Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts 10 Lincoln Center Plaza Broadway at 65th Street New York, N.Y. 10023 http://www.lincolncenter.org Avery Fisher Hall Organ Specifications: ► III/95 Walker Technical Company (2006) ► IV/98 Aeolian-Skinner, Op. 1388 (1963) Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a 15-acre complex of buildings built during Robert Moses's program of urban renewal in the 1960s. The concept of gathering major cultural institutions in a centralized location came to fruition on June 22, 1956 with the incorporation of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. John D. Rockefeller 3rd was the center's first president, and the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Society was the first constituent. The boards of The Juilliard School and The Metropolitan Opera Association voted to become constituents in 1957, and on May 14, 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower broke ground for the new center. Philharmonic Hall was the first building to open, in 1962, followed by the New York State Theater (1964), the Vivian Beaumont Theater and Forum (1965), the Library and Museum of the Performing Arts (1965), the Metropolitan Opera House (1966), Alice Tully Hall (1969), and The Juilliard School (1969). In 2004 Lincoln Center was expanded by the addition of Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center's facilities at the AOL/Time Warner Center, located a few blocks to the south at Columbus Circle. Philharmonic Hall was designed by Max Abramovitz of Harrison & Abramovitz, and opened on September 23, 1962. The state-of-the-art concert hall featured retractable acoustic clouds as specified by Leo L. Beranek, the hall's acoustician. Unfortunately, the new hall's acoustics were immediately panned by audiences and critics, with musicians complaining they couldn't hear themselves on stage. Several attempts were made to improve the acoustics, but without much success. Finally, it was decided that the only solution was to gut the hall and start over. A $10.5 million donation by Avery Fisher, a member of the Philharmonic board of directors, made possible an acoustical reconstruction of the auditorium, designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee of Johnson/Burgee, with Dr. Cyril Harris as acoustician. At this time, the hall's Aeolian-Skinner concert pipe organ was removed. Avery Fisher Hall reopened on October 19, 1976, but the reviews were mixed on the acoustics. Further acoustical renovations were implemented in 1992, when changes were primarily made to the stage area, including the addition of reflection panels along the sides of the stage. In 2005, the board of the New York Philharmonic approved a plan to renovate Avery Fisher Hall, with a design by architect Norman Foster, of Foster and Partners in London.                 Walker Technical Company Zionsville, Penn. (2006) Digital tone generation 3 manuals, 86 speaking stops, ~95 equivalent ranks The three manual, six division instrument features 86 stops created utilizing high definition, digital sound production. Based on the American Classic style of organ building with enhancements to expand its versatility, the unique design of the specification provides complete tonal resources in all divisions. With the extensive resources utilized, the instrument provides a tonal palette that allows virtually any of the organ literature to be performed accurately and effectively. The console of this instrument is of a traditional design with raised panels on the sides and rear of the console shell. It is constructed with a solid oak exterior and solid rosewood interior. These rosewood interiors are finished with a high gloss elegant finish. An internal caster system in the console facilitates the quick, efficient movement and set up of the instrument by the stage personnel. The audio system is capable of being “flown” above the stage with speaker clusters specifically designed to provide the multi-directional, complex sound spectrum required by an organ of this size and nature.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, normally expressive on Choir shoe 16   Flute Conique   Sesquialtera II ranks   8   Principal   Fourniture IV ranks   8   Bourdon   Cymbel III ranks   8   Harmonic Flute (Choir) 16   Posaune   8   Gemshorn 8   Tromba   4   Octave   Chimes   4   Spitzflöte 8   Trompette en Chamade (Solo) 2   Super Octave                       Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, expressive 16   Rohrbourdon     Plein Jeu IV ranks   8   Geigen Principal   16   Basson   8   Rohrflöte   8   Trompette   8   Viole   8   Hautbois   8   Voix Celeste   8   Clarinet   8   Flauto Celeste II ranks   8   Voix Humaine   4   Principal   4   Clairon   4   Waldflöte     Tremulant   2 2/3   Rohr Nazard     Swell to Swell 16'   2   Piccolo       Swell Unison Off   1 3/5   Tierce       Swell to Swell 4'                   Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, expressive 16   Quintaton   2   Blockflöte   8   Viola Pomposa   1 1/3   Larigot   8   Viola Celeste     Mixture III ranks   8   Holzgedackt   8   Krummhorn   8   'Cello Celeste II ranks     Tremulant   8   Erzähler Celeste II ranks     Choir to Choir 16'   4   Fugara     Choir Unison Off   4   Koppelflöte     Choir to Choir 4'   2 2/3   Nazard   8   Trompette en Chamade (Solo)                 Solo Organ (Floating – Home on Swell) – 61 notes, expressive on Solo Shoe 8   Doppelflöte   8   Cor Anglais   8   Gamba   8   French Horn   8   Gamba Celeste     Tremulant     Grand Cornet V ranks   8   Trompette en Chamade *   8   Tuba     * plays from Antiphonal location                 Antiphonal Organ (Floating – Home on Choir) – 61 notes, expressive on Choir Shoe 8   Principal     Mixture III ranks   8   Schwebung   8   Oboe d'Amour   8   Hohlflöte   8   Vox Humana   4   Prestant       Tremulant   4   Flute d'Amour                           Pedal Organ – 32 notes 64   Gravissima     Mixture III ranks   32   Contra Violone   32   Contra Bombarde   32   Untersatz   32   Contra Fagotto (Swell)   16   Principal   16   Trombone   16   Bourdon   16   Basson (Swell)   16   Rohrbourdun (Swell)   8   Trumpet   16   Erzähler (Choir)   4   Clarion   8   Principal   4   Rohr Schalmei   8   Gedeckt     Chimes   4   Choralbass   16   Pommer (Antiphonal)   4   Harmonic Flute (Choir)   8   Gedackt (Antiphonal)   2   Waldflöte                         Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Inc. Boston, Mass. – Opus 1388 (1963) Electro-pneumatic action 4 manuals, 89 stops, 98 ranks The Aeolian-Skinner organ built for Philharmonic Hall was designed by a committee consisting of organists Robert Baker, Charlotte Garden, and Searle Wright; Joseph Whiteford, chairman and tonal director of Aeolian-Skinner; and Carlos Mosely, president of the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York. The organ was installed on a platform which was behind and 12 feet above the stage, in a space measuring 50 feet wide, 11 feet deep and 27 feet high. A wire mesh scrim to which was attached random-width wooden slats hid the pipes from view; when desired, the organ could be seen through the scrim by turning on theatrical lighting in the chamber. Although the organ was shipped in plenty of time, last-minute construction work and several labor disputes in the hall made conditions impossible for Aeolian-Skinner personnel to tonally finish the organ in time for the hall's opening concert on September 23, 1962. In the interim, a two-manual Allen was used. The inaugural concert on the organ was postponed until December 15, 1962, when Catharine Crozier, E. Power Biggs, and Virgil Fox shared the honors. The first solo organ recital was given by Virgil Fox on January 7, 1963. The Aeolian-Skinner organ was removed when Philharmonic Hall was gutted, rebuilt and renamed Avery Fisher Hall. At the suggestion of Virgil Fox, Opus 1388 was purchased by the Garden Grove Community Church in Garden Grove, CA, where it was combined with a five-manual Ruffatti organ in the Crystal Cathedral. The four-manual ebony console was later sold to a private individual in Arizona, and is now owned by Hal Stoddard, who has connected it to the organ in his Hooper, Utah barn, known as "The Hoopernacle." Avery Fisher Hall has used various electronic instruments since 1976. It is hoped that a future reincarnation of the hall will include a concert pipe organ. The Metropolitan Opera House and the initimate Alice Tully Hall are now the only concert venues in Lincoln Center which have a pipe organ.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (3 5/8" pressure) 16   Kontra Geigen 61 2   Super Oktav 61 8   Prinzipal 61 2   Blockflöte 61 8   Bourdon 61   Mixtur IV-VI ranks 330 8   Spitzflöte 61   Zimbel III-V ranks 263 4   Oktav 61   Kornet III ranks 183 4   Rohrflöte 61 16   Fagott [4" w.p., enc. in CH] 61 2 2/3   Quinte 61                     Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (4½" pressure)  16   Flute Courte 68 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Montre 68   Plein Jeu III ranks 183 8   Viole de Gambe 68   Cymbale III ranks 183 8   Viole Celeste 68 16   Bombarde 68 8   Flute Ouverte 68 8   Trompette 68 4   Prestant 68 8   Bassoon 68 4   Flute à Pavillon 68 4   Clairon 68 2 2/3   Nazard 61   Tremulant 2   Octavin 61                       Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (4½" pressure) 16   Gemshorn 68 2   Zauberflöte 61 8   Viola Pomposa 68 1 3/5   Terz 61 8   Viola Celeste 68 1 1/3   Larigot 61 8   Cor de Nuit 68   Scharff IV ranks 244 8   Flauto Dolce 68 8   Petite Trompette 68 8   Flute Celeste 68 8   Clarinet 68 4   Principal 68 4   Fagott [ext. GT] 31* 4   Flute Triangulaire 68   Tremulant 2 2/3   Rohr Nasat 61   * flue pipes                 Positiv Organ (floating) – 61 notes (3" pressure) 16   Holz Quintade 61 1   Sifflöte 61 8   Rohrflöte 61   Zimbel III ranks 183 8   Holz Quintade [ext.] 12 8   Krummhorn (4" w.p.) 61 4   Koppelflöte 61 4   Rohr Schalmei (4" w.p.) 61 2   Prinzipal 61   Tremulant 1 1/3   Larigot 61                     Bombarde Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" pressure)     Chorus Mixture VII ranks 427 8   English Post Horn [ext.] 12 16   English Post Horn 61 4   Clairon Harmonique 61 8   Trompette Harmonique 61   Tremulant                   Pedal Organ – 32 notes (5" pressure) 32   Kontra Geigen [ext.] 12 2   Spillflöte [ext.] 12 16   Principal 32   Fourniture IV ranks 128 16   Contrebasse 32   Acuta II ranks 64 16   Bourdon 32 32   Kontra Posaune [ext.] 12 16   Kontra Geigen GT 16   Posaune 32 16   Gemshorn CH 16   Bombarde SW 16   Flute Courte SW 16   English Post Horn BOM 16   Holz Quintade POS 16   Fagott GT 8   Oktav 32 8   Trompete 32 8   Spitzflöte 32 8   Fagott GT 8   Gemshorn CH 8   Krummhorn POS 8   Flute Courte SW 4   Klarine [ext.] 12 8   Bourdon [ext.] 12 4   Rohr Schalmei 32 4   Choral Bass 32 4   Krummhorn POS 4   Spillflöte 32                     Sources:      Aeolian-Skinner Archives website: http://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/      Callahan, Charles. Aeolian-Skinner Remembered: A History in Letters. Minneapolis: Randall M. Egan, 1996.      Jepson, Barbara. "Needed: An Organ Transplant," The Wall Street Journal, May 31, 2007.      Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.      Lincoln Center website: www.lincolncenter.org      Mattison, Ben. "New York Philharmonic Approves Plan for Revamped Avery Fisher Hall," article in The New York Times, June 22, 2005.      Ochse, Orpha. The History of the Organ in the United States. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1975.      Walker Technical Company Press Release and organ specifications; courtesy Joel Kuznik. Photos:      Aeolian-Skinner Archives website: Aeolian-Skinner organ pipe display.      Lee, Chris: Plaza at Lincoln Center.      Scofield, Jeff: Console of Aeolian-Skinner organ, Op. 1388 (1963).                 | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organs List |