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Christ Church
(Protestant Episcopal)
Broadway at 71st Street
New York, N.Y. 10023
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Anthony Street |
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Christ Church was organized in 1793, when the increased attendance at Trinity Church necessitated additional accomodations, and was thus the second parish of the Episcopal Church in New York City. The first church building was located on Ann Street, between William and Nassau Streets. The Rev. John Pilmore, D.D., who was one of the first Wesleyan itinerants sent over from England to begin the John-Street Church, joined the Episcopalians and led the new Christ Church congregation. Over the next few decades the congregation increased and flourished, and in 1823 a larger church, of Gothic design, was built on Anthony Street, near Worth. On July 30, 1847, the church was destroyed by fire, and the congregation worshipped in temporary quarters in the Minerva Rooms at 406 Broadway until the church could be rebuilt. The second church on Anthony Street was completed and consecrated on June 29, 1848.
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18th Street at Fifth Avenue |
In the early 1850s, residents began a rapid exodus to new housing farther uptown, and the church was suddenly in an undiserable location. In April, 1852, a committee was appointed to consider the removal of the church to a new site, resulting in the sale of the Anthony Street property and the purchase of four lots on the north side of 18th Street, west of Fifth Avenue. A new church that could accomodate 850 was erected at a cost $55,000, including the land. Bishop Henry Codman Potter preached at the consecration service on Sunday, June 30, 1854.
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Fifth Avenue at 35th Street |
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In July, 1858, only four years after occupying their new church on 18th Street, the congregation moved again when they purchased the former Fifth Avenue Baptist Church on Fifth Avenue at 35th Street. At the time, Christ Church numbered about 500 members, with 30 Sunday-school teachers leading about 200 scholars. The 18th Street church and rectory were acquired by St. Ann's Church for the Deaf, which would remain there until 1898. Christ Church occupied their Fifth Avenue edifice for about 30 years until the surrounding area had become congested with business and commerce.
In 1890, Christ Church relocated again, this time to the northeast corner of 71st Street and the Boulevard (later known as Broadway). Architect Charles Coolidge Haight won the competition to design the new church edifice, which was inspired by the Romanesque with details of Normandy. Due to financial restraints, the church was not built as originally designed, and the massive tower planned for the corner was scaled down so that it appeared to be "a Victorian gazebo in the sky." The salmon-colored brick building was trimmed with dark red terra cotta, and had a roof of glazed and corrugated black tile. The austere building measured only 57 by 117 feet and seated 800 people. By 1920, the neighborhood was changing and the wealthier parishioners were moving out of the area. To alleviate the large debt, the church leased a part of its Broadway frontage which contained a beautiful garden and chapel. It was further necessary in 1925 to sell the rest of the Broadway entrance and remove the steps and towers shown in the photo at the top. While the Lester Building at 2061 Broadway was being constructed, a fire broke out in the remaining church, causing damage that was repaired at a cost of $65,000. A new entrance to the church was created on 71st Street, and the rebuilt church was consecrated by Bishop Manning in 1926.
