Church of the Ascension - NYC (Photo: John Rust)
 

click on any image to enlarge
Church of the Ascension
(Episcopal)

Fifth Avenue at 10th Street
New York, NY 10011


The Church of the Ascension (Episcopal) was founded in 1827; its first church building on Canal Street was consecrated in 1829 but burned to the ground in 1839. The present edifice, the first church on Fifth Avenue, was designed by Richard Upjohn and was consecrated in 1841. The interior was remodeled in 1885-89 by McKim, Mead, and White, and includes many outstanding sculptures, mosaics and paintings.
           

               
Holtkamp Organ Company
Cleveland, OH (1967)
Electric key, stop and combination action
4 manuals, 81 ranks

Under the leadership of Vernon de Tar, organist and choirmaster from 1939-1981, the present organ was built in 1967 by the Holtkamp Organ Company of Cleveland, Ohio. This rare four-manual Holtkamp organ incorporates the Solo division from the previous Ernest M. Skinner Organ, Opus 860 (1931).
               
Great (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Quintadena
61
2
  Hohlflöte
61
8
  Principal
61
1 1/3
  Quinte
61
8
  Gemshorn
61
 
  Mixture IV
244
8
  Gedackt
61
 
  Scharf III
183
4
  Octave
61
16
  Dulzian
61
4
  Spitzflöte
61
8
  Trumpet
61
2
  Superoctave
61
 
   
   
   
Swell (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon
61
1
  Octavin
61
8
  Geigen Principal
61
 
  Sesquialtera II
`122
8
  Gamba
61
 
  Plein Jeu V
305
8
  Voix Celeste [GG]
54
16
  Fagott
61
8
  Rohrflöte
61
8
  Trumpet
61
8
  Dolce
61
8
  Oboe
61
4
  Gemshorn
61
4
  Clairon
61
4
  Bourdon
61
 
  Tremolo
2
  Doublette
61
 
   
   
   
Positiv (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
  Spitzflöte
61
2
  Blockflöte
61
8
  Copula
61
1 3/5
  Tierce
61
4
  Praestant
61
1 1/3
  Quinte
61
4
  Rohrflöte
61
 
  Fourniture III
183
2 2/3
  Nazard
61
 
  Cymbal III
183
2
  Octave
61
8
  Cromorne
61
   
   
Solo (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed [from Skinner Organ, Op. 860]
8
  Flauto Dolce
61
8
  French Horn
61
8
  Flute Celeste
61
8
  Clarinet
61
4
  Principal
61
8
  Orchestral Oboe
61
16
  English Horn
61
8
  Vox Humana
61
8
  Trompette
61
 
  Tremolo
   
   
Pedal – 32 notes
32
  Untersatz [ext.]
32
2
  Nachthorn
32
16
  Principal
32
 
  Rauschquinte II
64
16
  Subbass
32
 
  Mixture IV
128
16
  Quintadena
GT
32
  Basun
32
16
  Bourdon
SW
16
  Posaune
32
8
  Octave
32
16
  Dulzian
GT
8
  Flauto
32
8
  Trumpet
32
4
  Choralbass
32
4
  Schalmey
32
4
   Flute          
   
 
   

 

               
Skinner Organ Company
Boston, MA – Opus 860 (1931)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 70 stops, 69 ranks, 4251 pipes

In 1931, the Skinner Organ Company of Boston rebuilt the Hutchings Organ (Op. 388) which had been rebuilt by Steere in 1912. Skinner assigned Op. 860 to this work. Skinner also installed in 1931 a small unit organ in the chapel (Op. 30034). When the Skinner organ was replaced in 1967 by a new Holtkamp organ, the Echo division was sold to St. Paul's, Chestnut Hill, PA, and the Solo division was retained and incorporated into the Holtkamp.
               
Great (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Diapason
61
8
  Viol d'Amour
61
8
  First Diapason
61
4
  Octave
61
8
  Second Diapason
61
4
  Flue Harmonique
61
8
  Third Diapason
61
2 2/3
  Twelfth
61
8
  Doppelflote
61
2
  Fifteenth
61
8
  Gemshorn
61
  Harmonics V
305
8
  Gedeckt
61
 
  Chimes
SO
   
   
Swell (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Contra Gamba
61
2
  Flautino
61
8
  Diapason
61
 
  Mixture V
305
8
  Hohlflote
61
 16
  Posaune
61
8
  Salicional
61
8
  Cornopean
61
8
  Voix Celeste
61
8
  Oboe
61
8
  Viole
61
8
  Vox Humana
61
8
  Quintadena
61
4
  Clarion
61
4
  Octave
61
 
  Tremolo
4
  Flauto Traverso
61
 
   
   
   
Choir (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Dulciana
61
2
  Piccolo
61
8
  Diapason
61
8
  Clarinet
61
8
  Melodia
61
  Tremolo
8
  Keraulophone
61
 
  Chimes
SO
8
  Aeoline
61
 
  Harp
SO
8
  Dolce Celeste
61
  Celesta
SO
4
  Flute d'Amour
61
   
   
   
Solo (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Cor de Nuit
61
4
  Fern Flute
61
8
  Echo Dolcet
61
8
  Vox Humana
61
4
  Echo Dolcet Celeste
61
  Chimes
   
   
Pedal – 32 notes
32
  Bourdon
32
8
  Principal [metal] [ext.]
12
16
  Diapason [wood]
32
8
  Violoncello [ext.]
12
16
  Diapason [metal]
32
8
  Gedeckt [ext.]
12
16
  Bourdon [ext.]
12
4
  Fifteenth [ext.]
12
16
  Violone
32
16
  Trombone
32
16
  Dulciana
CH
16
  Waldhorn
SW
10 2/3
  Quint
—
8
  Tromba [ext.]
12
8
  Octave [wood] [ext.]
12
  Chimes
SO
   
 
   

           

               

George S. Hutchings Co.
 Boston, MA – Opus 388 (1895)
 As rebuilt by J. W. Steere & Son Organ Company
Springfield, MA – (1912)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 42 ranks

At the end of the 19th century, the Church of the Ascension, like so many other churches, reconfigured their building and moved the choir from the gallery to the chancel. To accompany the choir, a chancel organ was built in 1895 by the George S. Hutchings Co. of Boston. In 1912, the Hutchings organ was rebuilt by the J.W. Steere & Son company, using many pipes from the previous organ. Dr. William C. Carl, organist at nearby First Presbyterian Church, opened the new organ, and subsequent recitals were given by Scott Wheeler and Felix Lamonde.

               
Great (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Diapason
61
8
  Gedeckt
61
8
  First Diapason
61
4
  Octave
61
8
  Second Diapason
61
4
  Flue Harmonique
61
8
  Gamba
61
2
  Super Octave
61
8
  Gemshorn
61
  Mixture 3 ranks
183
8
  Grossfloete
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
  Doppelflote
61
 
   
   
   
Swell (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Viol
61
2
  Flauto Traverso
61
8
  Diapason
61
 2
  Flageolet
61
8
  Viol
61
  Dolce Mixture 3 ranks
183
8
  Viol Celeste
61
8
  Cornopean
61
8
  Hohlfloete
61
8
  Oboe
61
8
  Quintadena
61
8
  Vox Humana
61
4
  Octave Viol
61
  Tremolo
   
   
Choir (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Dulciana
61
4
  Waldfloete
61
8
  Diapason
61
2
  Piccolo
61
8
  Keraulophone
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
  Dulciana
61
 
  Tremolo
8
  Unda Maris
61
 
   
   
   
Pedal – 32 notes
32
  Bourdon [ext.]
12
10 [sic]
  Quint
?
16
  First Diapason [wood]
32
8
  Octave
12?
16
  Second Diapason [metal]
32
8
  Violoncello
12?
16
  Violone
32
8
  Floete
12?
16
  Bourdon
32
8
   Gedackt
12?
   
 
   

           

               
Hilborne Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 129 (c.1884)
2 manuals
               
Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
               
               

           

     
Known earlier organ:

Henry Erben
New York, NY (1830)
Mechanical action

Specifications for this organ not yet located.

 

           
Sources:
     Aeolian-Skinner Archives: http://home.cfl.rr.com/aeolianskinner
     Church of the Ascenscion website: http://www.ascensionnyc.org
     Dolkart, Andrew S. and Postal, Matthew A. Guide to New York City Landmarks (Third Edition). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004.
     Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Holden, Dorothy. The Life and Work of Ernest M. Skinner. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1987.
     Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List (New Revised Edition). Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.
     Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977.