First Unitarian Congregational Society - Brooklyn, NY
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First Unitarian Congregational Society
(Unitarian Universalist)

50 Monroe Place at Pierrepont Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201
http://www.firstuubrooklyn.org/



Organ Specifications:
► IV/47 George S. Hutchings (1900); as reb. (2000)
► III/32 George S. Hutchings (1900)
► II/17 E. & G.G. Hook, Op. 57 (1844)




Tired of the ferry ride to Unitarian services in Manhattan, and weary of being rebuffed by other Brooklyn churches, the founders held the first Unitarian Worship and Sunday-school in August 1833. After meeting in rented halls and the former Second Presbyterian Church ("Gothic Hall") on Adams Street, the society purchased plots on the northeast corner of Monroe Place and Pierrepont Street. As designed by Minard Lafever, the edifice marks the beginning of the Gothic Revival style in Brooklyn. Construction began in December 1842 and the completed building was consecrated as the Church of the Saviour on April 24, 1844.

First Unitarian Congregational Society is located within the Brooklyn Heights Historic District, designated in 1965, by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
           
  George S. Hutchings organ (1900) in the First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn, NY
George S. Hutchings
Boston, Mass. (1900); reb. Mann and Trupiano (2000)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 49 registers, 39 stops, 47 ranks




The present organ was built in 1900 by George S. Hutchings of Boston. In 2000, after 100 years of service, the organ was rebuilt and updated by Mann and Trupiano of Brooklyn. Following is the revised stoplist.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Violone
61
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Violoncello
61
1 3/5
   Seventeenth
61
8
   Harmonic Flute
61
2
   Mixture V ranks
305
4
   Octave
61
8
   Trumpet
61
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
73
2
   Flautino
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2 2/3
   Gross Mixture II ranks
122
8
   Stopped Diapason (fr. 16')
—
1 1/3
   Mixture IV ranks
244
8
   Salicional
61
16
   Bassoon
61
8
   Vox Celeste (TC)
49
8
   Cornopean
61
4
   Principal
61
8
   Oboe
61
4
   Flute Traverse
61
  Tremulant  

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Geigen Principal
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
1 3/5
   Tierce
61
4
   Principal
61
8
   English Horn
61
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
  Tremulant  
2 2/3
   Nazard
61
        
               
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Gross Flute
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Unda Maris (TC)
49
  Tremulant  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Double Diapason
32
4
   Octave (fr. Principal)
—
16
   Violone
GT
16
   Trombone
56
16
   Bourdon
44
16
   Bassoon
SW
16
   Echo Bourdon
SW
8
   Trumpet (fr. Trombone)
—
8
   Principal
44
4
   Clarion (fr. Trombone)
—
8
   Bass Flute (fr. Bourdon)
—
4
   Bassoon
SW
8
   Echo Flute
SW
        
           
  George S. Hutchings Organ (1900) in the First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn, NY
George S. Hutchings
Boston, Mass. (1900)
Tubular-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 33 registers, 30 stops, 32 ranks



In 1900 a new organ was built by George S. Hutchings of Boston. The Memorandum of Agreement, made between Hutchings and "The First Unitarian Congregational Church of Brooklyn" states that Hutchings would remove the old organ and have the new organ ready for use not later than August 15, 1900. Hutchings used tubular-pneumatic action throughout, and provided a detached console (but not reversed) that was placed about seven feet from the organ. The old organ case was to be incorporated in the new, and display pipes were to be finished in Roman Gold. The cost of the new organ was $9,000 plus the old organ. As originally installed, the Swell box extended above the center top of the organ case, as seen in the photo to the right. Sometime around 1919, the Swell box was relocated to the lower right side of the organ screen, and the central pinnacle of the case was reduced.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) –61 notes
16
   Diapason
61
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Diapason
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Gross Floete
61
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
8
   Gamba
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Gemshorn
61
8
   Trumpet
61
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) –61 notes, enclosed
8
   Diapason
61
2
   Flautino
61
8
   Gedackt
61
  Cornet III ranks
183
8
   Salicional
61
16
   Fagotto
61
8
   AEoline
61
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Vox celestis
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Quintadena
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
4
   Flute Traverso
61
  Tremolo  

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) –61 notes, enclosed in Swell-box with Swell Organ
16
   Gamba
61
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Melodia
61
   
               
Pedal Organ –30 notes (Augmented)
16
   Diapason
42
8
   Flute (fr. Diapason)
—
16
   Bourdon
42
8
   Gedackt (fr. Bourdon)
—
16
   Quinte (fr. Bourdon)
—
   
               
Couplers
    Swell to Pedal   Choir to Great 16, 8
    Great to Pedal   Great to Swell
    Choir to Pedal   Swell to Choir
    Swell to Great   Swell to Swell 4, 16
         
Combinations
   
Great and Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-0
Swell and Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-0
Choir and Pedal Pistons 1-2-0
  00 General Release
  P0 Pedal Release
         
Pedal Movements
    Sforzando (Full Organ)   Balanced Swell
    Great to Pedal Reversible   Balanced Crescendo
         
E. & G.G. Hook
Boston, Mass. – Opus 57 (1844)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 20 registers, 15 stops, 17 ranks


The original organ in the church was built by E. & G.G. Hook of Boston.
     
Great Organ (Manual I)
8
   1st Open (through)
8
   2nd Open (through)
8
   Stop'd diapason Treble
8
   Stop'd diapason Bass
4
   Principal
3
   Twelfth
2
   Fifteenth
4
   Flute
  Mixture [3 ranks?]
8
   Trumpet Treble
8
   Trumpet Bass
       
Couplers
  Swell coupler
  Choir and Pedal
  Great and Pedal
 
Swell Organ (Manual II) – enclosed
8
   Dulciana
8
   Stop'd diapason
4
   Principal
8
   Cremona
8
   Hautboy
       
Choir Organ (Manual II) – unenclosed
8
   Dulciana Bass
8
   Stop'd diapason Bass
4
   Principal Bass
   
Pedal
16
   Sub bass  
       
    [Swell Tremulant]  
    [Swell Pedal]  
           
Sources:
     Dolkart, Andrew S. and Matthew A. Postal. Guide to New York City Landmarks (Third Edition). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004.
     First Unitarian Congregational Society web site: http://www.brooklynuubridge.org/
     Morrone, Francis. An Architectural Guidebook to Brooklyn. Brooklyn: Gibbs Smith, 2001.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Peterson, Mark. Stoplist of George S. Hutchings organ (1900), as rebuilt by Mann and Trupiano (2000).
     Trupiano, Larry. Memorandum of Agreement for George S. Hutchings organ (1900.
     Van Pelt, William T., comp. The Hook Opus List, 1829-1916 in Facsimile. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1991.

Illustrations:
     First Unitarian Congregational Society. Undated image of original organ case. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     First Unitarian Congregational Society web site. Color photo of organ case.