In the 1960s, many of the members were forced to move when an urban-renewal project cleared area brownstones and tenements for construction of the new Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In 1975, Christ Church merged with and to nearby St. Stephen's Church on West 69th Street, forming Christ and St. Stephen's Church. For a time, the old Christ Church on 71st Street was used by the Bible Deliverance Evangelical Church, but the building was ultimately razed to make way for the Lincoln Park apartments. |
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M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 4587 (1926)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 41 registers, 27 stops, 29 ranks
In 1926, a new organ was built by M.P. Möller of Hagerstown, Md. The Factory Specifications (Jan. 15, 1925) show that the organ was installed in two chambers and there was a three-manual drawknob console with sloping manuals. This organ was removed when the congregation merged with St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. |
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Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, partially enclosed with Choir (5" wind pressure)
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16 |
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Bourdon |
61 |
4 |
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Octave * |
73 |
8 |
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First Open Diapason |
61 |
16 |
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Tuba Profunda * (12" w.p.) |
85 |
8 |
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Second Open Diapason |
61 |
8 |
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Tuba Mirabilis (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Doppel Flute * |
73 |
4 |
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Tuba Clarion (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Gemshorn * |
73 |
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Tremulant |
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4 |
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Harmonic Flute * |
73 |
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* enclosed in Choir Expression Chamber |
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Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (5" wind pressure)
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16 |
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Bourdon |
73 |
2 |
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Lieblich Piccolo |
61 |
8 |
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Geigen Principal |
73 |
16 |
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Contra Fagotto |
85 |
8 |
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Stopped Diapason |
73 |
8 |
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Oboe (fr. 16' Fagotto) |
— |
8 |
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Viole d'Orchestre |
73 |
8 |
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Cornopean |
85 |
8 |
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Viole Celeste |
73 |
4 |
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Clarion (fr. 8' Cornopean) |
— |
8 |
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Echo Salicional |
73 |
8 |
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Vox Humana |
73 |
4 |
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Flute Traverso |
73 |
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Tremulant |
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Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (5" wind pressure)
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8 |
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Viole d'Gamba |
73 |
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Dulciana Mixture III ranks |
183 |
8 |
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Quintadena |
73 |
8 |
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Clarinet |
73 |
8 |
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Concert Flute |
73 |
8 |
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Tuba |
GT |
8 |
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Dulciana |
73 |
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Tremulant |
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4 |
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Flute d'Amour |
73 |
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Pedal Organ – 32 notes (5" wind pressure)
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16 |
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Open Diapason |
44 |
8 |
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Flauta Dolce [sic] |
SW |
8 |
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Octave (fr. 16') |
— |
16 |
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Fagotta |
SW |
16 |
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Bourdon |
GT |
16 |
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Tuba Profunda |
GT |
8 |
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Bass Flute |
GT |
8 |
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Tuba Mirabilis |
GT |
4 |
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Flute |
GT |
4 |
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Clarion |
GT |
16 |
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Lieblich Gedeckt |
SW |
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"A" Chime |
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Couplers
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Great to Pedal 8' |
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Great to Great 16', 4' |
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Swell to Pedal 8, 4' |
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Swell to Swell 16', 4' |
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Choir to Pedal 8' |
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Choir to Choir 16', 4' |
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Swell to Great 16', 8', 4' |
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Great Unison Separation * |
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Choir to Great 16', 8', 4' |
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Swell Unison Separation * |
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Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4' |
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Choir Unison Separation * |
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Choir to Swell 16', 8', 4' |
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* in jambs right side |
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Mechanicals
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Great Tremulant |
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Crescendo Indicator |
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Swell Tremulant |
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Sforzando Indicator Light |
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Choir Tremulant |
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Adjustable Combinations
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Swell Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-0 (thumb) |
Great Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-0 (thumb) |
Choir Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-0 (thumb) |
Pedal Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-0 (toe) |
Full Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-0 (thumb) |
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General Release (thumb) |
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Coupler Cancel (thumb) |
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Sforzando Cancel (thumb) |
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Pedal Movements
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Balanced Swell Pedal |
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Great to Pedal Reversible |
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Balanced Great & Choir Pedal |
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Sforzando Reversible toe piston |
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Grand Crescendo Pedal |
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Organ in church located on Broadway at 71st Street:
Ernest M. Skinner & Company
Boston, Mass. – Opus 114 (1904) – rebuild existing organ
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 31 stops, 33 ranks
In 1904, the Ernest M. Skinner Company was contracted to rebuild the existing organ, which we have now concluded was built by Henry Erben for the previous church. The page annotating "Details of Additions and Improvement" specified that the present motor would be replaced with a larger one that could increase the pressure by at least 50%, and that the entire organ would be revoiced on the increased pressure. Skinner would revoice the Trumpet, Cornopean, and Pedal Trombone, and replace the Mixture and Twelfth with a new Open Diapason. A new Doppel Flute would replace the Great Melodia, and a new Salicional and Voix Celestes would be added to the Swell in place of the Viol d'Amour and Principal. The old Clarion would be discarded, "as it puts the organ out of balance." New reservoirs would be added as necessary to make the wind steady and all sufficient. A new pneumatic stop action would be installed with suitable combinations, along with a Crescendo Pedal. The combinations would include: Swell, four and release; Great, four and release; Choir, three and release; General release; and Pedal release.
