The Waldorf=Astoria Hotel with St. Bartholomew's Church in the foreground. Waldorf=Astoria Hotel 301 Park Avenue at 49th Street New York, N.Y. 10022 www.waldorfastoria.com Organ Specifications: 301 Park Avenue at 49th Street (since 1931) ► IV/76 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 5795 (1931) – Grand Ballroom ► III/22 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 5796 (1931) – Dining Room Fifth Avenue at 34th Street (1893-1929) ► II/20 Estey Organ Company, Op. 1692 (1919) ► II/14 Estey Organ Company, Op. 822 (1910)   Old Waldorf=Astoria Hotel   The roots of this New York institution go back to 1893, when millionaire William Waldorf Astor opened the 13-story Waldorf Hotel on the former site of his mansion at Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street. A private bathroom in every guest chamber and electricity throughout were two on a long list of Waldorf firsts. Four years later, the Waldorf was joined by the 17-story Astoria Hotel, erected on an adjacent site by Waldorf's cousin, John Jacob Astor IV. The corridor connecting the two buildings became an enduring symbol of the combined Waldorf and Astoria hotels, represented by the quirky "=" the Waldorf=Astoria uses instead of a hyphen in its official logo. In 1929 the original Waldorf=Astoria was demolished to make way for the Empire State Building. The new hotel cost $42 million and was the largest and tallest hotel at the time, having 1,852 rooms and 42 stories.                 M.P. Möller, Inc. Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 5795 (1931) Electro-pneumatic action Equipped with Artiste Reproducing Roll Player 4 manuals, 98 stops, 76 ranks   Dr. Sigfried Karg-Elert at the Möller Organ in the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel   In 1931, the M.P. Möller Company built a large organ, Op. 5795, for the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel on Park Avenue. The four-manual organ had 76 ranks controlled by a drawknob console or an Artiste Reproducing Roll Player. Dr. Sigfried Karg-Elert, the noted German organist, dedicated the organ on January 6, 1932. A series of Sunday inaugural afternoon recitals was given by organists Warren D. Allen, Edward Eigenschenk, Fernando Germani, Rollo F. Maitland, and Alexander McCurdy. In 1952, the organ was removed and rebuilt for installation in Montclair State College (now Montclair State University) in Montclair, N.J.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" wind pressure) 16   Violone 61 4   Harmonic Flute [ext.] 12 8   Major Diapason 61 2 2/3   Octave Quint 61 8   Minor Diapason 61 2   Super Octave 61 8   Violone [ext.] 12   Mixture V ranks 305 8   Major Flute 61 16   Trombone 61 8   Harmonic Flute ^ 61 8   Tromba 61 8   Violoncello 61 4   Clarion [ext.] 24 8   Violoncello Celeste 61 8   Harp [Deagan] 61 bars 8   Gemshorn 61 4   Harp 8   Gemshorn Celeste 61   Chimes [Deagan] 25 bells 4   Octave 61 8   Piano [Knabe] 4   Violone Octave [ext.] 12 4   Piano             Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (8" wind pressure) 16   Bass Violin 73 2 2/3   Nazard ^ 61 16   Bourdon 73 2   Fifteenth ^ 61 8   Geigen Diapason 73 1 3/5   Tierce ^ 61 8   Stopped Diapason [ext.] 12   Cornet IV ranks [draws ^ stops] 8   Traverse Flute 73 16   Double Trumpet 73 8   Solo Violins II ranks 146 8   Orchestral Trumpet 73 8   First Violin 73 8   Oboe d'Amore 73 8   First Violin Celeste II ranks 146 8   English Horn 73 8   Second Violins 73 8   Vox Humana 73 8   Muted Violins 73 4   Clarion 61 8   Muted Violins Celeste 73 4   Xylophone 49 bars 4   Geigen Octave 73 2   Xylophone 4   Harmonic Flute 73   Chimes GT 4   Stopped Flute [ext. 16] 12 8   Piano 4   Violin [ext. 16] 12 4   Piano 4   Dolce Violin II ranks —                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (8" wind pressure) 16   English Diapason 73 2   Flageolet — 8   Concert Flute 73   Viole Cornet III ranks 183 8   Quintadena 73 8   Clarinet 73 8   Dulciana 73 8   Orchestral Oboe 73 8   Unda Maris [TC] 61 4   Orchestral Bells 37 bars 8   Violin 73 2   Xylophone SW 8   Violin Celeste II ranks 134 8   Harp GT 8   Violas II ranks 134 4   Harp GT 4   Chimney Flute 73   Chimes GT 4   Violas II ranks — 8   Piano 2 2/3   Flute Twelfth 61 4   Piano         Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed (12" wind pressure) 16   Contra Tibia Clausa 97 8   Post Horn 61 8   Stentorphone 61 8   French Horn 61 8   Tibia Clausa — 8   Solo Vox Humana 61 8   Orchestral Cellos II ranks 122 4   Xylophone SW 8   Orchestral Violins II ranks 122 2   Xylophone SW 4   Tibia Octave —   Chimes GT 2 2/3   Tibia Twelfth — 8   Piano 2   Solo Piccolo — 4   Piano 8   Tuba Mirabilis 61                 Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Resultant — 8   Violin [ext.] 12 16   Open Diapason 32 8   Viole Dolce [ext.] 12 16   Viole Diaphone 32 8   Tibia Clausa [ext.] GT 16   Violone GT 8   Flute [ext.] 12 16   Bass Violin SW 8   Gedeckt [ext.] 12 16   Viole Dolce 32 4   Super Octave [ext.] 12 16   Tibia Clausa SO 4   Flute [ext.] 12 16   Bourdon 32 16   Bombarde 32 16   Gedeckt 32 16   Trombone GT 16   Lieblich Gedeckt SW 16   Trumpet SW 8   Octave [ext.] 12 8   Tuba SO 8   Violone GT 8   Trombone GT 8   Violoncellos II ranks GT 4   Clarion GT                 M.P. Möller, Inc. Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 5796 (1931) Electro-pneumatic action Equipped with Artiste Reproducing Roll Player 3 manuals, 44 stops, 22 ranks When the Möller Company was contracted in 1931 to build the large organ for the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf=Astoria, they also built their Opus 5796, a three-manual organ with 75 registers, 22 ranks, and an Artiste Reproducing Roll Player. Some sources state this organ was installed in a dining room of the hotel. The organ was removed in 1952 and, after being rebuilt and enlarged, was reinstalled as Op. R-442 in Salem Methodist Episcopal Church in Manhattan where it is extant.