Pipe organ has served cathedral parish, diocese for 25 years
By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer
METUCHEN — To the uneducated eye, the console of the pipe organ at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral could just as well be the controls of a space craft because of its seemingly endless assortment of keys, knobs and foot pedals.
In the center of the choir loft, the pipes — some taller than 16 feet — stand like fuel tanks.
Behind the wall, a series of pipes flow into several huge bellows which, when the organ is played, rise and fall as though feeding air to an engine.
The purpose of the organ is not to send worshipers into orbit but to help them on their spiritual journey, which it has done for 25 years. To celebrate the silver anniversary of the organ’s installation, Thomas A. DeLessio, the parish’s director of music ministry, will bring it to life in a performance of organ and orchestral music with the Tim Keyes Consort Sept. 14, 4 p.m.
The late Msgr. Dominic Turtora, first rector of the cathedral, oversaw the installation of the organ, which is considered mainly a wind instrument because it is activated by air, DeLessio said.
Several times each year, the more than 2,500 pipes — some as small as a few inches — are tuned, DeLessio said, explaining that tuning is usually done as the seasons change and the organ pipes cool and heat. With its myriad sounds, including flute, trumpet, oboe, strings, chimes and principals, the pipe organ is used for playing hymns and responses at Masses and accompanying the cantor on solos like psalm verses, DeLessio said.
In addition to solo organ music, the instrument is also used to accompany the solo lines of other instruments, accompany choirs and provide meditative music, he said.
“The most important role of the organist is to accompany the congregation and to encourage them to sing,” DeLessio said. “Choral accompaniment is nice for choirs and concerts, but it is not the primary function of this instrument.”
DeLessio said the most enjoyable part of playing the pipe organ is “when the congregation sings strongly because it is very inspirational; the music feeds on itself and you feel more creative.”
While studying for a degree in music education at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, DeLessio chose the organ as his principal instrument.
Prior to his appointment as director of music for the Diocese of Metuchen in February 2001, he served as director of music and organist at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Whitehouse Station. At Our Lady of Lourdes, he helped create the tonal design of the Randall Dyer pipe organ that was installed in 1998.
At the cathedral, DeLessio has played the organ at five Masses each weekend for nearly seven years. He also plays at funerals, weddings and liturgies for St. Francis of Assisi School.
In his role with the diocese, he plays the organ at about 10 liturgies each year.
One of the challenges of playing the instrument is the acoustics of the spacious cathedral, he said.
“I’ve had almost seven years to get used to the acoustics here,” DeLessio said.
When playing the organ, he is conscious of the cantor who is situated in the sanctuary, the choir which is in the choir loft with him, and the congregation situated in between.
“The cantor hears the pipes a little later in the sanctuary than we do in the choir loft,” he said.
“It is my role to keep the music moving. Things will get slower because sound travels slower than light, so if the singer waits until they hear me they are going to be late, and if I wait until I hear them sing back then the music will get slower and slower.”
He finds that choir pieces can be especially challenging because he is not only accompanying on organ but conducting as well.
“The biggest challenge is knowing what it all sounds like down below because the choir and organ sound is real strong in the choir loft and very different in the congregation.”
The concert, which is scheduled to last about 90 minutes, will include “Symphony No. 3” by Camille Saint Saems; “Agnus Dei” by Gabriel Faure; “Agnus Dei” by Keyes; an organ concerto by Handel; and an organ sonata by Mendelssohn.
“We chose the music based on displaying the use of the organ in many ways — with choir; organ solo; organ with small ensemble and organ with full orchestra,” DeLessio said
“Symphony No. 3,” also known as the Organ Symphony, is very familiar and is “well-loved by organists,” he added.
No tickets are required, but a good will offering will be taken to help defray costs, DeLessio said.
