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Church of the Incarnation
(Episcopal)

209 Madison Avenue at 35th Street
New York, N.Y. 10016
http://churchoftheincarnation.org

Organ Specifications:
209 Madison Avenue at 35th Street (since 1865):
► III/53 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., rev. Schantz (1981)
► III/49 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Op. 1289-A (1957)
► III/40 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Op. 1289 (1954)
► IV/ Ernest M. Skinner Company, Op. 133 (1905) – console
► III/43 Farrand & Votey, Op. 831 (1897); reb. Roosevelt
• III/32 Farrand & Votey, Op. 811 (1896) – Chancel
► III/43 Hilborne L. Roosevelt, Op. 115 (1883) – Gallery
• Henry Erben (1868) – Gallery
Madison Avenue at 28th Street (1850-1865):
• II/15 Henry Erben (1853)


Episcopal Church of the Incarnation - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
               
  Organ Façades at Episcopal Church of the Incarnation - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 1289-A (1957)
Enlarged and revised by Schantz Organ Company
Orrville, Ohio (1981)
Updated and rebuilt by Petty-Madden Organ Company
Hopewell, N.Y. (2000 and 2009)
Solid State key and stop action
3 manuals, 59 stops, 53 ranks



Console of Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 1289-A at Episcopal Church of the Incarnation - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
In 1981, the Schantz Organ Company of Orrville, Ohio, made substantial tonal revisions to the Aeolian-Skinner organ, adding a floating Positiv division and several new ranks of pipes.

Additional work was done in 2000 when the console and relays were rebuilt and updated by the Petty-Madden Organ Company of Hopewell, N.J. In 2009, Petty-Madden restored all of the reeds, and replaced the Swell half-length 16' Basson with a new 8' Basson-Hautbois and the Choir Clarinet with a new Cromorne.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Quintaton
61
2
   Doublette
POS
8
   Montre
61
     Fourniture III ranks
183
8
   Flûte harmonique
61
     Cymbale III ranks
POS
8
   Bourdon
61
16
   Bombarde [unit]
85
4
   Prestant
61
8
   Trompette [ext.]
—
4
   Flûte à cheminée
61
4
   Clairon [ext.]
—
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon [unit]
80
     Cymbale IV ranks
244
8
   Diapason
68
8
   Trompette
68
8
   Gambe
68
8
   Basson-Hautbois *
68
8
   Voix céleste
68
8
   Voix humaine
68
8
   Bourdon [ext.]
—
4
   Clairon
68
4
   Prestant
68
     Tremolo  
4
   Flûte octaviante
68
     Swell to Swell 16'  
2
   Octavin
61
     Swell Unison Off  
    Cornet II ranks
122
     Swell to Swell 4'  
    Fourniture III ranks
183
    
* replaced 16' Basson
 
      
 
      
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Dulciana [unit]
80
1 3/5
   Tierce
61
8
   Bourdon
68
     Mixture III ranks
183
8
   Dulciana [ext.]
—
8
   Cromorne [rep. Clarinet]
68
8
   Voix céleste [GG]
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Principal
68
     Choir to Choir 16'  
4
   Flûte traversière
68
     Choir Unison Off  
2 2/3
   Nazard
68
     Choir to Choir 4'  
2
   Quarte de Nazard
68
        
               
Positiv Organ (Floating) – 61 notes – added 1981
8
   Principal [unit]
85
2
   Doublette [ext.]
—
8
   Flute
61
1 1/3
   Quinte
61
4
   Prestant [ext.]
—
     Fourniture III ranks
183
4
   Bourdon
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Soubasse [unit]
68
8
   Violoncellle
32
16
   Contre Basse [unit]
44
4
   Flûte [ext.]
—
16
   Soubasse
—
32
   Grand Cornet
derived
16
   Bourdon
SW
16
   Bombarde
32
16
   Quintaton
GT
16
   Trompette
GT
8
   Flûte [ext.]
—
8
   Trompette
GT
8
   Bourdon
SW
4
   Clairon
GT
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Positiv to Great 8'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Positiv to Pedal 8'   Positiv to Choir 8'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Great-Choir Transfer
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Positiv Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe)
Full Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 (thumb & toe)
               
