click on images to enlarge Church of St. Jean Baptiste (Roman Catholic) 184 East 76th Street at Lexington Avenue New York, N.Y. 10021 http://www.sjbrcc.org/ Organ Specifications: Upper Church: ► IV/81 Wicks Organ Company, Op. 6388 (2000) ► IV/63 Murray M. Harris Company, Op. 104 (1913) ► II/9 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 7581 (1947) – Lower Church • II/19s M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 1404 (1912) – Lower Church In the early part of 1800, a large number of French-speaking people resided in New York City. A Mr. Gabriel Franchère, who came from Montreal, Canada, as one of the secretaries of the Pacific Fur Company founded by John Jacob Astor, reports: "In 1810 there were in New York City 32 churches, two of which were Catholic. The population was up to ninety thousand, of whom ten thousand were French-speaking." In 1841, St. Peter's Church, on Barclay Street, established a mission to the French Catholic population by building St. Vincent de Paul Church on Canal Street. As the French population moved northward, a new St. Vincent de Paul was built on West 23rd Street in 1867. St. Vincent de Paul Church was quite a distance from the Yorkville section of the city where a fairly large group of French Canadians had settled. They had the choice of using the slow-moving horse-drawn trolley along Third Avenue or the more expensive trains of the Harlem Railroad with its open tracks along the northern part of Fourth Avenue, now called Park Avenue. The Societé Saint Jean Baptiste, founded in 1850, established L'Eglise de St. Jean Baptiste in 1882, at first meeting in a stable at 202 East 77th Street while a church was built in 1882-85 at 159 East 76th Street. In 1892, St. Jean Baptiste became a shrine to St. Anne with the presentation of a relic from Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec, and the resulting crowds regularly overflowed the church. The construction of the present church building was due, in large part, to the contributions of Thomas Fortune Ryan and his wife. Ryan, a devout and wealthy man of unassuming ways, preferred St. Jean's to the large and showy parishes near his Fifth Avenue home, and the Blessed Sacrament Fathers served as his wife's private chaplains at the Ryan's country home in Suffern, New York. One day he arrived late for mass and found that there was standing room only. At the conclusion of the service, he approached the officiating priest and asked how much it would cost to build a new church. The priest answered, apparently off the top of his head, "$300,000." Ryan replied, "Get some plans and I will pay for it." The new church, completed in 1913, was designed by Nicholas Serracino in the Italian Baroque style, with a massive, freestanding Corinthian portico, twin bell towers, and a magnificent dome which rises 175 feet over the crossing of the nave and transepts. The stained glass windows of the church are some of the finest in the city, having been crafted in Chartres, France, before the outbreak of World War I. Its total cost was ultimately close to $600,000. By the 1960s, the demographics had changed and French masses were no longer offered. The vast Lower Church, as large as the main church above, was reconfigured to be the parish Community Center with meeting rooms and a theater. Today, the church hosts productions of DiCapo Opera, one of New York's finest independent companies, and the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony. In the 1990s, after selling its air rights to the adjacent Siena apartment tower, the church began a program to restore the building's crumbling exterior. The interior, which was originally somber, was renovated and redecorated in vivid colors by Felix Chavez, Inc. of New York City. In 1969, the Church of St. Jean Baptiste was designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.             Wicks Organ Company Highland, Ill. – Opus 6388 (2000) Direct-Electric key action Solid State combination action 4 manuals, 122 stops, 81 pipe ranks As part of the renovation of St. Jean Baptiste, the Wicks Organ Company received the contract in 1999 to replace the 1913 Murray M. Harris organ which had become unplayable by the 1990s. The new organ contains 11 divisions, playable from a movable four-manual console located in the lower gallery, and retains the facade and many stops from the original organ.                 UPPER GALLERY                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Double Open Diapason * 61 2 2/3   Twelfth 61 8   Principal 61 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Open Diapason * 61   Mixture IV ranks 244 8   Gedeckt * 61   Cymbal IV ranks digital 8   Gamba * 61 8   Trumpet 61 4   Octave 61   Great Unison Off 4   Flute 61     Solo Melody to Great               Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Lieblich Gedeckt * 61 16   Contra Oboe * 61 8   Violin Diapason * 61 8   Trumpet * 61 8   Clarabella * 61 8   Oboe [ext.] * 12 8   Stopped Diapason [ext.] * 12 8   Vox Humana * 61 8   Salicional * 61 4   Clarion * 61 8   Voix Celeste [TC] * 49   Tremulant 4   Octave * 61   Vox Humana Tremulant 4   Wald Flute * 61   Swell 16' 2 2/3   Nazard 61   Swell Unison Off 2   Piccolo 61   Swell 4' 1 3/5   Tierce 61           Mixture IV ranks * 244     Cymbelstern               Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Principal * 61 1 1/3   Larigot 61 8   Rohr Flute 61   Mixture III ranks * 183 8   Viole de Gamba 61 8   Clarinet * 61 8   Gamba Celeste [TC] 49 8   Cromhorne digital 8   Flauto Dolce 61   Tremulant 8   Flute Celeste [TC] 49   Choir 16' 4   Choral Principal * 61   Choir Unison Off 4   Harmonic Flute 61   Choir 4'   2   Flautino [ext. Rohr Flute] 24 8   Fanfare Trumpet SO             Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   English Horn digital   Cornet V ranks [mounted] digital 8   Grand Diapason * 61 8   Tuba Mirabilis * 61 8   Doppelflöte 61   Tremulant 8   Gross Gamba * 61   Solo 16' 8   Gamba Celeste * 61   Solo Unison Off 8   Dulciana/Unda Maris II ranks * 122   Solo 4' 4   Octave * 61   Great to Solo 8'   4   Flute * 61 8   Fanfare Trumpet digital           Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Principal digital 5 1/3   Quint 32 32   Bourdon * 32 4   Super Octave * 32 32   Violone digital 4   Flauto Major SO 16   Open Wood * 32   Grand Cornet IV ranks digital 16   Open Metal digital 32   Posaune digital 16   Open Diapason GT 16   Ophicleide * 32 16   Violone * 32 16   Bombarde digital 16   Dulciana * 32 16   Contre Trompette digital 16   Bourdon * 32 16   Contra Oboe SW 16   Lieblich Gedeckt SW 8   Tromba * 32 8   Octave * 32 8   Trompette SW 8   Gedeckt SW 4   Clairon * 32 8   Violoncello GT                   LOWER GALLERY             Grande Orgue (Manual II) – 61 notes, unenclosed 16   Bourdon digital 2   Doublette 61 8   Montre 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Bourdon 61   Plein Jeu IV ranks 244 8   Flûte Harmonique digital 16   Basson digital 8   Salicional digital 8   Trompette 61 4   Prestant 61 4   Clairon digital 4   Flûte Ouverte digital   Chimes digital 2 2/3   Quint digital   Grande Orgue Unison Off             Récit (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Principal Conique 61 8   Cor Anglais digital 8   Flûte Traversière 61 8   Hautbois 61 8   Viole de Gambe * 61 8   Trompette Harmonique digital 8   Voix Céleste digital 4   Clairon digital 4   Flûte Octaviante 61   Tremblant 1 1/3   Larigot 61   Récit Unison Off     Plein Jeu V ranks digital                     Pédale – 32 notes 16   Contrebasse digital 4   Flûte digital 16   Soubasse digital 16   Petite Bombarde digital 8   Octave digital   Chimes G.O. 8   Flûte G.O.                 TRIFORIUM (North transept)             Grande Orgue (Manual II) – 61 notes 8   Montre digital   Triforium to Great 16' 8   Bourdon digital   Triforium to Great 8' 4   Prestant digital   Triforium to Great 4'     Plein Jeu III ranks digital                   Récit (Manual III) – 61 notes, expressive 8   Flûte Harmonique digital 8   Hautbois digital 8   Viole de Gambe digital   Tremblant 8   Voix Céleste digital 8   Trompette de Fanfare digital 4   Flûte Octaviante digital   Récit Unison Off                 Pédale – 32 notes 16   Bourdon digital     16   Basson digital             * ranks from 1913 Murray Harris organ         digital stops by Walker Technical Company           MIDI     16 knobs (in two columns) controlling dedicated MIDI stops           Couplers and Controls (tablets on nameboard)     Great to Pédale 8'     Solo to Choir 16', 8', 4'     Swell to Pédale 8', 4'     Récit to Choir 16', 8'     Choir to Pédale 8'     Great to Choir 8'     Solo to Pédale 8', 4'     Choir to Swell 8'     Grande Orgue to Pédale 8'     Solo to Swell 8'     Récit to Pédale 8'     Récit to Solo 8'     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'           Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'     Ventil Gallery Mute     Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'     Ventil Triforium Mute     Récit to Great 16', 8'     Manual Transfer I - II     Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'     Récit Gallery Shades Off           Adjustable Combinations     Great Pistons 1-8 + 0 affecting Great stops (thumb) Swell Pistons 1-8 + 0 affecting Swell stops (thumb) Choir Pistons 1-8 + 0 affecting Choir stops (thumb) Solo Pistons 1-8 + 0 affecting Solo stops (thumb) Pedal Pistons 1-8 affecting Pedal stops (toe) Grande Orgue Pistons 1-8 affecting Grande Orgue stops (thumb) Récit Pistons 1-8 affecting Récit stops (thumb) Triforium Pistons 1-8 affecting Récit stops (thumb) General Pistons 1-12 affecting all stops and couplers (thumb & toe) General Pistons 13-24 affecting all stops and couplers (thumb only)   General Cancel   Set Piston           Reversibles and Sequencer Controls     Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)     Swell to Choir (thumb)     Swell to Pedal (thumb & toe)     Tutti I (thumb & toe)     Choir to Pedal (thumb & toe)     Tutti II (thumb & toe)     Solo to Pedal (thumb & toe)     Principal 32' (toe)     Grande Orgue to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Posaune 32' (toe)     Récit to Pedal (thumb)     Bourdon 32' (toe)     Swell to Great (thumb)     Violone 32' (toe)     Choir to Great (thumb)     Cymbelstern (thumb)     Solo to Great (thumb)     Previous (toe)     Solo Melody to Great (thumb)     Next (toe)             Balanced Expression Pedals     Three assignable swell pedals to control Swell, Solo, Choir and Récit divisions     Crescendo Pedal                       Murray Harris facade and Kilgen console Murray M. Harris Company Los Angeles, Calif. – Opus 104 (1913) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 60 stops, 61 ranks The Murray Harris organ built for St. Jean Baptiste was a gift from Mr. Thomas F. Ryan. Built in 1913, it is perhaps the last instrument designed by Murray Harris, as the contract was completed by the Johnston Piano and Organ Company. The organ was blessed on Sunday, January 4, 1914, and first used that evening in recital by Gaston M. Dethier (1875-1958), who was Professor of Organ at the Juilliard School. The specification and scaling of the instrument were carried out by Arthur Scott Brook in collaboration with Murray Harris. Mr. Brook had most recently finished designing an instrument for the Hon. William A. Clarks' Fifth Avenue mansion. The Italian Renaissance facade, which stands today, follows the case design of the organ in the 16th century Church of Santa Maria della Scala in Siena, Italy. In the 1940's, the Kilgen Organ Company of St. Louis, MO, installed a new four-manual console to replace the original Murray Harris. The instrument continued to serve the parish until it became unplayable in the early 1990's. Pipecounts below are suggested, based on other Murray M. Harris organs of the era.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Double Open Diapason 61 4   Principal 61 8   First Open Diapason 61 4   Octave 61 8   Second Open Diapason 61 4   Harmonic Flute 61 8   Dopple Flute 61 2 2/3   Twelfth 61 8   Gamba 61 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Viola d'Amour 61 8   Trumpet  61                 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Lieblich Gedeckt 73 4   Octave 73 8   Open Diapason 73 4   Wald Flute 73 8   Violin Diapason 73 2   Harmonic Piccolo 61 8   Salicional 73   Mixture IV ranks 244 8   Viol Celeste [TC] 61 16   Contra Oboe 73 8   Viol d'Orchestre 73 8   Horn 73 8   Lieblich Gedeckt 73 8   Orchestral Oboe 73 8   Clarabella 73 4   Clarion 73                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Double Dulciana 61 8   Dulciana 61 8   Geigen Principal 61 8   Viola 61 8   Flauto Traverso 61 4   Flute d'Amour 61 8   Quintadena 61 8   Clarinet 61                 Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Grand Diapason 73 8   Philomela 73 8   Saxophone [labial?] 73 8   Flauto Major 73 8   Gross Gamba 73 8   Tuba Mirabilis 73 8   Vox Seraphic 73                     Echo Organ – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Keraulophon 73 8   Vox Seraphic 73 8   Rohr Flute 73 8   Unda Maris [TC] 61 8   Vox Mystica [TC] 61 4   Nachthorn 73                 Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Contra Bourdon 32 16   Dulcet Bass CH 16   Open Diapason 32 8   Octave 32 16   Contra Basso GT 8   Gedeckt 32 16   Violone 32 8   Violoncello 32 16   Bourdon 32 4   Carillon 32 16   Dulciana 32 16   Trombone 32             Organ in the Lower Church: M. P. Möller, Inc. Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 7581 (1947) Electro-pneumatic action 2 manuals, 34 registers, 20 stops, 9 ranks The M.P. Möller Factory Specification, dated March 1, 1947, shows that their Op. 7581 was entirely enclosed in a single expression chamber and had a detached stop-key console. Möller reused many pipes from the previous Möller organ, Op. 1404 of 1912. The entire organ was voiced on 4" wind pressure.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Diapason 85 4   Flute [fr. Clarabella] — 8   Clarabella 85 4   Dulcet [fr. Dulciana] — 8   Dulciana 85   Tremolo 4   Octave [fr. Diapason] —   Chimes preparation                 Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 97 4   Flute d'Amour [fr. Bourdon] — 8   Geigen Principal 73 2 2/3   Nasard [fr. Bourdon] — 8   Viole d'Gamba 73 2   Flautino [fr. Bourdon] — 8   Voix Celeste [TC] 61 8   Trumpet 73 8   Gedeckt [fr. Bourdon] —   Tremolo                 Pedal Organ – 32 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 44 8   Gedeckt SW 16   Lieblich Gedeckt SW 4   Flute SW 8   Flute [fr. Bourdon] —                     Couplers     Great to Pedal   Great 16', Unison, 4'     Swell to Pedal   Swell 16', Unison, 4'     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'                     Adjustable Combinations     Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Great and Pedal Stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Swell and Pedal Stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Full Organ                 Pedal Movements     Balanced Expression Pedal   Sforzando Reversible     Balanced Crescendo Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible                 Accessories     Expression Indicator (light)     Sforzando Indicator (light)     Crescendo Indicator (light)     Action Current Indicator (light)             Organ in the Lower Church: M. P. Möller, Inc. Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 1404 (1912) Electro-pneumatic action 2 manuals, 19 registers Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.             Sources:      Brown, Kyler. Document with specifications of the organs at the Church of St. Jean Baptiste.      Church of St. Jean Baptiste web site: http://www.sjbrcc.org/      Dolkart, Andrew S. and Matthew A. Postal. Guide to New York City Landmarks. 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.      Kloda, Barry. Specifications of Wicks Organ, Op. 6388 (2000).      Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.      Scofield, Jeff. M.P. Möller Opus List.      Smith, David Lennox (ed. by Orpha Ochse). Murray M. Harris and Organ Building in Los Angeles, 1894-1913. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 2005.      Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 7581 (1947). Photos:      St. Jean Baptiste web site. Exterior and interior.      Wicks Organ Company. Interior view of rear gallery, Wicks organ console.     | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |