click on images to enlarge Marble Collegiate Church (Reformed Church in America) 1 West 29th Street at Fifth Avenue New York, N.Y. 10001 http://www.marblechurch.org Organ Specifications: ► III/83 Austin Organs Inc., Op. 2689 (1984) • III/31s Austin Organs Inc., Op. 2006 (1937) ► III/14 Skinner Organ Company, Op. 525 (1925) ► III/42 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 296 (1891) • J.H. & C.S. Odell (1854) The Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of New York was organized in 1628 under Peter Minuit, Director General of the New Netherland, and has the distinction of being the oldest Protestant denomination with a continuous ministry, and was also the first corporation in the United States. The first church, officially named St. Nicholas but known as the Stone Church, was completed in 1642 on a dusty lane (now Pearl Street) in The Fort of New Amsterdam. In 1692 it was taken over by the British troops, used as a military garrison, and eventually burned. A new church was built on Garden Street (now Exchange Place) in 1693. Known as the Garden Street Church, it was later called the Old South Church because of its geographical location in relation to the other Collegiate churches. In 1696, William III King of England granted a Charter to the church, thus ensuring religious liberty in the new colony. Along with the charter, the crown presented the church with nearly 500 acres of land located in what is now part of the Bronx, in New York City, and a section of Bronxville just north of the present city limits in Westchester County. In 1723, John Harpending, a pioneer tanner and shoemaker, gave an irregular tract of rolling farmland known as Shoemaker's Meadow. This property, which stretches between Maiden Lane and Ann Street and Broadway and William Street, today provides substantial income for the Collegiate Corporation.     Interior, ca. 1856 Recognizing the northward expansion of the population, which by the 1850s had swelled to more than one million, the Consistory decided to build a new church at the corner of Fifth Avenue and West 29th Street at a time when Fifth Avenue was a dirt road, and the city limit was six blocks south at 23rd Street. Architect Samuel A. Warner designed an Early Romanesque Revival church with Gothic trim, which was built between 1851-54 of Tuckahoe marble blocks quarried in Hastings-on-Hudson, floated down the Hudson River, and then carted across town on large horse-drawn wagons. The 215-foot Wren-like steeple is topped by a gilded weathercock, a symbolic reminder of Peter's denial of Christ. The bell tower originally contained a Seth Thomas clock that had to be hand-wound once a week; it was later converted to electricity. The church interior featured free-hanging galleries on three sides, possibly the first example of this architectural device in the country. Known at first as the Fifth Avenue Collegiate Church and later as the Twenty-ninth Street Church, its name was officially changed in 1906 for the material of which it is made. During its first 18 years, the church relied on the rotating service of four ministers, a practice imported from Holland known as the "collegiate system". This system was discontinued in 1871 when the church called its first permanent minister. As the city expanded northward, the church benefited from being in the midst of a prosperous and fashionable residential neighborhood. By the 1930s, however, the city had moved further uptown, and the church was in a serious decline; this was abruptly reversed in 1932 with the beginning of Norman Vincent Peale's 52-year tenure as minister. Dr. Peale's books and televised services brought national fame to Marble Church. Since its founding in 1628, the Collegiate Church built a total of 22 different churches and chapels on Manhattan Island. Today, there remain four Collegiate Churches: Marble, Middle, West End, and Fort Washington.             