7:30 pm - Wahl Organ Dedication

Organ Dedication Recital RHONDA SIDER EDGINGTON Friday, April 20, 2012, 7:30 pm Augustana Lutheran Church of Hyde Park 5500 S. Woodlawn Ave. Chicago, IL

Augustana Lutheran Church of Hyde Park and Lutheran Campus Ministry will inaugurate the Morris J. Niedenthal Memorial Pipe Organ, built by Wahl Organbuilders of Appleton, Wisconsin with a series of events beginning with an organ recital by Rhonda Sider Edgington on Friday, April 20th at 7:30 p.m.

Organ information and recordings of a Nov. 14, 2011 Festival Evening Prayer Service

Dedicatory recitalist Rhonda Sider Edgington is a native of the Chicago area and holds music degrees from Wheaton College and Indiana University. She studied on a Fulbright Scholarship in Germany and the Netherlands earning a post-graduate degree from the Hochschule für Künste in Bremen. She has concertized extensively throughout Europe and North America.

Edgington’s recital will feature music to highlight the exceptional tonal diversity of the new instrument. Selections will be played to honor the diverse history of the congregation, including music rooted in the Swedish and African American traditions.

A newly commissioned piece “Variations on A Mighty Fortress” written by former Augustana Director of Music, Larry J. Long will also be premiered.

A notable feature of this new organ is the inclusion of 5 sets of pipes from two historic Lyon & Healy pipe organs formerly located on Chicago’s south and west sides. These instruments were built in Chicago in the early 1900’s; one of them located blocks away from Augustana at a church at 40th and Drexel. The reuse of this historic material gives the instrument a unique early 20th century tonal accent and reflects the congregation’s interest in sustainable practices.

A rite of dedication will occur at both services on Sunday, April 22nd at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. Festive music for organ, brass, and choirs will highlight the morning’s liturgies.

A hymn festival entitled “Alleluia! Voices Raise” will conclude the dedicatory events and will be led by Augustana Cantor Daniel Schwandt along with the Augustana Cantorei. All events are open to the public.

The Morris J. Neidenthal Memorial Pipe Organ is a 2 manual and pedal, 20 stop mechanical (tracker) action pipe organ hand-crafted for Augustana’s modernist worship space. Made possible by a significant gift from Corrine Neidenthal and her children Paula and Simon, along with gifts from Augustana members and friends, this organ fulfills a long-held dream of the congregation for a suitable instrument to lead the parish’s distinctive liturgical and musical life.