The Methodist Church completed on South Avenue in 1893 had a Johnson pipe organ. “The Johnson Pipe Organ was operated by a water motor, with auxiliary hand power, which used to come into action now and then when the motor failed.”
A connection between the key and the valve for air into the pipe through a mechanical linkage is called a tracker action. Johnson designed tracker action organs.
Throughout the years, Johnson organs were well known for their “excellent balance, splendid dignity, and beautiful voicing.” Highest quality materials and workmanship were used, and Johnson’s organ pipes were always of the finest quality. Tracker organs eventually became less popular, and, not wishing to switch to tubular-pneumatic- electro-pneumatic-action organs, the company ceased operations in 1898.
Pipe organ water motors used water from an artesian well or from city water pressure.
The Johnson organ was lost in the fire of 1907.
The congregation purchased a Kimball organ for the new church. The Kimball catalog in 1913 carried this letter to the Kimball Company
34 West 12th St., New York, March 22, 1909.
Allow me to congratulate you on the success of the organ which you have placed in the South Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilkinsburg, Pa., which I inaugurated last week. The instrument reflects in the highest degree the careful and thorough workmanship so characteristic of the Kimball Company. I was particularly pleased with the diapasons and found them exceptionally full and round in tone. The flutes were voiced with much finesse, and the vox humana was extremely effective. With such an instrument at command the organist is able to play with ease the works of the great composers. With kind regards, believe me,
Sincerely yours,
William C. Carl,
Organist and Choirmaster of the First Presbyterian Church New York, Director of the Guillmant Organ School.
J Herbert Callender brought together the choir in the new church. His brother Frank S. Callender was the first organist and choir director. William H. Oetting, Lena Orton, Mr. Renon, Charles Shotts, and Nan Neugebauer, all were organists who carried forward the music heritage.
William Oetting directed the church’s Haydn Choral Society.
Mr. Oetting is a native Pittsburgher. He was born here on Oct. 14 1875. His first musical instruction was given to him by his father, who for 25 years was organist at the First German Evangelical Church. After a period of study under other local teachers he went to Berlin to complete his musical education. He continued organ practice under Reiman and Egidi, piano under Hutcheson and composition under Boise. Since 1901 he has been an organist and a teacher. From 190[] until 1907 he was accompanist for the Apollo club. At present he [is] an organ recitalist at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. He has written an overture, a prelude and a fugue in E minor for organ, piano pieces, several anthems and church music.
William Oetting is one of the four founders of the Pittsburgh Musical Institute (PMI). Vivian Reed, actress and singer, began formal voice training at PMI when she was eight years old. Billy Strayhorn, Ahmad Jamal, Earl Wild, and Walt Harper studied at PMI.
Robert O. Barkley in October 1936 began directing the choir that was called upon for many engagements outside of the South Avenue church.South Avenue United Methodist has the strong tradition of music from the Callender brothers to Janet Lillich Stivanson, long-time and current music director and organist.
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“Tracker action,” Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracker_action
“Johnson Organs,” Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Johnson_Organs&oldid=962615004
“Water Motor–What Is It & How Does It Work?” Organ Forum.
https://organforum.com/forums/forum/pipe-organs/classic-church-pipe-organs/726995-water-motor%E2%80%93what-is-it-how-does-it-work
“The Famous Water Organ, St Munn’s Church, Kilmun” Video on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNHkCc9P_A4
Kimball Pipe Organs, Chicago, W. W. Kimball Company, 1913, p. 23.
Wilkinsburg Public Library Digital Archives:
“Pittsburgh Musical Institute Is One of Nation’s Best,” The Pittsburgh Press, June 12, 1927, society section, p. 8.
“Pittsburgh Musical Institute, School of Billy Strayhorn, Ahmad Jamal, Earl Wild, and Vivian Reed.”
https://www.sites.google.com/site/pittsburghmusichistory/pittsburgh-music-story/teachers/pittsburgh-musical-institute?tmpl=%2Fsystem%2Fapp%2Ftemplates%2Fprint%2F&showPrintDialog=1
“Vivian Reed (musical theatre actress),” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Reed_(musical_theatre_actress)
Vernon R. Covell, ”Methodism in Wilkinsburg“ in ”1843–1943 A Century of Christian Service, South Avenue Methodist Church,“ 1943.