The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin - New York City
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Church of St. Mary the Virgin
(Episcopal)

145 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036

http://www.stmvirgin.org


Organ Specifications:
145 West 46th Street (since 1895):
IV/93 Aeolian-Skinner, rev. (2002)
IV/76 Aeolian-Skinner, Op. 891-A (1942)
IV/59 Aeolian-Skinner, Op. 891 (1932)
III/33 Geo. Jardine & Son, Op. 1139 (1896)
• 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 this parish, left the church a legacy which 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.

Church of St. Mary the Virgin - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
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, Op. 891 (1932) at Church of St. Mary the Virgin - New York City (photo: John Rust)

Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc.
Boston, MA – Opus 891 (1932), 891-A (1942)
Revised by Mann & Trupiano (1988-2002)
Electro-pneumatic key and stop action
4 manuals, 91 stops, 93 ranks

               
The 1995 rebuilding and 17 ranks of additions were made by Mann & Trupiano of Brooklyn, under the direction of Lawrence Trupiano, and with the assistance of many others. The original 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 which 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 of the organ 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 [ext. Fl. ouverte]
12
4
  Flûte conique
SW
16
  Flûte ouverte *
32
4
  Salicional
PO
16
  Contre basse
32
5 1/3
  Fourniture IV ranks
128
16
  Principal
GT
2 2/3
  Carillon II ranks [from Fourniture]
16
  Bourdon *
32
32
  Grand Cornet IV ranks
128
16
  Flûte conique
SW
32
  Bombarde [ext. 16]
12
16
  Salicional
PO
16
  Bombarde
32
10 2/3
 
Grosse Quinte [from GT Cornet]
16
  Bombarde
SW
8
  Diapason
GT
16
  Musette
PO
8
  Contre basse [ext. 16]
12
8
  Trompette harmonique
BO
8
  Bourdon * [ext. 16]
12
8
  Trompette [ext. 16]
12
8
  Flûte conique
SW
8
  Musette
PO
8
  Salicional
PO
4
  Clairon [ext. 16]
12
4
  Doublette [from Fourniture]
4
  Musette
PO
4
  Contre basse [ext. 16]
12
 
     

     

  * new pipes, 1988-2002  

               

 

Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 891 (1932) at Church of St. Mary the Virgin - New York City (photo: John Rust)

Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc.
Boston, MA – Opus 891-A (1942)
Electro-pneumatic key and stop action
4 manuals, 69 stops, 76 ranks, 4,731 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 left by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company.
             
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
 
16
  Principal
61
4
  Flute Couverte
61
16
  Quintaton
61
3 1/5
  Grosse Tierce
61
8
  Principal
61
2 2/3
  Octave Quinte
61
8
  Bourdon
61
2
  Doublette
61
8
  Quintaton [ext.]
12
  Fourniture III-V ranks
245
5 1/3
  Quint
61
  Harmonics V ranks
305
4
  Prestant
61
16
  Euphone
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
73
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
preparation

 

 
Tremolo
preparation

 

     

 

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes    
16
  Contre Basse
32
  Fourniture IV ranks
128
16
  Quintaton
GT
  Carillon II ranks [from Fourniture]
16
  Diapason
GT
  Grande Cornet IV ranks
48
16
  Salicional
PO
32
  Euphone [ext. GT]
12
16
  Flute Conique
SW
16
  Bombarde
32
8
  Contre Basse [ext.]
12
16
  Basson
GT
8
  Quintaton
GT
16
  Musette
PO
8
  Flute Conique
SW
8
  Trompette [ext.]
12
8
  Salicional
PO
8
  Musette
PO
4
  Contre Basse [ext.]
12
4
  Clairon [ext.]
12
4
  Quintaton
GT
4
  Clarion
BO
4
  Salicional
PO
4
  Musette
PO
2
  Quintaton
GT
     

             

 

Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 891 (1932) at Church of St. Mary the Virgin - New York City (photo: John Rust)

Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc.
Boston, MA – Opus 891 (1932)
Electro-pneumatic key and stop 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.


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
preparation

 

 
Tremolo
preparation

 

     

 

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Principal
32
4
  Flute [ext.]
12
16
 
Contre Basse
preparation
4
  Flute [ext.]
12
16
  Flute Ouverte
32
 
Harmonics IV ranks
preparation
16
  Diapason
GT
32
 
Contre Bombarde
preparation
16
  Salicional
CH
16
  Bombarde
32
16
  Spitzflöte
SW
16
  Double Trumpet
BO
10 2/3
 
Quint
preparation
16
  Fagotto
CH
8
  Octave [ext.]
12
8
  Trompette [ext.]
12
8
  Flute [ext.]
12
8
  Trumpet
BO
8
 
Violoncello
preparation
8
  Fagotto
CH
6 2/5
 
Grosse Tierce
preparation
4
  Clairon [ext.]
12
5 1/3
 
Octave Quinte
preparation
4
  Clarion
BO
4
Doublette [ext.]
12
4
  Fagotto