The Skinner contract did not include a revised stoplist,
but the following specifications were recorded at an unknown
time by Louis F. Mohr & Co., a longtime organ service concern in the
area. Mohr's typewritten specification has an interesting
typo: a "Flute
d'Chinnisee" in
the Swell Organ, which of course was actually a Flute à
Chiminée. Such a stop was typically found in organs built
by J.H. & C.S.
Odell, so it is possible (but not verified) that the Odells
moved the Erben organ
to the new church and substituted a new flute rank in the
Swell Organ. |
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Great Organ (Manual II) – 56 notes
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16 |
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Double Open Diapason |
56 |
4 |
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Principal |
56 |
8 |
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First Open Diapason |
56 |
4 |
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Night Horn |
56 |
8 |
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Second Open Diapason |
56 |
2 |
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Fifteenth |
56 |
8 |
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Great Flute [Doppel Flute] |
56 |
8 |
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Trumpet |
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8 |
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Stopped Diapason |
56 |
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Swell Organ (Manual III) – 56 notes, enclosed
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16 |
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Bourdon |
56 |
4 |
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Flute d'Chinnisee [sic] |
56 |
8 |
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Open Diapason |
56 |
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Cornet III ranks |
168 |
8 |
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Dulciana |
56 |
8 |
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Cornopean |
56 |
8 |
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Salicional |
56 |
8 |
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Oboe |
56 |
8 |
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[Voix] Celestes |
56 |
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[Tremulant] |
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Choir Organ (Manual I) – 56 notes
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8 |
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Open Diapason |
56 |
4 |
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Principal |
56 |
8 |
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Dulciana |
56 |
4 |
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Wald Flute |
56 |
8 |
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Keraulophon |
56 |
2 |
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Flageolet |
56 |
8 |
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Clarabella |
56 |
8 |
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Cremona |
56 |
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Pedal Organ – 30 notes
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16 |
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Double Open Diapason |
30 |
8 |
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Violoncello |
30 |
16 |
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Bourdon |
30 |
16 |
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Trombone |
30 |
16 |
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Contra Gamba |
30 |
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Combinations
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Swell Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-0 (thumb) |
Great Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-0 (thumb) |
Choir Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-0 (thumb) |
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Couplers
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Swell to Pedal |
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Swell to Great |
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Choir to Pedal |
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Swell to Great 16' |
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Great to Pedal |
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Swell to Great 4' |
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Choir to Great |
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Great to Great 4' |
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Swell to Choir |
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Pedal Movements
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Balanced Swell Pedal |
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Crescendo Pedal |
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Organ in church located at Fifth Avenue and 35th Street:
Hilborne L. Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 238 (1888)
Mechanical action
1 manual, 9 stops
A one-manual organ built in 1888 by Hilborne L. Roosevelt was installed on the left side of the chancel. It is possible that this organ was provided to accompany a chancel choir. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located. |
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Organ in church located at Fifth Avenue and 35th Street:
Henry Erben
New York City (1865)
Mechanical action originally
3 manuals, 37 stops, 40 ranks
In 1865, Henry Erben installed a three manual organ in Christ Church on Fifth Avenue and 35th Street. While the specifications for this organ have not yet been located, the stoplist below has been reconstructed by Larry Trupiano, based on a specification recorded on an unknown date by Louis F. Mohr & Co., and the Ernest M. Skinner contract (1904) for a rebuilding of the organ. The Erben organ was moved (c.1890) to the new church on Broadway and 71st Street, where it was installed in a chamber on the right side of the chancel. The large chamber had two openings into the chancel, and one opening into the nave. Mr. Trupiano recalls seeing graffiti near the chamber nave opening that indicated the relocated organ was still pumped by hand. It would seem likely that the Erben organ was rebuilt with electro- or tubular-pneumatic action for its new location. |
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Great Organ (Manual II) – 56 notes
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16 |
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Double Open Diapason |
56 |
4 |
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Night Horn |
56 |
8 |
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Open Diapason |
56 |
3 |
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Twelfth |
56 |
8 |
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Gamba |
56 |
2 |
