Community Church Debuts Refurbished Organ

The Community Church of Douglaston marked the halfway point of its "First Sunday Series" of concerts with the solo debut of its newly updated Ralph and Alice Greenlaw Memorial pipe organ.

The house of worship, located at 44-21 Douglaston Parkway, resounded last week during a performance by David Lamb, who is the director of music and organist at the First United Methodist Church of Columbus, Ohio.

The first half of concert was divided into three sections, "Echoes from Paris, "A Visit to Leipzig" and "Looking toward London," showcasing the instrument's newly acquired ability to replicate the differing sounds of traditional French, German and English organs.

"It's a great instrument," Lamb said during intermission. "The keys and pedals have a great feel and the sound is magnificent."

Part of the modernization process was to replace the console, which holds the organ's manuals, pedals and stop controls. They can be adjusted individually or in groups with the touch of a button.

Gerald Anders, artistic director of the concert committee and organist for the church, was ecstatic with the result.

"It really is wonderful," he said. "We've had concerts with a chorus and a fun Halloween concert."

He said the concert featuring the organ's debut was the night they got "to pull out all the stops."

The instrument was originally installed in 1928 and then refurbished and expanded in 1968 by the Austin Organs. This year, it underwent its third upgrade and expansion, but this time by the Peragallo Pipe Opran Company.

The organ has been named one of the finest in Queens by the American Guild of Organists..

It literally has all the bells and whistles. The organ features four-foot chimes and a chorus of Flemish bells. But the pipes, which Lamb pointed out are actually whistles, can be made up of wood, lead alloy or tin, depending on size and desired tone.

During the second part of the program, Lamb demonstrated the instrument's range of sound and feeling through selections that ranged from the ecclesiastical "Variations on 'All Creatures of our God and King" to a spirited rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In."

Upcoming First Sunday concerts include a performance by New York concert organist Katherine Meloan on Feb. 6, various organists accompanied by instruments and vocals on March 6 and jazz organist Dr. Joe Utterback on May 1.

For more information, call the Community Church of Douglaston at 718-229-2169 or visit its website.