MARGAO
A late medieval era pipe organ at the Rachol seminary now breathes new life after it was restored to its original condition.
Rector of Rachol Seminary, Dr Aleixo Menezes told the media that the Instruction Musicam Sacram calls for the preservation of the treasury of sacred music and to give great importance to teaching and practising music in seminaries. The Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol pays attention to the musical formation of its seminarians, he said.
“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 promoting the Sacred Music. The aim of the choir is to promote sacred polyphonic music and Gregorian chants”, he added.
Seminarian Joel Rodrigues said: “In Goa, we have seven pipe organs from the late medieval era. This Pipe Organ at Rachol Seminary is one of those still in working condition. During the Sunday Liturgical ceremonies and solemnities, this pipe organ is accompanied by a string ensemble of our seminary, which gives a solemnity to the Liturgy, sung by Santa Cecilia Choir”.
He added: “This pipe organ is made in Germany and the manufacturer is Gebrüder Link. The installation of this pipe organ must have been in between the years 1888 to 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”.
Fr Mathew Rebello said this pipe organ has its history and antiquity which deserve special care for restoration, conservation and preservation. “Due to excess 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”, he said.
Fr Mathew added: “With timely intervention of Fernando Fernandes and his meticulous and skilful expertise, we managed to restore this pipe organ. All the oxidized pipes were restored 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.
Today this pipe organ breathes a new life, thanks to Fernando Fernandes, his daughter, Fara and the carpenter Damiao D’Sa, he added.
The antique pipe organ, which is a very rare piece in Goa, will be blessed and inaugurated by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao on April 20.
