Church of Our Saviour RC - New York City (Photo: Steven Lawson)
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Church of Our Saviour
(Roman Catholic)

59 Park Avenue at 38th Street
New York, N.Y. 10016
http://www.oursaviournyc.org


Organ Specifications:
► III/37 Schantz Organ, Op. 2259 (2005)
► III/35 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 9213 (1959)



Church of Our Saviour RC - New York City (Photo: Steven Lawson)  
The Roman Catholic Church of Our Saviour was established in 1955, making it one of the youngest parishes in Manhattan. Its striking Romanesque edifice on Park Avenue, designed by Paul W. Reilly and built in 1959, is also one of the newer Roman Catholic church buildings. The church is notable for its many carvings and statuary, the creations of Henry J. Pizzutello, who led the largest church stone-carving project in New York City since St. Bartholomew's Church was built.
   
  Church of Our Saviour RC - New York City (Photo: Steven Lawson)
Schantz Organ Company
Orrville, Ohio – Opus 2259 (2005)
Electro-pneumatic action
Solid-State combination action
3 manuals, 49 registers, 32 stops, 37 ranks


The organ in the rear gallery was built in 2005 by the Schantz Organ Company of Orrville, Ohio. Schantz installed their Op. 2259 in two chambers, one on either side of the choir area. Several ranks from the previous M.P. Möller organ, Op. 9213 (1959) were incorporated in this new instrument. Schantz provided a movable three-manual drawknob console.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Geigen Diapason
73
1 3/5
  
Seventeenth
preparation
8
   Open Diapason
61
1 1/3
   Mixture IV ranks
244
8
   Geigen (fr. 16')
—
8
  
Trumpet

* (1-32)
61
8
  
Koppelflöte
* (13-61)
61
     Tremulant  
4
   Principal
61
     Great 16'  
4
   Nachthorn *
61
     Unison Off  
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
     Great 4'  
2
   Fifteenth
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt *
73
1 3/5
   Tierce
61
8
   Violin Diapason
61
2
   Plein Jeu IV ranks
244
8
   Viole de Gambe *
61
16
   Bassoon
61
8
   Voix Celeste (TC) *
49
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Rohrflöte * (fr. 16')
—
8
   Oboe
61
4
   Octave
61
     Tremulant  
4
   Nason Flute
61
     Swell 16'  
2 2/3
   Nasard
61
     Unison Off  
2
   Octavin
61
     Swell 4'  
               
Choir/Solo Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Harmonic Flute
61
8
   Oboe
SW
8
   Dolcan *
61
     Tremulant  
8
   Dolcan Celeste (TC) *
49
8
   Tuba Magna
61
4
   Concert Flute
61
     Choir/Solo 16'  
8
   Cor Anglais *
61
     Unison Off  
8
   Clarinet
61
     Choir/Solo 4'  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
  
Contra Bourdon (ext.)
digital
4
   Choral Bass
32
16
   Contrabass
56
4
   Open Flute (fr. Contrabass)
—
16
   Geigen Diapason
GT
32
  
Contra Bassoon (ext. SW)
digital
16
  
Subbass

* (1-32)
44
16
   Double Trumpet (ext. GT)
12
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
16
   Bassoon
SW
8
   Octave (fr. Contrabass)
—
8
   Trumpet
GT
8
   Geigen
GT
4
   Oboe
SW
8
   Subbass (fr. 16')
—
8
   Tuba Magna
SO
8
   Gedeckt
SW
        
       
* from previous M.P. Möller organ, Op. 9213 (1959)
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Choir/Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Choir/Solo to Swell 8'
    Choir/Solo to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir/Solo 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Great to Choir/Solo 8'
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Choir/Solo Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Full Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb & toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
  Set (thumb)
               
Reversibles
    Swell to Pedal (thumb)   Swell to Great (thumb)
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Full Organ I (thumb & toe)
    Choir/Solo to Pedal (thumb)   Full Organ II (thumb & toe)
               
