The Holtkamp Organ
The three-manual Holtkamp organ of fifty-two ranks, a replacement of the well-worn Estey organ which had served the church for sixty years, was used for the first time on December 19, 1971. The selection committee chose this organ, made by the Holtkamp Organ Company of Cleveland, Ohio, after surveying others and being convinced of its superiority. In 2011 generous gifts allowed for a refurbishing of the organ. The repair and upgrade of its electronics and the addition of multiple memory levels, coupled with the instrument’s versatility and wide timbral palate, make it one of the Triangle area’s most sought-after recital instruments.
The organ casework, made of oak and stained to match the overall woodwork, harmonizes with the appearance and ambience of Duke Memorial’s sanctuary. It complements the windows, the five pew sections, the curved altar rail, the raised pulpit, and the choir loft.
Organ music sets the tone for worship, calling members of the congregation to anticipate the benefits of Christian fellowship and to participate in the total order of worship. Three sounds on the chimes and an organ postlude terminate the hour of Christian fellowship while extending a musical invitation to the worshipers to return again and again.
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Holtkamp Organ Stop List |
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| Great | Swell | Positiv | Pedal |
| Quintedena 16′ Principal 8′ Gedackt 8′ Octave 4′ Spitzflote 4′ Super octave 2′ Sesquialtera II Mixture IV Trumpet 8′ Chimes |
Voix celeste 8′ Giegen 8′ Rohrflote 8′ Gemshorn 4′ Bourdon 4′ Principal 2′ Larigot 1 1/3′ Fourniture IV Dulzian 16′ Oboe 8′ Clairon 4′ |
Copula 8′ Prestant 4′ Rohrflote 4′ Nazard 2 2/3′ Blockflote 2′ Octave 2′ Tierce 1 3/5′ Scharf III Cromorne 8′ |
Principal 16′ Quintedena 16′ (from Gt.) Subbass 16′ Octave 8′ Flute 8′ Choralbass 4′ Open flute 4′ Rauschbass IV Posaune 16′ Trumpet 8′ Schalmey 4′ |
Pianos
Duke Memorial has eight pianos, many of which see regular use in the music ministry of the church. The Bell room has an upright Steinway and the Choir room has a Howard baby grand. In the sanctuary, a Knabe upright accompanies ensembles in the choir loft when a piano sound is preferred. There is also an upright Wurlitzer downstairs in the sanctuary.
Bells and Chimes
The church possesses 4.5 octaves of bronze, precision crafted handbells by Malmark, Inc. Accompanying equipment for the bells includes storage cases, gloves, stands, and music. The church also has a 3.5-octave hand chime collection, and five one-octave sets of Kinder bells, most often played in our church by 2-4 year-olds in worship and during Sunday school.
Tower Bells
Duke Memorial’s Tower Bells have been tolling over downtown Durham since 1908; Every Sunday morning since 1932 they have welcomed worshipers to the church. Recent refurbishments to the bell tower by church members have made it an inviting place to come view the church neighborhood and hear or play the church’s oldest musical instrument.
