Mepkin Abbey is located 30 miles northwest of Charleston, South
Carolina. If you have never been to Mepkin Abbey (http://www.mepkinabbey.org/)you must visit especially in the springtime when the gardens are in full bloom. The organ at the Abbey is an expanded version of an instrument that was dedicated in 1994. On the CD cover jacket of a CD that was made in 2003, Father Francis Kline, the third abbot of Mepkin writes extensively about the concept and design of the new expanded organ. Father Francis died last summer on August 27, 2006 after a three year battle with cancer. He was a Julliard Music School graduate in organ performance. Do a Google Search to find out more about this outstanding musician. Father Francis states in the CD cover jacket: "The first design for the 1994 organ included only pipes. Thirteen ranks on two manuals would have given us a small, fine organ for a limited repertoire, and enough flutes to accompany the monastic chant. At this time the builders (Zimmer Organ Company of North Carolina http://www.zimmerorgans.com/) were experimenting with the Walker Technical Co. to supplement their pipe work with non-winded voices. I was unconvinced until I traveled to hear several installations where Walker had added non-winded voices to existing pipe organs. In one case, after hearing an organ which I had known from my days with Alexander McCurdy in Philadelphia, I could no longer deny my ears. With a given acoustic, the right placement of the on-winded voices in with the pipework, and an overall sensitivity to the combination, one could achieve satisfying results within a space and budget which usually limits the outcome."Father Francis continues, "Our monastery is isolated out in the woods. My cloister, and the distance of the monastery from Charleston prevent me from getting into the city often to play other instruments. We wanted to make as much music as possible right here at the monastery. And the acoustics of the Church clearly should have more variety of sound than could be achieved with thirteen ranks. So we dared to hope."
Father Francis explains how the organ design was finalized and implemented and completed. "During the several years since the installation of the Zimmer Opus 39, I have been thinking of a new CD to honor their gift (the organ from the Zimmers)...the initial plan of the organ stands: to play music to the glory of God, often alone, mostly unheard and unsuspected; to offer up to the exceeding love of God a striving for excellence in gratitude...;to craft a monastic liturgy which is new, but in continuity with the dreams of the great composers for the Church, and especially in continuity with the monastic contemplation of the Word of God; to bring to every service the excitement of musical perfection and the demands of art, and, above all, to remain humble before the majesty of God and the needs and desires of the monastic community. With this CD, therefore, let our prayer arise before Him like incense Ps. 141."
The CD "......Like Incense" can be obtained from the monastery store (see website above) or from Amazon.com or other vendors. Check e-bay as well. The music on the CD includes works of Bach, Vierne, Messiaen, and Dupre. Francis Kline was a performer of high technical and musical skill and his recording is one that honors the composers of the music he performs as well as being a tribute to a virtuoso musician who influenced not only his own monastic brethren but many, many others throughout the nation.