Austin Organs Inc. Hartford, Conn. – Opus 2689 (1984) Electro-pneumatic action Solid-state combination action 3 manuals, 81 stops, 83 ranks By 1983, the organ was in need of urgent attention, and the decision was made to award a contract to Austin for an entirely new instrument (Opus 2689). At this time, the choir and organ console were returned to their original gallery location. The current instrument comprises 84 ranks over seven divisions, two of which are in free-standing cases flanking the chancel. The tonal concept, designed by then-Music Director Kevin Walters, is neo-Classic French style. Located in the ornate gallery case are the Récit and Choeur divisions on the lowest level, with the Pédale and Grande-Orgue divisions above. Two of the most beautiful stops date from previous instruments: the 32' Bourdon from the 1854 Odell, and the Flûte Céleste from the E.M. Skinner chancel organ. The organ was dedicated on January 23, 1985, by Simon Preston; the dedicatory series continued with a recital by William Whitehead, and a concert for organ, brass and choir conducted by Jack Ossewaarde, with Kevin Walters as organist.                 GALLERY ORGAN                 Grand-Orgue (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Montre 61   Cornet III ranks * 122 8   Principal 61     Fourniture IV ranks 244 8   Montre [ext.] 12     Cymbale III ranks 183 8   Bourdon 61 8   Trompette 61 8   Flûte harmonique 61 8   Trompette en chamade 61 4   Prestant 61   Tremblant   4   Flûte à cheminée 61     Cloches   2   Doublette 61         2   Flûte conique 61     * also draws 2' Fl. conique               Récit (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon doux [ext.] 12 1   Flageolet [ext.] 12 8   Montre 61     Sesquialtera II ranks [TC] 98 8   Flûte à cheminée 61     Plein jeu V ranks 305 8   Viole de gambe 61 16   Basson [ext.] [half-length] 12 8   Voix céleste 61 8   Trompette 61 8   Flûte douce 61 8   Hautbois 61 8   Flûte céleste [TC] 49 8   Voix humaine 61 4   Prestant 61 4   Clairon 61 4   Flûte octaviante 61     Tremblant   2   Octavin 61 8   Trompette en chamade  GO 1 1/3   Larigot 61                     Choeur (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Quintaton preparation     Cymbale IV ranks 244 8   Bourdon en bois 61 16   Cor anglais [1-12 L/2] 61 8   Viole 61 8   Cromorne [mahogany] 61 8   Viole céleste 61 4   Chalumeau à cheminée 61 4   Principal 61     Tremblant   4   Flûte à pointe 61 8   Trompette en chamade GO 2 2/3   Nasard 61     Harpe   2   Quarte de nasard 61     Celesta   1 3/5   Tierce 61                     Pédale – 32 notes 32   Contre Bourdon [ext.] * 8 2   Flûte [ext.] 12 16   Contre Basse 32     Fourniture IV ranks 128 16   Soubasse 32 32   Contre Bombarde [ext.] 12 16   Montre GO 16   Bombarde 32 16   Quintaton CH 16   Basson RÉC 16   Bourdon Doux RÉC 16   Cor anglais CH 8   Octavebasse 32 8   Trompette [ext.] 12 8   Bourdon 32 8   Trompette en chamade GO 8   Flûte à cheminée RÉC 4   Clairon [ext.] 12 4   Basse de chorale 32 4   Chalumeau à cheminée CH 4   Cor de Nuit 32     * Notes 1-4 resultant               CHANCEL ORGAN             Antiphonal (Manual II) – 61 notes 8   Montre 61     Fourniture III ranks 183 4   Prestant 61 8   Petite Trompette 61 2   Doublette 61                     Positif (Manual I) – 61 notes 8   Flûte à cheminée 61   Cymbale III ranks 183 4   Flûte à fuseau 61   Tremblant   2   Flûte à bec 61   Clochettes   1 1/3   Quinte 61                   Pédale – 32 notes 16   Bourdon 32 4    Octave 32 8   Principal 32                                     Austin Organs Inc. Hartford, Conn. – Opus 2006 (1937) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 31 stops In 1937, the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Conn. rebuilt and enlarged the entire instrument again (Opus 2006), installing new windchests throughout and a new console. Minor tonal alterations were made by Austin in 1959 as Opus 2329. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Skinner Organ Company Boston, Mass. – Opus 525 (1925) Electro-pneumatic action 22 stops, 14 registers, 14 ranks, 909 pipes 3-manual console                   In 1925, the Odell chancel divisions were replaced and a new console installed by the E.M. Skinner Company of Boston. The Skinner chancel divisions were removed in 1937-38 by the Ernest M. Skinner & Son Organ Company, and most if not all of the pipes were moved to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Allentown, Penn.                 CHANCEL ORGAN                 Great Organ – 61 notes 8   Diapason 61 4   Octave 61 8   Waldfloete 61 4   Flute SW 8   Gedeckt SW 8   Corno d'Amore SW 8   Flute Celeste SW                         Swell Organ – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 73 8   Flute Celeste [TC] 61 8   Diapason 73 4   Flute 61 8   Gedeckt 73 16   Fagotto 61 8   Salicional 73 8   Corno d'Amore 61 8   Voix Celestes 73     Tremolo   8   Flauto Dolce 73                         Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Bourdon 32 8   Still Gedeckt SW 16   Echo Lieblich SW 16   Fagotto SW 8   Gedeckt [ext.] 12                     J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co. New York City – Opus 296 (1891) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 38 stops, 42 ranks In 1891, in conjunction with repairs and improvements to the church, the original Odell organ was enlarged and electrified. A chancel division was added in two free-standing cases, and the console and choir were moved from the gallery to the chancel. The following specification was recorded in an organ notebook by Lynnwood Farnam (1885-1930), noted concert organist of the early 20th century.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes     Gallery:       Chancel:   16   Double Open Diapason 58 8   English Diapason 58 8   Open Diapason 58 8   Quintadena 58 8   Viola da Gamba 58 8   Melodia 58 8   Gross Flöte 58 4   Salicet 58 4   Octave 58 8   Tuba 58 2 2/3   Twelfth 58         2   Piccolo 58             Mixture 4 ranks 232         8   Trumpet 58             Bellows Signal                           Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed     Gallery:       Chancel:   16   Bourdon Bass 12 8   Vox Celeste 58 16   Bourdon Treble 46 8   Dolce 58 8   Open Diapason 58 8   Cremona 58 8   Salicional 58 4   Flute Harmonique 58 8   Stopped Diapason 58         4   Violina 58         2   Flageolet 58             Cornet 3 ranks 174         8   Vox Humana 58         8   Oboe 58             Tremulant                           Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes     Gallery:           8   Geigen Principal 58         8   Dulciana 58         8   Concert Flute 58         4   Forest Flute 58         8   Clarinet 58                         Pedal Organ – 30 notes 16   Sub Bass 30         16   Double Open 30         16   Bourdon 30         10 2/3   Quint 30         8   Violoncello 30                         Couplers, etc. (over Swell manual)     Great to Pedal       Swell to Great       Choir to Pedal       Swell to Great octave       Swell to Pedal       Great to Choir       Choir to Great       Swell to Choir               Chimes               J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co. New York City (1854) Mechanical action The church's original organ was built in 1854 by J.H. & C.S. Odell of New York City and was located in a second gallery. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Sources:      Aeolian-Skinner Archives: http://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/      Austin Organ, Op. 2689 specifications; courtesy Sebastian Glück.      Bowen, Jonathan. Specifications of Skinner Organ, Op. 525.      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. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.      Farnam, Lynnwood. "Organ Notebook," pp. 1364 (specification of 1891 Odell organ, Op. 296). John de Lancie Library, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia; Sally Branca, archivist; courtesy Jonathan Bowen.      Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.      Marble Collegiate Church website: http://www.marblechurch.org      Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.      Ochse, Orpha. Austin Organs. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 2001.      J.H. & C.S. Odell & Company brochure, "Metropolitan Churches," 1896; courtesy Jeff Scofield.      Odell Company Opus List, compiled by Sand Lawn; courtesy David Scribner.      Ward, Emory. Faith of Our Fathers Living Still: The Story of Marble Collegiate Church. New York: Marble Collegiate Church, 1978. Photos:      Marble Collegiate Church: black and white interior.      J.H. & C.S. Odell & Company brochure, "Metropolitan Churches," 1896; courtesy Jeff Scofield: Odell Organ Chancel Cases, Op. 296 (1891).      Organ Historical Society: black and white organ case.      Lawson, Steven E.: color photos of organ and interior.             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |