St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
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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
 
1854 building of St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City
 
St. Michael's Church (1854)  
   
St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
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 Organ (1967) in St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
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 Organ (1967) in St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Rudolf von Beckerath Organ (1967) in St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Rudolf von Beckerath Organ (1967) in St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
               
Rudolf von Beckerath Organ (1967) in St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Rudolf von Beckerath Organ (1967) in St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Rudolf von Beckerath Organ (1967) in St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)

         

Rudolf von Beckerath Organ (1965) in the Chapel of the Angels at St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
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          
               
Rudolf von Beckerath Organ (1965) in the Chapel of the Angels at St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Rudolf von Beckerath Organ (1965) in the Chapel of the Angels at St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
               

           

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
           
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