Seafarers and International House - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
 
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Christ Church
(Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)

123 East 15th Street at Irving Place
New York, N.Y. 10003
http://christlutheranchurchnyc.org/


Organ Specifications:
123 East 15th Street at Irving Place (since 2007)
I/7 Noack Organ Company, Op. 38 (1967)
335 East 19th Street (1948-2007):
II/12 Sebastian M. Glück, Op. 6 (1995)
II/8 J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., Op. 347 (1897)
406 East 19th Street (1882-1948):
II/8 J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., Op. 347 (1897)
I/4 Richard M. Ferris (1857)
               
Christ Church (Lutheran) at 406 East 19th Street (1882-1948) - New York City  
406 East 19th Street  
Christ Church, a Lutheran congregation with German and English roots, can trace its history back to 1868 when it began above a blacksmith shop on East 14th Street. In 1882, the church purchased the mission Chapel of Free Grace, located at 406 East 19th Street, which had been built in 1859 by St. George's Episcopal Church.

  Former Christ Church (Lutheran) - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)
  335 East 19th Street
Christ Church remained at this location until Stuyvesant Town, a large housing project developed by Metropolitan Life Insurance, acquired the land, and the church was demolished. A new church, located a block to the west, was erected in 1948. Herbert E. Matz designed the new facilities that featured Gothic details.

In 2007, Christ Church sold its 15th Street property to a developer who designed a new home in the church, and built a luxury condo tower with six three-bedroom units above the church.

Since 2007, the congregation has been using the facilities of the Seafarer and International House at 123 East 15th Street at Irving Place.
               
 

Noack Organ, Op. 38 (1967) in Nordgren Chapel of the Seafarers and International House - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)

Nordgren Chapel

Noack Organ Company
Georgetown, Mass. – Opus 38 (1967)
Mechanical key and stop action
1 manual, 5 stops, 7 ranks




Nordgren Chapel contains an organ built in 1967 by the Noack Organ Company of Georgetown, Mass. The one-manual and pedal organ is contained in a freestanding case located in the rear corner of the chapel. Despite its small size, the organ provides adequate support of the liturgy and congregational hymn singing in the resonant room.
               
Manual – 56 notes
Noack Organ, Op. 38 (1967) in Nordgren Chapel of the Seafarers and International House - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)
8
  Gedackt
56
4
  Principal
56
4
  Stopped Flute
56
2
  Blockflöte
56
    Mixture III ranks
168
       
Pedal – 32 notes
No stops; permanently coupled to manual      
               
Nordgren Chapel of the Seafarers and International House - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)   Noack Organ, Op. 38 (1967) in Nordgren Chapel of the Seafarers and International House - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)
               
  Sebastian Glück Organ, Op. 6 (1995) at Christ Church (Lutheran) - New York City (photo: Gluck New York)
Sebastian M. Glück
New York City – Opus 6 (1995)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 28 registers, 10 stops, 13 ranks




In 1995, Sebastian Glück of New York City built a new two-manual organ for Christ Church. Glück reworked a portion of the case from the church's 1897 Odell organ. When the church building was closed in 2007, the organ was removed to storage by the builder.
               
Hoofdwerk (Manual I) – 61 notes
16
  Graavo (TC, Spitspijp)
2
  Nachthoorn
61
8
  Praestandt
85
  Hexquialter III ranks *
derived
8
  Holpijp
PO
  Mixtuur III-IV ranks
220
8
  Spitspijp
73
8
  Schalmei
PO
4
  Octaaf (fr. Praestandt)
* 2 2/3 Nasard + 2' Gemshorn + 1 3/5 Tritonus

 

     

 

     
Positief (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
  Holpijp
61
1 1/3
  Qvintanus (fr. Nasard)
4
  Gemshoorn (fr. Spitspijp)
1
  Supra (fr. Roerfluit) **
4
  Roerfluit
73
8
  Schalmei
61
2 2/3
  Nasard
73
    Tremulant  
2
  Praestandt
HW
   
** top octave repeats
1 3/5
  Tritonus **
53
       

     

     
Pedaal – 32 notes
16
  Infrabas
32
    Ruispijp II ranks ***
derived
16
 
Lieflijk Gedekt
preparation
16
 
Basuun
preparation
8
  Praestandt
HW
8
 
Schalmei
PO
8
  Gedekt
HW
4
  Cantus
PO
4
  Tenor Octaaf
HW
   
*** Nasard + 2' Gemshorn
4
  Vlakfluit
PO
       
               

Sebastian Glück Organ, Op. 6 (1995) at Christ Church (Lutheran) - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)

 

Sebastian Glück Organ, Op. 6 (1995) at Christ Church (Lutheran) - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)

               
J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co.
New York City – Opus 347 (1897)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 10 registers, 8 stops, 8 ranks


This organ was built in 1897 for the previous church at 406 East 19th Street, and was moved to the building at 335 East 19th Street in 1948. This specification is a "Style Twenty-five" by the Odell firm.
                 
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8
  Open Diapason  
58
       
8
  Gamba (TC)  
46
       
8
  Melodia (TC)  
46
       
8
  Stopped Bass  
12
       
4
  Octave  
58
       

       

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
  Viola (TC)  
46
       
8
  Stopped Diapason (TC)  
46
       
8
  Unison Bass  
12
       
4
  Rohr Flöte  
58
       
                 
Pedal Organ – 27 notes
16
  Bourdon  
27
       
                 
Couplers
    Swell to Great            
    Swell to Pedal            
    Great to Pedal            
                 
Mechanical Accessories
    Bellows Signal            
    Tremulant            
    Balance Swell Pedal            
                 
Pedal Movements
    Piano on Great Organ      
    Forte on Great Organ      
    Great to Pedal, Reversible      
               
Organ previously installed at 406 East 19th Street:

Richard M. Ferris
New York City (1857)
Mechanical action
1 manual, 4 stops, 4 ranks

The following specification was recorded by F.R. Webber, whose "Organ Scrapbooks" are in the possession of The Organ Historical Society Archives in Princeton, N.J. Webber wrote:
"The organ was discovered about three years ago when the church was demolished to make way for a housing project. The organ was behind a larger Odell, and may have been preserved at a time when tubular and electro-pneumatic action was regarded with caution by church committees.

"The Stopped diapason is of metal, and is really a large Rohr flöte, with chimneys and very large, flexible ears.

"On one of the pipes of the Principal is the name of John E. Ayers, the date, June 23, 1857, and the words, "Third Scale Principal." On the Bell gamba is the name of G N Osler and the date June 22, 1857. On the Dulciana is the name of James W. Hoey, and the date 1857. On the so-called Stopped diapason is the name of Arnolph Polster, the date 1857, and the words "Third 3."

"The organ was restored in 1951 by Mr Harry Odell, of Yonkers, who has it in his home.

"Richard M. Ferris built organs at 464 Houston street, New York, in the eighteen-forties and eighteen-fifties. At one time he was in partnership with Levi and William Stewart, and for a time he was associated with Morgan Davis. John H. and Caleb S. Odell, and Reuben Midmer, were trained in his shop."
Harry Odell gave the organ to Anthony Meloni in 1982 at the time of the dissolution of J.H. & C.S. Odell. The top half of the case had been discarded by Mr. Odell, the reason given was that the organ was too difficult to tune with the case in place.

The organ has been restored, including the replacement of the feeder bellows, the original being long gone. The organ can now be played with the mechanical pump mechanism as well as with a small electric blower. A special on/off valve system was added to the wind line which connects the bellows to the wind chest to accomplish this.

All original pipework is in place, and repairs were made where necessary. The original ivories are intact and in very good condition. A new top portion of the case is currently being constructed in a style typical of the builder and period. The sound of the organ is quite beautiful.
               
Manual – 56 notes
       
8
  Stopped Diapason treble (TC)
44
       
8
  Stopped Diapason bass
12
       
8
  Gamba (TC)
44
       
8
  Dulciana (TC)
44
       
4
  Principal
56
       
               
Sources:
     Cameron, Peter T. "A Chronology of the Organ Builders Working in New York City", The Bicentennial Tracker. Richmond: Organ Historical Society, Inc., 1976.
     Hughes, C.J. "Discovering Divine Sites for Condos," The New York Times (Feb. 25, 2007).
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Glück Pipe Organs website: http://www.glucknewyork.com
     Meloni, Anthony. Corrected specification and information about the 1857 Ferris organ.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification of J.H. & C.S. Odell "Style Twenty-five."
     Webber, F.R. "Organ scrapbook" at Organ Historical Society Archives, Princeton, N.J. Specifications of Richard M. Ferris organ. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Illustrations:
     Glück Pipe Organs website. Case of Sebastian M. Glück Organ, Op. 6 (1995).
     Lawson, Steven E. Interior and exterior of 335 E. 19th Street; console of Sebastian M.Glück Organ, Op. 6 (1995).
     Lawson, Steven E. Interior and exterior of 123 E. 15th Street; Noack Organ, Op. 38 (1967).