Click on images to enlarge Church of St. Mary the Virgin (Episcopal) 145 West 46th Street New York, N.Y. 10036 http://www.stmvirgin.org Organ Specifications: 145 West 46th Street (since 1895): ► IV/93 Aeolian-Skinner, rev. (2002) ► IV/81 Aeolian-Skinner, Op. 891-A (1942) ► IV/59 Aeolian-Skinner, Op. 891 (1932) ► III/33 Geo. Jardine & Son, Op. 1139 (1896) ► II/8 Martin Bohling, Op. 1 (1960s) – St. Joseph's Hall ► II/6 Casavant Frères, Op. 1498 (1934) – St. Joseph's Hall • Geo. Jardine & Son (c.1895) – St. Joseph's Hall 228 West 45th Street (1870-1895): ► II/20 Geo. Jardine & Son (1886) See also the organs in the Ernest White Studio. The Society of the Free Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in the City of New York was incorporated on December 3, 1868. Father Thomas McKee Brown had the vision to build a church in New York City dedicated to expressing the full witness of Catholic thought in ritual and teaching within the Episcopal Church. A year after his ordination, Father Brown brought his plan to Bishop Potter, who suggested that a church was needed near Longacre Square (renamed Times Square in 1905) on the west side of what is now Midtown. John Jacob Astor gave three lots on West 45th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, “stipulating that the Church should be free, and positively orthodox in management and working.” On April 6, 1868, the cornerstone was laid for the first church, located at 228 West 45th Street (today the site of the Booth Theatre). The rector and trustees named the church for Saint Mary the Virgin, the Blessed Mother of Jesus, openly challenging one of the uglier anti-Catholic prejudices of the day, and making no mistake that this was to be an Episcopal Church in the full Catholic tradition. The first church was designed by William Hallet, and was dedicated on December 8, 1870 (the Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary). Bishop Potter was unable to officiate at the service, perhaps due to his ambivalent if not negative views on Saint Mary’s, and his place was taken by the Rt. Rev. Horatio Southgate, the Episcopal Church’s former missionary bishop to the Ottoman Empire. Father Brown spared no expense in celebrating the Eucharist with full ritual, including a choir of 40 voices and a small orchestra. At a time when the principal service in Episcopal churches was Morning Prayer with the Eucharist only celebrated four times a year, Father Brown, heeding the Tractarian view that “it is the Mass that matters,” moved quickly from celebrating the Eucharist every Sunday to celebrating it every day. By 1890, the congregation had outgrown the church on West 45th Street. In 1892, the late Miss Sara L. Cooke, a member of the parish, left the church a legacy that eventually amounted to $700,000, in addition to real estate. Father Brown and the other trustees decided to use this legacy to fund a new church on an eight-lot parcel running through from 46th to 47th Streets. The new complex was to include a Rectory at the 47th Street end of the lot, a Clergy House (for curates and assistants), and Mission House (for the Sisters). The style would be French Gothic, with a church seating 800 persons. The architectural firm of Napoleon LeBrun & Sons was hired to design the new church. In order to place all the buildings and a church with a lofty interior on the lot, the trustees accepted LeBrun’s recommendation to consider a novel construction method never before tried on a building of such size. LeBrun proposed using a skeleton of iron beams that would bear the weight but create little bulk. LeBrun used cut stone to face the exterior portions which would be visible from the street, and brick was used for the work that would be obscured by the other buildings in the cluster. The cornerstone for the new church was laid on December 8, 1894. The completed church was to be 60 feet wide and 180 feet long, and the nave was to be 80 feet from floor to ceiling and 46 feet wide, surrounded on the east and west sides by 22 stone piers forming the interior support for the clerestory. Outside the piers, on each side, was to be an ambulatory 6 feet wide. The chancel, at the north end of the building, was to be 48 feet deep, terminating with the marble high altar moved from the former church. Today, St. Mary the Virgin is widely-known for its solemn liturgies with pageantry, supported by glorious choral and organ music in the reverberant church. Due to the copious use of incense, the church is fondly and irreverently known as "Smoky Mary's." In 1996-97, the interior of the church was redecorated with vivid colors, including cobalt blue vaulting with gold stars. See also the Ernest White Studio, a page containing information about the organs installed in the Parish House during the tenure of Ernest White, who was for 25 years associated with the Church of St. Mary the Virgin as organist and choirmaster.
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc. Boston, Mass. – Opus 891 (1932), 891-A (1942) Revised by Mann & Trupiano (1988-2002) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 91 stops, 93 ranks                   Chancel console       Rebuilt gallery console The 1995 rebuilding and addition of 17 ranks were made by Mann & Trupiano of Brooklyn, under the direction of Lawrence Trupiano, and with the assistance of many others. The original four-manual Aeolian-Skinner console was completely rebuilt with new drawknobs and keyboards; it was relocated to the chancel but later returned to the rear gallery. A rebuilt three-manual Holtkamp console that can control most of the organ was added in the chancel. From 1988-2002, a total of 32 ranks were added to the organ. Following are the specifications as of 2005.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 32   Salicional [TC] PO 4   Flûte couverte 61 16   Principal 61 3 1/5   Grosse Tierce 61 8   Montre 61 2 2/3   Octave Quinte 61 8   Diapason * 61 2   Doublette 61 8   Flûte harmonique * 61 2   Fourniture III-V ranks 245 8   Violoncelle * 61 1   Cymbale III ranks 183 8   Bourdon  61 2   Harmonics V ranks 305 5 1/3   Grosse Quinte 61 8   Trompette harmonique BO 4   Prestant 61                     Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Flûte conique 73 1 3/5   Tierce * 54 8   Principal 73 2   Plein jeu V ranks 305 8   Bourdon à cheminée 73 2 2/3   Cornet III ranks 183 8   Salicional 73 16   Bombarde 73 8   Voix céleste 73 8   Trompette 73 8   Viole sourdine 73 8   Hautbois 73 4   Prestant 73 8   Voix humaine 73 4   Flûte courte 73 4   Clairon 73 2 2/3   Nasard 61     Tremolo 73 2   Octavin 61     Cloche fou (Zimbelstern)             Positif Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Salicional 73 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Principal * 73 1 1/3   Larigot 61 8   Flûte traversière 73 2 2/3   Plein jeu IV ranks 244 8   Gambe 73 16   Musette 73 8   Gambe céleste 73 8   Trompette * 73 4   Prestant * 73 8   Cromorne 73 4   Flûte d'amour 73 8   Clarinette 73 4   Gemshorn 73 4   Chalumeau 73 2 2/3   Nasard 73     Tremolo 73 2   Piccolo 61                     Bombarde Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes   Grand Choeur Organ (floating) 8   Diapason GT 16   Trompette [TC] — 8   Flûte harmonique GT 8   Trompette * 61 8   Cornet V ranks * [A-d2] 150 4   Trompette [49 notes] 16   Bombarde * 73       8   Trompette harmonique * 73       4   Clairon harmonique * 73                     Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Soubasse [unit] 44 4   Flûte conique SW 16   Flûte ouverte [Soubasse] * — 4   Salicional PO 16   Contre basse [unit] 56 5 1/3   Fourniture IV ranks 128 16   Principal GT 2 2/3   Carillon II ranks [Fourniture] — 16   Bourdon [unit] * 44 32   Grand Cornet IV ranks 128 16   Flûte conique SW 32   Bombarde [unit] 68 16   Salicional PO 16   Bombarde — 10 2/3   Grosse Quinte [GT Cornet] — 16   Bombarde SW 8   Diapason GT 16   Musette PO 8   Contre basse — 8   Trompette harmonique BO 8   Bourdon — 8   Trompette — 8   Flûte conique SW 8   Musette PO 8   Salicional PO 4   Clairon — 4   Doublette [from Fourniture] — 4   Musette PO 4   Contre basse —                 * new pipes installed 1988-2002
photo taken by Ernest White (c.1943) Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc. Boston, Mass. – Opus 891-A (1942) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 70 stops, 81 ranks, 5,011 pipes Extensive revisions and several additions were made in 1942 by G. Donald Harrison as Aeolian-Skinner's Opus 891-A, under the influence of then-organist Ernest White. Further tonal alterations were made later by Ernest White and others. Following are the specifications of the organ as revised by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company.               Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Principal 61 3 1/5   Grosse Tierce 61 16   Quintaton [unit] 73 2 2/3   Octave Quinte 61 8   Principal 61 2   Doublette 61 8   Bourdon 61   Fourniture III-V ranks 245 8   Quintaton —   Cymbale III ranks 183 5 1/3   Quint 61   Harmonics V ranks 305 4   Prestant 61 16   Euphone 61 4   Flute Couverte 61                     Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Flute Conique 73 2   Salicetina 61 8   Geigen Diapason 73   Plein Jeu V ranks 305 8   Bourdon à Cheminee 73   Cornet III ranks 183 8   Salicional 73 16   Bombarde 73 8   Voix céleste 73 8   Trompette 73 8   Viole sourdine II ranks 146 8   Oboe 73 4   Prestant 73 8   Vox Humana 73 4   Flute Courte 73 4   Clairon 73 4   Salicet 73     Tremolo 73 2 2/3   Nazard 61                   Positif Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Salicional 73 2   Piccolo 61 8   Flute Traversiere 73 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Gamba 73 1 1/3   Larigot 61 8   Gamba Celeste 73   Cymbale IV ranks 244 8   Viole 73 16   Musette 73 8   Viole Celeste 73 8   Clarinet 73 8   Spitzflöte 73 8   Cromorne 73 4   Gemshorn 73 4   Chalumeau 73 4   Flute d'Amour 73     Tremolo 2 2/3   Nazard 61                     Bombarde Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes 8   Viole preparation 16   Bombarde preparation 8   Viole Celeste preparation 8   Trompette Harmonique preparation 8   Orchestral Flute preparation 4   Clairon Harmonique preparation   Grande Fourniture VII rks prep.   Tremolo preparation             Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Contre Basse [unit] 56   Fourniture IV ranks 128 16   Quintaton GT   Carillon II rks [Fourniture] — 16   Diapason GT   Grande Cornet IV ranks 128 16   Salicional PO 32   Euphone [ext. GT] 12 16   Flute Conique SW 16   Bombarde [unit] 56 8   Contre Basse — 16   Basson GT 8   Quintaton GT 16   Musette PO 8   Flute Conique SW 8   Trompette — 8   Salicional PO 8   Musette PO 4   Contre Basse — 4   Clairon — 4   Quintaton GT 4   Clarion BO 4   Salicional PO 4   Musette PO 2   Quintaton GT
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc. Boston, Mass. – Opus 891 (1932) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 54 stops, 59 ranks, 2,908 pipes The four-manual Aeolian-Skinner, Opus 891, was installed in 1932, with specification and tonal design by G. Donald Harrison. Palmer Christian played the dedication recital in 1933. The organ was incomplete at the time, having only 59 of the 86 ranks planned, and the proposed case was never built due to lack of funds brought on by the Depression. Proposed Case (Sept. 8, 1929)   Proposed Case by G. Donald Harrison Following are the specifications of Aeolian-Skinner Opus 891 as it was originally designed and installed.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Principal 61 4   Flute Ouverte preparation 8   Principal 61 3 1/5   Grosse Tierce 61 8   Diapason preparation 2 2/3   Octave Quinte 61 8   Flute Harmonique preparation 2   Doublette 61 8   Gemshorn preparation   Harmonics V  ranks 305 5 1/3   Quint 61 16   Double Trumpet BO 4   Principal 61 8   Trumpet BO 4   Octave preparation 4   Clarion BO             Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Flute Conique 73 2   Salicetina 61 8   Principal 73   Plein Jeu V ranks 305 8   Rohrflöte 73   Sesquialtera IV ranks 244 8   Salicional 73 16   Bombarde 73 8   Voix Celeste 73 8   Trompette 73 8   Viole Sourdine 73 8   Oboe 73 8   Voix Eolienne 73 8   Vox Humana 73 4   Octave 73 4   Clairon 73 4   Flute Triangulaire 73     Tremolo 4   Salicet 73                   Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Salicional 73 2   Piccolo 61 8   Geigen Principal 73 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Flute Traversiere 73 1 1/3   Larigot 61 8   Viole 73   Sesquialtera V ranks 305 8   Viole Celeste 73 16   Contra Fagotto preparation 8   Spitzflöte 73 8   Clarinet 73 8   Gemshorn 73 8   Trumpet 73 4   Flute d'Amour 73 4   Clarion preparation 2 2/3   Nazard 73     Tremolo             Bombarde Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes 8   Viole preparation 16   Double Trumpet preparation 8   Viole Celeste preparation 8   Trumpet preparation 8   Orchestral Flute preparation 4   Clarion preparation   Grande Fourniture VII rks prep.   Tremolo preparation             Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Principal [unit] 56 4   Flute — 16   Contre Basse preparation 2   Flute — 16   Flute Ouverte [unit] 68   Harmonics IV ranks preparation 16   Diapason GT 32   Contre Bombarde preparation 16   Salicional CH 16   Bombarde [unit] 56 16   Spitzflöte SW 16   Double Trumpet BO 10 2/3   Quint preparation 16   Fagotto CH 8   Octave — 8   Trompette — 8   Flute — 8   Trumpet BO 8   Violoncello preparation 8   Fagotto CH 6 2/5   Grosse Tierce preparation 4   Clairon — 5 1/3   Octave Quinte preparation 4   Clarion BO 4   Doublette — 4   Fagotto CH
Original organ in present building: Geo. Jardine and Son New York City – Opus 1139 (1896) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 34 stops, 33 ranks Two consoles (gallery and chancel) The first organ in the present church was built by Geo. Jardine & Son of New York City. In 1895, it was moved by Jardine from the former building, enlarged from two to three manuals and equipped with electric action. Two consoles were provided, one in the gallery, and one in the chancel. Unfortunately, the novel use of electricity proved unreliable after a few years. The following specification is from an organ notebook by Lynnwood Farnam (1885-1930), concert organist of the early 20th century..                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes 16   Double Open Diapason 58 4   Octave 58 8   Open Diapason 58 4   Harmonic Flute 58 8   Doppel Flöte 58 2   Piccolo 58 8   Melodia 58 8   Clarinet [TC] 46 8   Viola di Gamba 58                       Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed 8   Open Diapason 58 2   Flageolet 58 8   Lieblich Gedeckt 58   Cornet, 2 ranks 116 8   Clariana 58 8   Trumpet [TC] 46 8   Aeoline 58 8   Bassoon [bass] 12 4   Violina 58 8   Choir Oboe 58                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed [located in chancel] 16   Bourdon Bass 12 4   Octave 58 16   Bourdon Treble 46 4   Boehm Flute 58 8   Open Diapason 58 2 2/3   Quintina 8 8   Salicional 58 2   Super Octave 58 8   Dolce 58 8   Vox Humana 58 8   Gross Flute 58                     Pedal Organ – 30 notes 16   Open Diapason (wood) 30 8   Violoncello 30 16   Bourdon (in chancel) 30 16   Trombone 30                 Couplers (stops over Swell)     Pedal at Octaves       Swell to Chancel       Swell to Pedal       Chancel to Great Sub       Great to Pedal       Swell to Great Octave       Chancel to Pedal       Swell Tremulant *       Swell to Great       Chancel Tremulant *       Chancel to Great       Stop Switch *               * stops on left                   Accessories     2 composition pedals to Chancel             2 composition pedals to Swell             Balanced swell to Swell             Balanced swell to Chancel             2 composition pedals to Great
Organ in St. Joseph's Hall of present building: Martin Bohling New York City (1960s) Direct-electric action 2 manuals, 26 stops, 8 ranks In the 1960s, an organ was built for St. Joseph's Hall by Martin Bohling, who was the organ curator at the time. Bohling's Opus 1 had eight unified ranks on direct-electric action. As some point, the organ was moved to St. Mark's Church in Teaneck, N.J.                 Hauptwerk (Manual I) – 56 notes 8   Prestant   2 2/3   Nasat [TC]   8   Gedackt   2   Rohr Floete   4   Praestant     Mixtur III ranks   4   Gedackt   16   Krumm Horn                   Positiv (Manual II) – 56 notes 8   Gedackt   1 1/3   Larigot   4   Praestant   1   Sifflet   4   Rohr Floete [1-12 Ged.]     Scharf II ranks [Mixtur 8ve]   2   Praestant   8   Krumm Horn                   Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Gedackt 2   Rohr Floete 8   Praestant   Mixtur III ranks 8   Gedackt 16   Krumm Horn 4   Praestant 8   Krumm Horn 4   Gedackt 4   Krumm Horn                 Stop Analysis     Pipes 16   Gedackt 80 8   Praestant 80 2   Rohr Floete 61 1 1/3'   Larigot 56   Mixtur [22-26-29] 168 16   Krumm Horn     68   Total 513
Organ in St. Joseph's Hall and Theatre of present building: Casavant Frères, Limitée St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada – Opus 1498 (1934) Electro-pneumatic action 2 manuals, 26 stops, 6 ranks The second organ in St. Joseph's Hall was built in 1934 by Casavant Frères for the Paul A. Fancher residence in Clinton, N.Y. In 1945, Mr. Fancher donated the organ to the church, in memory of his wife, Edith. The organ had two manuals and six unified ranks, and was entirely enclosed (except for the 8' Open Diapason on the Great). At some point, the organ was moved to the theatre on the second floor of the parish house. In 1992, the organ was sold to someone in Canada.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon [TC]   4   Octave   8   Open Diapason *   4   Flute   8   Stopped Diapason   2 2/3   Twelfth   8   Salicional   2   Piccolo   8   Dulciana       * outside swell box                   Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Contra Salicional [TC]   4   Dulcet   8   Stopped Diapason   2 2/3   Twelfth   8   Salicional   2   Piccolo   8   Voix Celeste   1 3/5   Tierce   8   Dulciana   8   Oboe   4   Violina     Tremulant   4   Flute                         Pedal Organ – 32? notes 16   Bourdon 4   Dulcet 8   Stopped Flute 16   Bassoon 8   Viola             Couplers     Great to Pedal               Swell to Pedal               Swell to Great                           Pedal Movements     Balanced Swell Pedal               Crescendo Pedal
Organ in St. Joseph's Hall of present building: Geo. Jardine and Son New York City (c.1895) Unknown action The Memorial booklet of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, published in 1895, states, "In St. Joseph's Hall is a fine large organ." Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
Chancel showing Jardine organ at left Organ in first church at 228 West 45th Street: Geo. Jardine and Son New York City (1886) Mechanical action 2 manuals, 19 stops, 20 ranks                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes 16   Double Open Diapason 58 8   Melodia 58 8   Open Diapason 58 4   Flute Harmonic 58 8   Violin Gamba 58 4   Principal 58 8   Doppel Flute 58 2   Piccolo 58                 Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed 8   Open Diapason 58 2   Flageolet 58 8   Clariana 58   Cornet, 2 ranks 116 8   Aeolina 58 8   Trumpet & Bassoon 58 8   Lieblich Gedackt 58 8   Vox Humana 58 4   Violino 58   Tremulant                 Pedal Organ – 27 notes 16   Open Diapason 27 16   Bourdon 27
Sources:      Aeolian-Skinner Archives: http://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/      Babin, Kyle. "Music at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, New York City (1868-Present), and Its Importance in the History of Sacred and Secular Music." New York: Manhattan School of Music doctoral thesis, May 2008.      Babin, Kyle. Specifications of Casavant Frères Organ (1934) in St. Joseph's Hall.      Barnes, William Harrison. The Contemporary American Organ: Its Evolution, Design and Construction (Sixth Edition). New York: J. Fischer & Bro., 1956.      Callahan, Charles. The American Classic Organ - A History in Letters. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1990. Aeolian-Skinner shop notes dated October 12, 1955.      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" with specification of Jardine organ, Op. 1139 (1896). John de Lancie Library, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia. Courtesy Sally Branca, archivist, and Jonathan Bowen.      Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.      Memorial of the New Church on the 25th Anniversary of the Parish, Feast of the Conception of the Virgin Mary 1895. New York: The Board of Trustees of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, 1895.      Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977.      Read, Newbury Frost. The Story of St. Mary's. New York: The Board of Trustees of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, 1931.      St. Mary the Virgin website: www.stmvirgin.org      Trupiano, Larry. Specifications of Martin Bohling organ, Op. 1 (1960s) in St. Joseph's Hall. Photos:      The Architectural Record (Vol. XXVII, No. 5, May 1910): exterior (c.1910).      Ave (Dec. 1969), newsletter of St. Mary the Virgin: proposed case by G. Donald Harrison for Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 891.      Read, Newbury Frost. The Story of St. Mary's: exterior and chancel of 45th Street church.      Rust, John: Color photos of interior; rebuilt gallery console (1995); Holtkamp console in chancel.      St. Mary the Virgin Archives: chancel boy choir (1900).      Trupiano, Larry: proposed case (Sep. 8, 1929) for Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 891.      White, Ernest: photo of Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 891-A (c.1943); courtesy Kyle Babin.
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