Mechanicals
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Crescendo Indicator
    Balanced Choir/Solo Pedal   Full Organ I Indicator
    Crescendo Pedal   Full Organ II Indicator
    Wind Indicator   Transposer with Indicator
               
Schantz Organ, Op. 2258 (2005) at Church of Our Saviour RC - New York City (Photo: Steven Lawson)
 Schantz Organ, Op. 2258 (2005) at Church of Our Saviour RC - New York City (Photo: Steven Lawson) Schantz Organ, Op. 2258 (2005) at Church of Our Saviour RC - New York City (Photo: Steven Lawson)
   
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 9213 (1959)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 35 registers, 26 stops, 35 ranks


The original organ in the Church of Our Saviour was built in 1959 by M.P. Möller, Inc., as designed by Ernest White. Revisions were made by Glück Orgelbau in 1992, and again in 1993-94 by Peter Batchelder. Following is a description taken from the leaflet for the Solemn Blessing of the organ:
     The pipes . . . are located in spacious chambers on either side of the choir gallery. Hand-carved grille work executed by the Joseph Noe Studios, covers the tone openings both into the nave and the gallery.
     In designing the Church, the architect, Paul Reilly, successfully achieved an acoustic condition which is particularly sympathetic to the musical requirements of the Sacred Liturgy. Just as the visual impact of the Church interior is one of space, light and rich color, so also the auditory timpact of the chant and hymns, of the antiphon and processional is enhanced by the lofty spatial dimensions. This warm resonance creates and ideal acoustical setting for the organ.
     In tonal design, this instrument is a truly American organ. Based on time-proved principles from many lands, it is capable of interpreting the full range of the organ literature from the Renaissance to the present day. The selection of tone colors, and the individual voicing treatment of the pipes have produced a natural and gentle soronity appropriate for choral accompaniment. Each division of the organ has a characteristic harmonic development, or ensemble. The Principal chorus of the Great provides a dynamic anchor, the flues and reeds of the Swell are scaled and voiced along French lines to add a fiery brilliance, and the Choir is developed as a German Positiv. An independent Pedal gives a solid foundation to the whole instrument. Flutes and strings on each manual provide softer accompanimental colors.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Quintaton
61
2
   Waldflöte
61
8
   Principal
61
     Fourniture IV ranks
244
8
   Bourdon
61
 
   Unison Off  
4
   Octave
61
        
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Flûte á Chemineé
73
8
   Trompette
61
8
   Flûte á Cheminée (fr. 16')
—
4
   Hautbois
61
8
   Viole de Gamba
61
     Tremulant  
8
   Viole Celeste (TC)
49
     Swell 16'  
4
   Prestant
61
     Unison Off  
    Plein Jeu V ranks
305
     Swell 4'  
16
   Cor Anglais
61
        
 
      
 
      
Choir–Positiv Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Gedeckt
61
2
   Prinzipal
61
8
   Dolcan
61
 
   Sesquialtera II ranks
122
8
   Dolcan Celeste (TC)
49
 
   Zimbel II ranks
122
4
   Nachthorn
61
 
   Tremulant  
 
      
 
      
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Subbass
44
4
   Koppelflöte
44
16
   Quintaton
GT
2
   Koppelflöte (fr. 4')
—
16
   Flûte á Chemineé
SW
16
   Trumpet
44
8
   Prinzipal
32
16
   Cor Anglais
SW
8
   Subbass (fr. 16')
—
8
   Trumpet (fr. 16')
—
8
   Flûte á Chemineé
SW
4
   Cor Anglais
SW
4
   Octave
32
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Great to Swell 8'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Choir to Swell 8'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (toe)
General Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
  Setter (thumb)
               
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Choir to Pedal (thumb & toe)
    Swell to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Sforzando (thumb & toe)
               
Expression
    Balanced Swell Pedal      
    Balanced Choir Pedal      
    Crescendo Pedal      
   
Sources:
     The American Organist (April 1960). Specification of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 9213 (1959).
     Church of Our Saviour website: http://www.oursaviournyc.org/
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.

Illustrations:
     Lawson, Steven E. Exterior; Interior; Schantz organ, Op. 2259 (2005).