| A Heritage Given, A Legacy Returned Renovation of the Historic Pipe Organ at Gesu Parish, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
What is the renovation time line?
The organ was removed from the church for the renovation at the end of September 2009. An interim
organ is serving our prayer during the renovation. We are hopeful the renovated organ will be reinstalled
in time for our Christmas 2010 celebrations.
What is the cost of the renovation?
The generosity of the Joe and Della Henke Fund within the Parish Endowment and some 20 individual
donors provided the seed money for the project. With these gifts, Gesu Parish made an initial
commitment of $1.05 million for an organ of 64 ranks. Our goal is an organ of 89 ranks, which would more
fully express the range of sound and inspiration appropriate for our magnificent worship space. We are
raising an additional $250,000 to meet this goal. The organ also will be prepared during its renovation to
accommodate additions beyond the 89 ranks that would complete the full tonal design of the organ,
when additional funding beyond the parish becomes available.
How can we help support the organ renovation project?
We welcome support from everyone who appreciates the value of music in our prayer and wants to
return the legacy to future generations of the faithful. Every gift is important. Your gift will help us
ensure that the renovated organ attains the full range of sound that befits the architecture of the
church and the heritage we have been given. Information about making a gift can be found here.
The organ was removed from the church for the renovation at the end of September 2009. An interim
organ is serving our prayer during the renovation. We are hopeful the renovated organ will be reinstalled
in time for our Christmas 2010 celebrations.
What is the cost of the renovation?
The generosity of the Joe and Della Henke Fund within the Parish Endowment and some 20 individual
donors provided the seed money for the project. With these gifts, Gesu Parish made an initial
commitment of $1.05 million for an organ of 64 ranks. Our goal is an organ of 89 ranks, which would more
fully express the range of sound and inspiration appropriate for our magnificent worship space. We are
raising an additional $250,000 to meet this goal. The organ also will be prepared during its renovation to
accommodate additions beyond the 89 ranks that would complete the full tonal design of the organ,
when additional funding beyond the parish becomes available.
How can we help support the organ renovation project?
We welcome support from everyone who appreciates the value of music in our prayer and wants to
return the legacy to future generations of the faithful. Every gift is important. Your gift will help us
ensure that the renovated organ attains the full range of sound that befits the architecture of the
church and the heritage we have been given. Information about making a gift can be found here.
| Frequently Asked Questions |
Why does the organ need to be renovated?
When the organ fills the church with sound, it is natural to
think that an instrument that plays such a rich range of
music is working perfectly. The truth is, the organ has
needed renovation for many years.
The organ was built in 1895 by the Kimball Company in
Chicago. It was installed at Gesu in 1908, and was
renovated by the Kilgen Company of Saint Louis in 1955.
Now, the instrument is showing the effects of decades of
service. Entire divisions have been out of service for 10
When the organ fills the church with sound, it is natural to
think that an instrument that plays such a rich range of
music is working perfectly. The truth is, the organ has
needed renovation for many years.
The organ was built in 1895 by the Kimball Company in
Chicago. It was installed at Gesu in 1908, and was
renovated by the Kilgen Company of Saint Louis in 1955.
Now, the instrument is showing the effects of decades of
service. Entire divisions have been out of service for 10
years or more, including some of its quieter sounds. Mechanical components built in the 1950s are in need of
replacement. There are gaps in the tonal architecture of the organ which cannot be addressed by further repair.
replacement. There are gaps in the tonal architecture of the organ which cannot be addressed by further repair.
How will the renovation benefit Gesu and
the Milwaukee community?
Renovation of the organ will restore this magnificent
instrument to the full range of sound that befits the
architecture and beauty of our church and the organ’s use
in our prayer for many generations to come. Whereas
playing the organ now requires careful, skilled treatment
from an organist who knows its “quirks” and can work
around its condition, the renovation will make it possible
for additional talented musicians to visit Gesu and offer
their gifts to the parish, Marquette University, and the
Milwaukee community for concerts and other events.
the Milwaukee community?
Renovation of the organ will restore this magnificent
instrument to the full range of sound that befits the
architecture and beauty of our church and the organ’s use
in our prayer for many generations to come. Whereas
playing the organ now requires careful, skilled treatment
from an organist who knows its “quirks” and can work
around its condition, the renovation will make it possible
for additional talented musicians to visit Gesu and offer
their gifts to the parish, Marquette University, and the
Milwaukee community for concerts and other events.
What is included in the renovation?
The entire organ was removed from the church and
transported to The Schantz Organ Company’s Orrville, Ohio,
facilities for renovation. More than half of the existing
pipes will be used in the renovation, and a state-of-the-art
control system will be built for the new organ console.
The entire organ was removed from the church and
transported to The Schantz Organ Company’s Orrville, Ohio,
facilities for renovation. More than half of the existing
pipes will be used in the renovation, and a state-of-the-art
control system will be built for the new organ console.
| Gesu Organ Renovation Project P.O. Box 495 Milwaukee, WI 53201-0495 GesuOrganRenovation@GesuOrganRenovation.org All material on this site copyright 2009, Gesu Organ Renovation Project. To learn more about Gesu Parish, visit the Parish Web site at www.GesuParish.org |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |