Austin Organ, Op. 2343 (1959-60) in Christ Chapel of the Riverside Church - New York City (photo: The Riverside Church Archive)
  Austin Organ in Concert Position
Click on images to enlarge
The Riverside Church

490 Riverside Drive at 122nd Street
New York, N.Y. 10027
http://www.theriversidechurchny.org

Christ Chapel
Organ Specifications:
► III/38 Austin Organs Inc., Op. 2343 (1959-60)
► III/31 Hook & Hastings Co., Op. 2541 (1927)

See also the Nave and the Chapel of the Cross.
           
 
           
  Organ Case in Christ Chapel of the Riverside Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Austin Organs Inc.
Hartford, Conn. – Opus 2343 (1959-60)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 47 registers, 34 stops, 38 ranks





Austin Organ, Op. 2343 (1959-60) in Christ Chapel of the Riverside Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
In 1959-60, Austin Organs of Hartford built a new organ for Christ Chapel. Austin incorporated the lowest octaves of the previous Hook & Hasting Pedal Diapason and Bourdon — the Diapason became the first 12 notes of the 32' Contra Bourdon, and the Hook Bourdon became the Swell Rohrflöte – and retained the Harp. A new movable console was placed in a niche to the left side of the chancel. Virgil Fox and Frederick Swann, organists of the church, designed the specifications, and David A.J. Broome of Austin was responsible for the tonal finishing.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, unenclosed (3½" wind pressure)
16
  Quintaten
61
    
Cymblestern
6 bells
8
  Principal
61
        
8
  Gemshorn
61
    
Great to Great 16'
 
8
  Hohlflöte
61
    
Great to Great 4'
 
4
  Octave
61
    
Great Unison Off
 
4
  Flute Couverte
61
    
Swell to Great 16'
 
2 2/3
  Twelfth
61
    
Swell to Great 8'
 
2
   Fifteenth
61
    
Swell to Great 4'
 
    Fourniture III ranks
183
    
Swell to Great 2-2/3'
 
8
  
French Horn *
preparation
   
Choir to Great 16'
 
    Tremulant [valve]      
Choir to Great 8'
 
   
Chimes *
25 tubes
   
Choir to Great 4'
 
   
* enclosed in CH
       
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (5" wind pressure)
16
  Rohrflöte
80
8
   Trompette
68
8
  Viole de Gambe
68
8
   English Horn (fr. 16')
—
8
  Viole Celeste
68
8
  Hautbois
68
8
  Rohrflöte (fr. 16')
—
8
  Vox Humana [sep. tremulant]
68
4
  Octave Geigen
68
     Tremulant [valve]  
4
  Koppelflöte
68
        
2 2/3
 
Nazard
preparation
    Swell to Swell 16'  
2
  Spillflöte
61
     Swell to Swell 4'  
1
   Plein Jeu III ranks
183
     Swell Unison Off  
16
   English Horn
80
     Choir to Swell 8'  
               
Choir Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (5" wind pressure)
8
  Nason Flute
68
  Tremulant [valve]  
8
  Flauto Dolce
68
    
Harp [unenclosed]
61 bars
8
  Flute Celeste (TC)
56
     Harp Dampers  
4
  Prestant
68
        
4
  Nachthorn
68
    
Choir to Choir 16'
 
2 2/3
  Rohr Nasat
61
    
Choir to Choir 4'
 
2
  Blockflöte
73
    
Choir Unison Off
 
1 3/5
  Tierce
61
    
Swell to Choir 16'
 
1 1/3
   Larigot
61
    
Swell to Choir 8'
 
1
   Sifflöte (fr. 2' Blockflöte)
—
    
Swell to Choir 4'
 
8
   Cornet Nuptiale 
36
    
Great to Choir 8'
 
8
   Krummhorn 
68
    
Great to Choir 4'
 

             
Pedal Organ – 32 notes, unenclosed (5" wind pressure)
32
  Contra Bourdon (ext. SW)
12
8
   Bombarde (fr. 16')
—
16
  Principal
56
4
   Clairon (fr. 16')
—
16
  Rohrflöte
SW
4
   Krummhorn
CH
16
  Quintaten
GT
        
8
  Principal (fr. 16')
—
     Great to Pedal 8'  
8
  Rohrflöte
SW
     Great to Pedal 4'  
4
  Choral Bass (fr. 16' Prin.)
—
     Swell to Pedal 8'  
2 2/3
   Rauschquint II ranks
64
     Swell to Pedal 4'  
16
   Bombarde
56
     Choir to Pedal 8'  
16
   English Horn
SW
     Choir to Pedal 4'  
               
