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 George 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. Leonard Raver played the first of a series of monthly organ recitals on October 8, 1967.

In the fall of 1995, the Beckerath firm completely cleaned and overhauled the organ, but no tonal changes were made.
               
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
        

     

     
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   

     

     
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
               
Couplers (knobs duplicated by reversible toe studs)
    Great to Pedal   Positiv to Great
    Positiv to Pedal   Swell to Great
    Swell to Pedal    
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Great Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Positiv Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Swell Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (toe)
General Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe)
               
Mechanicals
    Balanced Swell Pedal          
               
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 & Farrier 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


A new organ was built in 1914 by J.H. & C.S. Odell of New York City. This organ employed Odell's electro-pneumatic action and 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  
           
 
George Jardine & Son Organ (1893) in St. Michael's Episcopal Church - New York City
George Jardine and Son
New York City (1893)
Tubular-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 45 stops, 53 ranks





In 1893, George Jardine and Son of New York City rebuilt the previous Henry Knauff organ. The photo at right shows part of the organ facade in the right gallery.
               
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:
     The American Organist (November 1967). Specifications of von Beckerath organ (1967).
     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 (Sep. 14, 1967).
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database, Seattle, Wash.
     The Organ(I:11, March 1893). Stoplist of George Jardine & Son organ (1893). Courtesy Sand Lawn.
     St. Michael's Church web site: http://www.saintmichaelschurch.org
     "Third Generation Active," The Diapason (November 1914). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Illustrations:
     Lawson, Steven E. Exterior; interior; von Beckerath organs.
     St. Michael's Church web site. Exterior and interior of earlier church.