LeSueur River Lutheran holds recital with historic organ

RECITAL — LeSueur River Lutheran Church held a recital Sunday, April 21 to celebrate its newly refurbished historic pipe organ. Above from left: Pastor Brian Gegel, Gratia Johnson, Marilyn Schempp and Matt Groskreutz. (Photo by Paul Meierding)

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

A celebration of the newly refurbished pipe organ at the LeSueur River Lutheran Church, rural New Richland, was held on Sunday, April 21. A dinner of hot beef sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy was served following the morning worship service. Janice Pederson of Superior Foods catered the noon meal.

Starting at 1 p.m., an organ recital was presented by distinguished organist Marilyn Schempp of Sioux Falls, S.D.; along with Gratia Johnson, the current church organist. Eric and Christopher Knutson on trumpets and Daniel Knutson on euphonium, also from South Dakota, joined in a program of organ solos, organ duets, and organ/brass arrangements.

Schempp received her Bachelor's degree in vocal and instrumental music from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, and a Masters of Music in Organ Performance with additional coursework in piano from the University of South Dakota. Schempp maintains a private piano studio in her home and teaches organ and piano at Augustana College, as well as serving as the college’s chapel organist.

In addition to organ recitals, Schempp has played oboe, piano, harpsichord and organ with the South Dakota Symphony. Eric Knutson and his sons Christopher and Daniel, all descendants of Han O. Sunde, founding member of LeSueur River Lutheran Church, often provide special music for church worship festivals in the Sioux Falls area. The Knutsons have individually performed in a variety of ensembles as well.

Eric Knutson is the son, and Christopher and Daniel Knutson are the grandsons, of Dennis and Maryann Knutson, who live in Sioux Falls and have a summer home at St. Olaf Lake. Dennis and Maryann attend worship services at LeSueur River and Vista during the summer, and gave a wonderful gift and support for the recital on Sunday afternoon.

The newly rebuilt organ includes an additional manual and many more pipes than the original organ, yet it retains much of the original internal equipment and some of the original exterior cabinetry. Roland Rutz and Associates of Rutz, Inc. of Morristown, Minn., did the renovation and rebuilding of the pipe organ throughout the year of 2012.

A long list of thank yous were extended, including Roland Rutz and Associates and the many people who had volunteered their time, sweat, and strength to move the organ components during the refurbishing process.

A special acknowledgement was given to Matt Groskreutz of Matawan, the first to officially play the refurbished organ at the installation of Pastor Brian Gegel on September 16. Groskreutz was also a leader in the effort to rebuild the organ.

Parish organist Gratia Johnson and interim pastor Paul Meierding were also thanked for their vision and efforts toward the refurbishing of this great old pipe organ.

Thanks were also extended to Ranae Berg and all the LSR Women of the ELCA for coordinating and serving the celebration meal prior to the recital.

Finally, thanks were given to Dennis and Maryann Knutson, who sponsored the program on Sunday afternoon. Dennis and Maryann toured with a "Bach Group" and were able to see organs that were over 300 years old.

Financial donations helped pay for the $40,400 renovation and refurbish of the organ, which was undertaken in celebration of the LeSueur River congregation’s 150th anniversary in 2011.

The Recital on Sunday afternoon began with Pastor Brian Gegel reading the 150th Psalm, "Praise to the Lord," followed by the singing of "Praise to the Lord" by Paul Manz.

Following was "Praise to the Lord," by Michael Burkhardt, a five-part duet by Schempp and Johnson; “Prelude and Fugue in C Major” by Johann Albrechtsberger; "Sonata in Eb Major by J. S. Bach, a trio sonata; "My Spirit Be Joyful" by J.S. Bach, featured the Knutsons; "24 Pieces in Free Style” by Louis Verne, which included a Carillon using the pipe organ pedals.

A second congregational hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," included trumpet and euphonium by the Knutsons.

The final selection was "Sonata in F Minor" by Felix Medelssohn.

The pipe organ is located on the balcony of the LeSueur River Church. A motorized lift was brought into the church to help bring the pieces of the organ down to the main floor so they could be taken to Morristown to be refurbished, and then used again to return the organ pieces back to the balcony where they were reassembled in the organ again.