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir 8   Open Diapason 61 4   Harmonic Flute 49 8   Doppel Flute 73 4   Flute [Concert Flute] — 8   Concert Flute 85 2   Piccolo [Concert Flute] — 8   Viola 73 8   Tromba 61 8   Viola Dolce 73   Harp [Deagan] 61 bars 8   Vox Angelica 73   Chimes 21 tubes 4   Octave [English Diapason] —   Tremulant             Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bass Flute 97 4   Orchestral Flute [Bass Flute] — 8   Geigen Principal 73 4   Violin [Orch. Violin] — 8   Traverse Flute [Bass Flute] — 2 2/3   Flute Twelfth [Bass Flute] — 8   Orchestral Violin II ranks 134 2   Flautina [Bass Flute] — 8   Violin 73 8   Oboe 61 8   Salicional 73 8   Vox Humana 61 8   Vox Celeste [TC] 61   Tremulant             Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   English Diapason 73 2 2/3   Flute Quint [Concert Flute] GT 8   Concert Flute GT 2   Piccolo [Concert Flute] GT 8   Viola GT 8   French Horn 61 8   Viola Celeste [TC] 61 8   Clarinet 61 8   Viole Dolce GT 8   Harp [TC] GT 8   Vox Angelica GT 4   Harp GT 4   Flute [Concert Flute] GT   Tremulant         Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Resultant — 8   Viola GT 16   Violone 32 8   Dolce Flute [Bass Flute] SW 16   Bourdon [ext. GT Dop. Fl.] 12 8   Vox Angelica GT 16   Lieblich Gedeckt [Bass Fl.] SW 8   Tromba GT 8   Major Flute [Doppel Flute] GT                     Couplers   Normal compliment of couplers                       Mechanicals     Chime Dampers       Crescendo Indicator       Harp Dampers                           Adjustable Combinations     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Great Stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Swell Stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Choir Stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Pedal Stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Full Organ                 Pedal Movements     Great to Pedal Reversible     Balanced Expression Pedal, Great-Choir Organ     Balanced Expression Pedal, Swell Organ     Grand Crescendo Pedal     Sforzando Pedal                 Organ in Waldorf=Astoria Hotel located at Fifth Avenue at 34th Street: Estey Organ Company Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 1692 (1919) Electro-pneumatic action 2 manuals, 19 stops, 20 ranks                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   First Open Diapason 61 8   Unda Maris [TC] 49 8   Second Open Diapason 61 8   Clarinet 61 8   Gamba 61 8   Tuba 61 8   Clarabella 61   Tremolo                 Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Double Dulciana 61   Flute Mixture, 3 ranks 183 8   Salicional 61 8   Cornopean 61 8   Vox Celeste [TC] 49 8   Oboe 61 8   Concert Flute 61   Tremolo 4   Traverse Flute 61                     Pedal Organ – 30 notes 16   Double Open [FF] 30 16   Dulciana SW 16   Bourdon [MF] 30 4   Choralflute 30               Organ in Waldorf=Astoria Hotel located at Fifth Avenue at 34th Street: Estey Organ Company Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 822 (1910) Electro-pneumatic action 2 manuals, 16 stops, 14 ranks The first known organ to be installed in the hotel was originally built for the residence of George C. Boldt. The Estey Shop Order for this organ shows that the mahogany console was detached and movable. A "New Style" A.G.O. pedalboard with 32 notes was provided.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Dulciana 61 8   Dolce [ext.] 12 8   Open Diapason 61 4   Flauto Traverso 61 8   Concert Flute 61 8   Clarinet 61                 Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Grand Flute [fr. Ped. O.D.] 41 4   Flute d'Amour 61 8   Salicional 61   Echo Cornet III ranks 183 8   Voix Celeste [TC] 49 8   Horn 61 8   Echo Muted Viol 61                     Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Open Diapason 32 8   Flauto Dolce [Concert Flute] GT 16   Dulciana GT                   Couplers     Swell to Pedal 8', 4'     Swell to Swell 16', 4', Release     Great to Pedal 8'     Great to Great 16', 4', Release     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'                       Accessories     Balanced Swell Pedal for Great   Great Organ Tremolo     Balanced Swell Pedal for Swell   Sforzando Pedal                 Sources:      "A New Waldorf Against the Sky", Old and Sold Antiques Digest, 1931.      The American Organist (undated), courtesy Jonathan Bowen.      Comet, Jason. Electronic mail.      The Diapason, February 1932. Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 5766 (1931); courtesy Jonathan Bowen.      Estey Pipe Organs website: http://esteyorgan.com. Specifications of Estey organ, Op. 822 (1910).      Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 2. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985.      Leonard, Laurence W. Specifications of Estey Organ, Op. 1692 (1919).      Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.      Stimmel, Phil: Estey Organ Company Shop Order with specifications of Estey Organ, Op. 822 (1910).      Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 5796 (1931). Photos:      The Diapason, February 1932: Console of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 5766 (1931). | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organs List |