St. Peter Lutheran Church (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) 619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street New York, N.Y. 10022 http://www.saintpeters.org Organ Specifications: 619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street (since 1903): Present building (since 1977) ► II/43 Johannes Klais Orgelbau (1977) First building (1903-c.1970) ► III/17 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 7626 (1948) ► III/20 W.W. Kimball Co. (ca.1929) • II/5 Welte Organ Co. (ca.1912) – Sunday School room ► III/32 Eifert & Stoehr (1905) 474 Lexington Avenue at 45th Street (c.1871-1903): • Geo. Jardine & Son (1872) See also the Continuo Organ in the Chapel.     St. Peter's Lutheran 1905-1974   Since its founding on June 2, 1862, as the "Deutsche Evangelische  Lutherische Sanct Petri-Kirche" by a group of German immigrants, Saint  Peter's has faithfully served the midtown Manhattan area. Worship  services in the German language began in a loft above a feed and  grocery store at the corner of 49th Street and Lexington Avenue. By the 1890s, it became apparent that English services were required. During its first ten years, parish growth required several moves to larger quarters, eventually purchasing the former Lexington Avenue Presbyterian Church at the corner of 45th Street and  Lexington Avenue. St. Peter's remained at this location until being uprooted by the construction of Grand Central Terminal. The building was sold to the New York Central  Railroad in 1903 for $200,000, all of which was spent in building a  new Gothic-style church at 54th Street and Lexington Avenue. The new church was dedicated on May 14, 1905, and was typical of Lutheran church design of the time. Carved wooden sculptures, altar and pulpit dominated the chancel with a mural of the Sermon on the Mount above the altar. Glorious stained glass windows pictured scenes from the life of Jesus. In the balcony was space for a three-manual organ, the choir and the overflow crowds. By the 1920's, German services no longer predominated and English was adopted for morning worship. In 1925 the legal name of the parish was changed to "Saint Peter's Lutheran Church of Manhattan." By 1960, congregations in New York City were dwindling and Saint Peter's was no exception. Rather than flee to the suburbs, the people of Saint Peter's decided to affirm human life amidst the skyscrapers and develop a ministry that would serve more than just a Sunday congregation. A renewal of liturgical life unfolded and new programs in jazz, drama and the arts were developed. John Garcia Gensel joined the staff as the first pastor to the jazz community. In 1970, the First National City Bank (later known as Citibank) purchased the property for $9 million and agreed to build a new church next to its 59-story office tower. Hugh Stubbins & Associates designed both the tower and church, and Vignelli Associates designed the church interior. Stubbins described the church as "two hands held up in prayer with light coming in between them." Consecrated in 1977, the church is a flexible space allowing for a great variety of expressions of worship through liturgy, song, sermon, dance, music and poetry.             click on images to enlarge Johannes Klais Orgelbau GmbH Bonn, Germany (1977) Mechanical key action Electro-mechanical stop action Solid state combination action 2 manuals, 32 stops, 43 ranks The organ, built by Johannes Klais of Bonn, Germany, is designed to be a work of art designed visually and tonally to fit the sanctuary. The free-standing case, designed by Joseph Schafer, is of red oak. It is 18 feet square, 4 feet deep and is set at a 45 degree angle to the walls of the sanctuary. After 20 years of continuous use, the organ was cleaned and revoiced in 2000 by its builder, Klais Orgelbau. At that time, the Principal 16' stop on the pedal was strengthened, a 599-level computerized combination action was installed, and a Cymbelstern of eight tuned brass bells was added.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes (2 1/3" wind pressure) 16   Pommer 58 2   Superoctave 58 8   Principal 58 1 3/5   Terz 58 8   Rohrgedackt 58 1   Sifflet 58 8   Gemshorn 58 1 1/3   Mixtur V fach 290 4   Octave 58 8   Trompete 58 4   Traversflöte 58     Tremulant   2 2/3   Quinte 58                       Swell Organ (Manual II) enclosed – 58 notes (2 1/2" wind pressure) 8   Bourdon 58 1 1/3   Larigot 58 8   Gamba 58 2 2/3   Sesquialtera II fach 116 8   Schwebung [TG] 39 1   Scharff IV fach 232 4   Principal 58 16   Dulcian 58 4   Rohrflöte 58 8   Cromorne 58 2   Waldflöte 58   Tremulant               Pedal Organ – 32 notes (3" wind pressure) 16   Principal 32 2 2/3   Hintersatz IV fach 128 16   Subbass 32 16   Posaune 32 8   Octave 32 8   Holztrompete 32 8   Spielflöte 32 4   Schalmey 32 4   Superoctave 32                 Cymbelstern 8 tuned brass bells             Birdsong                               M.P. Möller, Inc. Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 7626 (1948) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 28 stops, 17 ranks In 1943 it was decided to rebuild the organ as a memorial to "the beloved friend and Pastor, Dr. Alfred Moldenke." Funds were raised by the congregation and the new instrument was built by M. P. Möller, Inc. of Hagerstown, Maryland, at a cost of $17,000. The new organ was dedicated on Sunday, October 31, 1948, with Dr. Helen A. Dickinson giving the address, and with Mr. August Hartung (organist and choir director for 37 years) and Mr. John Davis at the console. A set of Deagan Chimes was added in 1950, a gift of Miss Ernestine Durr in honor of her mother, and in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965 she had additional ranks of pipes installed as memorials to her father.                  Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Diapason 61 4   Octave 61 8   Melodia 61 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Gemshorn 61   Tremolo                 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon [unit] 97 4   Flute d'Amour — 8   Diapason 73 2 2/3   Nazard — 8   Gedeckt — 2   Flautino — 8   Salicional 73 8   Trumpet 73 8   Voix Celeste [TC] 61   Tremolo 4   Principal 73                     Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Melodia 73 4   Rohrflöte 73 8   Gemshorn 73 8   Clarinet 73 8   Gemshorn Celeste [TC] 61   [Tremolo]                 Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Diapason [ext. GT] 12 8   Principal GT 16   Bourdon 32 8   Flute [ext.] 12 16   Gemshorn [ext. CH] 12 8   Flauto Dolce SW 16   Lieblich Gedeckt SW 4   Lieblich Flute SW             W.W. Kimball Co. Chicago, Ill. (ca.1929) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 21 stops, 20 ranks                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, probably enclosed with Choir 8   Diapason 61 4   Octave 61 8   Concert Flute 61   Chimes 20 bells 8   Gemshorn 61                     Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Diapason 73 4   Flauto d'Amore 73 8   Gedeckt 73   Mixture III ranks 183 8   Salicional 73 8   Cornopean 73 8   Voix Celeste [TC] 61 8   Vox Humana 61                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Melodia 73 8   Clarinet 73 8   Dulciana 73   Harp 49 bars 4   Flute a Cheminee 61   Celesta                 Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Resultant — 8   Flute [Diaphone] — 16   Diaphone 44 8   Flute [Bourdon] — 16   Bourdon 44                 Welte Organ Company New York City (ca.1912) Electro-pneumatic action? 2 manuals, 15 registers, 5 ranks The church history of 1912 records, "We built in the Sunday room a magnificent organ with 15 speaking registers and two manuals, in memory of a daughter of our Church, viz. Mrs. Marie Hubschmitt, born Poetebaum, who left her fortune to our church after the deduction of a few legacies. Another small parlor [reed?] organ is located in the Parish House, in memory of Therese Sommer who went down on the steamer Burgoyne; she was a daughter of our church." Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Eifert & Stoehr Steinway, Long Island (1905) Mechanical key action Pneumatic stop action 3 manuals, 30 stops, 32 ranks, 1,838 pipes In 1905, a used three-manual organ with 31 speaking registers was installed in the church balcony. The organ was built by "the well known and trusted company of Eifert & Stoehr, of Steinway, Long Island" (Astoria, Queens) who were members of St. Peter's. Details of Construction.         The organ was built about 10 years ago for a large Music Room and was lately sold at auction. It is well constructed and up to date, but not all the stops were put in: these will be added, the entire choir organ will be new, the key action is mechanical: but a set of pneumatics will give an easy touch when the full organ is used.           The draw stops are worked by pneumatics.           The key boards are all modern.           The bellows is made with three feeders attached to crank shaft, hand or motor power can be used: an extra regulator and reservoir bellows is in the organ.           This organ can be put in church complete, except case and motor, for Twenty-eight hundred ($2800.) dollars. Fully guaranteed.           Dimensions: 16 feet wide, 12 feet deep, 18 to 20 feet high.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Bourdon 61 4   Concert Flute 61 8   Open Diapason 61 3   Octave Quint 61 8   Viola 61 2   Super Octave 61 8   Melodia 61   Mixture 3 ranks 183 4   Principal 61 8   Trumpet 61                 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon Bass 12 4   Violino 61 16   Bourdon Treble 49 2   Flautina 61 8   Violin Diapason 61 8   Aeoline 61 8   Salicional 61 8   Vox Celeste 61 8   Clarionet Flute 61 8   Oboe 61 4   Flauto Traverso 61 8   Cornopean 61                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes 8   Geigen Principal 61 4   Flute d'Amour 61 8   Dolce 61 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Clarabella 61 8   Clarinet [TC] 49                 Pedal Organ – 27 notes 16   Double Open Diapason 27 8   Violincello 27 16   Bourdon 27                     Couplers Piston between Keys     Swell to Great Organ.     Swell to Pedal.     Swell to Choir Organ.     Great to Pedal.     Choir to Great Organ.     Choir to Pedal.                 Pedal Movements     Forte to Great Organ.     Forte to Swell Organ.     Mezzo to Great Organ.     Mezzo to Swell Organ.     Piano to Great Organ.     Piano to Swell Organ.     Balanced Swell Pedal.                         Mechanical Accessories     Tremolo to Swell Organ.   Bellows Signal.     Tremolo to Choir Organ.   Wind Indicator.             Geo. Jardine & Son New York City (1872) Mechanical action Church records state that in March 1872, a new organ was purchased from the well known organ builder Jardine & Son at a cost of $3,500, with the old one given as a trade-in. Funds for the organ were "partly collected, partly received from two great organ concerts and finally in part from a lecture given by the Pastor at the Cooper Institute." This organ was installed in the church located at 474 Lexington Avenue. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Sources:      The American Organist, July 1929. Kimball Organ specifications; courtesy Jonathan Bowen.      Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.      Fox, David H. A Guide to North American Organbuilders. Rev. Ed. Richmond: Organ Historical Society, 1997.      Nelson, George. Organs of the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.      St. Peter's Lutheran Church archives and website: www.saintpeters.org; courtesy Sam Hutcheson. Photos:      Lawson, Steven E.: color exterior and interior; Johannes Klais organ.      New York Architecture Images website: www.nyc-architecture.com             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |