WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL ORGAN

 M. P. Moller Company

Hagerstown, Maryland

 Opus 8303 (1952-1991)

 Shultz and Gladden, Inc. (1998-1999)

 Walker Technical Co. (2000, 2005)

GREAT

Principal 16’

Principal 8’

Gemshorn 8’

Cello 8’ WTC

Cello Celeste 8’ WTC

Harmonic Flute 8’

Octave 4’

Harmonic Flute 4’

Fifteenth 2’

Fourniture IV

Cymbale III

Harmonic Trumpet 8’

ANTIPHONAL - 1979

Bourdon 8’

Principal 4’

Mixture III

CHOIR

Nachthorn 8’

Flauto Mirabilis 8’ WTC

Erzahler 8’

Erzahler Celeste 8’

Viola 8’ WTC

Viola Celeste 8’ WTC

Principal 4’

Flute Ouverte 4’

Nazard 2 2/3’

Octave 2’

Tierce 1 3/5’

Scharf IV

Krummhorn 8’

English Horn 8’ WTC

Corno di Bassetto 16’ WTC

Vox Humana 8’ WTC

Harmonic Trumpet 8’

English Tuba 8’ WTC

III manuals/54 ranks/3676 pipes

SWELL

Lieblich Gedeckt 16’

Principal 8’

Rohrflute 8’

Flauto Dolce 8’

Flute Celeste 8’

Viola da Gamba 8’

Viola Celeste 8’

Principal 4’

Flauto Traverso 4’

Piccolo 2’

Plein Jeu III

Cymbale III

Bombarde 16’

Trompette 8’

Oboe 8’

Clairon 4’

Cymbalstern

PEDAL

Principal 32’ (Res.)

Bourdon 32’ (Res.)

Principal 16’

Gamba 16’ (SW)

Erzahler 16’ (CH)

Rohrbourdon 16’ (SW)

Principal 8’ (from 16’)

Viola da Gamba 8’ (SW)

Rohrbourdon 8’ (SW)

Principal 4’

Mixture IV

Bombarde 32’ (Peterson)

Bombarde 16’

Bombarde 16’ (SW)

Trumpet 8’ (SW)

Hautbois 4’ (SW)

Harmonic Trumpet 8’ (CH)

The harpsichord at First Presbyterian Church

The harpsichord at First Presbyterian Church is a version of a Marin Mersenne whose design is in the spirit of the 16^th century International School, which survived in various forms through the 17^th century.  Martin Harpsichords of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania built this instrument. Church member Lisa Richards painted its beautifully decorated soundboard.

Lisa explains the detail thusly: The sound quality of a harpsichord requires it to be open to view while played, and the inner workings of most instruments are decorated. Many are adorned with artwork that would have had familiar meaning to an 18^th century viewer. The soundboard, like much of the church’s artwork, is full of such meaningful Christian symbols.

The rose, which is the round hole cut into the soundboard, is filled with a medallion showing the “Agnus Dei” (the Lamb of God). The dead log with new growth sprouting stands for the resurrection of Christ, and the three leaves symbolize the trinity.

Various flowers are used to depict Christian virtues. The violet is love. The flame tulip is charity. Phlox shows that our souls are united. Purity and innocence are depicted by the lily and the daisy. A pink rose is a symbol of grace, and the iris is promise. Daffodils are for respect. The flowering cherry is chivalry.

Fruit also has meaning. Cherries are meant to express good works. The strawberry is perfect goodness. While raspberry is remorse and blackberry is dangerous pride, symbols that carry negative connotations, they are often inserted in the artwork as a warning against moral complacency.

Still another way in which the artist expressed symbolism is through the use of color. Among the generally accepted interpretations for colors are black as solemnity and death, blue as heavenly love, gray as humility, purple as imperial power, and white as purity of spirit (especially the perfect purity of Christ).

From start to finish, the soundboard art took six weeks of full time work to complete. The medium used, authentic to the Baroque period, was gouache with egg yolk added for stability and permanence and to make the resultant picture less susceptible to damage from water. It is hoped by this artist  that the message delivered and received is one that uplifts the spirit and that the completed work adds to the beauty of our sanctuary.