Piping Up! The Brunner Opus 56 Organ at St. Lawrence Chapel, Harrisburg

Episode 34 of Piping Up with Stephen Regec

This video features the R. J. Brunner & Co. Opus 56 pipe organ, originally built by the A. B. Felgemaker Co. in 1885 and later rebuilt by R. J. Brunner & Co. in 2010. The instrument, housed at St. Lawrence Chapel in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contains 28 ranks and 1,580 pipes. The Brunner firm maintains and tunes it annually, ensuring it remains in excellent condition for liturgical and concert use.

The organ has a compelling story. It was initially located at a different site on 3rd and Locust Street in Harrisburg before being moved to St. Lawrence Chapel upon the church's completion. One of its most visually striking features is its painted pipework, uniquely finished by a local auto body mechanic shop. Though the instrument does not include any 32-foot pedal ranks due to spatial limitations, the pedal division contains several powerful reeds that project with excellent clarity throughout the chapel. The organ is notable for its dynamic presence, especially in the low end, and remains a central part of the musical life at St. Lawrence.

The organist featured is Paul Thomas May, who has served at St. Lawrence Chapel since December 2021. He is the Director of Music for the Mater Dei Community in Harrisburg. Paul studied Music Performance at San Diego State University and previously served as Director of Liturgical Music at Our Lady of Grace Church. Since he arrived at St. Lawrence, his playing and leadership have been well received by the congregation, which has a deep and active appreciation for sacred music.

St. Lawrence Chapel has a long and distinguished history. The original parish was founded in 1859 to serve the German-speaking Catholic population of Harrisburg. The church building was constructed in a Gothic Revival style and was completed and consecrated in 1918. Today, it is home to the Mater Dei Community and is served by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). The parish is dedicated to the Traditional Latin Mass and is known for its strong emphasis on reverent liturgy and sacred music.

Channel Intro music is brought to you by Walker Technical Organ Company and Daniel Umholtz.

For more information about the organ, visit https://pipeorgandatabase.org/instrum...

Merchandise is now available for all fans! Grab your cups, hats, sweaters, t-shirts, and more right here: https://pipingup.myspreadshop.com/

For more information about the church, visit: https://stlawrence.cc/