click on images to enlarge St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue (Episcopal) 1 West 53rd Street at Fifth Avenue New York, N.Y. 10019 http://www.saintthomaschurch.org Organ Specifications: 3 West 53rd Street at Fifth Avenue (since 1916): Current church at present location (since 1916): ► IV/158 Aeolian-Skinner Co. – rev. Mann & Trupiano (1980s) ► IV/156 Aeolian-Skinner Co. – rev. G.F. Adams (1969) ► IV/172 Aeolian-Skinner Co., Op. 205-A (1956) ► IV/87 M.P. Möller, Op. 7900 (1948) ► IV/ Ernest M. Skinner & Son (1945) ► IV/77 Ernest M. Skinner Company, Op. 205 (1913) Temporary church at present location (1907-c.1916): ► II/17 Hutchings-Votey (1907) First church at present location (1870-burned 1905): • IV/67 Hutchings-Votey (1904) ► IV/68 Hilborne L. Roosevelt (1881-3) ► III/60 Hall, Labagh & Co. (1870) Broadway and Houston Street (1826-1856): Second (rebuilt) church (1851-1856): ► III/30 Hall & Labagh (1851-2) First church (1825-burned 1851): • Thomas Hall (1832) • Henry Erben (1825) See also the organs in the Gallery, Choir Room and Continuo.                   Houston & Broadway (1826-1851)   St. Thomas Protestant Episcopal Church was established in 1823. Its first church building, located at Broadway and Houston Street, was designed by Joseph R. Brady and the Rev. John McVickar and opened in 1826. Two octagonal towers anchored the corners of the Gothic Revival facade. This first church was destroyed by fire on March 2, 1851. A second church was built on the same site in 1851-2, and the parish remained until 1870 when they moved to their present location on Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street.     St. Thomas Church (1870-1905) The third church was built from 1865 to 1870 to the designs of Richard Upjohn and his son, Richard M. Upjohn. A massive tower, soaring 260 feet into the sky, was its most prominent feature. This church, nestled among the many gilded mansions of Fifth Avenue, was the scene of many society weddings and funerals. A tradition began on Easter Day where the wealthy parishioners processed to nearby St. Luke's Hospital, bearing gifts of food and presents for the needy. Today, the annual event continues as the Fifth Avenue Easter Parade. Tragically, the beautiful church burned to the ground in 1905, leaving only the tower standing. The fourth and present St. Thomas Church was built from 1911 to 1916, and designed by a partnership of Ralph Adams Cram and Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue. Lee Lawrie executed the many sculptures and decorations, most notably the 60 figures of the magnificent reredos which is 80 feet high. Music has long been an important component of worship and liturgy at St. Thomas Church, and is supported by the St. Thomas Choir School, founded in 1919.                 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company Boston, Mass. – Opus 205-A (1956) As revised by Mann & Trupiano – Brooklyn, N.Y. (1980s) Electro-pneumatic and electric-slider action Solid-State combination action 4 manuals, 118 stops, 158 ranks The Great Organ of St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue was originally built by the Ernest M. Skinner Company of Boston as their Opus 205 in 1913. In 1956, the organ was extensively revised and rebuilt by the Aeolian-Skinner Company as Opus 205-A under the direction of G. Donald Harrison. Subsequent revisions were completed in 1969 by Gilbert F. Adams, and in the early 1980s by Mann & Trupiano. Today, except for the Trompette en Chamade, which is located under the rose window over the Fifth Avenue entrance, the entire instrument is in the chancel, with the Swell and Grand Choeur in the main case at the right on the north wall [liturgical south] and the exposed Great to the left, with Pedal reeds behind. The Vorwerk and Pedal upperwork are exposed on the south wall, in front of the Positif and large Pedal flues. The specifications of the Great Organ as of 2005:                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes 16   Principal 61 4   Rohrflöte 61 16   Bourdon 61 3 1/5   Terz 61 8   Principal 61 2 2/7   Gross Septième 61 8   Flûte harmonique 61 2 2/3   Quinte 61 8   Gedeckt 61 2   Octave 61 8   Violoncelle 61   Mixture V-VII ranks 391 5 1/3   Gross Quinte 61   Scharf IV ranks 244 4   Octave 61                   Positif Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Quintaton 61 1 1/3   Larigot 61 8   Montre 61 1 1/7   Septième 61 8   Bourdon 61 1   Piccolo 61 4   Prestant 61   Fourniture IV ranks 244 4   Cor de nuit 61   Cymbale III ranks 183 2 2/3   Nasard 61 8   Trompette 61 2   Doublette 61 8   Cromorne 61 2   Quarte 61 8   Clarinette 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 4   Clairon 61           Vorwerk Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 8   Spitzprincipal 61 1 1/3   Quinte 61 8   Gedeckt 61 1   Schwegel 61 8   Viole [in POS] 61   Scharf IV ranks 244 8   Dulciana [in POS] 61   Terz-zimbel III ranks 183 4   Prinzipal 61   Cornet de Récit [g2-d5] 150 4   Koppelflöte 61 16   Rankett 61 2 2/3   Quinte 61 8   Voix Humaine 61 2   Oktave 61     Tremblant   