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Fifteenth |
56 |
8 |
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Melodia |
56 |
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Sesquialtera (2 ranks?) |
112 |
8 |
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Stopd Diapason |
56 |
8 |
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Trumpet |
56 |
4 |
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Principal |
56 |
4 |
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Clarion |
56 |
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Swell Organ (Manual III) – 56 notes, enclosed
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16 |
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Bourdon |
56 |
4 |
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Flute |
56 |
8 |
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Open Diapason |
56 |
2 |
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Fifteenth |
56 |
8 |
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Viol d'Amour |
56 |
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Cornet III ranks |
168 |
8 |
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Dulciana |
56 |
8 |
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Cornopean |
56 |
8 |
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Stopd Diapason |
56 |
8 |
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Oboe |
56 |
4 |
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Principal |
56 |
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Tremulant |
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Choir Organ (Manual I) – 56 notes
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8 |
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Open Diapason |
56 |
4 |
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Principal |
56 |
8 |
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Dulciana |
56 |
4 |
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Wald Flute |
56 |
8 |
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Keraulophon |
56 |
2 |
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Flageolet |
56 |
8 |
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Stopd Diapason |
56 |
8 |
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Cremona |
56 |
8 |
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Clarabella |
56 |
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Pedal Organ – 30 notes
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16 |
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Double Open Diapason |
30 |
8 |
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Violoncello |
30 |
16 |
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Bourdon |
30 |
16 |
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Trombone |
30 |
16 |
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Contra Gamba (Bell Gamba) |
30 |
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Organ in second building located at 79 Anthony Street; moved to 7 West 18th Street:
Hall & Labagh
New York City (1848)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 16 stops, 17 ranks
This organ was built in 1848 by Hall & Labagh of New York City and installed in the second Christ Church building on Anthony Street. In 1854 the organ was moved to the new church on 18th Street.
According to the American Musical Directory of 1861, the organ had "2 banks keys, 24 stops, 2 octaves pedals" and was "Built by Hall & Labagh, in 1848."
In 1874, the organ was moved by J.H. & C.S. Odell (as Op. 136) to the [Reformed] P.E. Church of the Mediator in Brooklyn. The Agreement (May 2, 1874) between Odell and the church states that Odell would provide "new keys, new couplers, new action, new case, and new front pipes handsomely decorated" and set it up in the church for a consideration of $2,300, less $550 for the organ then in the church. Following is the specification of the Hall & Labagh organ as given in the Agreement: |
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Great Organ (Manual I) – 54 notes
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8 |
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Open Diapason |
54 |
4 |
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Flute (wood) |
54 |
8 |
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Viol de Gamba (TC) |
42 |
2 2/3 |
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Twelfth |
54 |
8 |
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Stop'd Diapason Bass |
12 |
2 |
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Fifteenth |
54 |
8 |
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Stop'd Diapason Treble (TC) |
46 |
8 |
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Trumpet |
54 |
4 |
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Principal |
54 |
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Swell Organ (Manual II) – 54 notes, enclosed
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16 |
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Bourdon Bass |
12 |
8 |
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Stop'd Diapason Treble (TC) |
42 |
16 |
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Double Diapason (TC) |
42 |
4 |
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Principal (TC) |
42 |
8 |
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Open Diapason (TC) |
42 |
4 |
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Principal Bass |
12 |
8 |
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Dulciana (TC) |
42 |
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Cornet (2 ranks) |
126 |
8 |
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Stop'd Diapason Bass |
12 |
8 |
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Hautboy (TC) |
42 |
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Pedal Organ – 25 notes
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16 |
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Grand Double Open Diapason |
25 |
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Couplers &c
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Swell to Great |
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Great to Pedal |
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Swell to Pedal |
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Bellows Signal |
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Organ in first church building located at 79 Anthony Street:
Henry Corrie
New York City (1823)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 18 stops, 16 ranks
This organ burned with the church in 1847. |
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Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes [GGG – f3 (no GGG#)]
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8 |
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Open Diapason |
58 |
2 |
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Fifteenth |
