This summer we added a new event to our Erben Organ Days lineup: a virtual visit to an organbuilder workshop, held over Zoom. Basilica Organist and FREO Director Jared Lamenzo chatted with Ray Brunner and Hans Herr of Brunner & Associates Organbuilders in Lancaster, PA, about their work on restoring historic pipe organs and building new ones.
Visitors from around the world tuned in and were commenting and asking questions during the presentation. We had some organbuilders watching from Germany; organ aficionados and music students enjoyed a virtual excursion into the organ shop. The Brunner shop is housed in a Victorian-era building that was formerly a tobacco warehouse. We got to see the artisans in action, repairing reed pipe shallots and straightening out dented organ pipes.
Founder, Ray Brunner
Ray Brunner introduced the history of his business, established in 1981.
The Brunner shop, formerly a tobacco warehouse
There is a corn field across from the Brunner shop in rural Lancaster
Antique door
Trays of pipes getting ready to be washed
Tools and equipment for working with lumber; pipe washing tub in the background
Mike Clemens, a craftsman
Restoring a reed pipe
A harmonium in the shop
Pipework of the 19th century Dutch Secretary Desk organ
19th century Dutch Secretary Desk organ, disguised to look like furniture
19th century Dutch Secretary Desk organ
Hans Herr near a voicing machine, bristling with pipes from different ranks
A dented organ pipe
Hans Herr demonstrating “body work” to remove dents from a metal pipe
1868 Henry Erben and 1859 Hall & Labagh organs at the Basilica. Photo by Joshua South/Sidewalk Productions.
The Erben’s “little sister”, a 1859 Hall & Labagh chancel organ, was restored by Brunner & Associates in 2016.
This tour was part of our Pedals, Pipes & Peals summer music program, held virtually this year, as well as the Erben Organ Days 2020 series.
Erben Organ Days 2020 is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by LMCC. Contributors: LMCC New York State Council on the Arts
Erben Organ Days 2020: Visit to an Organbuilder Workshop
Updated: November 30, 2020 by Lana Krakovskiy
This summer we added a new event to our Erben Organ Days lineup: a virtual visit to an organbuilder workshop, held over Zoom. Basilica Organist and FREO Director Jared Lamenzo chatted with Ray Brunner and Hans Herr of Brunner & Associates Organbuilders in Lancaster, PA, about their work on restoring historic pipe organs and building new ones.
Visitors from around the world tuned in and were commenting and asking questions during the presentation. We had some organbuilders watching from Germany; organ aficionados and music students enjoyed a virtual excursion into the organ shop. The Brunner shop is housed in a Victorian-era building that was formerly a tobacco warehouse. We got to see the artisans in action, repairing reed pipe shallots and straightening out dented organ pipes.
The Erben’s “little sister”, a 1859 Hall & Labagh chancel organ, was restored by Brunner & Associates in 2016.
This tour was part of our Pedals, Pipes & Peals summer music program, held virtually this year, as well as the Erben Organ Days 2020 series.
Erben Organ Days 2020 is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by LMCC.
Contributors:
LMCC
New York State Council on the Arts
Category: News Tags: Erben Organ Days