click on images to enlarge Church of the Ascension (Episcopal) Fifth Avenue at 10th Street New York, N.Y. 10011 http://www.ascensionnyc.org Organ Specifications: ► IV/110 Pascal Quoirin (2010) ► IV/81 Holtkamp Organ Co. (1967) ► IV/69 Skinner Organ Co., Op. 860 (1931) ► III/48 J. W. Steere & Son (1912) • III/42 Geo. S. Hutchings, Op. 388 (1895) ► II/24 Hilborne L. Roosevelt, Op. 129 (1884) • II/20s Henry Erben (1842) • Henry Erben (1830) The Protestant Episcopal Church of the Ascension 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.           Pascal Quoirin Saint Didier, Provence, France (completion 2010) Mechanical action with 3-manual console Electric action with 4-manual console 94 stops, 110 ranks A new organ for the Church of the Ascension is being built by Pascal Quoirin of St. Didier, a town near Carpentras in Provence, France. This organ is to be completed by the end of 2010, and will be the first French-built organ ever to be installed in New York City. The core of the instrument will be a three-manual classical organ (Grand-Orgue, Positif, Echo/Récit, and Pédale) controlled by a three-manual mechanical action console. A second console of four manuals with electric action will control the classical core as well as many other stops intended for symphonic repertory, including a large French Romantic Grand Récit Expressif. In particular, the organ has been designed to play the works of Olivier Messiaen, and includes every registration called for by Messiaen. The instrument will be situated in the front of the church on two sides of the chancel. Four organ facades—two on each side—will include elaborate wood carvings of peacocks, inspired by the peacocks of the 1880 marble reredos. Two trompettes en chamade, one on each side of the chancel, will face each other in the manner of the historic Spanish organs.       Liturgical North Aisle   Lit. North Chancel ALTAR Lit. South Chancel   Liturgical South Aisle                 Mechanical Console                 Grand-Orgue (Manual I) – 61 notes 16   Montre 61 2   Doublette 61 16   Bourdon 61 2   Flûte 61 8   Montre 61   Grande Fourniture 2 rgs 61 8   Flûte harmonique 61   Fourniture 4 rgs 244 8   Bourdon 61   Cymbale 4 rgs 244 8   Gambe 61   Grand Cornet 7 rgs [TF] 308 5 1/3   Grosse quinte 61 16   Bombarde 61 4   Prestant 61 8   1ère Trompette 61 4   Flûte octaviante 61 8   Trompette harmonique * 61 3 1/5   Grosse tierce 61 4   Clairon 61 2 2/3   Quinte 61   Tremblant 2 2/3   Nazard 61   * en chamade         Positif (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Quintaton 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Montre 61 1 1/3   Larigot 61 8   Flûte 61 1   Flageolet 61 8   Bourdon 61   Fourniture 4 rgs 244 8   Salicional 61   Cymbale 3 rgs 183 4   Prestant 61 16   Basson 61 4   Flûte 61 8   Trompette 61 2 2/3   Nazard 61 4   Clairon 61 2   Doublette 61 8   Cromorne 61 2   Quarte de Nazard 61   Tremblant         Récit-Echo (Expressif) (Manual III) – 61 notes 8   Bourdon 61 8   Trompette 61 4   Flûte 61 8   Basson-Hautbois 61 2 2/3   Nazard 61 8   Voix humaine 61 2   Quarte de Nazard 61 8   Clarinette 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61   Tremblant         Pédale – 32 notes 32   Bourdon 32 4   Flûte [ext. 8' Bourdon] 12 16   Flûte 32 3 1/5   Grosse Tierce [ext.] 12 16   Principal 32 2   15ème [ext. Prestant] 12 16   Bourdon [ext. 32'] 12   Fourniture 4 rgs 128 10 2/3   Quinte 32 32   Bombarde 32 8   Flûte [ext. 16'] 12 16   Bombarde [ext.] 12 8   Violoncelle [ext. Principal] 12 16   Basson 32 8   Bourdon 32 8   Trompette 32 6 2/5   Grande Tierce 32 8   Basson [ext. 16'] 12 5 1/3   Grand Nazard [ext. Quinte] 12 4   Clairon [ext. Trompette] 12 4   Prestant 32                                 Electric Console                 Grand-Orgue (Manual I) – 61 notes 16   Montre — 2 2/3   Nazard — 16   Bourdon — 2   Doublette — 8   Montre — 2   Flûte — 8   Second 61   Grande Fourniture 2 rgs — 8   Flûte harmonique —   Fourniture 4 rgs — 8   Bourdon —   Cymbale 4 rgs — 8   Gambe —   Grand Cornet 7 rgs [TF] — 5 1/3   Grosse quinte — 16   Bombarde — 4   Prestant — 8   1ère Trompette — 4   Second 61 8   Trompette harmonique * — 4   Flûte octaviante — 4   Clairon — 3 1/5   Grosse tierce —   Tremblant 2 2/3   Quinte — 8   Trompette harmonique * GRéc         Positif (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Quintaton — 1 1/3   Larigot — 8   Montre — 1   Flageolet — 8   Flûte —   Fourniture 4 rgs — 8   Bourdon —   Cymbale 3 rgs — 8   Salicional — 16   Basson — 4   Prestant — 8   Trompette — 4   Flûte — 4   Clairon — 2 2/3   Nazard — 8   Cromorne — 2   Doublette —   Tremblant 2   Quarte de Nazard — 8   Trompette harmonique * GRéc 1 3/5   Tierce —             Grand Récit Expressif (Manual III) – 61 notes (located on Liturgical South side of Chancel) 16   Bourdon 61 2   Octavin 61 8   Principal 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Flûte harmonique 61   Plein-jeu 5 rgs 305 8   Bourdon 61   Sur-cymbale 3 rgs 183 8   Gambe 61 16   Basson 61 8   Céleste 61 8   Trompette 61 8   Æoline 61 4   Clairon 61 8   Céleste 61 8   Basson-Hautbois 61 4   Prestant 61 8   Voix humaine 61 4   Flûte octaviante 61   Tremblant 2 2/3   Nazard harmonique 61 8   Trompette harmonique * 61         Récit-Echo (Expressif) (Manual IV) – 61 notes 8   Bourdon — 8   Basson-Hautbois — 4   Flûte — 8   Voix humaine — 2 2/3   Nazard — 8   Clarinette — 2   Quarte de Nazard —   Tremblant 1 3/5   Tierce — 8   Trompette harmonique * GRéc 8   Trompette —             Pédale – 32 notes 32   Bourdon — 4   Flûte — 16   Flûte — 3 1/5   Grosse Tierce — 16   Principal — 2   15ème — 16   Bourdon —   Fourniture 4 rgs — 16   Petit Bourdon GRéc 32   Bombarde — 10 2/3   Quinte — 16   Bombarde — 8   Flûte — 16   Basson — 8   Violoncelle — 8   Trompette — 8   Bourdon — 8   Basson — 6 2/5   Grande Tierce — 4   Clairon — 5 1/3   Grand Nazard — 8   Trompette harmonique * GRéc 4   Prestant —                 * en chamade             Holtkamp Organ Company Cleveland, Ohio (1967) Electric key, stop and combination action 4 manuals, 67 stops, 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 selected ranks from the Solo division of the previous Ernest M. Skinner Organ, Opus 860 (1931).                  Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Quintadena 61 2   Hohlflöte 61 8   Principal 61 1 1/3   Quinte 61 8   Gemshorn 61     Mixture IV ranks 244 8   Gedackt 61     Scharf III ranks 183 4   Octave 61 16   Dulzian 61 4   Spitzflöte 61 8   Trumpet 61 2   Superoctave 61               Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 61 1   Octavin 61 8   Geigen Principal 61     Sesquialtera II ranks `122 8   Gamba 61     Plein Jeu V ranks 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 Organ (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 ranks 183 2 2/3   Nazard 61     Cymbal III ranks 183 2   Octave 61 8   Cromorne 61         Solo Organ (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 Organ – 32 notes 32   Untersatz [ext.] 32 2   Nachthorn 32 16   Principal 32     Rauschquinte II ranks 64 16   Subbass 32     Mixture IV ranks 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, Mass. – Opus 860 (1931) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 70 stops, 69 ranks, 4,251 pipes In 1931, the Skinner Organ Company of Boston rebuilt the Hutchings Organ (Op. 388) which had been rebuilt by Steere in 1912. When the Skinner organ was replaced in 1967 by a new Holtkamp organ, the Echo division was sold to St. Paul's, Chestnut Hill, Penn., and several stops in the Solo division were retained and incorporated into the Holtkamp.                 Great Organ (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 ranks 305 8   Gedeckt 61     Chimes SO         Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Contra Gamba 61 2   Flautino 61 8   Diapason 61     Mixture V ranks 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 Organ (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 Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Diapason 73 16   English Horn 73 8   Grossflöte 73 8   Tuba 73 8   Gamba 73 8   French Horn 73 8   Gamba Celeste 73 8   Orchestral Oboe 73 8   Orchestral Flute 73   Tremolo 8   Flauto Dolce 73   Chimes 25 tubes 8   Flute Celeste [TC] 61   Harp 61 bars 4   Chimney Flute 73   Celesta —         Echo Organ (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 Organ – 32 notes 32   Bourdon [unit] 56 8   Principal [metal] — 16   Diapason (wood) [unit] 44 8   Violoncello — 16   Diapason (metal) [unit] 56 8   Gedeckt — 16   Bourdon — 4   Fifteenth [metal] — 16   Violone [unit] 44 16   Trombone [unit] 44 16   Dulciana CH 16   Waldhorn SW 10 2/3   Quint — 8   Tromba — 8   Octave [wood] —   Chimes SO             J. W. Steere & Son Springfield, Mass. (1912) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 46 stops, 48 ranks In 1912, the Hutchings chancel 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. Lynnwood Farnam (1885-1930), noted concert organist of the early 20th century, was in the habit of writing down specifications and comments of the organs he visited and played. An entry dated February 16, 1922 includes the following specification of the 1912 Steere organ at Church of the Ascension. Farnam commented: "Beautiful-toned instrument. Effective pedal. 32 unusually good. ORGANIST - Miss Jessie Craig Adam."                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Diapason 61 8   Gross Flöte 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 5 ranks 305 8   Gedeckt 61 8   Trumpet 61 8   Doppelflote 61               Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Viol 61 4   Flauto Traverso 61 8   Diapason 61  2   Flautino 61 8   Viol 61   Dolce Mixture 5 ranks 305 8   Viol Celeste 61 8   Cornopean 61 8   Salicional 61 8   Oboe 61 8   Hohlfloete 61 8   Vox Humana 61 8   Quintadena 61   Tremolo 4   Octave Viol 61               Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Dulciana 61 8   Unda Maris 61 8   Diapason 61 4   Flute d'Amour 61 8   Keraulophone 61 2   Piccolo 61 8   Melodia 61 8   Clarinet 61 8   Aeoline 61     Tremolo         Pedal Organ – 30 notes 32   Bourdon [unit] 56 10 2/3   Quint — 16   First Diapason [unit] (wood) 44 8   Flute [1st Diap.] — 16   Second Diapason [unit] (metal) 44 8   Octave [2nd Diap.] — 16   Violone [unit] 44 8   Violoncello — 16   Bourdon — 8   Gedeckt —           Couplers     Great to Pedal 8'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'     Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Off     Choir to Pedal   Choir 16', 4', Unison Off     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'         Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Chimes to Great     Great to Swell 8'   Chimes to Swell                 Combinations and Accessories 5 pistons and release to Swell       Great to Pedal reversible (foot) 4 pistons and release to Great       Balanced Choir pedal 2 pistons and release to Choir       Balanced Swell pedal Pedal release (O)       Balanced Crescendo pedal General release (OO)       Sforzando reversible (foot)             Swell Tremolo reversible (foot)             Choir Tremolo reversible (foot)             George S. Hutchings Co. Boston, Mass. – Opus 388 (1895) 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. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.               Hilborne L. Roosevelt New York City – Opus 129 (1884) Mechanical action 2 manuals, 22 stops, 24 ranks A new gallery organ was built by Hilborne L. Roosevelt in 1884, replacing the earlier Henry Erben organ from 1842.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes 8   Open Diapason 58 4   Rohr Flöte 58 8   Viola di Gamba 58 2 2/3   Octave Quint 58 8   Dulciana 58 2   Super Octave 58 8   Melodia 58 8   Clarinet 58 4   Octave 58             Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 58 4   Hohl Flöte 58 8   Open Diapason 58   Cornet, 3 ranks 174 8   Salicional 58 8   Cornopean 58 8   Stopped Diapason 58 8   Oboe 58 8   Quintadena 58   Tremulant 4   Gemshorn 58             Pedal Organ – 30 notes 16   Open Diapason 30 8   Violoncello 30 16   Bourdon 30                 Bellows Signal           Couplers (pistons)   Swell to Pedal   Swell to Great   Great to Pedal   Swell to Great Octaves         Combination Levers   3 to Great       3 to Swell                 Earlier organ in present church: Henry Erben New York City (1842) Mechanical action 2 manuals, 20 stops This organ was installed in the gallery. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Organ in church on Canal Street: Henry Erben New York City (1830) Mechanical action This organ, installed in the gallery, burned with the church in 1839. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Sources:      Aeolian-Skinner Archives: http://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/      Holtkamp Organ Company advertisement, The American Organist, March 1966. Specifications of Holtkamp Organ (1967).      Church of the Ascension website: http://www.ascensionnyc.org      Dolkart, Andrew S. and Matthew A. Postal. 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.      Farnam, Lynnwood. "Organ Notebook," p. 1475 (specification of Steere organ). John de Lancie Library, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia. With thanks to Sally Branca, archivist; courtesy Jonathan Bowen.      Holden, Dorothy. The Life and Work of Ernest M. Skinner. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1987.      Keene, Dennis. Specifications of the Pascal Quoirin organ (2010).      Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comp. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List (New Revised Edition). Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.      Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.      Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977.      "Pipework," The American Organist (Sept. 2008, Vo. 43, No. 2). Description of Pascal Quoirin organ (2010).      Roosevelt Opus List, compiled by Sand Lawn; courtesy David Scribner.      American Organ Archives, Princeton, N.J. Specifications of Hilborne L. Roosevelt organ, Op. 129 (1884); courtesy Jonathan Bowen. Photos:      Quoirin, Pascal: drawings of Pascal Quoirin Organ; courtesy Dennis Keene.      Stein, Ken: Holtkamp console             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organs List |