Teachers College - New York City
  Click on most images to enlarge
Teachers College
Columbia University

West 120th Street at Broadway
New York, N.Y. 10023
http://www.tc.columbia.edu

Organ Specifications:
Milbank Memorial Chapel:
► III/42 Casavant Frères, Op. 2716 (1961)
► III/19 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 599 (1949)
► II/14 Geo. Jardine & Son, Op. 1239 (1897)
Horace Mann Auditorium:
► II/4 Conn/Tellers Electro-Pipe Organ (1960s)
Practice Organ:
► II/2 Casavant Frères, Op. 2717 (1961)

Teachers College was founded in 1887 and in 1898 established its affiliation with Columbia University, under which it became the Education Faculty of the University. The western wing that completes the quadrangle of Teachers College is known as The Milbank Memorial, the gift of Joseph Milbank, founder of the memorial and a trustee of the college. Designed by William A. Potter, the Tudor Gothic building includes a chapel and library with ornamentation by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company. The Milbank Memorial was opened on Novemeber 11, 1897 with an organ recital by Gustave Viehl in the 250-seat Milbank Memorial Chapel.
               
  Milbank Chapel - Teachers College - New York City
Organ in Milbank Memorial Chapel:

Casavant Frères, Limitée
St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada – Opus 2716 (1962)
Electro-pneumatic key action
3 manuals, 36 stops, 42 ranks


In 1962, an entirely-new organ was installed by Casavant Frères of Canada. As with the previous two organs, all pipes are located in the chamber at the right side of the stage. This versatile Casavant organ has forty-two ranks of pipes in five divisions, all controlled by a movable, detached drawknob console of oak with interior fittings of mahogany stained with a walnut finish. Exposed pipes of the Great and Positiv divisions are cantilevered on chests in front of the arched opening. Both of the enclosed divisions (Swell and Choir) have two sets of expression shutters that normally open into the stage and also into the room; those into the room may be switched into the closed position by a rocking tablet. Unfortunately, this fine organ was rendered unplayable when the cable to the console was disconnected during the last renovation of the chapel.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Prinzipal
61
2
   Flachfloete
61
8
   Hohlfloete
61
     Mixtur IV ranks
244
4
   Oktav
61
    
Chimes
21 tubes
4
   Spitzfloete
61
        

 

      

 

      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Holzgedackt
61
     Scharf IV ranks

244
8
   Viole
61
16
   Fagott (L/2)

61
8
   Viole Celeste
61
8
   Trompette

61
4
   Nachthorn
61
     Tremulant  
2
   Octavin
61
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Gemshorn
61
2
   Waldfloete
61
8
   Gemshorn Celeste [TC]
49
1 3/5
   Terz
61
4
   Kleingedackt
61
8
   Krummhorn
61
2 2/3
   Nasat
61
     Tremulant  

     

     
Positiv Organ (floating) – 56 notes [on slider chest]
8
   Quintadena
56
1 1/3
   Quintfloete
56
4
   Spillfloete
56
1
   Siffloete
56
2
   Prinzipal
56
     Zimbel III ranks
168
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Subbass
32
     Rauschpfeife II ranks
64
16
   Quintaton
32
16
   Fagott
SW
8
   Prinzipal
32
8
   Fagott
SW
8
   Bordun
32
4
   Fagott
SW
4
   Koppelfloete
32
        
               
Couplers (rocking tablets above top manual)
    Great to Pedal 8'   Choir to Great 16', 8'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 8'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Choir to Swell 8'
    Positiv to Pedal 8'   Choir Only
    Swell to Great 8'   Positiv Only
    Positiv to Great 8'   Front Shades Off (Swell & Choir)
               
Adjustable Combination Pistons (capture type)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Swell stops (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Great stops (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Choir stops (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Positiv stops (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Pedal stops (toe)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Full Organ (thumb and toe)
               
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal (thumb and toe)  
    Swell to Pedal (thumb and toe)  
    Choir to Pedal (thumb and toe)  
    Full Organ (thumb and toe)  
    Choir Only (thumb)  
    Positiv Only (thumb)  
    Front Shades Off (thumb) – affecting both Swell and Choir  
               
Balanced Pedals
    Expression for Swell      
    Expression for Choir      
    Crescendo for stops and couplers      
               
Indicator Lights
    Crescendo (green)  
    Wind (white)  
    Full Organ (red)  
    Positiv Only (green light above tablet)  
    Choir Organ (green light above tablet)  
    Front Shades Off (red light above tablet)  
               
  Milbank Chapel, c.1930 - Teachers College, Columbia University - New York City
 

Milbank Chapel, c.1930
Organ in Milbank Memorial Chapel:

J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 599 (1949)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 30 stops, 19 ranks



In 1949, the Odell company rebuilt and enlarged the original 1897 Geo. Jardine & Son organ in Milbank Chapel. Odell refitted the old chests with electro-pneumatic action, added a new chest for the Great Organ, and provided a new three-manual detached console in front of the organ chamber. Modern slide tuners were placed on all metal pipes, and the wood pipes were treated with two coats of shellac. The front pipes, case and screen were retained but moved forward about six inches to provide more chamber space.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
8
   Melodia
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
     Mixture III ranks [draws 2']
122
4
   Principal
61
    
Chimes [Maas]
21 tubes
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon [unit]
97
4
   Violina
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2 2/3
   Nazard
—
8
   Rohr Flute
61
2
   Flageolet
61
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Vox Celeste
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Lieblich Flute
—
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Dulciana [unit]
80
2 2/3
   Dulce Twelfth
—
8
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
2
   Flautina
SW
5 1/3
   Quint [Bourdon]
SW
8
   Clarinet
61
4
   Dulcet
—
     Tremolo [same as Swell]  
4
   Flute d'Amour
SW
        

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Sub Base [sic] [unit]
44
8
   Dulciana
CH
16
   Bourdon
SW
4
   Flute
SW
8
   Bass Flute
—
        
               
Couplers (rocking tablets above top manual)
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 8'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Great to Great 16', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir to Choir 16', 4'
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Piston Combinations (adjustable at console and visably moving registers)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Swell stops (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Great stops (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Choir stops (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Full Organ (thumb and toe)
    Full Organ Cancel  
               
Pedal Movements
    Crescendo Pedal (selective)   Great to Pedal Reversible Piston
    Balanaced Swell Pedal   Swell to Pedal Reversible Piston
    Balanced Choir Pedal   Choir to Pedal Reversible Piston
    Sforzando Piston (rev.)    
               
Accessories
    Wind Indicator   Fluorescent Light (on music rack)
    Crescendo Indicator   Generator or Selenium Rectifier
    Sforzando Indicator   Spencer Blower and Motor
    Console Bench       2 HP, 220 V., 3 Phase, A.C.
               
  Milbank Chapel, c.1900 - Teachers College, Columbia University - New York City
 

Milbank Chapel, c.1900
Organ in Milbank Memorial Chapel:

George Jardine & Son
New York City – Opus 1239 (1897)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 14 stops, 14 ranks


The original organ in Milbank Chapel was built in 1897 by George Jardine & Son of New York City. This two-manual organ employed electro-pneumatic action and included a detached and reversed console. The following specifications were recorded (Aug. 3, 1922) by Louis F. Mohr, an organ serviceman in the area.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Principal
61
8
   Dulciana
61
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
8
   Melodia
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon Treble [TC]
49
8
   Salicional [TC]

49
16
   Bourdon Bass
12
8
   Aeoline

61
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Violino

61
8
   Stopped Diapason [TC]
49
2
   Flageolet
61
8
   Unison Bass
12
8
   Oboe
61
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
30
        
               
Couplers (rocking tablets above top manual)
    Swell to Pedal   Swell to Great
    Great to Pedal    
               
Pedal Movements
    Four Pedal Combinations [Great Piano, Great Forte, Swell Piano, Swell Forte?}
    Balanced Swell Pedal          
               
Accessories
    Swell Tremolo  
    Wind Indicator  
             
Organ in Horace Mann Auditorium:

Tellers Organ Company
Erie, Penn. (1960s)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 4 ranks


Sometime in the 1960s, the Tellers Organ Company became a pioneer in the combination pipe/electronic organ field when it joined with the Conn Organ Company of Elkhardt, Ind., to produce the Conn/Tellers Electro-Pipe Combination Organ. Such an organ was installed in Horace Mann Auditorium. The organ had four unified ranks of pipes (8' Principal, 8' Rohrflöte, 2-2/3' Nazard, and 8' Trumpet) plus electronic stops by Conn. The organ was installed in the balcony with the console located on the stage.

The stoplist for this organ has not yet been located.
               
Organ in Practice Room:

Casavant Frères, Limitée
St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada – Opus 2717 (1962)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 8 stops, 2 ranks
               
Manual I (lower) – 61 notes
8
   Gemshorn
(b)
        
4
   Rohrflöte
(a)
        
2
   Superoktav
(b)
        

     

     
Manual II (upper) – 61 notes
8
   Rohrgedackt
(a)
        
4
   Oktav
(b)
        
2
   Kleinflöte
(a)
        

     

     
Pedal – 32 notes
16
   Rohrbordun
(a)
        
8
   Gemshorn
(b)
        
               
Stop Analysis
     
Pipes
  
16
   Rohrgedackt (metal)
97
(a)
8
   Gemshorn (metal)
    85
(b)
   
Total
182
  
               
Sources:
     Glück, Sebastian. Information about Tellers-Conn organ in Horace Mann Auditorium.
     "The Milbank Memorial," The New York Times (Nov. 12, 1897).
     Mohr, Louis F. Specifications (Aug. 3, 1922) of George Jardine & Son Organ, Op. 1239 (1897). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Scheer, Stanley. Factory Specification of Casavant Frères organ, Op. 2716, June 16, 1961.
     Scheer, Stanley. Factory Specification of Casavant Frères organ, Op. 2717, June 16, 1961.
     Teachers College web site: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/
     The Theatre Organ Home Page web site: http://www.theatreorgans.com. Specifications of Conn/Tellers Electro-Pipe Organ.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification of J.H. & C.S. Odell Organ, Op. 599 (1949).

Illustrations:
     Lawson, Steven E. Interior; Casavant Frères organ, Op. 2716 (1961).
     Teachers College web site: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/