click on images to enlarge St. Michael's Church (Episcopal)     225 West 99th Street at Amsterdam Avenue New York, N.Y. 10025 http://www.saintmichaelschurch.org Organ Specifications: ► III/55 Rudolph von Beckerath (1967) ► I/8 Rudolph von Beckerath (1965) – Chapel ► III/50 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 491 (1914) ► III/53 Geo. Jardine & Son (1893) • Henry Knauff     St. Michael's Church (1854)         St. Michael's Church was founded as a summer church on its present site in 1807 by New York City residents who lived "in town" five miles to the south. What is now the northern end of the Upper West Side was then a patchwork of farms and country homes. In 1854 the second church was consecrated – a Gothic structure, built of oak. The current church building, designed by Robert W. Gibson in a Byzantine-Romanesque style, was dedicated on December 16, 1891. Its interior is notable for its appointments by Louis Comfort Tiffany, including the impressive lancet windows in the apse which depict St. Michael's victory in heaven, and the glass mosaic reredos in the adjoining Chapel of the Angels. The parish house, designed for community service and originally containing facilities for a school, laundry and kitchen, was completed in 1902. The interior of the church was painted with brilliant colors in 1990 by Fine Art Decoration of New York. For most of its first 100 years, the sanctuary had been painted in neutral colors. In celebration of its centennial, the church was repainted using colors in the palette of the Tiffany decorations.             Rudolf von Beckerath Orgelbau GmbH Hamburg, Germany (1967) Mechanical key action Electric solenoid stop action Solid-State combination action 3 manuals, 38 stops, 55 ranks   The Rudolf von Beckerath organ, completed in September 1967, is an eclectic instrument at home with music of all periods, but is a particularly fine exponent of both German Baroque and French Classic music. A modern organ case of hand-rubbed limba, a blond wood sometimes called African mahogany, rises 31 feet from the rear gallery floor, with the Rückpositiv in a separate case mounted on the gallery rail. Robert Huddleston, organist and choirmaster, dedicated the organ on Sunday, September 17, 1967, and on October 8, 1967, Leonard Raver played the first of a series of monthly organ recitals. In the fall of 1995, the Beckerath firm completely cleaned and overhauled the organ, but no tonal changes were made.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 56 notes 16   Quintadena 56 2   Oktave 56 8   Prinzipal 56 2   Flachflöte 56 8   Rohrflöte 56 1 3/5   Terz 56 4   Oktave 56 1 1/3   Mixtur VI fach 336 4   Spielflöte 56 8   Trompete 56 2 2/3   Nasat 56                     Swell Organ (Manual III) – 56 notes, enclosed 8   Holzgedackt 56 1   Sifflöte  56 8   Gemshorn  56 2 2/3   Septimenkornet III fach 168 8   Gemshorn Celeste [TC] 44 2/3   Zimbel III ranks 168 4   Blockflöte  56 8   Oboe  56 2   Waldflöte  56     Tremulant                    Rückpositiv Organ (Manual I) – 56 notes 8   Gedackt 56 2 2/3   Sesquialtera II fach  112 4   Prinzipal 56 1   Scharf IV fach  224 4   Koppelflöte 56 8   Cromorne 56 2   Oktave 56     Tremulant   1 1/3   Quinte 56                     Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Prinzipal 32 2   Nachthorn 32 16   Subbass 32 2   Mixtur V fach  160 8   Oktave 32 16   Posaune 32 8   Gedackt 32 8   Trompete 32 4   Oktave 32 4   Schalmei 32                                           Rudolf von Beckerath Orgelbau GmbH Hamburg, Germany (1965) Mechanical key and stop action 1 manual, 11 stops, 8 ranks   Chapel of the Angels The one-manual-and-pedal organ in the Chapel of the Angels at St. Michael's Church was built by Rudolph von Beckerath in 1965. This self-contained organ is on a movable platform and was used as the primary service instrument during the installation of the larger von Beckerath organ in the gallery. Meloni & Ferrier renovated the organ in 1998.                 Manual – 54 notes (dividing at B24/C25) 8   Gedackt Bass 24         8   Gedackt Diskant 30         4   Rohrflöte Bass 24         4   Rohrflöte Diskant 30         2   Prinzipal Bass 24         2   Prinzipal Diskant 30         1 1/3   Quint Bass 24         1 1/3   Quint Diskant 30           Scharf 3f. Bass 72           Scharf 3f. Diskant 90                         Pedal – 30 notes 16   Subbass [hitch-down control]                           Couplers     Manual/Pedal 8                                                       J.H. & C.S. Odell New York City – Opus 491 (1914) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 43 stops, 50 ranks The 1914 Odell organ was located in the area to the left of the chancel.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Double Open Diapason   2 2/3   Twelfth   8   Open Diapason   2   Fifteenth   8   Gamba       Mixture, 4 ranks   8   Doppel Floete   16   Double Trumpet   8   Clarinet Floete   8   Trumpet   8   Stopped Diapason   4   Clarion   4   Octave                           Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon   4   Violin Principal   8   Violin Diapason   4   Harmonic Flute   8   Quintadena   2   Flageolet   8   Salicional       Cornet, 3 ranks   8   Vox Celestis   8   Oboe   8   Aeoline   8   Cornopean   8   Stopped Diapason   8   Vox Humana                   Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Geigen Principal   4   Gemshorn   8   German Gamba   4   Flauto Traverso   8   Dulcissimo   2   Piccolo   8   Melodia   8   Clarinet                   Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Contra Diapason   8   Concert Cello   16   Double Open Diapason   4   Principal   16   Violone       Cimbale, 3 ranks   16   Bourdon   16   Euphone               Geo. Jardine and Son New York City (1893) Tubular-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 53 ranks In 1893, Jardine rebuilt the previous Henry Knauff organ.                 Great Organ (Manual II) 16   Double Open Diapason   2 2/3   Twelfth   8   Open Diapason   2   Fifteenth   8   Doppel-floete     Mixture III-IV ranks   8   Gamba   16   Double Trumpet   8   Stopped Diapason   8   Trumpet   4   Octave   4   Clarion   4   Clarinet Flute                       Swell Organ (Manual III) 16   Bourdon   2   Flageolet   8   Violin Diapason     Cornet III ranks   8   Salicional   8   Cornopean   8   Stopped Diapason   8   Oboe and Bassoon   8   Quintadena   8   Vox Humana   4   Violin Principal                           Choir Organ (Manual I) 8   Geigen Principal   4   Flauto Traverso   8   German Gamba   4   Harmonic Flute   8   Melodia   4   Gemshorn   8   Dulciana   2   Solo Piccolo   8   Vox Celeste II ranks   8   Harmonic Reed   4   Principal   8   Clarinet               Pedal Organ 32   Contra Diapason   4   Principal   16   Double Open Diapason   2   Octave   16   Violon     Cimbale III ranks   16   Bourdon   16   Euphone   8   Violoncelle                     Henry Knauff Philadelphia, Penn. Mechanical action Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Sources:      Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.      Hughes, Allen. "Mighty Organ to Sound at St. Michael's on Sunday," The New York Times, September 14, 1967.      The Organ, Vol. I, No. 11, March 1893. Jardine organ specifications; courtesy Sand Lawn.      Organs in the United States and Canada Database (OUSCDB); courtesy George Nelson.      St. Michael's Church website: http://www.saintmichaelschurch.org      "Third Generation Active," The Diapason, November, 1914; courtesy Jonathan Bowen. Photos:      Steven E. Lawson             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |