Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Brooklyn Eagle, April 27, 1966)
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Church of Our Lady of Angels
(Roman Catholic)

7320 Fourth Avenue at 74th Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11209


Organ Specifications:
► III/27 Peragallo Pipe Organ Company, Op. 601 (1999)
► III/28 Geo. Kilgen & Son, Op. 4202 (1929)
• II/ F. J. N. Tallman, Op. 56 (1910)


For many years, the village of Bay Ridge, now a part of Brooklyn, did not have a Catholic church; its residents were obliged to go to Fort Hamilton or to St. Michael's on Fourth Avenue and 42nd Street to hear Mass. In 1890, Bishop Loughlin considered the idea of building a church in the village but was hesistant as residents were not blessed with wealth. Finally, in September 1891, the bishop sent the Rev. Martin J. Loftus, then in charge of St. John's Chapel, to begin plans for a church that would be known as Our Lady of Angels. A plot of ground measuring 100 feet by 120 feet was purchased on 73rd Street, near Third Avenue, and $1700 was subscribed toward a building fund. Father Loftus then canvassed the area and found three or four hundred Catholics who would make up the new parish, and funds were solicited by collectors who made a house to house visit. Bishop Loughlin gave his blessing for the new parish. However, Bishop Loughlin died before the cornerstone could be laid, so that duty fell to his successor, Bishop McDonnell.

The new church, designed in the Italian Romanesque style, features an exterior of washed brick with terra cotta trimmings and a basement of blue-stone, and at the corner is a tower that is 80 feet high. Bishop McDonnell presided at the dedication of the church on September 21, 1893.
         
Peragallo Pipe Organ Company
Paterson, N.J. – Opus 601 (1999)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 50 registers, 25 stops, 27 ranks


In 1990, the Peragallo Pipe Organ Company was contracted to rebuild the existing 1929 Kilgen organ. Peragallo reused much of the Kilgen pipework and added several new ranks. In 2006, John Klauder Pipe Organ Service completely releathered the Great and Pedal divisions and completed installation of a Peterson Relay playing system that had been begun by Peragallo (only the Swell had been done in 1999).
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, unenclosed (shutters removed)
16
  Open Diapason
85
4
  Octave
—
8
   First Open Diapason *
61
2
   Super Octave (fr. 4' Princ.)
CH
8
   Second Open Diapason
—
1 1/3
   Quint (fr. 4' Princ.)
CH
8
   Philomela
61
1
   Octave (fr. 4' Princ.)
CH
8
   Chimney Flute
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Gemshorn
61
    
Chimes
20 tubes
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon
97
2
   Octavin (fr. Princ)
—
8
  Open Diapason
61
2
   Flautino (fr. Bdn)
—
8
  Stopped Flute (fr. Bdn)
—
     Plein Jeu III ranks
183
8
   Salicional
61
16
   Fagotto
73
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
61
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Voix Celeste (TC)
49
8
   Oboe (fr. Fagotto)
—
4
   Principal
73
8
   Vox Humana
61
4
   Flute d'Amour (fr. Bdn)
—
     Tremolo  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Dulciana (TC)
—
4
   Dulcet
—
8
   Open Diapason [GT 2nd Diap.]
GT
2 2/3
   Quint
61
8
   Violin Diapason
61
2
   Super Octave (fr. 4' Princ.)
—
8
   Chimney Flute
GT
1 1/3
   Larigot (fr. 4' Princ.)
—
8
   Dulciana
73
1
   Octave (fr. 4' Princ.)
—
8
   Unda Maris (TC)
49
8
   Clarinet
73
4
   Principal
73
    
Tremolo
  
4
   Flute Traverse
61
    
Harp
49 bars
 
     
 
     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Resultant
—
8
   Octave Bass
—
16
   First Open Diapason
32
8
  Bass Flute
—
16
   Second Open Diapason
GT
8
   Dolce Flute
SW
16
   Bourdon
44
4
   Octave
GT
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
16
   Basson
SW
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 16', 4', Unison Off
    Choir to Pedal 8'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir 16', 4', Unison Off
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Combination Action
    details unknown          
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Expression      
    Balanced Choir Expression      
    Crescendo Pedal      
         
Kilgen Organ Company
St. Louis, Mo. – Opus 72>4202 (1929)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 50 registers, 26 stops, 28 ranks


The Kilgen Organ at Our Lady of Angels was installed in the rear gallery of the church. Eighteen manual combinations affecting stops and couplers were provided, plus six general combinations affecting all stops on the organ, and five pedal movements. In 1998, the Peragallo Organ Company rebuilt the organ as their Op. 601.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Open Diapason *
85
4
  Flute
—
8
   1st Open Diapason *
61
2 2/3
   Flute Quint
—
8
   2nd Open Diapason (fr. 16')
—
2
  Flute Octaviante
—
8
   Philomela
61
8
   Tuba
61
8
   Viol d'Gamba
61
    
Chimes
20 tubes
8
   Gemshorn
73
      
4
   Octave (fr. 16' OD)
—
    
* unenclosed
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon
97
4
   Violina (fr. Sal.)
—
8
  Open Diapason
73
2
   Flautino (fr. Bdn.)
—
8
  Stopped Diapason (fr. Bdn.)
—
     Dolce Cornet III ranks
183
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
73
16
   Fagotto
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Voix Celeste (TC)
61
8
   Oboe (fr. Fagotto)
—
8
   Aeoline
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
4
   Flute d'Amour (fr. Bdn.)
—
     Tremolo  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Dulciana (TC)
—
4
   Flute (fr. Melodia)
—
8
   Open Diapason
73
4
   Dulcet (fr. 8')
—
8
   Violone
73
2
   Piccolo (fr. Melodia)
—
8
   Melodia
85
8
   Orchestra Oboe (Syn)
—
8
   Violoncello
GT
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Quintadena
73
8
   French Horn
73
8
   Unda Maris (TC)
61
    
Tremolo
8
   Dulciana
73
    
Harp
49 bars
 
     
 
     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Open Diapason [1-12 resultant]
—
8
   Octave Bass [GT 2nd Diap.]
GT
16
   Open Diapason
32
8
  Bass Flute (fr. Bdn.)
—
16
   Second Open Diapason
GT
8
   Dolce Flute
SW
16
   Bourdon
44
8
   Violoncello
GT
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
16
   Bassoon
SW
               
Couplers
    details unknown          
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
     
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Great & Choir Expression Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Swell Expression Pedal   Sforzando Reversible
    Crescendo Pedal    
 
F. J. N. Tallman
Nyack, N.Y. – Opus 56 (1910)
Unknown action
2 manuals


The first known organ for Our Lady of Angels Church was built by F. J. N. Tallman of Nyack, N.Y. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X, Vol. III. New York: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914.
     The Diapason (Aug. 1, 1928). Stoplist of Geo. Kilgen & Son organ, Op. 4202 (1929). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     Kloda, Barry. Specification of Peragallo Organ, Op. 601 (1999).

Illustration:
     Brooklyn Eagle (Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection). Exterior (April 27, 1966).