Roman Catholic Cathedral-Basilica of St. James - Brooklyn, NY
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Cathedral–Basilica of St. James
(Roman Catholic)

250 Cathedral Place
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201
http://www.brooklyncathedral.net


Organ Specifications:
III/41 James A. Konzelman Pipe Organs (1981)
II/19 Austin Organ Company, Op. 1481 (1926)
• Henry Erben (1874)
• I/10 Henry Erben (1838)


Roman Catholic Cathedral-Basilica of St. James - Brooklyn, NY  
Founded in 1822, St. James was the first Catholic church on Long Island and thus the cradle of Catholic Christianity for two dioceses and 388 parishes. On July 25, 1822, the feast of St. James the Greater, Bishop Connolly laid the cornerstone of the first church in Brooklyn. It was the third church in New York City and the sixth Roman Catholic Church in New York State. In 1853, John Loughlin is installed as the first Bishop of Brooklyn at St. James Cathedral. On May 6, 1982, during the 160th anniversary year of its founding, an Official Decree designating St. James Cathedral a basilica was issued by Rome, after which the Diocesan Church of Brooklyn and Queens was known as “The Cathedral-Basilica of St. James.”
           
  James A. Konzelman Organ (1981) in the Roman Catholic Cathedral-Basilica of St. James - Brooklyn, NY
James A. Konzelman Pipe Organs
Bayonne, N.J. (1981)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 45 stops, 41 ranks




The first three organs in the Basilica were housed in a structural chamber situated at the back of the gallery and centered between two stained glass windows. The chamber, with tonal opening on both sides as well as the front, is a strong architectural element of the church with highly decorative capitals and cornices. The rather severe Neo-Classic case added with the 1981 rebuild is situated in front of the existing chamber, containing what is a new Great division. This case moves the organ further into the room, but unfortunately hides some of the fine architectural details. Swell and Choir windchests were rebuilt and retained from the 1926 Austin organ. The current instrument, by James A. Konzelman of New Jersey, contains 45 stops and 41 ranks of pipes. Wind pressure for the Great is 65mm, Swell, Choir and Pedal Bombarde are on 153mm, and the Pedal is voiced on 70mm.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (65mm pressure)
16
  Bourdon
61
4
  Koppelflöte
61
8
  Principal
61
2 2/3
  Quint
61
8
  Rohrflöte
61
2
  Super Octave
61
8
  Hirtengedeckt [ext.]
12
1 3/5
  Tierce
61
4
  Octave
61
    Mixture IV ranks
244
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (153mm pressure)
8
  Holzgedeckt
61
16
  Contra Fagotto [ext.]
12
8
  Viole
61
8
  Trompette
61
8
  Viole Celeste [TC]
49
8
  Oboe
61
4
  Principal
61
4
  Clarion [ext.]
12
4
  Waldflöte
61
    Tremulant  
2
  Octave
61
    Zimbelstern  
    Mixture III ranks
183
       
       
 
     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (153mm pressure)
8
  Gemshorn
61
1 1/3
  Larigot [ext.]
12
8
  Rohrgedeckt
61
    Cymbale III ranks
183
4
  Flute Harmonique
61
8
  Bombarde
61
2 2/3
  Nazard
61
8
  Krummhorn
61
2
  Blockflöte
61
    Tremulant  
       
 
     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes (70mm pressure)
32
  Resultant
derived
4
  Bourdon [ext.]
12
16
  Principal [wood]
32
    Mixture IV ranks
128
16
  Subbass
32
16
  Bombarde (153mm pressure)
32
16
  Lieblich Gedeckt
GT
16
  Fagotto
SW
8
  Prestant
32
8
  Trompette
SW
8
  Bourdon [ext.]
12
4
  Clairon
SW
8
  Gedeckt
GT
4
  Krummhorn
CH
4
  Choral Bass [ext.]
12
       
               
Console of the James A. Konzelman Organ (1981) in the Roman Catholic Cathedral-Basilica of St. James - Brooklyn, NY
           
Austin Organ Company
Hartford, Conn. – Opus 1481 (1926)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 17 stops, 18 ranks


A new organ was built in 1926 by the Austin Organ Company. The following specification was recorded on December 6, 1944, by Charles Scharpeger, an employee of the Louis F. Mohr Co., a longtime organ service concern. Mr. Scharpeger noted that the organ had 25 front pipes in gold.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  First Diapason
73
8
  Gemshorn
73
8
  Second Diapason
73
4
  Octave
73
8
  Gross Flute
73
       
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Bourdon
73
4
  Flauto Traverso
73
8
  Diapason Phonon
73
    Mixture III ranks
183
8
  Stopped Flute
73
8
  Cornopean
73
8
  Salicional
73
    Tremolo  
8
  Aeoline
73
       
       
 
     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Open Diapason
32
8
  Octave
32
16
  Bourdon
SW
16
  Tuba Profunda
32
               
Couplers ("10 couplers")
    Great to Pedal 8'   Great to Great 16', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'    
         
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Swell Organ stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Great Organ stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Full Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Pedal Organ stops
               
Pedal Movements
    Great Expression Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Swell Expression Pedal   Sforzando Pedal
    Crescendo Pedal    
           
Henry Erben
New York City (1874)
Mechanical action


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Henry Erben
New York City (1838)
Mechanical action
1 manual, 10 stops


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     Cathedral-Basilica of St. James web site: http://www.brooklyncathedral.net
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Peterson, Mark. Specifications of the Konzelman organ (1981).
     Scharpeger, Charles. Specifications of Austin Organ, Op. 1481 (1926). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.

Illustrations:
     Vitacco, Joe. Exterior; interior; organ case and organ console.