Click on images to enlarge Columbia University http://www.columbia.edu Broadway at 116th Street New York, N.Y. 10027 St. Paul's Chapel www.columbia.edu/cu/earl/chapel.html Organ Specifications: ► IV/94 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Op. 985 (1938, 1962) ► IV/50 Ernest M. Skinner Company, Op. 125 (1905) Built on the Columbia University campus from 1904-07, St. Paul's Chapel was donated by Olivia Egleston Phelps Stokes and Caroline Phelps Stokes in memory of their parents, with the proviso that their nephew, Isaac Newton Phelps Stokes, be named as architect. The Northern Italian Renaissance Revival building is faced with burned brick, limestone, and marble trim, while the tiled roof is crowned with a self-supporting dome. The two wrought-iron gates came from the North Reformed Dutch Church, located until 1875 on William Street in lower Manhattan. Upon entering the chapel, the style changes abruptly to Byzantine. Guastavino tiles are used extensively for the interior surfaces, including the vaulting and dome, and portico ceiling. Stained glass windows were fabricated by D. Maitland Armstrong, John La Farge, Henry Wynd Young, and J. Gordon Guthrie. In 1966, St. Paul's Chapel was designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. By 2004, the century-old chapel was showing its age and was in need of restorative repairs. The roof leaks and has damaged the walls, and protective netting was put under the dome and chancel ceiling. Although it is a popular wedding venue, the chapel is still not air-conditioned. Hopefully, the university will restore and update this historic and beautiful building.                 Robert M. Turner Console Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company Boston, Mass. – Opus 985 (1938); Op. 985-B (1962) Console: Robert M. Turner, Hacienda Heights, CA (1997) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 86 stops, 94 ranks, 5,252 pipes In 1938, the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company built an entirely new organ in St. Paul's Chapel, although several ranks were retained from the 1905 Ernest Skinner instrument. This organ is notable in that it contained the first Brustwerk division in the USA. In 1962, Aeolian-Skinner returned again to make further revisions, additions and changes, as Op. 985-A & B. The Dome Division was installed at this time, consisting of a high-pressure reed, an enclosed Voix Humaine, and speakers for the 12-note electronic extensions of the two 32' Pedal stops. The Dome stops were controlled by a small box with rocker tablets that was placed above left stop jamb of the console. In 1997, the organ was releathered and rebuilt with slight modifications, and a new movable console was built by Robert M. Turner. The organ at St. Paul's Chapel enjoys a very reverberant acoustic. The monumental organ in St. Paul's Chapel is one of the first—if not the first—examples of an "American Classic" organ as envisioned by G. Donald Harrison of the Aeolian-Skinner Company. For many years, St. Paul's organ was championed by M. Searle Wright (1918-2004), who served with distinction as director of chapel music at St. Paul's Chapel from 1952 to 1971, and was president of the American Guild of Organists from 1969 to 1971. Under Wright's tenure, the organ in St. Paul's Chapel was featured in many concerts, recitals and recordings. Regrettably, access to this incredible and notable organ has been severely restricted in recent years. Hopefully, the chapel staff and university will recognize the importance of this organ and allow it to be used more frequently. Of the many organs in New York City, the Aeolian-Skinner at St. Paul's Chapel is arguably one of the most historically important.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Quintade 61 2 2/3   Quint 61 8   Principal 61 2   Super Octave 61 8   Bourdon 61 2 2/3   Cornet III ranks 183 8   Spitzflöte 61 2   Fourniture IV ranks 244 4   Principal 61 2/3   Cymbel II-IV ranks 196 4   Rohrflöte 61 16   Fagot 61             Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Lieblich Gedackt 73 2 2/3   Nazard * [ext. Fugara] — 8   Diapason 73 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Stopped Diapason 73 1 1/3   Mixture IV ranks 244 8   Viole de Gambe 73 16   Bombarde 73 8   Viole Céleste * 73 8   Trompette 73 8   Aeoline 73 8   Hautbois 73 4   Octave 73 8   Voix Humaine * DO 4   Flauto Traverso * 73 4   Clairon 73 4   Fugara 73     Tremulant               Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Contre Viole 73 4   Flûte Triangulaire 73 8   Viole 73 2   Zauberflöte 61 8   Orchestral Flute 73 2 2/3   Carillon III ranks 183 8   Flauto Dolce * 73 8   Clarinet  73 8   Flute Celeste * [TC] 61 4   Musette * 73 4   Prestant * 73     Tremulant               Positiv Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes 8   Nason Flute 61 2 2/3   Sesquialtera II ranks 122 4   Nachthorn 61 1/4   Zimbel III ranks 183 2   Principal 61 8   Krummhorn 61 1 1/3   Larigot 61     Tremulant   1   Sifflöte 61     Zimbelstern               Brustwerk Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes 8   Spitzgeigen * 61 2 2/3   Nasat 61 8   Gedackt 61 2   Blockflöte 61 4   Montre * 61 1 3/5   Terz 61 4   Spitzflöte 61 1/2   Scharf III ranks 183             Dome Organ * (Manual IV) – 61 notes 16   Crown Trumpet * [TC] — 4   Crown Trumpet * [ext.] 12 8   Crown Trumpet * 61 8   Vox Humana * [enclosed] 61             Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Bourdon [ext.] digital 4   Choralbass 32 16   Principal 32 4   Koppelflöte  32 16   Montre * [ext. BW] 24 2   Blockflöte 32 16   Bourdon 32 6 2/5   Cornet III ranks 96 16   Quintade * GT 2 2/3   Cymbel II ranks 64 16   Viole CH 32   Bombarde * [ext.] digital 16   Echo Lieblich SW 16   Posaune 32 8   Principal 32 16   Bombarde SW 8   Montre * BW 8   Trompette 32 8   Gedackt 32 8   Crown Trumpet * DO 8   Viole CH 4   Clairon 32 8   Stillgedackt SW 4   Rohrschalmei  32 5 1/3   Quint 32 2   Zink 32                     * ranks added or changed as Op. 985-B (1962)                 Aeolian-Skinner Console showing Dome stop controls at left Robert M. Turner Console in concert position North Organ Case beneath protective netting (2008)             Ernest M. Skinner Company Boston, Mass. – Opus 125 (1905) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 68 stops, 50 ranks, 3,011 pipes The original organ in St. Paul's Chapel was built in 1905 by the Ernest M. Skinner Company of Boston. Pipes were installed behind matching cases on either side of the chancel. The four-manual drawknob console was located amid the choir stalls on the right side of the chancel. This organ was replaced in 1938 by a new organ built by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Diapason 61 4   Octave 61 8   1st Diapason 61 4   Flute 61 8   2nd Diapason 61 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Gross Floete SW 16   Trumpet SW 8   Gamba 61 8   Trumpet SW 8   Erzahler 61 4   Clarion SW 8   Gedackt SW                   Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 61 4   Flute 61 8   1st Diapason 61 2   Flautino 61 8   2nd Diapason 61   Cornet III ranks 183 8   Gross Floete 61 16   Trumpet 61 8   Salicional 61 8   Cornopean 61 8   Voix Celeste 61 8   Oboe 61 8   Spitz Floete 61 8   Vox Humana 61 8   Gedackt 61 4   Clarion 61 8   Aeoline 61     Tremolo   4   Octave 61                   Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Dulciana 61 4   Flauto Traverso 61 8   Diapason 61 2   Flautino 61 8   Concert Flute 61 16   Fagotto 61 8   Quintadena 61 8   Clarinet 61 8   Dulciana 61 8   Orchestral Oboe 61 8   Unda Maris 61     Tremolo   8   Dulcet II ranks 110                   Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Stentorphone 61 4   Flute 61 8   Philomela 61 16   Fagotto CH 8   Concert Flute CH 8   Tuba 61 8   Dulciana CH 8   Oboe CH 8   Unda Maris CH   Tremolo   8   Dulcet II ranks CH                     Pedal Organ – 32 notes 64   Gravissima — 10 2/3   Quinte — 32   Diapason 32 8   Flute [ext.] 12 16   Diapason [ext.] 12 8   Gedackt [ext.] 12 16   Diapason GT 8   Cello SW 16   Bourdon 32 4   Flute [ext.] 12 16   Violone 32 16   Trombone 32 16   Gedeckt SW 8   Tromba [ext.] 12 16   Dulciana CH                   Sources:      Aeolian-Skinner Archives: http://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/      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 W. 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, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.      St. Paul's Chapel website: www.columbia.edu/cu/earl/chapel.html Photos:      Barroso, Eileen: b&w photo of Robert. M. Turner console (1997) in concert position; courtesy Mary Monroe.      Columbia University: Console of Aeolian-Skinner organ, Op. 985-A (1962); courtesy Mary Monroe.      eBay.com: 1917 postcard of chapel interior.      Lawson, Steven E.: exterior, interior, organ cases and Turner console.      Turner, Robert M.: Robert M. Turner Organs console (1997).             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |