Rutgers Presbyterian Church 236 West 73rd Street at Broadway New York, N.Y. 10023 http://www.rutgerschurch.com Organ Specifications: 236 West 73rd Street (since 1926) ► IV/70 Southfield Organ Builders, Op. 66 (2005) ► IV/44 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 4276 (1926) ► II/6 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 4277 (1926) – Chapel Broadway corner 73rd Street (1890-1926) ► II/22 Frank Roosevelt, Op. 436 (1890) 90 Madison Avenue at 20th Street (1863-1890) • II/22 Ferris & Stuart (1870) Second church at Rutgers and Henry Streets (1842-1863) • III/36 Thomas Robjohn (1845) When the first Rutgers congregation dedicated its first sanctuary on the corner of Henry and Rutgers Streets in Lower Manhattan on May 13, 1798, that congregation and sanctuary were the third unit of the Collegiate Presbyterian Church of New York City. It was north and east of the previous two units: the Church on Wall Street, now First Presbyterian (founded in 1716) and the New Church, now Brick Presbyterian (founded in 1765) at Beekman and Ann Streets. It was built on a plot of ground donated by Colonel Henry Rutgers, and paid for by contributions from the members. The three units shared the services of a three-person ministerial team, of which the Reverend Dr. John Rodgers was senior pastor. In 1809, each of these three units was separately incorporated, and the Reverend Dr. Philip Milledolar was assigned as pastor to the Rutgers Street Church. By 1830, during the pastorates of two successors, Rutgers had become the largest Presbyterian church in the denomination, with 1,157 members. The old frame church was replaced in 1843 with a large stone structure (still standing and in use as the Roman Catholic Church of St. Teresa of Avila). Because of the dynamic growth of the city and the profound demographic changes thereby brought about, the congregation decided in 1863 to move "uptown," taking over the Lenox Chapel at 29th and Madison, where a small, pastorless Presbyterian congregation was in residence. That group eventually became members of Rutgers, under the inspiring leadership of the Reverend Dr. John M. Krebs, who had been called to Rutgers in 1830 and spent his entire career there (1830-1867). Although the membership was now less than half of its all-time high (many additional Presbyterian churches having been opened in the city), the congregation, in 1873, demolished the Lenox Chapel and built an elaborate, expensive church on the spot. Again, population changes, and the post-Civil War prosperity that transformed the church neighborhood into a largely business district, eroded the membership to an alarmingly low level. By 1884 the congregation was considering dissolution and the sale of the property. The church was closed for nine months. But a devoted core of officers and members invited the Rev. Dr. Robert Russell Booth (then at liberty and a charismatic presence) to head the church, which reopened at the end of January 1885. But the location of the church remained a hindrance to real growth, and in 1887 the congregation accepted the invitation of the Presbytery's Church Extension Committee to move to a newly opening section of the city at 73rd and Broadway. Through proceeds from the sale of the Madison Avenue property, a chapel was built in 1888 (approximately on the site of the present sanctuary), and a large church in the Romanesque style on the corner was dedicated in 1890. At the new location and under the new leadership, the church flourished, as the Upper West Side underwent a building boom and acquired a considerable social cachet. By the time Rutgers celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 1898, it had 386 members, many of whom were prominent in civic circles. With the arrival of the Reverend Dr. Daniel Russell in 1915 (he remained as pastor for 27 years) another period of growth and change began. In 1925, when the membership was 445, the existing plant was demolished and the present aggregation of sanctuary, church house and bank building was erected.                     click on images to enlarge Southfield Organ Builders, Inc. Springfield, Mass. – Opus 62 (2003), Opus 66 (2005) Electro-pneumatic slider and unit action Digital stops by Marshall and Ogletree 4 manuals, 87 stops, 70 pipe ranks, 3 digital ranks Southfield Organ Builders of Springfield, Mass., built a new organ in Rutgers Presbyterian Church, installing it in two phases during 2003 and 2005. The four-manual organ has a total of 70 ranks, plus 3 digitals ranks by Marshall and Ogletree. Several ranks from the previous Möller organ, Op. 4276 (1926), were retained and revoiced, and the 1926 Möller drawknob console shell was refitted with upgraded controls and made movable. The new organ was dedicated by Ken Cowan on Sunday, May 22, 2005.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Dbl. Open Diapason [ext.] * 12 2   Fifteenth 61 16   Gemshorn 61 1 1/3   Mixture IV ranks 244 8   Open Diapason * 61 (8)   Cornet IV ranks [TC] 196 8   Harmonic Flute * 61 16   Double Trumpet 61 8   Doppelflute * 61 8   Trumpet * 61 8   Gemshorn [ext.] 12   Tremolo 4   Octave * 61 8   Trompette en Chamade ANT 4   Gemshorn [ext.] 12   MIDI on Great 4   Koppelflöte 61     Zimbelstern               Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon * 68 2   Flautino * 61 8   Open Diapason 68 1 1/3   Larigot 61 8   Viola 68 (1)   Plein Jeu IV ranks 244 8   Viola Celeste [TC] 56 (8)   Sesquialtera II ranks 68 8   Stopped Diapason 68 16   Double Trumpet * 68 8   Salicional * 68 8   French Trumpet * 68 8   Voix Celeste [TC] * 56 8   Oboe * 68 8   Flauto Dolce 68 8   Vox Humana * 68 8   Flute Celeste [TC] 56 4   Clarion * 68 4   Spitz Principal 68     Tremolo   4   Rohrflöte 68     MIDI on Swell   2   Principal 61                     Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Double Dulciana * 68 2   Concert Piccolo * 61 8   English Diapason * 68 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Concert Flute * 68 16   Bassoon 68 8   Gedeckt 68 8   Clarinet * 68 8   Dulciana [ext.] * 12 8   English Trumpet 68 8   Unda Maris [TC] * 56 4   Rohr Schalmei 68 4   Principal 68   Tremolo 4   Spitzflöte 68 8   Harp [TC] 49 bars 4   Octave Dulciana [ext.] * 12 4   Celesta 2 2/3   Nazard 61     MIDI on Choir   2   Octave 61                         Antiphonal Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, partially enclosed 8   Principal + 68 8   Vox Humana 68 8   Echo Flute * 68 8   Trompette en Chamade 61 8   Muted Viol 68     Tremolo   8   Vox Angelica [TC] 56     Chimes   4   Octave [ext.] + 12     MIDI on Antiphonal   4   Fern Flute [ext.] * 12     + unenclosed   2   Fifteenth + 61                     Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Contre Diapason digital 4   Choral Bass [ext.] 12 32   Contre Bourdon digital 4   Nachthorn 32 16   Double Open Diapason * 32 4   Gemshorn GT 16   Principal GT 2 2/3   Mixture III ranks 96 16   Bourdon * 32 32   Contre Bombarde digital 16   Gemshorn GT 16   Trombone * 32 16   Lieblich Gedeckt SW 16   Double Trumpet SW 16   Double Dulciana CH 16   Bassoon CH 16   Antiphonal Bourdon 32 8   Tromba [ext.] 12 8   Diapason [ext.] 12 8   Trumpet CH 8   Octave 32 4   Clarion [ext.] 12 8   Flute 12 4   Cremona CH 8   Still Gedeckt SW     MIDI on Pedal                   * ranks rebuilt and revoiced from M.P. Moller organ, Op. 4276 (1926)                 Couplers     Great to Pedal 8', 4'     Choir/Great Manual Transfer     Swell to Pedal 8', 4'     Great 4', Unison Off     Choir to Pedal 8', 4'     Swell 16', 4', Unison Off     Antiphonal to Pedal 8'     Choir 16', 4', Unison Off     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'     Antiphonal 4', Unison Off     Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'           Antiphonal to Great 8', 4'     Rocking tablets:     Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'     Tower Carillon     Antiphonal to Choir 8'     Antiphonal Carillon                             M. P. Möller, Inc. Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 4276 (1926) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 56 stops, 44 ranks The original organ in the present sanctuary was built by M.P. Möller of Hagerstown, Md. Möller provided an organ case of plain white oak, and a four-manual drawknob console. Möller also reused most of the pipes from the 1890 Frank Roosevelt organ (Op. 436) that was in the previous church. In the contract dated March 18, 1925, is the following note: Party of the first part [Möller] agrees to build and finish the organ to the entire satisfaction and supervision of Mr. Edward Shippen Barnes, or any other expert named by party of the second part [Rutgers], and to construct the console so that the pistons operate the draw knobs and stop keys, noiselessly and instantaneously. The voicing is to be done to the entire satisfaction of said expert. Party of the first part will revoice or replace any set or sets of pipes if ncessary. It is also understood that quality and delivery date are to be the essence of this contract. The organ was dedicated during the morning service on March 13, 1926.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, partially enclosed 16   Open Diapason 73 4   Flute Harmonic + * 61 8   Open Diapason * 61 2 2/3   Twelfth + * 61 8   Open Diapason [ext. 16'] — 2   Fifteenth + * 61 8   Doppel Flute + * 61   Mixture III ranks + * 183 8   Melodia + 61 8   Tuba + 61 4   Octave + * 61     + enclosed in separate swell box             Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon * 73 4   Gemshorn * 73 8   Open Diapason 73 4   Wald Flute * 73 8   Violin Diapason * 73 2   Flautina * 61 8   Viole d'Orchestre 73 16   Double Trumpet 73 8   Salicional 73 8   French Trumpet 73 8   Vox Celeste 73 8   Oboe 73 8   Aeoline* 73 8   Vox Humana 73 8   Spitz Flute * 73 4   Clarion 61 8   Stopped Diapason * 73                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Double Dulciana [unit] 85 4   Rohr Flute 73 8   English Open Diapason 73 4   Octave Dulciana — 8   Dulciana — 2   Concert Piccolo (Harm.) 61 8   Unda Maris [TC] 61 8   Clarinet (Orchestral) 73 8   Violoncello 73 8   Celesta [TC] 49 bars 8   Concert Flute 73 4   Celesta —                 Echo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Echo Flute 73 4   Violin [ext. 8'] — 4   Fern Flute [ext. 8'] — 8   Vox Humana 61 8   Muted Viole 73     Chimes [Deagan "A"] 25 tubes             Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Open Diapason * 32 8   Still Gedeckt SW 16   Second Open Diapason 44 8   Diapason [2nd O.D.] — 16   Open Diapason GT 8   Violoncello CH 16   Double Dulciana CH 16   Double Trumpet SW 16   Bourdon * 44 16   Trombone 44 16   Lieblich Gedeckt SW 8   Tromba [ext. 16'] — 8   Flute [Bourdon] —     * ranks retained from Roosevelt organ, Op. 436 (1890)                 Couplers     Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'     Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Off     Choir to Pedal 8'   Choir 16', 4', Unison Off     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Echo on Great Off     Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Echo to Great           Mechanicals     Great Tremulant   Crescendo Indicator     Swell Tremulant   Sforzando Indicator     Choir Tremulant   Generator Indicator     Echo Tremulant               Adjustable Combination Pistons     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 & 0 affecting Great Organ, Pedal ON & OFF     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 & 0 affecting Swell Organ     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 & 0 affecting Choir Organ     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 & 0 affecting Pedal Organ     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 & 0 affecting Entire Organ, including couplers     Pistons No. 1-2-3 & 0 affecting Echo Organ                 By Manual Pistons – Not Reversible     Pedal 16' off Pedal Stops } Under Great to right     Manual 16' off Manual Stops }                 Pedal Movements     Grand Crescendo Pedal     Balanced Expression Pedal affecting Great Organ     Balanced Expression Pedal affecting Swell Organ     Balanced Expression Pedal affecting Choir Organ     Balanced Expression Pedal affecting Echo Organ     Reversible Stud affecting Full Organ (Sforzando)     Reversible Stud affecting Great to Pedal Coupler     Reversible Stud affecting Swell to Pedal Coupler     Reversible Stud affecting Swell to Great 4' Coupler     Reversible Stud affecting Swell 4' Coupler     Reversible Stud off Great 16' Open                 Chapel Organ M. P. Möller, Inc. Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 4277 (1926) Electro-pneumatic action 2 manuals, 10 stops, 6 ranks When the present church facilities were opened in 1926, the chapel contained a small organ built by M.P. Möller. The six ranks of pipes were voiced on 5" wind pressure, and were controlled by a two-manual stop-key console. All of the pipes were enclosed in one expression box.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Diapason Phonon 61 8   Echo Salicional 61 8   Stopped Diapason 61 4   Flute Traverso 61             Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Gedeckt GT 8   Echo Salicional GT 4   Flute GT 8   Vox Celeste [TC] 49                 Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Bourdon 44 8   Bass Flute [ext. 16'] —                 Couplers     Great to Pedal 8'     Great 16', 4', Unison Separation     Swell to Pedal 8'     Swell 16', 4', Unison Separation     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'                       Mechanicals     Tremulant               Crescendo Indicator                           Adjustable Combinations     Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Great and Pedal Stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Swell and Pedal Stops                 Pedal Movements     Great to Pedal Reversible           Balanced Swell Pedal           Grand Crescendo Pedal                       Organ in previous church on Broadway, corner 73rd Street: Frank Roosevelt New York City – Opus 436 (1890) Tracker-pneumatic action 2 manuals, 20 stops, 22 ranks                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes 8   Open Diapason 58 4   Octave 58 8   Viola di Gamba 58 2 2/3   Twelfth 58 8   Doppel Flute 58 2   Fifteenth 58 8   Spitz Flute 58 8   Trumpet 58 4   Hohl Flöte 58                     Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon [bass and treble] * 58 4   Flute Harmonique 58 8   Violin Diapason 58 2   Flautina 58 8   Stopped Diapason 58   Cornet, 3 ranks 174 8   Dolce 58 8   Oboe 58 4   Gemshorn 58   * split knob             Pedal Organ – 30 notes 16   Open Wood 30         16   Bourdon 30                         Couplers (over Swell manual)     Great to Pedal       Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal       Swell to Great Octaves                   Accessories     Tremolo       Balanced Swell pedal       2 adjustable composition pedals to Great   Full organ pedal       2 adjustable composition pedals to Swell   Great to Pedal reversible                   Organ in previous church at 90 Madison Avenue: Ferris & Stuart New York City (1870) Mechanical action 2 manuals, 22 stops Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.                 Organ in second church at Rutgers and Henry Streets: Thomas Robjohn New York City (1845) Mechanical action 3 manuals, 36 stops Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.                 Sources:      Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.      Farnam, Lynnwood. "Organ Notebook," p.483 (specification of Roosevelt organ, op. 436). John de Lancie Library, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia; Sally Branca, archivist; courtesy Jonathan Bowen.      Möller Organ Opus List, courtesy Jeff Scofield.      Roberts, Vera Mowry. The Story of Rutgers Church. New York: Rutgers Presbyterian Church, 1998.      Roosevelt Organ Opus List, compiled by Sand Lawn; courtesy David C. Scribner.      Rutgers Presbyterian Church website: http://www.rutgerschurch.com      Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 4276 (1926)      Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 4277 (1926) Photos and Images:      Rust, John: Southfield organ.      Rutgers Presbyterian Church website: historic drawings                 | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |