The untold story of the nine-ton organ at St Joseph's Cathedral

The grand piano at St Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi, with its timeless sound, has become an integral part of both Vietnamese and international Catholic ceremonies in the capital. However, the fascinating history of this piano is known to only a few.

A captivating story

The grand organ of Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Photo: Asahi.com

The organ in question was installed in 1993 in the Sun City Hall Exchange Center for Elderly Citizens, Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture (Japan). The installation was the result of a cultural exchange project between the sister cities of Itami and Hasselt (Belgium).

Designed by Belgian instrument maker Guido Schumacher, it originally consisted of 1,696 pipes. In terms of size, it is seven meters high, 6.5 meters wide, four meters thick, and weighs nine tons. For each section of the instrument, the material was selected to suit the climate of Itami in particular and the Asian continent in general. The pipe organ was purchased by Itami City for JP¥70 million (US$514,000).

According to Father Antoine Nguyen Van Thang, parish priest of St. Joseph's Cathedral, this organ was damaged by the great Hanshin earthquake in 1995. The Itami City Association of the Elderly wanted to restore the instrument, but it was not until 2018 that a Japanese company repaired the damaged pieces. Nevertheless, the organ no longer played at the correct pitch, as assessed by Organbuilding Schumacher. As a result, the workshop proposed to repair the instrument itself.

A close-up of the legendary organ at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi. Photo: Archdiocese of Hanoi

However, such work would cost approximately $250,000, which the Itami City Senior Citizens Association could not afford. Over time, the maintenance and repair costs of this organ continued to rise, exceeding the budget for welfare programs for local senior citizens.

Therefore, Itami City Hall wanted to donate the organ to a Catholic church. However, most Catholic churches in Japan are relatively small, so they could not accommodate this instrumental giant.

After hearing the story, Chikara Maruyama, a 75-year-old piano repair expert, came forward to offer his help. He then emailed 100 institutions, including churches, but still did not get the response he was looking for. Undaunted, Maruyama turned to Google Maps to find churches around the world with architecture suitable for this type of instrument. He found what he was looking for in Vietnam, where there were Catholic churches built in the Gothic style.

A precious gift from Japan

The interior of St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi. Photo: Redsvn.net

Learning the news, Vietnamese-Japanese Father Peter Pham Hoang Trinh, a 53-year-old assistant parish priest in Oita Prefecture, Japan, suggested that the organ be given to a church in Vietnam. As he recalled, it was fate that led him to meet Maruyama while celebrating Mass for Vietnamese children in Sumoto City, Japan.

"He told me that Itami City had a pipe organ that was no longer in use for various reasons, and he asked if any Vietnamese churches would be interested in taking it. He also gave me the city's website. Later, I went to see the amazing organ during a visit to the city."

I then took a closer look, snapped a photo of the organ, and shared it on Facebook, sparking interest from three religious orders and seven cathedrals. Father Trinh said: "Itami City Hall chose to donate the organ to Hanoi Cathedral because of its Gothic architecture and its location in the capital, which is a cultural center and an important hub of Catholicism in Vietnam."

German artist Thorsten Göbel performs on the giant organ at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi in 2023. Photo: Archdiocese of Hanoi

He and Father Thang were able to get in touch with Organbuilding Schumacher. When the instrument was disassembled in Itami and subsequently transported to Hanoi for reassembly, the director, Guido Schumacher, was happy and willing to assist.

All of the organ's components were carefully dismantled, packed into wooden crates, loaded into a container, and shipped to Vietnam. The instrument arrived at the port of Hai Phong and was cleared through customs on July 19, 2022.

On the evening of July 21, the container with the organ arrived at St. Joseph's Cathedral. Organbuilding Schumacher then cleaned the entire surface, replaced 300 damaged pipes, and reassembled the instrument, which now has 1850 pipes. The entire cost of the move and repairs, approximately EUR200,000, was covered by the church.

Sounds of the friendship

St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi. Photo: Nguyen My Linh

On November 23, 2022, St. Joseph's Cathedral hosted a special concert to celebrate the installation of the pipe organ, which was attended by hundreds of people. Among the special guests were Archbishop Marek Zalewski, non-resident representative of the Holy See in Vietnam, Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien of Hanoi, Mayor of Itami City Yasuyuki Fujiwara, artisan Guido Schumacher, and local government officials.

"The organ will produce beautiful and lovely sounds that will help the faithful come closer to God during liturgical services in the cathedral," Fujiwara said. Meanwhile, Archbishop Thien hopes that the magnificent organ will be a bridge between Itami and Hanoi and between the two countries, a living proof of the warm friendship between them. He also presented commemorative gifts to Japanese officials and Father Trinh.

Schumacher also hopes the organ will serve as a symbol of international friendship and cultural exchange between Vietnam and Belgium. "The instrument can last for 100 or 200 years if it is properly maintained," he said.