2   Blockflöte 61 8   Trompette en Chamade 61 1 3/5   Terz 61          [in Gallery]               Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 61 2 2/3   Nasard 61 8   Principal 61 2   Doublette 61 8   Flûte harmonique 61 2   Octavin 61 8   Bourdon 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Viole de gambe 61   Fourniture IV ranks 244 8   Viole céleste 61   Cymbale III ranks 183 8   Flûte douce 61 16   Bombarde 61 8   Flûte céleste 61 8   Trompette 61 4   Prestant 61 8   Hautbois 61 4   Fugara 61 8   Vox Humana 61 4   Flûte à fuseau 61 4   Clairon 61 4   Dulciana 61     Tremblant   4   Unda Maris [TC] 49                     Grand Choeur (Manual IV) – 61 notes 32   Principal [1-12 Ped] 49 2   Quarte 61 16   Montre 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Montre 61   Fourniture V ranks 305 8   Bourdon 61   Cymbale IV ranks 244 4   Prestant 61   Grand Cornet V [c3-c5] 125 3 1/5   Grosse Tierce 61 16   Bombarde 61 2 2/3   Nasard 61 8   Trompette 61 2   Doublette 61 4   Clairon 61             Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Contrebasse [ext.] 12 4   Flûte 32 32   Bourdon [ext.] 12 3 1/5   Tierce 32 16   Contrebasse 32 2   Blockflöte 32 16   Principal 32   Fourniture IV ranks 128 16   Bourdon 32   Cymbale III ranks 96 16   Bourdon GT 32   Bombarde [ext.] 12 10 2/3   Grosse Quinte 32 16   Bombarde 32 8   Octave 32 16   Posaune SW 8   Spitzflöte 32 16   Rankett VW 8   Gedeckt 32 8   Trompette 32 6 2/5   Grosse Tierce 32 4   Clairon 32 5 1/3   Quinte 32 4   Rohr Schalmei 32 4 4/7   Grosse Septième 32 2   Zink 32 4   Super Octave 32                       Couplers     Swell to Pedal   Grand Choeur to Great     Great to Pedal   Swell to Choir [Manual II]     Grand Choeur to Pedal   Grand Choeur to Choir [Manual II]     Positif to Pedal   Great to Grand Choeur     Vorwerk to Pedal   Vorwerk on Grand Choeur, off Choir     Swell to Great   Vorwerk on Swell, off Choir     Positif to Great   Manuals I / II Interchange      [affects divisional pistons also]     Vorwerk to Great                   Pedal Movements     Balanced Swell Pedal           Balanced Crescendo Pedal                       Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company Boston, Mass. – Opus 205-A (1956) As revised by G.F. Adams – Brooklyn, N.Y. (1969) Electro-pneumatic and electric-slider chest action Solid-State combination action 4 manuals, 119 stops, 156 ranks                 In the 1960s, the nearby Museum of Modern Art began an expansion program and built a large addition adjacent to the chancel of St. Thomas Church. Blasting damaged the reredos and caused part of the ceiling in the organ chambers to come down. A clogged drain on the roof caused a leak in the Swell chamber. Some of the rebuilt Skinner chests had developed dead notes and ciphers. Aeolian-Skinner was contacted to clean the organ, address the mechanical problems which had arisen, and to effect desired tonal changes. The company could not undertake the work, but recommended that arrangements be made with Gilbert Adams and Anthony Bufano, Aeolian-Skinner employees who had recently begun organ maintenance work in New York City. Adams and Bufano made some of the temporary repairs, and tonal revisions were completed in a small shop set up in the church basement. Although Adams and Bufano set up separate businesses, Adams continued at St. Thomas Church, assisted by Robert James. Rebuilt Skinner chests were replaced with slider chests. Tonal work by Adams included the replacement of revoiced Skinner reeds with brilliant French reeds, and the revoicing or replacement of mixtures. The enclosed section of the Positif (Choir) was unenclosed and renamed Vorwerk, but soft stops were retained for accompanying purposes. The Antiphonal Organ, which had preparations for a separate two-manual console in the balcony, was connected a one-manual keyboard in the interim by Adams. A parishioner of the church, who had long expressed a desire to give the Antiphonal console in memory of his mother, offered to give a separate organ for the gallery. The Antiphonal Organ was removed and much of it was incorporated into the chancel divisions in preparation for the installation of a new 4-manual mechanical action organ to be built by Mr. Adams.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes 16   Principal 61 4   Rohrflöte 61 16   Bourdon 61 3 1/5   Terz 61 8   Principal 61 2 2/3   Quinte 61 8   Flûte Harmonique 61 2 2/7   Septième 61 8   Violoncelle 61 2   Octave 61 8   Gedeckt 61   Mixture V-VII ranks 391 5 1/3   Gross Quinte 61   Scharf IV ranks 244 4   Octave 61                   Positif Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Quintaton 61 1 1/3   Larigot 61 8   Montre 61 1 1/7   Septième 61 8   Viole 61 2   Piccolo 61 8   Bourdon 61   Fourniture IV ranks 244 8   Dulciana 61   Cymbale III ranks 183 4   Prestant 61 16   Basson 61 4   Cor de nuit 61 8   Trompette 61 2 2/3   Nasard 61 8   Clarinette 61 2   Doublette 61 8   Cromorne 61 2   Quarte 61 4   Clairon 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61               Vorwerk Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 8   Spitzprincipal 61 1   Schwegel 61 8   Gedeckt 61   Cornet de Récit V [g2-d5] 150 4   Principal 61   Scharf IV ranks 244 4   Koppelflöte 61   Terz-zimbel III ranks 183 2 2/3   Quinte 61 16   Rankett 150 2   Octave 61 8   Voix humaine 61 2   Blockflöte 61   Tremblant 1 3/5   Terz 61  8   Trompette en Chamade GT 1 1/3   Quinte 61        [in Gallery]             Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 61 2 2/3   Nasard 61 8   Principal 61 2   Doublette 61 8   Flûte harmonique 61 2   Octavin 61 8   Bourdon 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Viole de gambe 61   Fourniture IV ranks 244 8   Viole céleste 61   Cymbale III ranks 183 8   Flûte douce 61 16   Bombarde 61 8   Flûte céleste 61 8   Trompette 61 4   Prestant 61 8   Hautbois 61 4   Fugara 61 8   Vox Humana 61 4   Flûte à fuseau 61 4   Clairon 61 4   Dulciana 61     Tremulant   4   Unda Maris [TC] 49                     Grand Choeur (Manual IV) – 61 notes 32   Principal [1-12 Ped] 49 2   Quarte 61 16   Montre 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 16   Bourdon 61   Grand Cornet V [c3-c5] 125 8   Montre 61   Fourniture V ranks 305 8   Bourdon 61   Cymbale IV ranks 244 4   Prestant 61 16   Bombarde 61 3 1/5   Grosse Tierce 61 8   Trompette 61 2 2/3   Nasard 61 4   Clairon 61 2   Doublette 61                   Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Contrebasse [ext.] 12 4   Super Octave 32 32   Bourdon [ext.] 12 4   Flûte 32 16   Contrebasse 32 3 1/5   Tierce 32 16   Principal 32 2   Blockflöte 32 16   Bourdon 32   Fourniture IV ranks 128 16   Bourdon GT   Cymbale III ranks 96 10 2/3   Grosse Quinte 32 32   Bombarde [ext.] 12 8   Octave 32 16   Bombarde 32 8   Spitzflöte 32 16   Posaune SW 8   Gedeckt 32 8   Trompette 32 6 2/5   Grosse Tierce 32 4   Clairon 32 5 1/3   Quinte 32 4   Rohr Schalmei 32 4 4/7   Grosse Septième 32 2   Zink  32                     205-A Console at Aeolian-Skinner Shop Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company Boston, Mass. – Opus 205-A (1956) Electro-pneumatic key, stop and chest action 4 manuals, 128 stops, 172 ranks   In 1956, at the behest of William Self, successor to Dr. T. Frederick H. Candlyn, the E.M. Skinner organ—by then revised in 1945 by Ernest M. Skinner & Son, and in 1948 by M.P. Möller—was extensively revised and rebuilt by the Aeolian-Skinner Company as Opus 205-A under the direction of G. Donald Harrison. This rebuilding included much new pipework and new chests, although Harrison chose to rebuild some of the chests. A year earlier, in 1955, Ernest M. Skinner was distraught when he learned that Harrison had been contracted to rebuild one of his most famous (and one of Skinner's favorite) organs. Mr. Self later recounted to organbuilder Joseph Dzeda: He [William Self] said that about the time the rebuild was announced, old EMS, in his late '80's, came to him and asked if Self would hold off on the proposed work until EMS was dead. Self refused. Then EMS asked Self to store the pipes for his organ in the church basement, on the condition that if the new organ was not up to Self's hope, EMS would return and re-install his old organ. Ernest Skinner next wrote a letter, dated October 7, 1955, to the Rev. Frederick M. Morris, rector of the church. Skinner explained that he was the builder of the original organ in St. Thomas Church, imploring, "If it happens that your good people do not like the organ after its rebuilding and I suppose revoicing, and wish to remake it, to be more as it was originally I will be glad to restore it at the lowest possible cost, which implies no sacrifice or compromise whatever." As a postscript, Skinner wrote, "I received word that Mr. Candlyn, your former organist, became what might be termed grief stricken, when he heard that organ was to be done over. . ." Despite Mr. Skinner's pleas, Aeolian-Skinner proceeded to rebuild the organ, hurrying to complete it as much as possible before the opening recital on June 26, 1956, of the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists. Pierre Cochereau, titulaire organist of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, had been selected to play that first recital on the new organ, and it was also his first tour in the United States and his first recital in New York City. As the convention date neared, Mr. Harrison began to show signs of strain exacerbated by working in an un-air conditioned church during exceptionally hot weather. He suffered from angina complicated by a hiatus hernia, and had been taking nitroglycerin tablets. On Thursday evening, June 14, Harrison walked eight blocks in the sweltering heat to his apartment at 1019 Third Avenue (near East 60th Street), unable to get a taxi due to a subway strike. At 11:00 pm that evening, he had a massive heart attack and died before medical assistance could be provided. He was 67 years old. The next morning, Joseph Whiteford, Vice President of Aeolian-Skinner, called Mr. Self to inform him of Mr. Harrison's sudden death. After hearing the grim news later that day from Mr. Self, the Aeolian-Skinner crew agreed that the greatest tribute to Harrison would be to get the organ as nearly complete as possible for the AGO Convention. Although the gallery organ was left unfinished, and a number of stops had not yet been regulated or tuned, the organ could be used for Cochereau's recital, attended by 1,200 on June 26. Many organists considered Harrison's rebuild of the Skinner organ to be his masterpiece, although it would be drastically revised in the years to follow.