58 |
8 |
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Stop Diapason |
58 |
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Sesquialtera Bass |
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} |
174? |
Cornet Treble |
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} |
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8 |
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Dulceano |
58 |
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4 |
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Principal |
58 |
8 |
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Trumpet |
58 |
3 |
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Twelfth |
58 |
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Swell Organ (Manual II) – 37 notes [same as Great, but only from tenor f – f3], enclosed
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8 |
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Open Diapason |
37 |
4 |
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Principal |
37 |
8 |
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Stop Diapason |
37 |
8 |
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Clarionet |
37 |
8 |
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Dulceano |
37 |
8 |
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Trumpet |
37 |
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Choir Organ Bass (Manual II) – 21 notes [bass for Swell stops, from GGG-tenor e], unenclosed
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8 |
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Dulceano |
21 |
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8 |
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Stop Diapason |
21 |
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4 |
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Principal |
21 |
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Pedal Organ – 13 notes [GGG - GG]
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Permanently coupled to Manual I (Great) |
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No pedal pipes listed |
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Organ in church located at 49 Ann Street:
John Geib
New York City (1800-01)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 15 stops, 16 ranks
Two pair of bellows, with an elegant mahogany case, gild front ornaments, 10 by 15 feet – Duble GG (begings) in front. One Sett of keys for Great organ – one set for choir & swell. The Cost 1200. |
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Great Organ (Manual I) – 47 notes [GG – f3]
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1. |
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Stopdiapason throughaute from duble GG to F in alt |
2. |
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Stopd |
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3. |
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principal |
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4. |
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12th |
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5. |
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15th |
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6. |
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Tiers |
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7. |
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Cornet treble |
} |
3 ranks |
Sesq. bass |
} |
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8. |
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9. |
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Trumpet — throughaute as befor |
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Choir & Swell (Manual II) – 47 notes [GG – f3]
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1. |
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Stopdiapason in choir, Bass |
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2. |
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Flute throughaute |
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3. |
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15th – do |
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Stopdiapason Treble Swell |
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4. |
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Dulciana – Swell |
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5. |
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princ. – Swell |
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6. |
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Vaschumana – Swell |
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Sources:
American Organ Archives of the Organ Historical Society, Princeton, N.J. Specifications of Ernest M. Skinner & Company organ, Op. 114 (1904). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
Booth, Mary Louise. History of the City of New York. New York: W.R.C. Clark, 1867. "Christ Church.; Rev. Hugh Miller Thompson's Congregation; The Second Episcopal Parish in New-York; Its History Since 1792," The New York Times (Sep. 28, 1874).
"Consecration of Christ Church," The New York Times (July 1, 1854).
Davies, William J. "Historical Sketch of Christ Church, New York City," The Magazine of American History, Vol. XIX, No. 1 (January 1888). New York City.
Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
Mohr, Louis F. & Co. Specifications (undated) of organ in building on Broadway; courtesy Larry Trupiano.
Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977, p.192.
"Old Christ Church Gone," The New York Times (Dec. 18, 1890).
The Lyre (October 1824). Specifications of Henry Corrie organ (1823). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
Salwen, Peter. Upper West Side Story: A History and Guide. New York: Abbeville Press, 1989.
Stern, Robert A.M., Thomas Mellins, and David Fishman. New York 1880: Architecture and Urbanism in the Gilded Age. New York City: The Monacelli Press, 1999.
Stout, Edward Millington, III. Page from E.M. Skinner contract (1904) to rebuild existing organ. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
Trupiano, Larry. Factory Agreement (May 2, 1874) for J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 136 – the rebuilt 1848 Hall & Labagh organ.
Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 4587 (1923).
Trupiano, Larry. Electronic correspondence and reconstructed specifications of Henry Erben organ (1865).
Illustrations:
Booth, Mary Louise. History of the City of New York. Drawing of Christ Church on Anthony Street.
The Episcopal Diocese of New York Archives. 1920s exterior and color interior of church on Broadway.
Mellenburg, F. Undated print of Christ Church on Fifth Avenue. Courtesy Larry Trupiano
Trupiano, Larry. Line drawing of Christ Church (1893). |
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