All Saints Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: John Rust)
 

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Church of All Saints
(Roman Catholic)

47 East 129th Street at Madison Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10035


Organ Specifications:
► IV/70 Welte-Tripp Organ Corp., Op. 317 (1931)
► III/59 Frank Roosevelt, No. 525 (1892)


The ornate Venetian Gothic building for All Saints Church was designed by James Renwick, Jr., who was also the architect for St. Patrick's Cathedral, Grace Episcopal Church, and the Smithsonian Institution. Dedicated in 1893, the imposing and quite grand church is often called the "St. Patrick's of Harlem", and is noted for its patterned brickwork, terra cotta details, wheel windows at the clerestory level, and tall bell tower. The vaulted interior is also rich in details, including comfortable hand-carved pews, murals and stained glass.

All Saints Church was built as a parish for the neighborhood's Irish immigrants. Today, All Saints' congregation is predominantly African-American and Nigerian.

The Church of All Saints was designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in January 2007.
               
All Saints Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: John Rust)   All Saints Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: John Rust)
     

All Saints Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: John Rust)

   All Saints Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: John Rust)
               
  Roosevelt/Welte-Tripp Organ - All Saints Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: John Rust)
Welte-Tripp Organ Corp.
Sound Beach, Conn. – Opus 317 (1931)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 69 registers, 61 stops, 70 ranks





In 1931, the original Roosevelt organ at All Saints Church was enlarged and electrified by the Welte-Tripp Organ Corp. of Sound Beach, Conn. Welte-Tripp retained most of the Roosevelt pipe work, added a new Solo Division in the east triforium adjacent to the gallery, and installed a new four-manual drawknob console.

Donald Schwing rebuilt the organ in the 1980s.

As of 2009, this monumental and historic organ was found to be playable but in need of restoration.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Hohl Flöte
61
8
   1st Open Diapason
61
2 2/3
   Twelfth [Oct. Quint orig. voicing]
61
8
   2nd Open Diapason
61
2
   Fifteenth [Sup. Oct. orig. voicing]
61
8
   Doppel Flöte
61
     Mixture IV-V ranks
293
8
   Principal Flute
61
     Scharff III ranks
183
8
   Viola di Gamba
61
8
   Tromba [Trumpet revoiced]
61
4
   Octave
61
     Tremolo  

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
61
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
   Flageolet
61
8
   Stopped Flute [St. Diap.]
61
     Cornet III-IV ranks
232
8
   Salicional 
61
16
   Posaune [Fagotto revoiced]
61
8
   Voix Celeste
61
8
   Cornopean [new on new chest]
61
8
   Viole d'Orchestre
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Viole Celeste
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Quintadena
61
4
   Clarion [new on new chest]
61
4
   Octave
61
     Tremolo  

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Gamba [1-12 new]
61
4
   Fugara
61
8
   Geigen Principal
61
4
   Rohr Flute [Flute d'Amour]
61
8
   Concert Flute
61
2
   Harmonic Piccolo
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Unda Maris [rep. Quintadena]
61
     Tremolo  

     

     
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Stentorphone
61
8
   Cor Anglais
61
8
   Gamba
61
8
   French Horn
61
8
   Gamba Celeste
61
     Tremolo  
8
   Tuba Mirabilis [hooded]
61
        
               
Chancel Organ (floating) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Doppel Flöte
61
8
   Trompette (1892 Trumpet)
61
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Voix Celeste
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Octave
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diapason
32
8
   Flute
32
16
   Bourdon
32
8
   Geigen Principal [Gamba]
SO
16
   Violone
32
32
   Contre Bombarde *
56
16
   Chancel Bourdon
32
16
   Trombone (fr. 32')
—
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
16
   Posaune
SW
16
   Contra Basso [ext. SO Gamba]
12
8
   Tromba (fr. 32')
—
16
   Contra Gamba
CH
4
   Clarion (fr. 32')
—
10 2/3
   Quint
32
    
* Roosevelt 16' Trombone rank rebuilt, revoiced, extended.
8
   Cello [wood]
32
    
               
Couplers & Accessories (rocking tablets)
    Above knobs of left jamb:   Above top manual:
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Master Swell
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   16' Stop Off
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   16' Coupler Off
    Solo to Pedal 8', 4'   4' Coupler Off
    Chancel to Pedal 8', 4'    
    Swell 16', 4'   Swell 8' Off
    Solo to Swell 16', 8', 4'   Choir 8' Off
            Choir Off / Chancel On
    Above knobs of right jamb:    
    Solo 16', 4'   Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Chancel to Solo 8'   Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Choir 16', 4'   Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'   Chancel to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Solo to Choir 16', 8', 4'    
    Chancel 16', 4'    
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 & Cancel (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 & Cancel (thumb)
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 & Cancel (thumb)
Solo Organ Pistons 1-2-3 & Cancel (thumb)
Chancel Organ Pistons 1-2-3 & Cancel (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3 (toe)
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe), General Cancel (thumb)
               
Reversibles
    Choir to Pedal (thumb)   16' Stop Off (thumb)
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   16' Coupler Off (thumb)
    Swell to Pedal (thumb)   4' Coupler Off (thumb)
    Chancel to Pedal (thumb)   Full Organ (thumb & toe)
    Swell to Great (thumb & toe)    
               
Expression
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Balanced Solo Pedal
    Balanced Choir Pedal   Register Crescendo Pedal
               
Roosevelt/Welte-Tripp Organ - All Saints Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: John Rust)   Roosevelt/Welte-Tripp Organ - All Saints Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: John Rust)
     
Roosevelt/Welte-Tripp Organ - All Saints Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: John Rust)
               
 

Frank Roosevelt Organ, Op. 525 (1892) in All Saints Roman Catholic Church - New York City (photo: Jim Lewis)
   
Frank Roosevelt
New York City – No. 525 (1892)
Tubular-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 50 stops, 59 ranks





The original organ in All Saints Church was built by Frank Roosevelt of New York City in 1892, and was in fact the last organ to be finished by the Roosevelt Organ Works. A detached three-manual, terraced drawknob console controlled the main organ, while the Chancel division, located above a side altar, was connected and winded by electricity. Highy decorated façade pipes were originally painted in olive green, raw umber, blue-grey, teal green, and black. In addition, designs were stenciled over the paint, then gold and silver leaf was applied. The impressive organ case, built of quarter-sawn white oak, is 35 feet wide and 12 feet deep; its front pipes frame the large rose window, while the center section is cantilevered 5 feet from the main case and 9 feet above the choir loft.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, partially enclosed with Choir
16
   Double Open Diapason *
61
4
   Hohl Flute
61
8
   1st Open Diapason *
61
2 2/3
   Octave Quint
61
8
   2nd Open Diapason *
61
2
   Super Octave
61
8
   Viol d'Gamba
61
     Mixture, 4 ranks
244
8
   Principal Flöte
61
     Scharff, 3 ranks
183
8
   Doppel Flöte
61
8
   Trumpet
61
4
   Octave
61
    
* in façade

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon Bass
12
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
16
   Bourdon Treble (TC)
49
2
   Flageolet
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
  Cornet, 3, 4, and 5 ranks
257?
8
   Spitz Flöte
61
16
   Contra Fagotto
61
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Vox Celeste
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
4
   Octave
61
     Tremulant  

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Gamba
61
4
   Fugara
61
8
   Geigen Principal
61
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
8
   Dolce
61
2
   Piccolo Harmonique
61
8
   Concert Flute
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Quintadena
61
     Tremulant  

     

     
Chancel Organ – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
8
   Doppel Flöte
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Salicional
61
     Tremulant  
8
   Unda Maris
61
16
   Pedal Bourdon
30
4
   Octave
61
     Manual Octaves  
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason
30
10 2/3
   Quint
30
16
   Violone
30
8
   Violoncello
30
16
   Bourdon
30
16
   Trombone
30
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Choir to Great       Great to Pedal  
    Swell to Choir       Choir to Pedal  
    Swell to Great Octave       Chancel Octave  
            Chancel to Pedal  
               
Pedal Movements
    2 Combinations on Great   Great to Pedal Reversible
    2 Combinations on Choir   Pedal Ventile
    3 Combinations on Swell   Balance Swell Pedal
    2 Combinations on Chancel   Balance Great & Choir Pedal
               
Sources:
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Fortune, Shelley. "Still searching for a Harlem landmark", The New York Amsterdam News (May 26, 2005).
     Mohr, Louis F. Specifications (Oct. 25, 1929) of Roosevelt Organ, Op. 525 (1892). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977.
     "The Organ at All Saints Roman Catholic Church," published by All Saints Church.

Illustrations:
     Lewis, James. B&W photo of Roosevelt Organ, Op. 525 (1892).
     Rust, John. Exterior; interior; Welte-Tripp Organ, Op. 317 (1931).