click on images to enlarge Church of St. Vincent Ferrer (Roman Catholic) 869 Lexington Avenue at 66th Street New York, N.Y. 10021 http://csvf.org/ Organ Specifications: Present Building (since 1918): ► IV/68 Schantz Organ Co., Op. 2224 (2002) ► II/18 Schantz Organ Co., Op. 2145 (1998) ► III/37 James L. Konzelman (1983) ► V/87 Fratelli Balbiani (1925) Original Building (1867-1918): • I/5 Hilborne L. Roosevelt, Op. 10 (1874) ► III/47 Hilborne L. Roosevelt, Op. 7 (1874)               Original Church   The parish of St. Vincent Ferrer was founded in 1867 and today occupies its third building on the same site. Run by the Dominicans, or Order of Preachers, the first building, described as a "Gothic barn", was built from 1867-69 as designed by Patrick C. Keely. The adjacent convent, designed by William Schickel and built in 1881, still stands on the corner of 65th Street. The present building, completed in 1918 and modeled after European Gothic churches, was designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, one of the foremost American ecclesiastical architects of the early 20th century. After the building was completed, a panel of architects charged with selecting the 50 most beautiful U.S. churches voted St. Vincent Ferrer the second most beautiful (the first-place winner, St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue, was also a creation of Mr. Goodhue). However, Goodhue considered St. Vincent Ferrer to be his best work. Exterior limestone carvings by Lee Lawrie and interior fixtures that were initially incomplete because of lack of funds were subsequently completed according to Goodhue's plans. The building is a federal landmark, and was designated a Landmark by New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1967.           Schantz Organ Company Orrville, Ohio – Opus 2224 (2002) Opus 2145 (1998) Electro-pneumatic action Solid-State combination action 4 manuals, 121 stops, 86 ranks                 The organ in St. Vincent Ferrer has evolved over the years from several origins. In 1990, James Konzelman rebuilt the gallery organ of three manuals and 30 ranks. Then, in 1998, Schantz Organ added 18 ranks (Opus 2145) in the chancel and provided a new four-manual console which controlled gallery and chancel divisions. In 2002, Schantz installed Opus 2224 as the new gallery organ of 68 ranks along with a new four-manual console in the chancel.                 GALLERY ORGAN (Opus 2224)                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, unenclosed 16   Double Open Diapason 61 2   Fifteenth 61 8   First Open Diapason 61 1 1/3   Chorus Mixture IV ranks 244 8   Second Open Diap. [ext.] 12 2/3   Sharp Mixture III ranks 183 8   Spire Flute 61  8   Trumpet 61 4   Octave 61   Tremulant 4   Concert Flute 61  8   Ramsey Trumpet  61 2 2/3   Twelfth 61   Chimes 23 tubes                 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16 Stopped Bass 61 1 1/3   Larigot 61 8 Geigen Diapason 61 1 1/3   Plein Jeu V ranks 305 8 Stopped Diapason [ext.] 12  16   Bombarde 61 8 Salicional 61 16   Basson 61 8 Voix Celeste 61 8   Trompette 61 8 Flauto Dolce 61 8   Hautbois [ext.] 12 8 Flauto Celeste [TC] 49 4   Clairon 61 4 Principal 61 8   Vox Humana 61 4 Traversflöte 61   Vox Tremulant 2 2/3 Nasard Harmonique 61   Tremulant 2 Octavin 61 8   Ramsey Trumpet GT 1 3/5 Tierce 61     Harp SO                 Positiv Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Spitzprincipal 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Gedeckt 61 1   Sifflöte 61 8   Quintade 61 1   Cymbal IV ranks 244 8   Flauto Dolce SW 8   Krummhorn 61 8   Flauto Celeste SW   Tremulant 4   Octave 61 8   Ramsey Trumpet GT 4   Koppelflöte 61     Chimes GT 2 2/3   Nasard 61   Harp SO 2   Blockflöte 61                       Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Dulciana 61 8   Clarinet preparation 8   Violoncello 61   Tremulant   8   Violoncello Celeste 61 16   Tuba Magna 61 8   Dulciana [ext.] 12 8   Tuba Mirabilis [ext.] 12 8   Unda Maris [TC] 49 4   Tuba Clarion [ext.] 12 8   Harmonic Flute 61 8   Ramsey Trumpet GT 8   English Horn 61     Harp 49 bars                 Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Double Open Diapason digital  32   Ophicleide 32 32   Contra Bourdon digital 16   Trombone [ext.] 12 16   Contra Bass 32 16   Bombarde SW 16   Diapason GT 16   Basson SW 16   Bourdon 32 8   Trumpet GT 16   Stopped Bass SW 8   Bombarde SW 16   Dulciana SO 4   Clarion GT 8   Octave [ext.] 12  4   Hautbois SW 8   Diapason GT 8   Ramsey Trumpet GT 8   Dulciana SO 16   Tuba Magna SO 8   Bourdon [ext.] 12 8   Tuba Magna SO 4   Choral Bass 32 4   Tuba Magna SO 4   Open Flute 32     Chimes GT 2 2/3   Mixture IV ranks 128     Cymbal Crash preparation               CHANCEL ORGAN (Opus 2145)                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (3½" pressure) 8   Open Diapason 61 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Gemshorn 61 1 1/3   Nineteenth preparation 8   Chimney Flute 61 8   Trumpet SW 8   Gedeckt SW 8   Oboe SW 4   Octave 61     Tremulant 4   Nachthorn 61                         Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (4" pressure) 16   Gedecktbass 61 2   Plein Jeu III ranks 183 8   Geigen 61 16   Double Trumpet 61 8   Celeste 61 8   Trumpet [ext.] 12 8   Gedeckt [ext.] 12 8   Oboe 61 4   Principal 61 4   Clarion [ext.] 12 4   Spillflöte 61     Tremulant 2   Gedeckt [ext.] 12                         Pedal Organ – 32 notes (4" pressure) 32   Acoustic Bass [Bourdon] derived 4   Gedeckt SW 32   Resultant [SW Gedeckt] derived 4   Super Octave [ext.] 12 16   Open Diapason 32 32   Grand Cornet V ranks derived 16   Bourdon 32 16   Double Trumpet SW 16   Gedecktbass SW 8   Trumpet SW 8   Octave [ext.] 12 8   Oboe SW 8   Bourdon [ext.] 12 4   Clarion SW 8   Gedeckt SW 4   Oboe SW             James L. Konzelman Maplewood, N.J. (1983) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 36 stops, 37 ranks, 1,753 pipes                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Bourdon [TC] 49 2 2/3   Quint 61 8   Principal 61 2   Doublette 61 8   Rohrflöte 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 4   Octave 61   Mixture IV ranks 244 4   Flute Harmonique 61 8   Trompete 61                 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Rohrgedeckt 61 2   Octave 61 8   Viola 61 1 1/3   Larigot 61 8   Viola Celeste 61   Scharf IV ranks 244 8   Flauto Dolce 61 16   Contra Fagotto 61 8   Flute Celeste 61 8   Trompette preparation 4   Principal 61 8   Oboe [ext.] 12 4   Waldflöte 61 4   Clairon [ext.] 12 2 2/3   Nazard 61     Tremulant                   Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed [console preparation] 8   Gedeckt (61) 2   Blockflöte (61) 8   Gemshorn (61) 1 3/5   Tierce (61) 8   Flauto Dolce SW 1   Sifflöte (61) 8   Flute Celeste SW   Cymbal IV ranks (244) 4   Principal (61) 8   Krummhorn (61) 4   Koppelflöte (61)   Tremulant 2 2/3   Nazard (61)                     Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Resultant — 4   Bourdon [ext.] 12 16   Principal 32   Mixture IV ranks 128 16   Subbass 32 16   Posaune preparation 16   Gedeckt 32 16   Fagotto SW 8   Octave 32 8   Trompete GT 8   Bourdon 32 4   Clairon GT 4   Choralbass [ext.] 12                 Fratelli Balbiani Milan, Italy (1925) Electro-pneumatic action Divided organ with 67 stops, 87 ranks Movable 5-manual console in chancel 2-manual console in gallery                   One of the more unusual organs in New York City was the five-manual instrument installed in 1925 at St. Vincent Ferrer by the Fratelli Balbiani firm of Milan, Italy. The large organ was controlled by a five-manual movable console in the chancel and an "extra" two-manual console in the gallery choir loft. The consoles included 55 luminous signals, an Automatic Transposer, plus three pistons for "automatic pedal combination". Numerous ventils and cancels augmented the organ's five general pistons. The five-manual console is extant in Brooklyn.                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bordone 61 4   Flauto Armonico 61 8   Eufonio 61   Cornetto 3 ranks 183 8   Flauto Concerto 61 2   Ottavina 61 8   Gamba Celeste 61 8   Unda Maris 61 8   Quintante 61 8   Clarinetto 61 8   Salicionale 61   Tromolo                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir 16   Principale 61 2   Ottava 61 8   Principale 61 2 2/3   Nasardo 61 8   Gemshorn 61 2   Quintadecima 61 8   Gamba 61   Gran Ripieno 8 ranks 488 8   Dulciana 61 8   Corno D'Orchestra 61 8   Bordone 61 8   Tromba 61 4   Flauto Camino 61                     Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Quintante 73 4   Eolina 73 8   Eolina 73   Ripienino 5 ranks 365 8   Viola d'Amore 73 8   Voce Celeste 73 8   Dolce 73 8   Musette 73 8   Concerto Viola 4 ranks 292 8   Oboe 73 4   Corno Di Notte 73   Tromolo         Echo Great Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed [in Chancel] 16   Principale 73 8   Viola Celeste 73 8   Principale 73 4   Principalino 73 8   Dolce 73   Ripieno 7 ranks 511 8   Flauto D'Amore 73 8   Tuba Mirabilis [ff] 73                 Echo Swell Organ (Manual V) – 61 notes, enclosed [in Chancel] 16   Controgamba 73 8   Corno Inglese 73 8   Gamba 73 8   Voce Umana 73 8   Bordone 73   Campane (Chimes) 20 tubes 8   Gran Concerto Viole 73 8   Arpa 4   Flauto in Selva 73   Tromolo 2   Piccolo 73                     Pedal Organ – 30 notes 32   Contrabasso 30 16   Bombarda 30 16   Contrabasso 30 10 2/3   Quinta 30 16   Violone 30 8   Basso 30 16   Subbasso 30 8   Cello 30 16   Bordone 30 8   Corno Dolce 30 16   Contrabasso Violon 30 8   Ottava 30 16   Armonica 30 4   Ottava 30                           Organ in previous church building: Hilborne L. Roosevelt  New York City – Opus 10 (1874) Mechanical action 1 manuals, 5 stops F.R. Webber noted in his "Organ Scrapbook" that this organ existed in the same church as the larger Roosevelt, Op. 7. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Organ in previous church building: Hilborne L. Roosevelt  New York City – Opus 7 (1874) Tubular-pneumatic action Barker lever action for Great and couplers 3 manuals, 37 stops, 47 ranks The 1874 Roosevelt organ for St. Vincent Ferrer was the third three-manual to be built by the firm. Roosevelt used a Barker lever action for the Great and couplers.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes 16   Double Open Diapason 58 4   Flute 58 16   Double Gemshorn 58 2   Wald Flöte 58 8   Open Diapason 58   Mixture, 4 ranks 232 8   Violin 58   Cornet, 4 and 5 ranks 278? 8   Melodia 58 8   Trumpet 58 4   Principal 58 4   Clarion 58             Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 58   Mixture, 4 ranks 232 8   Open Diapason 58 8   Cornopean 58 8   Keraulophon 58 8   Oboe 58 8   Rohr Flute 58 8   Vox Humana 58 4   Principal 58   Tremulant 4   Flauto Traverso 58                     Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes 8   Doppel Flöte 58 4   Viol d'Amour 58 8   Gamba 58 4   Rohr Flute 58 8   Dolce 58 2   Piccolo 58 8   Concert Flute 58 8   Clarionette 58             Pedal Organ – 27 notes 32   Double Open Diapason 27 8   Violoncello 27 16   Open Diapason 27 16   Bombarde 27 16   Double Gamba 27 8   Tuba 27 16   Bourdon 27                 Sources:      Bani, Mark: specifications of Konzelman organ.      Barnes, William Harrison. The Contemporary American Organ: Its Evolution, Design and Construction. New York: J. Fischer & Bro., 1956.      Blanchard, Homer D. "The Organ in the United States: A Study in Design," article in The Bicentennial Tracker. Richmond: Organ Historical Society, Inc., 1976.      Church of St. Vincent Ferrer website: http://csvf.org/      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.      "Five-manual organ installed in St. Vincent Ferrer Church, NYC". The Diapason, April, 1926. Courtesy Mark Bani.      Ochse, Orpha. The History of the Organ in the United States. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1975.      Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977.      Shelley, Thomas J. The Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of New York 1808-2008. Strasbourg: Éditions du Signe, 2007.      Webber, F.R. "Organ scrapbook" at Organ Historical Society Archives, Princeton, N.J. Specifications of Roosevelt organ; courtesy Jonathan Bowen. Photos:      The American Organist, May 1926. Balbiani Organ photos. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.      Lawson, Steven E. St. Vincent Ferrer Church exterior.      Schantz Organ Company: Schantz Organ photos.             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |