wide acclaim as being among the best of their types to be created in the 20th century. Mr. Yokota, now a visiting professor at the University of Goteborg, Sweden, is widely perceived as the most gifted pipe-maker in today’s world. We thank and praise our Heavenly Father for bringing us such an extraordinary gift for the uplifting and the enrichment of our worship. Technical Specifications  | Last updated: 11/15/2008 |
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