A benefit organ recital will be held on Friday, Sept. 26 at Altalaha Lutheran Church, Rehrersburg, to raise funds to repair and maintain Dieffenbach organs located in Berks County churches. Playing Altalaha’s historic organ that dates back to 1817 will be Adam Dieffenbach, a descendent of the original builder. The recital will begin at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. A freewill offering will be taken during the recital. No admission will be charged. Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the recital.
The Dieffenbach organ in Altalaha Lutheran Church was built by Christian Dieffenbach (1769-1829). It is a one-manual instrument with twelve stops. Its beautiful facade pipes were painted by Christian’s great grandson Jacob at the time the organ was being rebuilt by Christian’s grandson Thomas in the late-19th-century. In 1973, the organ was rebuilt and an electric blower was added by Thomas Eader.
The benefit recital will take place on the eve of the 200th anniversary of the village of Bethel, formerly known as Millersburg, where Dieffenbach organs were made. Salem Reformed Church is located there and will be the location for a discussion by Adam Dieffenbach on Saturday morning. He will be discussing the history of the Dieffenbach organs built there by his forefathers.
The Dieffenbach organ located at Salem can no longer be played until major repairs are made to the instrument. Video of Adam playing the Salem organ, taken in 2010 during the church’s 200th anniversary, will be shown. For more information about the Bethel Bicentennial Celebration schedule, contact the Committee at 717-933-4631 or email them at bethel2014@hotmail.com.
“I am hoping this benefit recital becomes an annual event,” said former state representative Sheila Miller who is coordinating the recital. “There are two additional Dieffenbach organs located in my former legislative district. One is at Reed’s Lutheran Church in Stouchsburg. The other organ is at Friedens Lutheran Church, Shartlesville. Both Reed’s and Friedens’ organs are still in working order. The Shartlesville church recently performed major repairs to their organ. We hope to involve these churches in future recitals.”
One more Dieffenbach organ is located at the Berks History Center, Reading. Miller is hoping this organ can be featured in a future recital. The sixth remaining Dieffenbach organ in Berks County is owned by the family. The Dieffenbach organ formerly in an Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county church has been re-located to the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota.
For those who cannot attend the recital but who wish to make a donation toward the repair and maintenance of the Dieffenbach organs, send a check made out to Altalaha Lutheran Church at P.O. Box 6, Rehrersburg, with Dieffenbach Organs Fund written on the memo line. All contributions will be divided between the participating churches.