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Positiv to Pedal (thumb & toe)
    Swell to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Full Organ (thumb & toe)
    Choir to Pedal (thumb & toe)    
               
Balanced Expression Pedals
    Balanced Swell Pedal      
    Balanced Choir Pedal      
    Crescendo Pedal (4 levels)      
               
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 1289 (1954) and 1289-A (1957)
Electro-pneumatic key and stop action
3 manuals, 40 stops, 40 ranks (Op. 1289)
3 manuals, 44 stops, 49 ranks (Op. 1289-A)


In 1954, the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company installed their Opus 1289 in the chancel, retaining several ranks from the 1902 Hutchings-Votey organ. Three years after the organ's installation, Aeolian-Skinner returned to make tonal changes and added 9 new ranks, including the lower 12 notes of the 32' Bourdon.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Montre
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Diapason
61
     Mixture III ranks
183
8
   Spitzprincipal
61
     Mixture IV ranks *
183
8
   Flute Harmonique
61
     Tremulant  
4
   Principal
61
     Chimes  
2 2/3
   Quint
61
      
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt [unit]
80
     Sesquialtera II ranks [GG] *
108
8
   Diapason
68
     Mixture III ranks
183
8
   Gedeckt [ext.]
—
     Mixture IV ranks *
244
8
   Viole de Gambe
68
16
   Fagot
68
8
   Viole Celeste
68
8
   Trompette
68
4
   Octave
68
8
   Vox Humana
68
4
   Flute
68
4
   Clairon
68
2
   Flageolet
68
     Tremulant  
 
      
 
      
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Dulciana [unit]
80
2 2/3
   Flute d'Amour
68
8
   Nason Flute
68
2
   Blockflote
68
8
   Dulciana [ext.]
—
1 3/5
   Tierce
61
8
   Erzahler
68
     Mixture III ranks *
183
8
   Erzahler Celeste [TC]
56
8
   Clarinet
68
4
   Fugara
68
     Tremulant  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Bourdon [ext.] *
12
8
   Octave [ext.]
12
16
   Montre
GT
8
   Flute [ext.]
—
16
   Bourdon [unit]
44
4
   Choralbass [ext.]
12
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
16
   Posaune
32
16
   Dulciana
CH
     Chimes
GT
               
           
* added in 1957 as Op. 1289-A
               
Ernest M. Skinner Company
Boston, Mass. – Opus 133 (1905)
Console only
4 manuals, 80 stops, 84 ranks


This contract was for a new console to control the Roosevelt organ in the gallery and the Farrand-Votey organ in the chancel. The following specifications were recorded by Lynnwood Farnam (1885-1930), noted concert organist of the early 20th century. Farnam's notes, dated September 29, 1909, included these comments:

"This organ is sort of a freak. The number of mechanical accessories are more a hindrance rather than a help. Bad robbing of some parts of the gallery organ; chancel organ nice, and so are many of the soft stops in gallery organ, though lots of duplication of tone quality. Very dead church for sound, otherwise beautiful church, this. The Chancel Great (excepting 16' and 8' Open Diapasons) are enclosed in Chancel Swell box. I do not like having the Great 4' Octave in the Swell, and would rather not have the 12th, 15th and mixture in the Swell. Wretched idea, having every combination movement give a separate pedal organ combination. Organ controlled by two rows of stop keys over Solo manual – top row gallery organ, bottom row couplers and chancel organ."

