Click on images to enlarge Cathedral–Basilica of St. James (Roman Catholic) 250 Cathedral Place Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201 http://www.brooklyncathedral.net Organ Specifications: ► III/41 James A. Konzelman Pipe Organs (1981) ► II/19 Austin Organ Company, Op. 1481 (1926) • Henry Erben (1874) • I/10 Henry Erben (1838) Founded in 1822, St. James was the first Catholic church on Long Island and thus the cradle of Catholic Christianity for two dioceses and 388 parishes. On July 25, 1822, the feast of St. James the Greater, Bishop Connolly laid the cornerstone of the first church in Brooklyn. It was the third church in New York City and the sixth Roman Catholic Church in New York State. In 1853, John Loughlin is installed as the first Bishop of Brooklyn at St. James Cathedral. On May 6, 1982, during the 160th anniversary year of its founding, an Official Decree designating St. James Cathedral a basilica was issued by Rome, after which the Diocesan Church of Brooklyn and Queens was known as “The Cathedral-Basilica of St. James.”
James A. Konzelman Pipe Organs Bayonne, N.J. (1981) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 45 stops, 41 ranks The first three organs in the Basilica were housed in a structural chamber situated at the back of the gallery and centered between two stained glass windows. The chamber, with tonal opening on both sides as well as the front, is a strong architectural element of the church with highly decorative capitals and cornices. The rather severe Neo-Classic case added with the 1981 rebuild is situated in front of the existing chamber, containing what is a new Great division. This case moves the organ further into the room, but unfortunately hides some of the fine architectural details. Swell and Choir windchests were rebuilt and retained from the 1926 Austin organ. The current instrument, by James A. Konzelman of New Jersey, contains 45 stops and 41 ranks of pipes. Wind pressure for the Great is 65mm, Swell, Choir and Pedal Bombarde are on 153mm, and the Pedal is voiced on 70mm.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (65mm pressure) 16   Bourdon 61 4   Koppelflöte 61 8   Principal 61 2 2/3   Quint 61 8   Rohrflöte 61 2   Super Octave 61 8   Hirtengedeckt [ext.] 12 1 3/5   Tierce 61 4   Octave 61     Mixture IV ranks 244                 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (153mm pressure) 8   Holzgedeckt 61 16   Contra Fagotto [ext.] 12 8   Viole 61 8   Trompette 61 8   Viole Celeste [TC] 49 8   Oboe 61 4   Principal 61 4   Clarion [ext.] 12 4   Waldflöte 61     Tremulant   2   Octave 61     Zimbelstern       Mixture III ranks 183                         Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (153mm pressure) 8   Gemshorn 61 1 1/3   Larigot [ext.] 12 8   Rohrgedeckt 61     Cymbale III ranks 183 4   Flute Harmonique 61 8   Bombarde 61 2 2/3   Nazard 61 8   Krummhorn 61 2   Blockflöte 61     Tremulant                   Pedal Organ – 32 notes (70mm pressure) 32   Resultant derived 4   Bourdon [ext.] 12 16   Principal [wood] 32     Mixture IV ranks 128 16   Subbass 32 16   Bombarde (153mm pressure) 32 16   Lieblich Gedeckt GT 16   Fagotto SW 8   Prestant 32 8   Trompette SW 8   Bourdon [ext.] 12 4   Clairon SW 8   Gedeckt GT 4   Krummhorn CH 4   Choral Bass [ext.] 12
Austin Organ Company Hartford, Conn. – Opus 1481 (1926) Electro-pneumatic action 2 manuals, 17 stops, 18 ranks A new organ was built in 1926 by the Austin Organ Company. The following specification was recorded on December 6, 1944, by Charles Scharpeger, an employee of the Louis F. Mohr Co., a longtime organ service concern. Mr. Scharpeger noted that the organ had 25 front pipes in gold.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   First Diapason 73 8   Gemshorn 73 8   Second Diapason 73 4   Octave 73 8   Gross Flute 73                         Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Bourdon 73 4   Flauto Traverso 73 8   Diapason Phonon 73     Mixture III ranks 183 8   Stopped Flute 73 8   Cornopean 73 8   Salicional 73     Tremolo   8   Aeoline 73                         Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Open Diapason 32 8   Octave 32 16   Bourdon SW 16   Tuba Profunda 32                 Couplers ("10 couplers")     Great to Pedal 8'   Great to Great 16', 4'     Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4'     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'               Adjustable Combinations     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Swell Organ stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Great Organ stops     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Full Organ     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Pedal Organ stops                 Pedal Movements     Great Expression Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible     Swell Expression Pedal   Sforzando Pedal     Crescendo Pedal
Henry Erben New York City (1874) Mechanical action Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
Henry Erben New York City (1838) Mechanical action 1 manual, 10 stops Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
Sources:      Cathedral-Basilica of St. James web site: http://www.brooklyncathedral.net      Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.      Peterson, Mark. Specifications of the Konzelman organ (1981).      Scharpeger, Charles. Specifications of Austin Organ, Op. 1481 (1926). Courtesy Larry Trupiano. Illustrations:      Vitacco, Joe. Exterior; interior; organ case and organ console.
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