Building, Teaching and Playing
Alumni’s Love for
A
ugustana University’s tracker pipe organ has a storied history, and several Augustana alumni have written long chapters in its book. Last summer, John Nordlie ‘74 renewed his deep connection with the pipe organ when J.F. Nordlie Company was called on to restore the 38-year-old instrument. With some design help from Drs. Merle Pflueger and Mary Helen Schmidt, Nordlie and his crew meticulously hand-crafted the organ, beginning in the summer of 1981. The business administration major says he had hoped to restore the instrument before retiring in 2021, when he’ll turn the majority of his company over to one of his employees. Nordlie says Augustana’s organ, located in the university’s Chapel of Reconciliation, had begun to show its age — inside and out. “We don’t really want to change the sound of the instrument that much; we just want it to have a cleaner, clearer voice,” Nordlie added. After the funds were secured to refurbish the instrument, Nordlie and his team got to work straightening the larger, soft metal pipes that were starting to fatigue and placing support racks to hold them into position. The keyboards were replaced entirely with an updated system; they will be quieter and more precise. The original reverse color keyboards were replaced with more traditional white naturals and ebony sharps. The suspended key system for the manual or Positiv was redesigned and manufactured so any swings in humidity will have less effect on key position. They removed the organ’s pedalboard and replaced the worn maple caps and ebony sharps, and refinished the frame. The company built a new bench, including a new mechanism to set the height. Much of the felt and leather in the organ — worn from years of use — were also replaced. The three reservoirs and blower box, located underneath the organ, were completely rebuilt due to water damage. Nordlie says the reservoirs now settle into the closed position when the organ is turned off, rather than abruptly dropping and making noise, thanks to a new check valve system installed within the reservoirs. The strikers on the Zimbelstern were also replaced so the bells ring a bit more randomly. The organ’s facade has also taken on a fresher appearance with the pipes cleaned and polished, and the solid red oak case work reoiled. The ongoing pandemic helped Nordlie and his crew as they were able to isolate themselves on campus and work on the instrument in the chapel without any disturbance. Augustana Campus Pastor Rev. Ann Rosendale ‘04 noted, “It is quite a thing to see a tracker organ like this dismantled and reassembled. The trade of organ building is truly an artform.” 24
THE AUGUSTANA | SPRING 2021
Makes Augustana Pipe Organ Restoration Possible | BY JILL WILSON
