WALDOBORO — To celebrate the restoration of the 1875 E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings Organ, Dr. Kevin Birch will perform a concert of music written for the organ by New England composers from the late 1800s, plus by one contemporary composer. The concert will be Friday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., at Broad Bay Congregational Church, on 941 Main Street in Waldoboro.

In addition, Nick Wallace, of Wallace Pipe Organs (based in Gorham and restoring some of the finest pipe organs in New England), will talk about the organ’s restoration and answer questions. E. & G.G Hook & Hastings Organs are known for bright and rich tones, with reeds being “full and resonant,” creating “a solemn majesty of sound,” according to a company brochure at the time.

Birch will be performing works by four New England composers: Dudley Buck (1839-1909, organist and composer credited with writing the first organ sonata in 1868); Eugene Thayer (1838-1889, an organ virtuoso and composer); Arthur Foote (1853-1937, whose compositions are known for their melody and lyricism); and recent works by Cambridge-based composer Carson Cooman (b. 1982, concert organist and composer of new music).

With commentary by organ-builder Nick Wallace, he will demonstrate various sounds of the organ and share why he loves to play it in the 21st century.  

Kevin Birch holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Iowa. Previously, he’d studied at New England Conservatory in Boston and Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam. His teachers include Yuko Hayashi, Delores Bruch and the late Klaas Bolt. He is a member of the music faculty at University of Maine where he teaches organ and harpsichord and conducts The Athena Consort, UMaine’s Women’s Choir. Birch has performed for several national conventions of the Organ Historical Society and in churches and colleges throughout the United States, Europe and in South America. 

The church’s organ was originally installed in the Congregational Church located on the site of the old A D Gray School. When the church closed and the building was torn down in the early 20th century, the organ was moved to its current location at what was then the First Baptist Church in Waldoboro. The Broad Bay Congregational United Church of Christ purchased the building and the organ in 2002 and started restoration in 2006, a process that began with Rev. Nancy Duncan contacting David Wallace for information about the then dusty organ.

Since seeing it, restorers Nick and David Wallace, along with Dr. Kevin Birch, have been enthusiastic and supportive guides of Waldoboro’s Hook and Hastings organ. Their expertise, love of the organ and constant encouragement inspired the congregation and community to raise the money to bring this organ back to life for use far into the future. A major donation funded the completion of the work this year. 

Restoration included cleaning and removing paint, working on the pipes and the tonal regulation in addition to examining old photographs to reveal its original design: one that was very ornate in color and design.