Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

When the Reuter pipe organ was installed in May 2016 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, it was described as the “final jewel in the crown” of the church renovation project. Today, this internationally renowned instrument is played by Mark Gifford, the director of music.

“Our pipe organ creates so many sounds and emotions,” Gifford said. “You can actually feel it move you. It can roar like a lion and purr like a kitten.”

The Cathedral organ has 3,369 individual pipes, allowing it to produce various sounds simultaneously such as flutes, trumpets, oboes, strings, trombones, clarinets, chimes, and the pure organ sound.

“Think of that as 3,369 singers in a choir all working and singing together to praise God,” Gifford said.

The Cathedral organ has the largest number of pipes of any church in Springfield. However, its uniqueness extends beyond this feature.

“When a pipe organ is installed in a church, each individual pipe is ‘voiced’ to the room it’s singing into,” Gifford explained. “The stunning musical acoustic of our Cathedral with its 5.5-second acoustic gives our pipe organ an extra special blessing in how the sound develops and fills the Cathedral whether empty or full.”

These characteristics have contributed to the global recognition of the Cathedral organ. Featured in American Organist Magazine and through social media exposure, organists from countries including Japan and Austria have either read about it or traveled to Central Illinois to play it.

“By hosting concerts during our First Friday Concert Series at the Cathedral and inviting some of the finest organists worldwide to perform here, these musicians leave with lasting impressions,” Gifford said. “One compared it to playing in The Wiener Musikverein.”

Gifford noted that visiting musicians are often amazed by both the structure of Springfield's Cathedral and its acoustics.

“These musicians are amazed to find such a structure as our Cathedral in Springfield," he said. "It is truly ‘the pearl in the midst of the field.’”

Gifford also mentioned that materials like marble and plaster enhance sound quality due to their cool touch properties. Built nearly 100 years ago before microphones were common, Springfield's Cathedral was designed specifically for sacred liturgy presentations.

“Music can soothe the soul like nothing else can,” Gifford remarked. “For centuries, music has been used to call people to worship."

Citing Vatican II documents on sacred liturgy which state that "the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem," Gifford emphasized its importance for Mass.

“A well-built and properly installed pipe organ allows for a variety of sounds that enhance different moods required during Mass," he stated.

Gifford invites individuals to attend Sunday Mass at 10 a.m., especially ordination Masses when the instrument shines most brightly. For those unable to attend physically but interested in experiencing its music remotely, CDs featuring classical pieces played on this remarkable instrument are available upon request.

Additionally, Gifford encourages attendance at other events such as Staab Funeral Home’s First Friday Concert Series held monthly at no charge beginning at 7 p.m., along with other free concerts throughout the year including Carols at Noon on December 26th.

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