               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
    Gallery       Chancel  
16
   Double Open Diapason  
16
   Double Open Diapason  
8
   1st Diapason  
8
   1st Diapason  
8
   2nd Diapason  
8
   2nd Diapason *  
8
   Doppel Flute  
8
   Doppel Flute *  
8
   Gross Flute  
8
   Gamba *  
8
   Gamba  
8
   Dolce *  
4
   Octave  
4
   Octave *  
4
   Gambette  
4
   Flute d'Amour *  
4
   Flute  
2 2/3
   Twelfth *  
2 2/3
   Twelfth  
2
   Fifteenth *  
2
   Fifteenth       Mixture III ranks *  
8
   Trumpet  
8
   Trumpet *  
           
* enclosed with Chancel Swell
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
    Gallery       Chancel  
16
   Bourdon  
16
   Bourdon  
8
   Open Diapason  
8
   Diapason  
8
   Stopped Diapason  
8
   Gedackt  
8
   Violin Diapason  
8
   Salicional  
8
   Clarabella  
8
   Voix Celeste  
8
   Salicional  
8
   Aeoline  
8
   Dulciana  
4
   Octave  
4
   Octave  
4
   Violina  
4
   Hohl Flute  
4
   Flute  
4
   Salicet  
2
   Flageolet  
2
   Flageolet       Cornet III ranks  
    Cornet V ranks  
8
   Cornopean  
16
   Contra Fagotto  
8
   Oboe  
8
   Cornopean       Tremulant  
8
   Oboe          
8
   Vox Humana          
    Tremulant          
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
    Gallery          
8
   Geigen Principal          
8
   Rohr Flöte          
8
   Concert Flute          
8
   Quintadena          
8
   Dulciana          
8
   Voix Celestes          
4
   Fugara          
4
   Flute          
2
   Piccolo Harmonique          
8
   Clarinet          
    Tremulant          
               
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes [prepared for]
    Gallery          
    4 blank stops          
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
    Gallery       Chancel  
16
   Open Diapason [wood]  
16
   Diapason [wood]  
16
   Bourdon  
16
   Bourdon  
16
   Dulciana  
16
   Gedackt (Swell)  
16
   Lieblich Gedackt (Swell)  
8
   Violoncello  
10 2/3
   Quinte          
8
   Violoncello          
8
   Flute [open]          
16
   Trombone          
               
Couplers ("Couplers are given in the order as they appear on the organ left to right")
    Great to Pedal   Solo to Great
    Swell to Pedal   Solo to Great 16'
    Swell to Pedal 4'   Solo to Great 4'
    Choir to Pedal   Swell to Swell 16'
    Pedal to Pedal 4'   Swell to Swell 4'
    Solo to Pedal   Solo to Swell
    Solo to Pedal 4'   Swell to Choir
    Swell to Great   Solo to Choir
    Swell to Great 16'   Great to Solo
    Swell to Great 4'   Swell to Solo
    Choir to Great   Solo to Solo 16'
    Choir to Great 16'   Solo to Solo 4'
    Great to Great 4'    
               
Couplers (tilting tablets in left side of console)
    All couplers on or off   Chancel Swell Tremulant
    Gallery Swell Tremulant   Choir Tremulant
               
Accessories ("these all move stop keys by direct action")
    3 pistons to Choir & Pedal
    5 pistons to Great & Pedal
    5 pistons to Swell & Pedal
    3 pistons to Solo & Pedal
    1 ad. lib. piston to Great & 1 piston to set former
    1 ad. lib. piston to Swell & 1 piston to set former
    1 ad. lib. piston to Choir & 1 piston to set former
               
Pedal Movements
    3 comp. pedals to [Gallery?] Great & Pedal *   Balanced Chancel Gt & Sw Pedal
    2 comp. pedals to [Chancel?] Great & Pedal *   Balanced Chancel Crescendo Pedal
    Balanced Solo Pedal   Balanced Gallery Crescendo Pedal
    Balanced Choir Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Gallery Swell Pedal  
* moving stops by direct action
           
Indicators
    2 indicators showing whether Gallery & Chancel organs are on or off
               
Farrand & Votey
Detroit, Mich. – Opus 831 (1897)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 44 stops, 43 ranks


In 1897, the Farrand & Votey company signed a contract to rebuild and revoice the Roosevelt organ in the gallery at a cost of $3,500. Manual compasses were extended to 61 notes, and the Pedal compass was extended to 32 notes. At this time, the Roosevelt organ was electrically connected to the Chancel organ.

The Musical Times (Mar. 1, 1898) reported that the action employed was the Votey Patent Electric Type, and "35 stops on the manuals are of 8-feet pitch; 13 of 4-feet range, as against 6 of 16 feet, a matter deserving attention in itself; 6 'registers' of 2 feet, one twelfth, and 5 mixture stops, of course including the twelfth and octave twelfth as ranks, and a kind of revival of an ancient institution in the presence of cornet and echo cornet stops of 5 ranks of pipes. The pedal organ, by a fitting rule of proportion, had 8 stops of 16-feet pitch out of a total of 12 'registers.'"

The organ was inaugurated by Alexandre Guilmant of Paris, who played Bach's Prelude and Fugue in E flat plus "specimens from the leading composers of the modern French school."

Following are the specifications of the Roosevelt Organ as rebuilt by Farrand & Votey in 1897.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Diapason
61
8
   Dolce
61
8
   1st Diapason
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   2nd Diapason
61
4
   Flute
61
8
   Doppel Flöte
61
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
8
   Gross Flute
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Gamba
61
8
   Trumpet
61
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
61
4
   Flute
61
8
   Diapason
61
4
   Violina
61
8
   Gedeckt
61
2
   Flageolet
61
8
   Salicional
61
     Dolce Cornet III ranks
183
8
   Voix Celeste
61
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Aeoline
61
8
   Oboe
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
16
   Dulciana
61
8
   Quintadena
61
8
   Geigen Principal
61
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
8
   Concert Flute
61
4
   Fugara
61
8
   Rohr Flöte
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Unda Maris
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   1st Diapason (wood)
32
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
16
   2nd Diapason (wood)
44
8
   Violoncello
32
16
   Bourdon
32
8
   Octave [ext. 2nd Diap.]
—
16
   Dulciana
CH
16
  
Trombone
preparation
               
Couplers and Accessories
    Great to Pedal   Choir to Great 16', 8'
    Swell to Pedal   Swell to Swell 16', 4'
    Choir to Pedal   Swell Tremulant
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir Tremulant
               
Organ installed in the Chancel:

Farrand & Votey
Detroit, Mich. – Opus 811 (1896)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 32 ranks


Toward the end of the nineteenth century, many churches in New York City moved their choirs to the chancel, and the Church of the Incarnation was no exception. A contract dated February 21, 1896, called for a three-manual organ to be built by the Farrand & Votey company and installed in the chancel at a cost of $6,500. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
               
Organ installed in the Gallery:

Hilborne L. Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 115 (1883)
Tubular-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 36 stops, 43 ranks


As part of the rebuilding of the church following the 1882 fire, a new organ by Hilborne L. Roosevelt was built in 1883 and installed in a gallery case that measured 29 feet wide by 29 feet high and 18 feet deep. Roosevelt planned for a total of 50 stops (61 ranks), but only 36 stops (43 ranks) were installed.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes
16
   Double Open Diapason
58
4
  
Gambette
preparation
8
   Open Diapason
58
4
   Flute Harmonique
58
8
  
Gemshorn
preparation
2 2/3
   Octave Quint
58
8
   Viola di Gamba
58
2
   Super Octave
58
8
  
Principal Flöte
preparation
    Mixture, 4 ranks
232
8
   Doppel Flöte
58
8
   Trumpet
58
4
   Octave
58
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
58
4
   Hohl Flöte
58
8
   Open Diapason
58
4
  
Flauto Dolce
preparation
8
  
Spitz Flöte
preparation
2
   Flageolet
58
8
   Salicional
58
     Cornet, 3, 4 & 5 ranks
254
8
   Dolce
58
16
   Contra Fagotto
58
8
  
Clarabella
preparation
8
   Cornopean
58
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
8
   Oboe
58
4
   Octave
58
8
   Vox Humana
58
4
  
Salicet
preparation
       
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
  
Contra Gamba
preparation
8
  
Quintadena
preparation
8
   Geigen Principal
58
4
   Fugara
58
8
   Dulciana
58
4
   Flute d'Amour
58
8
   Vox Celestis
58
2
   Piccolo Harmonique
58
8
   Concert Flute
58
    
Dolce Cornet, 5 rks
preparation
8
  
Rohr Flöte
preparation
8
   Clarinet
58
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
32
  
Double Op. Diapason
preparation
10 2/3
   Quint
30
16
   Open Diapason
30
8
   Violoncello
30
16
   Dulciana
30
8
  
Flute
preparation
16
   Bourdon
30
16
  
Trombone
preparation
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Choir to Great       Great to Pedal  
    Swell to Choir       Choir to Pedal  
    Swell Octaves on Itself          
               
Mechanical Accessories
    Swell Tremulant     Engine Signal
    Choir Tremulant     Belt Shifter
            Eclipse Wind Indicator
               
Adjustable Combination Pistons
    Five under Great keys affecting Great & Pedal stops and S/G, C/G, G/P
    Five under Swell keys affecting Swell stops and Swell Octaves, S/P and SW Tremulant
    Three under Choir keys affecting Choir stops and S/C, C/P and CH Tremulant
               
Pedal Movements
    Three adjustable combination pedals affecting Pedal stops
    Reversible Swell Tremulant      
    Reversible Choir Tremulant     Swell Pedal for Swell Organ
    Great to Pedal Reversible     Swell Pedal for Choir Organ
               
Henry Erben
New York City (1868)
Mechanical action


The first organ in the present building was built in 1868 by Henry Erben of New York City. In describing the damage caused by the fire on March 24, 1882, The New York Times (Mar. 25, 1882) reported that the organ was installed in a loft at the side of the chancel and had cost $20,000. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
               
Organ in previous church on Madison Avenue at 28th Street:

Henry Erben
New York City (1853)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 15 stops


According to the American Musical Directory of 1861, this organ had "2 banks keys, 15 stops, 15 registers, 2 octaves pedals" and was "Built by Henry Erben, in 1853." Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
               
Sources:
     Aeolian-Skinner Archives web site: http://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/
     American Musical Directory. New York: Thomas Hutchinson, 1861.
     Church of the Incarnation web site: http://churchoftheincarnation.org/
     "A Church on Fire," The New York Times (Mar. 25, 1882:8).
     Farnam, Lynnwood. "Organ Notebook" (Sept. 29, 1909). Specifications of Ernest M. Skinner console, Op. 133 (1905). John de Lancie Library, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia; Sally Branca, archivist. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     "Hilborne L. Roosevelt, Manufacturer of Church, Chapel, Concert and Chamber Organs," catalog pub. by Roosevelt Organ Works (Dec. 1888); republished by The Organ Literature Foundation, Braintree, Mass., 1978. Specifications of Roosevelt Organ, Op. 115 (1883).
     The Keraulophon (Vol. 1, No. 4, Dec. 1969). Specifications of Roosevelt Organ, Op. 115 (1883). Courtesy Organ Historical Society Archives via Jonathan Bowen.
     Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List (New Revised Edition). Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.
     "The New Church of the Incarnation," The New York Times (Dec. 25, 1882).
     "Organ Music," The Musical Times (Mar. 1, 1898).
     Perkins, Joshua Newton. History of the Parish of the Incarnation, New York City, 1852-1912. Poughkeepsie, N.Y.: Frank B. Howard Press, 1912.
     "Record of Important Events," Frank Leslie's Sunday Magazine (Vol. XIII, No. 3, Mar. 1883, p. 328).

Illustrations:
     Lawson, Steven E. Interior; chancel; console of Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 1289-A (1957).