By Marcellus D’Souza
Apr 20: The 130-year-old Rachol Seminary Pipe Organ has been restored, thanks to Fernando Fernandes, his daughter, Fara and Damiao D’Sa, the carpenter.
Rev. Dr. Aleixo Menezes, Rector, 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 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”.
The Pipe Organ is made in Germany and the manufacturer is Gebrüder Link. The installation of this Organ must have been between the 1888 and 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, according to Fr. Mathew Rebello, the music teacher who plays the pipe organ.
"This Pipe Organ has 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.”
"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” due to the timely intervention of Fernando Fernandes.
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air (called wind) through the organ pipes selected from a keyboard. The origins of the pipe organ can be traced back to the hydraulis in Ancient Greece, in the 3rd century BC, in which the wind supply was created by the weight of displaced water in an airtight container. Pipe organs are installed in churches, synagogues, concert halls, schools, other public buildings and in private properties. This pipe organ is one of seven in Goa. Experts on musical instruments from the U.K. had repaired the pipe organ some decades ago.
As reported by daijiworld on May 30, 2012, Goan Churches have preserved more than 100-year-old late medieval era pipe organs. These organs preserve the last vestiges of the musical legacy brought in by the Christian missionaries during Portuguese colonial rule. A couple of these musical organs, huge -- as tall as 4-5 metres, have been repaired and put to use, while a few more are gathering dust waiting for the expert hand to get them fixed.
The pipe organ at Saint Ignatius Loyola Church, Rachol is still played during the Sunday masses. The organ is kept on the inside gallery just opposite the Altar of St Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the order. The organ gifted to the seminary by then Archbishop in late 1800 to this Church constructed in the medieval era. Rachol seminary is amongst the first churches built by the missionaries in Goa.
“During the feast of St. Francis Xavier, the organ is accompanied by violin. The long pipes fitted inside the cupboard-shaped wooden structure create unique echo once wind is blown through them which is authentic sound of the medieval Church music.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa, too has preserved one such organ. But it’s not used since last 15 years waiting for repairs.”The repairer had visited and inspected the instrument few years back, but he did not turn back”, said the priest in charge. The basilica is part of UNESCO heritage site. The instrument, which has ‘Hurry Brothers’, Calcutta,’ inscripted on it is much bigger than the one at Rachol Seminary.
The organ in Basilica was manufactured by Anglo-Indian organ building firm, ‘Hurry Brothers’, of Calcutta and rest were by a German firm. The organ, which one amongst the last few left in the world, has been left as a `show-piece.’
Another pipe organ, which is much smaller, is situated in ‘Se Cathedral’ Church.
Another pipe organ is at Margao’s Holy Spirit Church. “The pipe organ produces a very solid sound that has a rich influence on its surroundings. If it were played in the church, the sound would resonate till the Old Market in Margao. I used to play it every week, but now I can’t even try, given its present condition’ says Maurelio Cotta who used to play the organ a few years back. “There are three different sounds that can be produced soft, loud and middle range and it sounds similar to the flute”, Cotta said nostalgically.
The seven places which have pipe organs are: The Holy Spirit Church, Margao, The Cathedral of St Catherine and the Basilica of Bom Jesus, both at Old Goa, The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Panjim, The Church of Salvador do Mundo, Loutulim and The Rachol Seminary.
The restored Rachol organ was inaugurated today by Archbishop of Goa, Filipe Neri Ferrão who blessed the organ.