1,000 Attend Dedication of Rodgers-Ruffatti Combination Organ

With nearly 1,000 in attendance, world-class virtuoso Bradley Welch played the dedication concert as St. Mary's Church in Amarillo, Texas welcomed the completion of a new Rodgers-Ruffatti combination organ in January.

As part of the celebration, Francesco Ruffatti shared the story of how his company designs and builds pipe organs, and visiting organists from several states walked through the pipe chambers.

The new organ was built as part of a stunning new church structure adorned with a graceful depiction of the Madonna and Child on the south side of the building. Inside, five arched openings display pipes in the Great division, including three large etched pipes at the center representing the Trinity. Behind the façade pipes are more of the instrument's total 22 pipe ranks. The Swell and Choir division pipes are also behind the façade in enclosed chambers.

For many years the congregation had sung with a 13-rank Wicks pipe organ that had been moved from Sacred Heart Cathedral in downtown Amarillo. In 2000, the parish added a Rodgers digital console to expand the organ’s tonal capability by the equivalent of 70 ranks.

When a fire in February 2007 destroyed the sanctuary and the organ, the church asked Church Organ Gallery of Dallas to begin work on a new combination instrument marrying the latest Rodgers technology with the pipes built by Fratelli Ruffatti in Padua, Italy. During the rebuilding process, parishioners worshiped in the gymnasium without missing a single Sunday Mass. The new sanctuary was dedicated in September.

The new three-manual Rodgers Masterpiece organ controls all ranks of winded pipes in addition to 90 digital ranks.

At the back of the church, beautifully flared Festival Trumpet pipes extend out over the sanctuary. “They are used for fanfares at Christmas and Easter, when the bride comes down the aisle, or any festive occasion that calls for a really bright, exciting sound,” Dr. Jim Rauscher, who co-directs St. Mary’s music program with his wife Vanessa, told the West Texas Catholic newspaper.

Although St. Mary’s choir members are delighted with the new instrument, “it’s not just about the choir; it’s really about the assembly,” said Dr. Rauscher. “The assembly will really notice a warm, rich, full sound so that they will want to sing more. We were told that when the new pipe organ was installed at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, members of the congregation, even if they didn’t know about music, could immediately tell a difference. The music, the sound of the pipes, can be felt in your bones, so to speak.”

Welch, artist-in-residence at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, played the dedication concert on January 24. The organ dedication ritual included verses from the New Testament book of Colossians, in which the Apostle Paul reminds believers about thanksgiving and praise: "With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and whatever you say or do, let it be in the name of the Lord Jesus, in thanksgiving to God the Father through him."

Rodgers is the world's largest builder of stereo imaged church organs and pipe/digital combination organs. Rodgers Instruments Corporation is a member of the Roland Group, headed by Roland Corporation, a world leader in electronic musical instrument technologies and electronic musical instrument sales and manufacturing.