Only
a few decades ago, this island, which is very close to the Everglades,
was inhabited that by some Indian fishermen, but meanwhile, it became
a beautiful refuge for many people from the North in their search to flee
the winter. Churches are numerous there, but our organ is the first
pipe organ on the island. The seasonal instability of the parishes in
Florida is surely a constraint
for the purchasing a pipe organ, a long-term investment due
to last for several generations.
If the parishioners and Betty Pursley, the organist of the
United Church
must be commended for their vision, the same cannot be said of the architect,
who was badly advised for providing an adequate space for the organ. When
we arrived later in the project, to draw an organ in such a restricted
space was a genuine tour de force. However, we believe we have
met the challenge to build an organ which leads well congregational singing,
accompanies the choir, while allowing the performance of the larger part
of the organ’s repertoire. It should also be said that the parish is lucky
for being served by a fine musician.
|