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes (3¼" pressure) 16   Quintade 61 1   Octave 61 8   Montre 61   Plein Jeu IV-VI ranks 294 8   Violoncelle 61   Klein Mixtur IV ranks 244 8   Gemshorn 61   Scharff IV ranks 244 8   Bourdon 61   Cornet de Recit V [g2-c6] 150 8   Flûte Harmonique 61 16   Rankett PO 4   Prestant 61 8   Krummhorn PO 4   Rohrflöte 61 4   Rohr Schalmei PO 2 2/3   Quinte 61   Cymbelstern   2   Doublette 61                 Positif Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (2¼" pressure flues; 5" pressure reeds) 8   Viole Conique 61 1 1/7   Septième preparation 8   Nason Flute 61 1   Principal preparation 4   Principal 61   Fourniture IV-VI ranks 294 4   Koppelflöte 61   Cymbale III ranks 183 2 2/3   Nasard 61   Jeu de Clochette II ranks 122 2   Principal 61 16   Rankett 61 2   Blockflöte 61 8   Krummhorn 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 4   Rohr Schalmei 61 1 1/3   Larigot 61                 Choir Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed (5" pressure) 16   Quintaton 61 2   Hellflöte 61 8   Principal 61 1   Piccolo preparation 8   Rohrflöte 61   Plein Jeu IV ranks 244 8   Viola Pomposa 61 16   Buccine 61 8   Viola Celeste 61 8   Trompette preparation 8   Dulciana 61 8   Chalumeau 61 8   Unda Maris 61 4   Clairon 61 4   Prestant 61     Tremulant 4   Nachthorn 61   Trompette en Chamade GC 2   Principal preparation                   Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" pressure) 16   Quintflöte 61 2 2/3   Nasard 61 8   Diapason 61 2   Principal preparation 8   Flûte Traversière 61 2   Octavin 61 8   Rohrflöte 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Viole de Gambe 61   Plein Jeu VI ranks 366 8   Viole Céleste 61   Cymbale III ranks 183 8   Flûte Dolce 61 16   Bombarde 61 8   Flute Céleste 61 8   Trompette 61 4   Octave 61 8   Hautbois 61 4   Flûte à Fuseau 61 8   Vox Humana 61 4   Fugara 61 4   Clairon 61 4   Dulciana 61     Tremblant   4   Unda Maris [TC] 49                   Grand Choeur (Manual IV) – 61 notes     Chancel (5" pressure)       Antiphonal (5" pressure)   32   Quintaton 61 16   Bourdon 61 16   Principal 61 8   Diapason 61 8   Octave 61 4   Principal 61 8   Flûte Ouverte preparation     Plein Jeu IV ranks 244 5 1/3   Quinte 61     Cymbale III ranks 183 4   Octave 61 16   Bombarde 61 3 1/5   Tierce 61 8   Trompette 61 2   Principal preparation 4   Clairon 61   Tierce Mixture V-IX ranks 376 8   Trompette en Chamade 61   Grand Fourniture IV-VII rks 319   enclosed: 16   Bombarde 61 8   Flûte Ouverte 61 8   Trompette Harmonique 61 8   Salicional 61 4   Clairon Harmonique 61 8   Voix Céleste 61       4   Flûte Douce 61       4   Aeoline 61       2   Piccolo preparation                         Antiphonal Pedal (5" pressure)         16   Principal           16   Bourdon ANT         8   Principal         8   Bourdon ANT         16   Posaune preparation                 Pedal Organ – 32 notes (5" pressure) 32   Contre Basse [ext.] 12 4   Choral Bass 32 32   Bourdon [ext.] 12 4   Nachthorn 32 32   Quintaton GC 2   Blockflöte 32 32   Contre Basse 32   Fourniture IV ranks 128 16   Principal GC   Cymbale III ranks 96 16   Bourdon 32   Cornet III ranks 96 16   Quintade GT 32   Bombarde [ext.] 12 16   Quintflöte SW 16   Bombarde (10" pressure) 32 10 2/3   Grosse Quinte 32 16   Buccine (Posaune) 32 8   Principal 32 8   Trompette 32 8   Spitzflöte 32 8   Krummhorn PO 8   Gedeckt Pommer 32 4   Clairon 32 6 2/5   Grosse Tierce 32 4   Rohr Schalmei PO 5 1/3   Quinte 32 2   Zink 32                 M.P. Möller, Inc. Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 7900 (1948) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 142 registers, 93 stops, 87 ranks At the request of Dr. T. Frederick H. Candlyn, organist and choirmaster, the 1913 Skinner Organ was further revised in 1948 by the M.P. Möller Company of Hagerstown, Md. This contract was undoubtedly given to Möller after Dr. Candlyn was extremely disappointed in work recently entrusted to Ernest M. Skinner, who was by then in his 80s. "Dr. Candlyn wanted more fire and brilliance, a more definite characterization of individual registers (particularly in the flue-work) and less tubbiness throughout. All the fine strings and other colors were untouched, but the mixtures were revoiced, new ones added, leathered pipes brightened by removing the leather, and the pitch raised almost to orchestral. "To quote Dr. Candlyn, "This became a Willis organ with all the brilliance of the French." (The American Organist, June 1949). Much of the actual revoicing took place on the job; Adolph Zajic was sent from Hagerstown to revoice the Tuba Mirabilis on the job with entirely new tonuges. Möller rebuilt the Skinner console shell in their Hagerstown factory in Hagerstown, installing new ivories, 244 new silver contact wires, and a new solid music rack. New relay and combination action mechanisms were installed in the basement. The c.1913 Orgoblo, completely overhauled in 1943, was retained. While the organ was unplayable due to lack of a console, a two-manual Möller "Artiste" was loaned to the church.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Diapason 61 4   Octave 61 16   Gemshorn 61 4   Flute 61 8   First Diapason 61 2 2/3   Twelfth 61 8   Second Diapason 61 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Third Diapason 61   Mixture IV ranks * 244 8   Waldflöte 61 8   Trumpet 73 8   Erzähler 61 4   Clarion — 4   Principal 61   two stops prepared for           Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 73 4   Geigenprincipal * 73 16   Dulciana 73 4   Flute 73 8   First Diapason 73 2   Flautino 61 8   Second Diapason 73   Mixture IV ranks * 244 8   Gedeckt 73   Dolce Cornet III ranks 183 8   Quintadena 73 16   Trumpet 73 8   Gamba 73 8   Cornopean 73 8   Salicional 73 8   French Trumpet 73 8   Voix Celeste 73 8   Flügelhorn 73 8   Aeoline 73 8   Vox Humana 73 8   Unda Maris 73 4   Clarion 73 4   Octave 73     Tremulant             Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Gamba 73 2   Piccolo 61 8   Concert Flute 73 1 3/5   Tierce * 73 8   Kleinerzähler 73 1 1/3   Larigot * 61 8   Geigen 73 16   Fagotto 73 8   Dulcet II ranks 146 8   Clarinet 73 8   Flauto Traverso 73   Celesta 61 bars 4   Gemshorn 73   Tremulant 2 2/3   Nasard * 61                     Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Flute 73 8   English Horn 73 8   Gamba 73 8   French Horn 73 8   Gamba Celeste 73 8   Clarinet CH 8   Flute 73 8   Orchestral Oboe 73 16   Fagotto CH 8   Bassoon 73 8   Tuba Mirabilis 73   Tremulant 8   Trompette Harmonique * 73   one stop prepared for               Echo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Diapason * 61 4   Flute 61 8   Concert Flute 61 4   Aeoline 61 8   Salicional 61 8   Vox Humana 61 8   Voix Celeste II ranks 122   Tremulant   4   Principal * 61                     Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Diapason [unit] 44 8   Gemshorn GT 32   Violone [unit] 44 4   Octave [unit] * — 16   First Diapason — 4   Gemshorn GT 16   Second Diapason GT   Mixture V ranks 160 16   Echo Lieblich SW 32   Bombarde [unit] * 68 16   Violone — 16   Ophicleide — 16   Gamba CH 16   Posaune SW 16   Gemshorn GT 16   Bassoon * [ext. SO?] 12 16   Dulciana SW 8   Tuba — 8   Octave * 44 4   Clarion — 8   Lieblichflöte SW   four stops prepared for   8   Cello SO                     * new additions by Möller   Couplers     Great to Pedal 8'   Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'     Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 8', 4'     Choir to Pedal 8'   Solo to Choir 16', 8', 4'     Solo to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4'     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir 16', 4', Unison Off     Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Solo 16', 4', Unison Off                 Adjustable Combinations     Solo & Echo - 7       Pedal - 7       Swell - 7       Generals - 8       Great - 8       Pedal to Man. combs. onoroffs     Choir - 7       Great Reeds onoroff                 Reversibles     Great to Pedal   32' Diapason     Swell to Pedal   32' Violone     Choir to Pedal   32' Bombarde     Solo-Echo to Pedal   Full Organ           Pedal Movements     Balanced Swell Pedal         Balanced Choir-Solo-Echo Pedal         Crescendo Pedal                     Ernest M. Skinner & Son Methuen, Mass. (1945) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals In 1945, the Ernest M. Skinner & Son Company was contracted to rebuild the 1913 Skinner Organ (Op. 205) with fairly extensive tonal changes drawn up by Dr. T. Frederick H. Candlyn, successor to Dr. T. Tertius Noble as organist and choirmaster. Changes included revoicing of the Great reeds along Willis lines, revoicing the Swell Double Trumpet and Clarion as Cavaillé-Coll reeds, replacing the Oboe with the Flugel Horn from the Solo, and replacing the Claribel Flute with a 4' Geigen. The Choir division was increased in tone, a Tierce and Septième were added, and the Piccolo was changed to a Nazard. The Solo received a new Orchestral Trumpet, and the Fagotto was revoiced and made available on the Pedal. Two 8' Flutes in the Echo were replaced with an 8' Diapason and 4' Principal to support congregational singing. The Pedal 16' Bourdon was eliminated and replaced by a Gemshorn rank (playable at 16', 8', and 4'), and the Great 16' Diapason was made available on the Pedal at 16' and 8' pitches. Skinner also made a number of mechanical improvements to the console.                     1913 Skinner Organ Case Ernest M. Skinner Organ Company Boston, Mass. – Opus 205 (1913) Electro-pneumatic stop and chest action 4 manuals, 91 stops, 77 ranks, 5,179 pipes   Maurice Garabrant Assistant Organist (1921-26)   The original organ of the present St. Thomas Church was originally built by the Ernest M. Skinner Company of Boston as their Opus 205 in 1913. Dr. T. Tertius Noble, organist and choirmaster from 1913 until his retirement in 1943, began his tenure as the Skinner organ was nearing completion and became a close friend of Ernest Skinner. As the Skinner Company Fifth Avenue Studio was only a block away from the church, Mr. Skinner would bring visiting organists and other musicians to play and hear this showpiece organ. According to The LIfe and Work of Ernest M. Skinner by Dorothy J. Holden, Skinner's Op. 205 at St. Thomas included the builder's first 32' Sub-Bass [Bourdon] stop.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Diapason 61 4   Octave 61 16   Bourdon [ext. PED] 17 4   Flute Harmonique 61 8   First Diapason 61 2 2/3   Twelfth 61 8   Second Diapason 61 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Third Diapason 61   Mixture IV ranks 244 8   Philomela PED 16   Ophicleide 61 8   Waldflöte 61 8   Tuba [ext.] 12 8   Flauto Dolce 61 4   Clarion [ext.] 12 8   Erzahler 61                 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 73 4   Flute Harmonique 73 16   Dulciana 73 2   Flautino 61 8   First Diapason 73   Mixture IV ranks 292 8   Second Diapason 73   Dolce Cornet III ranks 183 8   Claribel Flute 73 16   Trumpet 73 8   Quintadena 73 8   Cornopean 73 8   Salicional 73 8   French Trumpet 73 8   Voix Celeste 73 8   Oboe 73 8   Gamba 73 8   Vox Humana 73 8   Aeoline 73 4   Clarion 73 8   Unda Maris 73   Tremolo   4   Octave 73                   Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Gamba 73 2   Piccolo 61 8   Geigen Principal 73 16   Contra Fagotto 73 8   Spitzflöte 73 8   Clarinet 73 8   Concert Flute 73 8   Orchestral Oboe 73 8   Flute Celeste 73 8   English Horn 73 8   Dulcet II ranks 146   Tremolo   4   Flauto Traverso 73   Celesta 61 bars 4   Gemshorn 73                     Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Philomela PED 8   French Horn 73 8   Gamba 73 8   Flugel Horn 73 8   Gamba Celeste 73 8   Vox Humana SW 8   Harmonic Flute 73 8   Clarinet CH 8   Concert Flute CH 8   Orchestral Oboe CH 4   Flute 73 8   English Horn CH 16   Contra Fagotto CH   Tremolo   8   Tuba Mirabilis 73                   Echo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Salcional 61 4   Flute Harmonique 61 8   Voix Celeste 61 4   Dulcet 61 8   Viol Celestes II ranks 122 8   Vox Humana 61 8   Concert Flute 61   Tremolo               Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Diapason 32 8   Octave [ext.] 12 32   Bourdon 32 8   Gedeckt [ext.] 12 32   Violone 32 8   Cello SO 16   First Diapason [ext.] 12 8   Lieblich Flöte SW 16   Second Diapason GT 32   Bombarde [ext.] 12 16   Bourdon [ext.] 12 16   Ophicleide GT 16   Violone [ext.] 12 16   Contra Posaune SW 16   Gamba CH 8   Tuba [ext.] 12 16   Echo Lieblich SW 4   Clarion [ext.] 12                 Organ in temporary church building at Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street: Hutchings-Votey Co. Boston, Mass. (1907) Mechanical action 2 manuals, 17 stops, 17 ranks Following the 1905 fire, plans were quickly prepared to erect a 1400-seat temporary wooden church within the ruins of the 1870 building. An altar and chancel furnishings were provided by the J. & R. Lamb Studios, and the Hutchings-Votey Co. lent an organ. As work progressed on the new church, the temporary church was removed and stored so that the foundations and nave floor could be built, after which the temporary church was reassembled on the new floor. Holes were poked through the roof of the wooden church when the nave piers were constructed. The temporary church was first used on All Saints' Day with a congregation of five hundred. The following specification was recorded in an organ notebook by Lynnwood Farnam (1885-1930), noted concert organist of the early 20th century. Farnam did not indicate manual and pedal compasses, so the following are suggested as typical of Hutchings-Votey organs of the era.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes? 8   First Diapason 61 8   Dulciana 61 8   Second Diapason 61 4   Octave 61 8   Gross Flöte 61                     Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes?, enclosed 16   Bourdon 61 4   Violina 61 8   Diapason 61 2   Flautina 61 8   Salicional 61 8   Cornopean 61 8   Gedact [sic] 61 8   Oboe 61 4   Octave 61   Tremolo 4   Flute 61                     Pedal Organ – 30 notes? 16   Diapason 30         16   Bourdon 30                         Organ in first building at Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street: Hutchings-Votey Co. Boston, Mass. (1904) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 67 stops In 1904, Hutchings-Votey of Boston extensively rebuilt the organ to include electro-pneumatic action, but less than a year later, on August 8, 1905, the organ and church were destroyed by fire. Specifications of this revision have not yet been located.                 Organ in first building at Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street: Hilborne L. Roosevelt New York City (1881-1883) Tubular-pneumatic and electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 55 stops, 68 ranks From 1881-83, Hilborne L. Roosevelt returned to St. Thomas Church where he had worked 12 years earlier when the 1870 Hall, Labagh & Co. organ was installed. Roosevelt extensively rebuilt, modernized, and tonally altered the instrument. The Choir division was enclosed (perhaps influenced by his approval of the Cavaillé-Coll organs he had examined while in France), and a Solo division was added on the Pedal side of the chancel. Roosevelt used tubular-pneumatic action for the Great, Swell and Choir divisions, and equipped the organ with six combination pedals. Roosevelt also devised a method of electrically ringing the ten Meneely tower bells from a small keyboard at the right of the organist.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes 16   Double Open Diapason 58 2 2/3   Twelfth 58 8   Open Diapason 58 2   Fifteenth 58 8   Viola da Gamba 58   Mixture, 5 ranks 290 8   Clarabella 58   Scharff, 3 ranks 174 8   Doppel Flöte 58 16   Double Trumpet 58 5 1/3   Quint 58 8   Trumpet 58 4   Octave 58 4   Clarion 58 4   Traverse Flute 58                   Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 58 4   Harmonic Flute 58 8   Open Diapason 58   Cornet, 5 ranks 290 8   Salicional 58 16   Contra Fagotto 58 8   Dolce 58 8   Cornopean 58 8   Vox Celestis [TC?] 46 8   Oboe 58 8   Stopped Diapason 58 8   Vox Humana 58 8   Quintadena 58 4   Clarion 58 4   Octave 58   Tremulant           Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed 16   Bell Gamba 58 4   Gemshorn 58 8   Open Diapason 58 4   Rohr Flute 58 8   Dulciana 58 2   Piccolo 58 8   Viol d'Amour 58 8   Clarinet 58 8   Lieblich Gedackt 58                     Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 58 notes 8   Concert Flute 58 16   Bombarde 58 8   Keraulophon 58 8   Bombarde 58 8   Vox Angelica 58 4   Bombarde 58 8   Doppel Flute 58                 Pedal Organ – 30 notes 32   Double Open Diapason 30 10 2/3   Quint 30 16   Open Diapason 30 8   Violoncello 30 16   Contra Gamba 30   Mixture, 4 ranks 120 16   Sub Bass 30 16   Trombone 30 10 2/3   Bourdon 30                     Original organ in first building at Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street: Hall, Labagh & Co. New York City (1870) Pneumatic and electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 48 stops, 60 ranks In 1870, Hall, Labagh & Co. of New York City built a new three-manual and pedal organ for the new St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street. The organ was divided and placed behind pipe screens on two sides of the chancel: the console, Great, Swell and Choir divisions were on one side and used Barker pneumatic assistance, while the Pedal was located on the other side of the chancel and controlled electrically with a system devised by Hilborne L. Roosevelt, then an employee of Hall, Labagh & Co. Provisions were made for a Solo organ to be added at some future time.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes 16   Double Open Diapason 58 2 2/3   Twelfth 58 8   Open Diapason 58 2   Fifteenth 58 8   Bell Gamba 58   Mixture, 4 ranks 232 8   Clarabella 58   Sharp Mixture, 3 ranks 174 8   Doppel Flöte 58 16   Ophecleide 58 4   Octave 58 8   Trumpet 58 4   Traverse Flute 58 4   Clarion 58           Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 58 2   Flautino 58 8   Open Diapason 58   Cornet, 5 ranks 290 8   Violin Principal 58 16   Fagotto 58 8   Salicional 58 8   Cornopean 58 8   Vox Celestis [TC] 46 8   Oboe 58 8   Quintadena 58 8   Vox Humana 58 8   Stopped Diapason 58 4   Clarion 58 4   Octave 58   Tremolo 4   Harmonic Flute 58               Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes 16   Bell Gamba 58 4   Hohl Flute 58 8   Open Diapason 58 4   Rohr Flute 58 8   Dulciana 58 2   Piccolo 58 8   Melodia 58 8   Clarionet 58 4   Violina 58                 Pedal Organ – 30 notes 32   Double Open Diapason 30 8   Violoncello 30 16   Open Diapason 30 8   Flöte 30 16   Contra Gamba 30   Mixture, 4 ranks 120 16   Bourdon 30 16   Trombone 30 10 2/3   Quint 30                     Accessories     5 pneumatic combination pedals   Balanced Swell pedal     Great and Swell key actions pneumatic   Second pedal to open the sides of the Swell                 Couplers ("operated by thumb knobs situated in the front of the manuals")     Swell to Great 8', 4'   Great to Pedal     Swell to Choir   Swell to Pedal     Choir to Great   Choir to Pedal                 Organ in previous church at Broadway and Houston Street: Hall & Labagh New York City (1851-52) Mechanical action 3 manuals, 26 stops, 30 ranks Following the fire of 1851, Hall & Labagh of New York City were contracted to provide an organ for the new St. Thomas Church. The case, designed by Wills and Dudley and painted to imitate oak, was 27 feet high, 17 feet wide and 10 feet deep. When the church relocated to Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street in 1866, the vestry planned to move the organ, but in the end decided to have an entirely new organ built by Hall, Labagh & Co. The 1851 organ was placed in storage until it was sold as a temporary organ for the new Steinway Hall at Fourteenth Street and Fourth (Park) Avenue. The temporary organ remained until in Steinway Hall until both were demolished in 1925.