click on images to enlarge Church of the Blessed Sacrament (Roman Catholic) 152 West 71st Street New York, N.Y. 10023 http://www.blessedsacramentnyc.com Organ Specifications: 152 West 71st Street (since 1919): ► III/46 Casavant, reb. Konzelman (2005) ► III/45 Casavant Frères, Op. 2018 (1950) ► IV/86 Estey Organ Company, 2420 (1925); rev. 1937 ► IV/73 Estey Organ Company, 2420 (1925) ► II/13 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 233 (1887) – from previous church 72nd Street, West of Broadway (1887-1925): ► II/13 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 233 (1887) The Parish of the Blessed Sacrament was founded in 1887 by Father Matthew A. Taylor, a 34-year-old priest appointed by Archbishop Corrigan. Father Taylor transformed the Havemeyer's stable, formerly located on the north side of West 72nd Street, and the first Mass was on Easter Sunday, 1887. Father Taylor’s devotion to the Blessed Sacrament is the source for the parish’s name, although the Archbishop suggested that the parish might be dedicated to St. Matthew. The first Church of the Blessed Sacrament was located on 71st Street, just west of the current church, and was a red brick Italianate building designed by Napoleon Le Brun & Sons. Ground was broken for that first church building in July 1887, and the following Christmas it was opened for services. Archbishop Corrigan dedicated the church the following month. In 1903, Blessed Sacrament’s parochial school was opened under the charge of the Sisters of Charity of Mount St. Vincent. As the upper west side grew as a residential district, the old Blessed Sacrament church, which held 800 people, proved inadequate. Father Taylor, who was named a monsignor in February 1914, died in August 1914 at age 61 after serving as Blessed Sacrament’s pastor for 27 years. Reverend Thomas F. Myhan succeeded Monsignor Taylor as Blessed Sacrament’s second pastor. Father Myhan almost immediately undertook the building of a new church and school. Gustave E. Steinbach, a 37-year-old graduate of Columbia University School of Architecture, was chosen as the architect for the new church and school. In designing Blessed Sacrament, Steinback was inspired by Sainte Chapelle in Paris, a small gothic chapel built by Louis IX in the 1240s to house relics from the Holy Land. Plans had been drawn and virtually completed when Father Myhan died suddenly on October 8, 1916 at age 52 after serving as pastor for only two years. His successor, Monsignor William J. Guinan, at once took steps to bring Father Myhan’s plans to fruition. The old Blessed Sacrament church was torn down in 1917. That same year, the cornerstones of the new church and school were laid. On September 8, 1919, the new school on 70th Street, behind the present church, was opened. The following Christmas, just 32 years after the original church was opened, Monsignor Guinan celebrated the first Mass in the current Church of the Blessed Sacrament.                 Casavant Frères, Limitée St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada – Opus 2018 (1950) Rebuilding and additions by James A. Konzelman Organs Maplewood, N.J. (2005) Electro-pneumatic key action Solid State combination action (64 levels) Solid State switching and coupling 3 manuals, 56 stops, 46 ranks                 James A. Konzelman Organs, of Maplewood, NJ, rebuilt the 1950 Casavant organ, culminating in 2005. Konzelman rescaled and revoiced many ranks, added new pipework, releathered chests, and rebuilt the wind regulators and the electro-pneumatic Swell and Choir expression mechanisms. The Casavant console received an overhaul with new drawknob terraces and name boards, new all-electric drawknob units and tilting tablets, new manual piston rails and pistons, new toe pistons, and a new pedalboard. Also installed was a new Solid State relay and switching system, a new Solid State capture combination action, and a new 6.5 HP Ventus blower.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (7-1/4" and 5-1/2" wind pressure) 16   Double Principal 68 2 2/3   Quint 61 8   Principal 68 2   Octave 61 8   Rohrflöte * 68 1 3/5   Terz 61 8   Flûte Harmonique 68 1 1/3   Mixture IV ranks * 244 4   Octave 68 8   Trompete * 61 4   Nachthorn * 68   Chimes [Deagan] 25 tubes             Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (6-1/4" wind pressure) 16   Bourdon 68 2   Octave 61 8   Geigen 68 1 3/5   Tierce * 61 8   Gedeckt 68 1   Mixture IV ranks * 244 8   Salicional 68 16   Basson [ext.] 12 8   Voix Celeste [GG] 61 8   Trompette * 68 4   Principal 68 8   Hautbois * 61 4   Flauto Traverso 68 4   Clairon * 61 2 2/3   Nasat 61   Tremulant 2   Blockflöte * 61                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" wind pressure) 16   Contra Viola 68 4   Fugara [ext.] 12 8   Diapason 68 4   Silver Flute 68 8   Processional Diapason 61 2   Piccolo 61 8   Concert Flute 68 8   Trompette en Chamade preparation 8   Viola [ext.] 12 8   Trompete PED 8   Erzähler 68 8   Clarinet 68 8   Erzähler Celeste + 49   Tremulant       + former Gt. Gemshorn             Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Contra Bourdon 32 8   Cello [ext.] 12 16   Open Wood Diapason 32 8   Stopped Flute [ext.] 12 16   Double Principal GT 4   Choral Bass [ext.] 12 16   Violone 32 32   Posaune [ext., 1-12 digital] 16   Contra Viol CH 16   Posaune * 32 16   Bourdon [ext.] 12 16   Basson SW 16   Lieblich Gedeckt SW 8   Trompete [ext.] 12 8   Principal 32 4   Klarine [ext.] 12             * new pipework added by Konzelman Organs                               Casavant Frères, Limitée St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada – Opus 2018 (1950) Electro-pneumatic key and stop action 3 manuals, 45 stops, 45 ranks Within 25 years of its installation, the 1925 Estey organ had sustained water damage and was replaced by a new organ built by Casavant Frères, Limitée of St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada. The 1950 Casavant (Opus 2018) utilized a great deal of the Estey pipework, but introduced new mixtures, the Great 16' Principal, the Choir 4' Silver Flute, and the Pedal 16' Trombone. The 1950 enclosed Great was located in the former Solo box. Casavant also repitched the entire organ to A=440.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed (7" wind pressure) 16   Double Open Diapason 68 4   Octave 61 8   Open Diapason No. 1 68   Grave Mixture II ranks 122 8   Open Diapason No. 2 68   Mixture V ranks 305 8   Stopped Diapason 68 8   Trumpet 68 8   Gemshorn 68   Chimes CH             Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" wind pressure) 16   Bourdon 68 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Open Diapason 68   Mixture V ranks 305 8   Gedeckt 68 16   Contra Fagotto 68 8   Salicional 68 8   Cornopean 68 8   Voix Celeste [GG] 61 8   Oboe 68 4   Octave 68 4   Clarion 68 4   Flauto Traverso 68   Tremulant             Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" wind pressure) 16   Contra Viole 68 4   Fugara 68 8   Diapason 68 4   Silver Flute 68 8   Processional Diapason * 61 2   Piccolo 61 8   Concert Flute 68 8   Clarinet 68 8   Viole [ext.] 12   Tremulant 8   Erzähler 68   Chimes [Deagan] 25 tubes       * in Sanctuary         Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Contra Bourdon 32 8   Stopped Flute [ext.] 12 16   Open Diapason 32 8   Cello [ext.] 12 16   Bourdon [ext.] 12 8   Principal 32 16   Bourdon SW 4   Diapason [ext.] 12 16   Violone 32 16   Fagotto SW 16   Contra Viole CH 16   Trombone 32 16   Open Diapason GT     Chimes CH                 Couplers     Great to Pedal 8'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'     Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Choir to Swell 8'     Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Great to Great 4'     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4'     Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir to Choir 16', 4'                 Adjustable Combination Pistons     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Great stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Swell stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Choir stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Pedal stops (toe pistons, right side)     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Entire Organ (toe pistons, left side)                 Reversible Pistons     Great to Pedal (thumb & foot)   Swell to Choir     Swell to Pedal   Full Organ (thumb & foot)     Choir to Pedal         Swell to Great   Adjuster     Choir to Great   Release                 Balanced Pedals     Swell Pedal to Swell   Swell Pedal to Choir     Swell Pedal to Great   Crescendo Pedal                 Indicators     Crescendo       Wind       Full Organ       Voltmeter                       1937 drawknob console Estey Organ Company Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 2420 (1925); rev. 1937 Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 99 stops, 86 ranks In 1937, the Estey Company revised the design of Op. 2420 from 1925. Estey added several new ranks, replaced and added chests, and altered the case. The luminous console, which had proven to be unsatisfactory, was replaced by a new four-manual drawknob console with ivory keys.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed (3½" and 5" pressure) 16   Double Diapason * 61 3 1/5   Gross Tierce * 61 16   Bourdon [ext. St. Diap.] 12 2 2/3   Twelfth # New 61 8   Open Diapason I # New 61 2   Super Octave # New 61 8   Open Diapason II # New 61 2   Fifteenth * 61 8   Open Diapason III * 61   Harmonics IV ranks # New 244 8   Stopped Diapason # New 61   Mixture V ranks # New 305 8   Gamba * 61 8   Trumpet * [unit] New 73 8   Gemshorn # New 61 4   Clarion — 5 1/3   Quint * 61 8   Harp SW 4   Octave # New 61   Chimes SW 4   Principal * 61   # 3½" pressure         * 5" pressure                 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" pressure) 16   Bourdon [unit] 73 2 2/3   Nazard New 61 8   Open Diapason I 73 2   Fifteenth New 61 8   Open Diapason II 73   Mixture V ranks New 305 8   Gedeckt 73 16   Contra Fagotto [unit] 73 8   Spitz Flute New 73 8   Cornopean New 73 8   Spitz Flute Celeste [TC] New 61 8   Trumpette [sic] New 73 8   Quintadena 73 8   Oboe New 73 8   Salicional 73 4   Clarion New 73 8   Voix Celeste [TC] 61 8   Vox Humana [sep. box] 73 8   Aeoline New 73   Tremulant 4   Octave 73 8   Harp 49 bars 4   Traverse Flute 73   Chimes 27 tubular bells                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" pressure) 16   Contra Viol [unit] 109 2 2/3   Nazard 61 8   Open Diapason 73 2   Piccolo [harmonic] 61 8   Concert Flute 73 1 3/5   Tierce — 8   Flute a Cheminee New 73   Dolce Cornet III rks [old SW] 183 8   Dulciana [old Swell] 73 8   Trumpet [unit] New 85 8   Erzahler New 73 8   Clarinet 73 8   Erzahler Celeste New 61 4   Clarion — 8   Muted Violes II ranks 134   Tremulant 8   Viol d'Amour — 16   Harp [TC] SW 4   Silver Flute [harm.] New 73 8   Harp SW 4   Fugara —   Chimes SW               Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed (10" pressure) 8   Stentorphone 73 16   Tuba Profunda [unit] 97 8   Philomela 73 8   Tuba — 8   Gross Gamba 73 4   Tuba Clarion — 8   Gamba Celeste 73 8   Tuba Mirabilis [15"] New 73 8   Flute Ouverte 73   Tremulant 8   French Horn New 73   Chimes SW 8   Orchestral Oboe 73                     Pedal Organ – 32 notes (6" pressure) 32   Double Open Diapason New 56 8   Violoncello SO 32   Sub Bourdon 68 8   Viola [Violone] — 16   Open Diapason I 44 5 1/3   Octave Quint [Quint] — 16   Open Diapason II [Dbl. O.D.] — 6 2/5   Tierce [Dbl. O.D.] GT 16   Bourdon [Sub Bdn.] — 4   Octave Flute [Dbl. O.D.] — 16   Violone 44 4   Flute [Sub Bdn.] — 16   Open Diapason GT 2   Super Octave [Principal] — 16   Lieblich Bourdon SW   Mixture IV ranks 128 16   Contra Gamba [ext. SO] 12 32   Bombarde 44 16   Contra Viola CH 16   Ophecleide [Bombarde] — 10 2/3   Quint 44 16   Tuba Profunda SO 8   Octave [O.D. I] — 16   Contra Fagotto SW 8   Flute [French Horn] SO 8   Tuba SO 8   Principal 44 4   Clarion SO 8   Stopped Flute [Sub Bdn.] —   Chimes SW 8   Gedeckt SW                     Couplers     Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'     Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Solo to Choir 16', 8', 4'     Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Solo to Swell 16', 8', 4'     Solo to Pedal 8', 4'   Great to Solo 8'     Pedal to Pedal 4'   Great to Great 16', 4', Unison     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4', Unison     Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir to Choir 16', 4', Unison     Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'   Solo to Solo 16', 4', Unison                 Combination Pistons     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-0 affecting Great stops & couplers     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-0 affecting Swell stops & couplers     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-0 affecting Choir stops & couplers     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 affecting Solo stops & couplers     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 affecting Pedal stops & couplers (1-6 dup. by toe)     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Generals to all stops & couplers (1-6 dup. by toe)       6 pedal comb. to first 6 pistons on any manual     General Release piston                   Pedal Movements     Balanced Great Expression Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible     Balanced Swell Expression Pedal   Swell to Pedal Reversible     Balanced Choir Expression Pedal   Choir to Pedal Reversible     Balanced Solo Expression Pedal   Solo to Pedal Reversible     Balanced Crescendo Pedal   Sforzando Reversible                 Special Features     Wind Indicator   Sforzando Indicator     Crescendo Indicator   Master Swell Switch                     1925 luminous console Estey Organ Company Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 2420 (1925) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 96 stops, 69 ranks The original organ for the present church was built in 1925 by the Estey Organ Company of Brattelboro, Vt. as their Opus 2420. Estey provided a four-manual "Luminous Roller" console that had celluloid manual keys and stops controls that illuminated when pushed on. Estey also built a large and ornate organ case to house the large instrument in the gallery of the church.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" pressure) 16   Double Diapason * 73 4   Harmonic Flute 73 16   Bourdon [ext. Doppel Flute] 12 2 2/3   Twelfth 61 8   First Diapason * 73 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Second Diapason 73   Sesquialtera II ranks 146 8   Third Diapason 73   Fourniture V ranks 305 8   Gross Flute 73 8   Trumpet 61 8   Doppel Flute 73     Chimes F 27 tubular bells 8   Gamba 73     Chimes P   4   Octave 73     * not enclosed                   Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" pressure) 16   Bourdon 73 4   Flauto Traverso 73 16   Dulciana [unit] 109 4   Dulciana — 8   First Diapason 73 2   Flautino 61 8   Second Diapason 73 2   Dulciana — 8   Hohl Flute 73 1   Dulciana — 8   Chimney Flute 73   Dolce Cornet III ranks 183 8   Gedeckt 73 16   Contra Fagotto 73 8   Quintadena 73 8   Cornopean 73 8   Viol d'Orchestre 73 8   Oboe 73 8   Viol Celeste [TC] 61 4   Clarion 73 8   Salicional 73 8   Vox Humana 73 8   Voix Celeste [TC] 61   Tremulant 8   Dulciana — 8   Harp 49 bars 4   Octave 73 16   Harp                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" pressure) 16   Contra Viol [unit] 109 4   Flute d'Amour 73 8   Diapason 73 4   Fugara — 8   Concert Flute 73 2   Piccolo (Harmonic) 61 8   Gedeckt 73 16   Bass Clarinet 73 8   Flauto Dolce