Adjustable Combination Action
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb) + cancel bar over stops
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb) + cancel bar over stops
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb) + cancel bar over stops
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (toe) + cancel bar over stops
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14 (thumb & toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
  Pedal stops on any Manual Piston (stop key)
  Piston retainer (piston, manual I)
               
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal * (thumb & toe)   32' Contra Bourdon (toe)
    Swell to Pedal * (thumb & toe)   Tremulant Cancel ** (thumb)
    Choir to Pedal * (thumb & toe)   Celeste Cancel ** (thumb)
    Swell to Great (thumb)   Orch. Crescendo ** (thumb & toe)
    Swell to Great 2-2/3' (toe)  
Tutti ** (thumb & toe)
    Choir to Great (thumb)    
    Swell to Choir (thumb)  
* cancels corresponding 4' coupler
    Great to Choir (thumb)  
** with indicator light
               
Mechanicals and Accessories
    Choir Expression Pedal   Harp P–F (intercancelling pistons)
    Swell Expression Pedal   Current indicator light
    Register Crescendo Pedal (with ind. light)   Narthex signal light
        On the Air signal light
           
  Hook & Hastings Organ, Op. 2541 (1927) in Christ Chapel of the Riverside Church - New York City (photo: Mattie Edwards Hewitt)
Hook & Hastings Co.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 2541 (1927)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 34 registers, 29 stops, 31 ranks






The original organ in Christ Chapel was built in 1930 by the Hook & Hastings Company of Boston. The case and attached three-manual stop-key console were located in the gallery.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Viola da Gamba
73
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Doppel Flute
73
8
   Trumpet
73
8
   Viole d'Amour
CH
4
   Clarion (fr. 8' Trumpet)
—
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Lieblich Bourdon
73
4
   Flute Traverso
73
8
   Open Diapason
73
2
   Flautino
61
8
   Salicional
73
     Solo Dolce Cornet, 3 ranks
183
8
   Muted Viole
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Muted Viole Celeste (TC)
61
8
   Orchestral Oboe
73
8
   Gedeckt
73
8
   Vox Humana [sep. tremolo]
61
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
73
4
   Rohr Flute
73
8
   Zauberflöte
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Flute Celeste (TC)
61
8
   French Horn
73
8
   Viole d'Amour
73
8
   Vox Humana
SW
8
   Quintadena
73
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diapason
44
8
   Gross Flute (fr. 16' O.D.)
—
16
   Bourdon
32
8
   Violoncello
32
16
   Lieblich Bourdon
SW
        
               
Percussion ("playable at will from any of the three manuals, and Chimes on pedal also")
   
Chimes [Deagan A]
25 notes
   
Harp [MF, P]
61 bars
         [F, MF, P, PP]      
Harp Celeste [sic]
49 notes
             
Couplers
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Great to Great 16', 4', Release *
    Great to Pedal 8'   Swell to Swell 16', 4', Release
    Choir to Pedal 8'   Choir to Choir 16', 4', Release
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Pedal to Pedal 4'
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Pedal Divide
    Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'  
* 16' & 4' couplers not to affect Diapasons
             
Adjustable Combinations
   
Swell & Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 & Release plus Pedal Release
Great & Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 & Release plus Pedal Release
Choir & Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4 & Release plus Pedal Release
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 & Release
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Entire Organ
             
Accessories
    Tremolo Swell   Crescendo Indicator
    Tremolo Choir   Sforzandi Indicator
    Wind Control   Organist's Bench
    Wind Indicator    
             
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Crescendo   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Great Pedal   Sforzando or Full Organ Reversible
    Balanced Swell Pedal   All Couplers
    Balanced Choir Pedal   Release Octave Couplers Reversible
           
Sources:
     The Diapason (Dec. 1930). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     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.
     Ochse, Orpha. Austin Organs. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 2001.
     The Organs at Riverside Church (brochure). New York: The Riverside Church, 1955. Courtesy Victor K. Jordan, Archivist.
     The Organs of Riverside (brochure). Specifications of Austin Organ, Op. 2343 (1959-60). New York: The Riverside Church, 1996.
     The Riverside Church web site: www.theriversidechurchny.org
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of Hook & Hastings organ, Op. 2541 (1929).
     Van Pelt, William T., compiler. The Hook Opus List, 1829-1916 in Facsimile. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1991.

Illustrations:
     Lawson, Steven E. Chapel interior; console of Austin Organ, Op. 2343 (1959-60).
     The Riverside Church Archives. 1960 interior showing Austin Organ, Op. 2343 (1959-60) in concert position. Courtesy Victor K. Jordan, Archivist.