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 56 notes 8   Large Open Diapason 56 2 2/3   Twelfth 56 8   2nd Scale Open Diapason 56 2   Fifteenth 56 8   Stopped Diapason 56   Sesquialtra, 3 ranks 168 4   Principal 56 8   Trumpet treble 44? 4   Night Horn 56 8   Trumpet bass 12?           Swell Organ (Manual III) – 56 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 56 4   Principal 56 8   Open Diapason 56   Cornet, 3 ranks 168 8   Stopped Diapason 56 16   Double Trumpet 56 8   Keraulophon 56 8   Hautboy 56           Choir Organ (Manual I) – 56 notes 16   Dulciana 56 4   Principal 56 8   Stopped Diapason treble 44 4   Flute 56 8   Stopped Diapason bass 12 2   Fifteenth 56 8   Viol d'Amour 56 8   Cremona 56             Pedal Organ – 25 notes 16   Double Open Diapason 25         16   Double Dulciana 25                         Couplers     Great to Pedal         Choir to Pedal         Swell to Great         Choir to Great         Swell to Choir                     Thomas Hall? New York City (1832) Mechanical action Church records show that an organ believed to have been built by Thomas Hall was installed in 1832 at a cost of $3,000. No other information on this organ survives. The organ and church were destroyed by fire on March 2, 1851.                 Known organ in first church building, located at Broadway and Houston Street: Henry Erben New York City (1825) Mechanical action According to the Henry Erben opus lists, his firm provided an organ in 1825 for the first St. Thomas Church edifice. Church records show that an organ was rented for $500. This organ was later acquired in 1831 by St. Clement's Church in New York City.               Sources:      Aeolian-Skinner Archives: http://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/      Blanchard, Homer D. "The Organ in the United States: A Study in Design", an article in The Bicentennial Tracker. Richmond: Organ Historical Society, Inc., 1976.      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," Specifications of Hutchings-Votey organ (1907) in the temporary wooden church. John de Lancie Library, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia; Sally Branca, archivist; courtesy Jonathan Bowen.      "G. Donald Harrison, Manufacturer, Dies; Noted Designer of Pipe Organs Was 67," The New York Times, June 16, 1956.      Goldsworthy, William A. "Dr. Candlyn & St. Thomas," The American Organist, June 1949. Specifications of M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 7900 (1948).      Holden, Dorothy. The Life and Work of Ernest M. Skinner. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1987.      Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.      Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.      Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977. Specifications of Hall & Labagh organ (1851-52).      St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue website: http://www.saintthomaschurch.org      Self, William. For Mine Eyes Have Seen. Worcester: Worcester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, 1990.      "Stop, Open and Reed – a Periodical Presentation of Pipe Organ Progress". Boston: Skinner Organ Company, 1922-1927.      Webber, F.R. "Organ scrapbook" at Organ Historical Society Archives, Princeton, N.J.; courtesy Jonathan Bowen. Cites New York Musical Gazette (Nov. 1874, p.358) regarding H.L. Roosevelt desiving way to electrically play the ten Meneely bells in the church tower.      Wright, J. Robert. Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue. New York: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, 2001. Photos:      Bowen, Jonathan. Hutchings-Votey brochure photo of 1904 organ.      Callahan, Charles. The American Classic Organ - A History in Letters: Console of Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 205-A (1956).      deZanger, Arie. St. Thomas Church exterior.      Kidder, Frank Eugene. Churches and Chapels. New York: William T. Comstock, 1906. Hutchings-Votey Organ (1904).      Lawson, Steven E. Pipe display on left (Liturgical North) side of Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 205-A.      Rust, John. Case of E.M. Skinner Organ, Op. 205 (1913), from below (color).      St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue: interior with Roosevelt organ; interior of temporary wooden church with Hutchings-Votey organ.      "The Skinner Organ," booklet published by Ernest M. Skinner Company: case of Ernest M. Skinner Organ, Op. 205 (1913); courtesy John Rust.      Stein, Ken. Console and case of Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 205-A; rev. (color).     "Stop, Open and Reed – a Periodical Presentation of Pipe Organ Progress". Boston: Skinner Organ Company, 1922-1927: case of Ernest M. Skinner Organ, Op. 205 (1913).               | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |