by Rod Hughes

Only 19 pipe organs exist in this country and, currently, only two work properly. The rest are victims of disuse, the tropical climate and termites. (The rich lower tones of a pipe organ are produced by great square wooden pipes. The bellows that pump the air through the tubes also are prey to bugs, since many older organs have leather bellows.)

Enter French expert Bertrand Cattiaux and German organ builder Gerhardt Walcker who are donating their services to Catholic churches to restore their tired and, often, voiceless instruments. Cattriaux is renovating the Immaculate Conception Church’s organ that was imported into this country at the beginning of the 20th century.

Walcker is a descendant of the founder of the organ manufacturer that has produced 6,000 insturments since its founding in 1781. Nine Walcker organs exist here but he is dedcating his efforts on the Grecia church’s organ (imported in 1886), the Don Bosco church organ (1956) and the largest Walcker in the country in the Los Angeles Basilica (1958) at Cartago.

Besides having the backing of the French and German embassies, their work is supported by various private companies and the churches that own the instruments.