Music
Music is an integral part of the worship and life of West Vancouver United Church: the Church is deeply committed to spiritual growth through its musical offerings. The finest instruments and musical leadership have been committed to this effort.
Worship in the church is primarily accompanied by our beautiful mechanical action pipe organ. Our 7 foot grand piano is also frequently heard.
Since the 1940’s some of Canada’s finest church musicians have led the worship in our Sanctuary, including organists and choral conductors John Fearing, Barbara Johnson, Elinor McLean, Rupert Lang, and our incumbent, Gerald van Wyck. Soloists at the church have included the young Ben Heppner, among many others.
The Choir, numbering over 40 members, is led by five young, professional singers. An introit, anthem, and solos are typically provided each Sunday morning. Chosen by text as well as by diversity of style they seek to offer profound interpretations and commentary on the weekly Scripture readings. Weekly Wednesday evening choir rehearsals are held in the Sanctuary. Membership in the Choir is open to all, though rehearsals are lead at a quick pace. An increase in vocal ability and music reading skills are a guaranteed byproduct of involvement in this group!
The Choir forms its own committed caring group within the Congregation as a whole. The Choir is the core of our community organization, The Pacific Spirit Choir. An additional 20 members join us for the first portion of the Wednesday evening rehearsals to work on large scale choral works which are presented either at services or in concert format, often with professional orchestral accompaniment. Since practices for these activities are just an hour and a quarter, members are given rehearsal CD’s to prepare the repertoire at home.
The Pasi Organ, Opus 10
The new organ for West Vancouver United Church was built by Pasi and Associates of Roy, Washington and installed in the Sanctuary in April, 1998. It was custom designed for the renovated sanctuary to inspire the congregation when singing hymns, to accompany choirs and soloists, and to serve the broader community.
The organ has 31 stops played from two manuals and pedals, with one manual coupler and two pedal couplers. The organ has suspended mechanical key action and mechanical stop action. The 1851 pipes are arranged in 36 ranks. Most of these are made from a lead-tin alloy, with the wooden pipes made from tulip wood. The case, standing twenty-eight feet high, is made from cherry wood, with walnut inlays. The pipe shades, designed by Janet Lutz, an architect in the congregation, and carved by Martin Pasi, feature the provincial flower of British Columbia, the dogwood. The instrument weighs approximately eight tons. Although the case and tonal design of the organ are reminiscent of historical Dutch and North German instruments, the aim was to create a modern instrument capable of playing a wide range of musical repertoire, and performing a wide variety of accompanimental and solo functions.
The organ builder, Martin Pasi
Martin Pasi began his career in organ building during a four-year apprenticeship with the Rieger Company in his native Austria. During his apprenticeship he also attended the Organ Building School in Ludwigsburg Germany. In 1981 he emigrated to the United States and later to Canada to work with various organ builders, finally moving to Washington state in 1986. There he established his own firm in Roy, south of Tacoma, in 1990. Since that time he has built thirteen instruments with his associates. The instrument for West Vancouver United Church is his Opus 10.
