Blessing and Dedication
of the Möller-Hoppe Pipe Organ
October 13th, 2013
Organ History
In November of 1971, The Vestry of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church contracted with the M P Moller, Inc., Pipe Organ Architects and Builders, of Hagerstown, Maryland, for the purchase of a four rank unit pipe organ to be installed in February of the following year. Robert H McCune, local attorney and member of St. Martin’s funded the project. A zimbelstern was added in 2006 and chimes were added in 2009.
By 1998, the contacts in the stop rail had become unreliable and repairs were made. By 2005, these repairs had become problematic. It was time to replace the stop rail, but shortage of funds put a damper on that.
2011 brought the settlement of Mr. McCune’s estate and a substantial bequest to St. Martin’s. Since the pipe organ had been a gift from Mr. McCune, it was decided that a portion of the bequest be used to bring not only the stop rail but the entire inner workings of the pipe organ into the 21st century. The Vestry contracted with Robert Hoppe and Associates of Algoma, WI, to clean and rewire the case; install a new stop rail, keyboards and pedal contacts and Viscount “Vivace 30 Deluxe” digital components.
The Organ Builder
Robert Hoppe was born in Mankato, Minnesota in 1961 and has been involved with churches, in various capacities, all his life. Throughout high school and college he studied classical organ, served as organist in several churches and started working for an organ builder.
While pursuing degrees in International Business and German at Minnesota State University in Mankato, he continued training in the organ building art, gaining proficiency in the art of woodworking, electrical design and wiring, mechanical action, pipe scaling and voicing, and service work.
Robert Hoppe became an independent organ builder in 1986, due to a desire to build smaller, more innovative electric-action instruments custom designed, with the same artistic attention to detail as one might find in the finest tracker organs. In 1989, Robert Hoppe and Associates operation moved to Algoma, Wisconsin where Mr. Hoppe serves in a part-time capacity as an ordained Episcopal priest. The firm has organ installation throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Upper Michigan and services numerous instruments in the region.
Robert Hoppe and Associates provide a full range of church organ products: new pipe organs, digital-pipe “combination” organs and Viscount all-digital organs. They also do organ rebuilding, expansion, voicing services, new consoles, new electrical systems and MIDI upgrades. Website www.roberthoppe.com.
Current Stop List
| GREAT Quintaton 16` Principal 8` Rohr Flute 8` Gemshorn 8` Unda Maris 8` Octave 4` Flauto Traverso 4` Cornet Super Octave 2` Mixture Tromba 8` Cromorne 8` Chimes Tremelo Swell to Great | SWELL Vox Humana 8` Gedeckt 8` Salicional 8` Celeste 8` Gemshorn 4` Flute 4` Nazard 2-2/3` Piccolo 2` Tierce 1-3/5` Mixture Clarinet 16` Trumpet 8` Oboe 8` Orch Voice (2) Tremelo | PEDAL Contra Bass 32` Open Bass 16` Bourdon 16` Violone 16` Diapason 8` Gedeckt 8` Tenor Octave 4` Rohr Schalmei 4` Bombarde 16` Trumpet 8` Orch voice (1) Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal |
Guest Recitalist
Jayson R. Engquist serves as Music Director/Organist of the Parish of Saint John the Evangelist in Saint Paul, Minnesota where he oversees an active musical program with ringing and singing choirs. A Fairmont native, Engquist graduated with honors from Yale University’s School of Music (New Haven, Connecticut) and Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He is a frequent lecturer and organ performer in many parts of the country and has particular interest in Anglican music, history and traditions.
