click on images to enlarge Third Church of Christ, Scientist 583 Park Avenue at 63rd Street New York, N.Y. 10021 Organ Specifications: 583 Park Avenue at 63rd Street (since 1924): ► III/50 Austin Organs Inc., Op. 2328 (1960) • III/- Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Op. 1227-A (1950) ► III/42 Estey Organ Company, Op. 2074 (1923) 111 East 58th Street (1920-1923) – Liederkranz Hall • II/9 Geo. Hutchings; reb. Edward J. Schlette (1920) 43 East 125th Street at Madison Avenue (1910s-1924): • J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 325 (1894) – Chancel ► III/36 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 129 (1873) – Gallery The Third Church of Christ, Scientist was incorporated in 1895 to serve the residents of Harlem. Originally known as the Metropolitan Third Church of Christ, Scientist, the name was changed in 1899 to conform with the uniform numerical system of designating Christian Science churches. In 1905, the society purchased the former Harlem Presbyterian Church, an enormous Victorian Gothic edifice designed and built in 1874 by D. & J. Jardine, and located at 43 East 125th Street at Madison Avenue. In the 1920s, Third Church purchased a plot on the northeast corner of Park Avenue and 63rd Street, and hired Delano & Aldrich to design a new edifice. Completed in 1924, the red-brick, Georgian-style church is noted for its dome with lantern top, and the spacious auditorium with galleries on three sides. When viewed from Park Avenue, the church seems to be a book end to the nearby Colony Club, built in 1916 at 564 Park Avenue at 62nd Street, which was also designed by Delano & Aldrich. In 2006, the church was granted permission by the Department of Buildings to transform its space so that it could be used as both a house of worship and a social hall. The large auditorium was cleared of all pews, but weekly services continue to be held in the room. As a result, the renovated room is also available for a variety of social events.             Austin Organs Inc. Hardford, Conn. – Opus 2328 (1960) Electro-pneumatic chest action Solid State combination action 3 manuals, 38 stops, 50 ranks In 1960, Austin Organs Inc. of Hartford, Conn., rebuilt the organ (Op. 2328) as a three-manual, 55-rank instrument, retaining the 1950 console. In 2000, the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Ill., rebuilt the Echo division in the dome, provided a new console and installed a solid state combination action.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Spitzflöte [ext.] 2 2/3   Quinte 8   Principal 2   Principal 8   Rohrflöte   Mixture IV ranks 8   Spitzflöte   Chimes EC 4   Octave     Great 16', Unison Off, 4' 4   Nachthorn   Echo on Great             Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 16   Fagotto [ext. Oboe] 8   Gedeckt 8   Trompette 8   Gamba 8   Oboe 8   Celeste 4   Clarion 4   Principal   Tremulant 2   Blockflöte     Swell 16', Unison Off, 4'   Plein Jeu V ranks                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Bourdon 8   Krummhorn 8   Flute Celeste II ranks 8   Trumpet 4   Koppelflöte   Tremulant 2   Principal     Choir 16', Unison Off, 4' 1 1/3   Quinte     Echo on Choir   Cymbel III ranks                 Echo Organ (floating) – 61 notes, enclosed [in dome] 8   Clarabella     Harp [TC] 61 bars 8   Vox Angelica     Chimes 21 tubes 8   Dulciana     Tremulant   8   Unda Maris     Echo 16', Unison Off, 4'   4   Flute                     Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Acoustic Bass [derived] 4   Choral Bass 16   Principal 4   Rohrflöte SW 16   Subbass   Mixture III ranks 16   Spitzflöte GT 16   Trombone 16   Gedeckt SW 16   Contra Fagotto SW 8   Octave 8   Trumpet [ext.] 8   Spitzflöte GT 4   Clarion [ext.] 8   Rohrflöte SW   Tremulant             Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc. Boston, Mass. – Opus 1227-A (1950) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manual console In 1950, the Aeolian-Skinner Company of Boston, under the supervision of G. Donald Harrison, made repairs and tonal changes, and a new console was installed.             Estey Organ Company Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 2074 (1923) Electro-pneumatic key action 4 manuals, 55 stops, 42 ranks The original organ for the present Third Church of Christ, Scientist was built in 1923 by the Estey Organ Company of Brattleboro, Vt.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, partially enclosed with Choir (8" pressure) 16   Open Diapason 61 4   Harmonic Flute * 73 8   First Open Diapason 61 4   Octave 61 8   Second Diapason * 73 8   Bell Trumpet * 73 8   Gross Flute 61   Chimes EC 8   Clarabel Flute * 73     * enclosed with Choir               Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (8" pressure) 16   Bourdon 73 4   Flauto Traverso 73 8   Diapason Phonon 73 2   Flageolet 73 8   Rohr Flöte 73 16   Fagotta [reedless] 85 8   Stopped Diapason 73 8   Oboe [ext. Fagotta] — 8   Viol d'Orchestre 73 8   Cornopean 73 8   Viol Celeste [TC] 61 8   Vox Humana 73 8   Salicional 73   Tremolo 8   Quintadena 73                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" pressure) 16   Contra Viole 73 2   Piccolo 73 8   Geigen Principal 73 8   Clarinet [reedless] 73 8   Concert Flute 73   Celesta [Estey Harp] 61 notes 4   Flute d'Amour 73     Tremolo                 Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed (8" pressure) 8   Stentorphone 73 8   Orchestral Oboe 73 8   Flauto Major 73 16   Tuba Profunda 97 8   Gamba Granda 73 8   Harmonic Tuba [ext.] — 8   Gamba Celeste [TC] 61 4   Harmonic Clarion [ext.] — 4   Wald Flöte 73   Tremolo             Echo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" pressure) [located in dome] 8   Dulciana 73 4   Fern Flute 73 4   Vox Angelica [oct. above Dul.] 73     Chimes 20 tubular bells 8   Clarabella 73     Tremolo 8   Unda Maris [TC] 61                   Pedal Organ – 32 notes (8" pressure) 32   Resultant — 8   Flauto Dolce [Bourdon] — 16   Open Diapason 44 8   Cello [Gamba Celeste] SO 16   Violone 32 16   Fagotta SW 16   Bourdon 44 16   Tuba Profunda SO 16   Lieblich Gedeckt SW 8   Harmonic Tuba SO 16   Contra Viole CH 4   Harmonic Clarion SO 8   Gross Flute [Op. Diap.] —                       Couplers     31 couplers & Unison Releases                   Combination Pistons     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Great and Pedal Stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Swell and Pedal Stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Choir and Pedal Stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Solo and Pedal Stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Echo and Pedal Stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Universal Stops and Couplers                 Pedal Movements     Balanced Pedal for Great & Choir Organs   Balanced Pedal for Echo Organ     Balanced Pedal for Swell Organ   Balanced Crescendo Pedal     Balanced Pedal for Solo Organ   Great to Pedal Reversible             Organ in previous location at 111 East 58th Street (Liederkranz Hall): George S. Hutchings Boston, Mass. Electro-pneumatic action 2 manuals, 9 stops After the church sold their property in Harlem, they met in Liederkranz Hall on East 58th Street, pending completion of the new church on Park Avenue. The organ in Liederkranz Hall was built by George Hutchings, and it was rebuilt in 1920 by Edward J. Schlette, who also installed a new Kinetic blower. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Organ in church located at 43 East 125th Street: Chancel Organ J.H. & C.S. Odell New York City – Opus 325 (1895) Unknown action Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Organ in church located at 43 East 125th Street: Gallery Organ J.H. & C.S. Odell New York City – Opus 129 (1873) Mechanical key and stop action 3 manuals, 32 stops, 36 ranks The first organ used by Third Church of Christ, Scientist was built in 1873 by J.H. & C.S. Odell for the Harlem Presbyterian Church at 43 East 125th Street.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes 16   Double Open Diapason 58 2 2/3   Twelfth 58 8   Grand Open Diapason 58 2   Fifteenth 58 8   Gamba 58   Sesquialtera, 3 ranks 174 8   Clarionet Flute 58 8   Trumpet 58 4   Harmonic Flute 58 4   Clarion 58 4   Principal 58                   Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 58   Cornet, 3 ranks 174 8   Open Diapason 58 8   Cornopean 58 8   Salicional 58 8   Vox Humana 58 8   Stop Diapason 58 8   Oboe & Bassoon basses 58 4   Principal 58   Tremulant 2   Piccolo 58                         Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes 8   Keraulophon 58 4   Violina 58 8   Dulciana 58 2   Flageolet 58 8   Melodia 58 8   Clarionet [TC] 46 4   Wald Flute 58                 Pedal Organ – 27 notes 16   Grand Double Diapason 27 10 2/3   Grand Quint 27 16   Grand Bourdon 27 8   Violoncello 27                 Couplers &c     Patent Reversible Coupler   Great Manual to Pedals     Swell to Great Manuals   Swell Manual to Pedals     Choir to Great Manual   Choir Manual to Pedals     Swell to Choir Manual   Bellows Signal                 Patent Pneumatic Compositions on Great Organ 1.   Full Great Organ 5.   Clarionet, Flute & Gamba 2.   Full to Mixture 6.   Gamba & Harmonic Flute 3.   Full to Principal exc. Double 7.   Clarionet Flute 4.   All of the eight foot stops 8.   Harmonic Flute                 Patent Pneumatic Compositions on Swell Organ 1.   Full Swell 5.   Salicional & Stop Diapason 2.   Full to Mixture 6.   Oboe & Stop Diapason 3.   Full to Principal without Double 7.   Vox Humana 4.   All of the eight foot stops 8.   Salicional                 Pedal Compositions 1.   Piano           2.   Forte                     Sources:      Aeolian-Skinner Archives: http://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/      Carnahan, John. Factory Shop Order for Estey Organ, Op. 2074 (1923).      "Church in 125th St. Bought by Negroes," The New York Times, June 24, 1921.      Dunlap, David W. and Joseph J. Vecchione. Glory in Gotham: Manhattan's Houses of Worship; A Guide to Their History, Architecture and Legacy. New York: City & Company, 2001.      Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.      The Estey Pipe Organ website: www.esteyorgan.com      "$500,000 Church for Park Av. Site," The New York Times, March 28, 1920.      Horsley, Carter. The Upper East Side Book: Park Avenue. http://www.thecityreview.com      Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.      Odell Opus List, compiled by Sand Lawn; courtesy of David Scribner.      "Open $1,000,000 Church. Christian Scientists Hold Services in New Park Avenue Building," The New York Times, December 17, 1923.      "Scientist Church to Build at Once," The New York Times, May 20, 1922.      Shapiro, Gary. "Park Ave. Church Is Seeking To Host Bar Mitzvahs, Liquor," article in The New York Sun, January 22, 2007. http://www.nysun.com/article/47122      Trupiano, Larry. Factory Contract for J.H. & C.S. Odell Organ, Op. 129 (1873). Photos:      583 Park Ave. website: http://www.583parkave.com: exterior, renovated interior      Lawson, Steven E.: 2005 church interior; Wicks organ console.             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |