Organ and bell enthusiast, Steve Kaesler, is just the man to lead the Historic Pipe Organs and Bells Tour taking place on April 21, saying, “We have about 25 pipe organs in the Barossa Valley, more per capita than anywhere else in Australia, and perhaps the world.”
With a life-long interest in the musical heritage of the region, Steve chuckles, “You simply fall into it.”
Helping him make that fall into music at a young age, were his family and friends – and day-to-day community activities also provided an avenue.
“We have a pre-existing cultural heritage which is second to none,” Steve said of the Barossa.
“The purpose of the pipe organs and bells tour is to reveal this heritage, to celebrate it and to have it used, in terms of people being able to enjoy the music.
“The bells are really a sub-set of the organ’s heritage, given that they are music making devices heralding a Sunday morning worship time.”
The Lemke-built organ at Light Pass, Immanuel Lutheran Church Hall, is a special part of the tour, and one of Steve’s favourites.
“It’s a very scintillating sound, but also it’s a very vibrant sound. That’s why this organ is special. Even over the more than 100 years that it’s been around, it still has all those elements intact,” he said.
The organ has an interesting history, beginning its musical career in 1886 at Light Pass, being replaced by a new organ in the 1960’s, then spending many years in Victoria before finally making its way back home to Light Pass in 2021.
Steve says this is thanks to the tireless efforts of the Organ Historical Trust of Australia (OHTA), of which he is secretary, with gratitude to the congregation at Light Pass for again allowing it a home.
The Hill & Son Grand Organ, housed in the Barossa Regional Gallery, is another special feature of the tour on April 21, which was also restored and relocated by the OHTA.
Steve considers it a must for all Barossans, and anyone interested in music, to hear its grand sound.
“There are three instruments in the region the OHTA have been involved with at the coal face level, and we hope to do more,” he said.
Be quick with your bookings if you wish to be a part of this very special tour, as it is always a very popular item on the Barossa Vintage Festival calendar.