Team Herald
MARGAO: Out of seven Pipe Organs from the late medieval era, and one at Rachol Seminary breathes a new life, and thanks to Fernando Fernandes, his daughter, Fara and the Damiao D’Sa, carpenter as an helping hand for the restoration of the same.
Fr. Methew Rebello said at Rachol Seminary the inaugural function of the restored pipe organ will be held on April 20.
Speaking to media persons Rev. Dr. Aleixo Menezes, Rector at Rachol Seminary said that the instruction ‘Musicam Sacram’ calls us to preserve the treasury of sacred music in seminaries. The Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol pays attention to the musical formation of its seminarians.
“The Santa Cecilia Choir at Rachol Seminary,is Asia’s oldest polyphonic male TTBB choir. It is composed of 16 seminarians. It was established on the April 11, 1897 and continues to dedicate itself to promote Sacred Music.The aim of the choir is to promote sacred polyphonic music and Gregorian chants,” said Menezes.
While Fr. Methew Rebello said this Pipe Organ is made in Germany and the manufacturer is Gebrüder Link.The installation of this Pipe Organ must have been in between the years 1888 to 1904. It was designed around a tonal basis of 8 feet Open Diapason, 8 feet Dulciana and 4 feet Flute.It has Mechanical stops and key action. Each stop has a set of 56 pipes. The Console is placed at the side of the case.Originally, it had a foot-lever for blowing the air, which in 2011 was replaced with an electrical blower.
“This Pipe Organhas its own history and antiquity which deserve special care for restoration, conservation and preservation. Due to excess of humidity, it was deteriorating. The wooden frames had started decaying because of termites, the air-chambers were damaged, the hides of the bellows were worn out, even the metal Pipes had started oxidizing,” he said.
He said with timely intervention of Fernando Fernandes and his meticulous and skillful expertise, they managed to restore this Pipe Organ.
“All the oxidized pipes were restored back to their original condition, the hides of bellows were replaced, the chambers were restored, and the decayed wooden frames were replaced. Apart from the electrical blower, a provision is also made for the functioning of the foot-lever in the absence of electricity, said Fr Methew.
