By John Rohlf
The Message assistant editor
Thanks to the work of many people in and outside the diocese and the generous gift from Ginny and the late Deacon Dave Cook, St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville will be home to the largest organ in the region for years to come.
A project years in the making, the final adjustments are being made to the new organ at St. Benedict Cathedral. The organ was donated to the Cathedral by Ginny and the late Deacon Dave Cook. He served as deacon at St. Benedict Cathedral for 13 years.
Ginny Cook said years ago, she and Dave were visiting Dyersville, Iowa, and were attending Mass when they heard a beautiful organ. They later met with their financial planner and she asked if they could donate funds for an organ. After they were given the green light from their financial planner, Deacon Dave suggested talking to Father Godfrey Mullen, former rector of St. Benedict Cathedral, to see if someone had committed funds for the organ. After finding out no one had, Ginny Cook told Father Godrey they would donate funds for the organ.
“I just said to him we’ll pay for the organ,” Ginny Cook said. “It’s a great gift for the community, for the diocese, when you think about it.”
The project is at the stage now where the organ has been played at Sunday Masses. They were able to play the organ at Deacon Dave Cook’s funeral Mass in late July. In the first week of September, St. Benedict Cathedral Organist Jeremy Korba said the tonal finishing crew has been on site putting in the rest of the pipes one at a time. They have been making adjustments to the tuning, regulation and how they relate to each other.
“In the big picture, they’re pleased with what they’ve been hearing,” Korba said earlier this month. “Some of the things that they were concerned about are working better than they had hoped.”
Korba said there are some adjustments to be made, including taking back a couple ranks of pipes and adjusting them at the factory. They are going to add a few more pipes and a small windchest upstairs, he said.
Korba stressed each of the 70 ranks has a job. He said learning what their jobs are and who they play with and should not play with is a learning curve. Korba said one of the challenges he faces is when he is playing in the front of the church with the primary resources in the loft in the back of the church.
“That’s kind of a challenge,” Korba said. “My work is relearning instinct and relearning what sounds good and what’s correct. And how to provide the best outcome for the liturgy.”
Korba said he relies on the tonal finishing experts, who provide professional insight into their vision of what each rank of pipes is designed to do and how it might lend itself to use in the liturgy first.
Korba said with the addition of the little wind chest and a few new pipes, they anticipate coming close to their target time of completion for the end of September or October.
Ric Parsons, the co-owner of Parsons Pipe Builders, the company who built and installed the organ, anticipated they were “probably ahead of schedule” at the beginning of September. He said the tonal finishing process can take anywhere from 4-10 weeks. Overall, Parsons says the job “has turned out spectacularly.” He said when they design an organ, they have to guess from experience.
“All these things that we’ve designed have worked out wonderfully,” Parsons said. “That’s a great room to work in. The people here are fantastic to work with. It’s been a good experience for us too. We can’t wait for it to be shown off.”
Ginny Cook highlighted the quality of work from Parsons Pipe Builders for the organ. She said she hopes the organ can last forever with the proper maintenance.
“So long as the church stands, the organ should stand,” she said.
Korba said the donation from the Cooks is “a beautiful stewardship story.”
“Them being public with the gift now is just a wonderful opportunity,” Korba said. “Not everybody’s going to give $3 million. But the selfless on giving and that’s been her resonating echo for everyone. ‘It’s in honor of what Jeremy and Father Godfrey had started. We feel moved to do this.’ But it’s for the next music director or to attract the next one. It’s for all the people of the diocese to come in and have an amazing thing.”