Poly Prep Country Day School - Brooklyn, NY
Poly Prep Country Day School

9216 Seventh Avenue at 92nd Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11228
http://www.polyprep.org


Organ Specifications:
► III/27 M.P. Möller, Op. 9695
► III/26 Estey Organ Company, Op. 2658 (1927)







Polytechnic Preparatory School - Brooklyn, N.Y. (1912 postcard)  
Brooklyn Polytechnic Preparatory School (1912)  
In 1854, the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute, the first school for boys in the City of Brooklyn, opened its doors at 99 Livingston Street in Brooklyn Heights. "The Poly," as it soon became known, offered an academic program designed to rival those at the most prestigious boarding schools of the time. However, the school intended its boys to remain "surrounded by all the saving influences of home and the family circle." In 1891, the construction of a new building next door provided a home for the college, to be known as the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.

The Polytechnic Preparatory Institute continued to thrive at 99 Livingston Street, and by the mid-1890s was one of the largest prep schools in the country, with over six hundred students. In 1916, a twenty-five-acre parcel of land, formerly the Dyker Meadow Golf Course, was offered to the trustees. On July 1 of that year, the Polytechnic Preparatory Country Day School was incorporated. Under the leadership of Headmaster William M. Williams, Poly began the transition to coeducation in the mid-1970s, graduating its first class of girls and boys in 1979. Poly Prep expanded dramatically in 1995 with the acquisition of the historic Woodward Park School (or, as it's sometimes known, "The Castle") on Prospect Park West in Park Slope. Renamed Poly Prep Lower School, this second campus provides an intimate, nurturing, and academically stimulating early childhood experience for Nursery through Grade 4 students.
               
  M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 9695 (1962) at Poly Prep Country Day School - Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo from Moller Organ brochure)
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 9695 (1962)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 31 stops, 27 ranks



On the contract dated November 28, 1961, the M.P. Möller Company agreed to install a new three-manual organ in the Poly Prep Country Day School auditorium. Möller retained and repaired the existing drawknob console, and promised a completion date of September 17, 1962. Since its installation this organ has been revised; the original specifications are shown here.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (3½" wind pressure) [pipework arranged in functional display]
8
   Principal
61
2
   Super Octave
61
8
   Bordun
61
     Fourniture IV ranks
244
4
   Octave
61
     Tremulant  
2 2/3
   Quint
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (4" wind pressure)
8
   Rohrflöte [unit]
73
2
   Blockflöte
61
8
   Viola Pomposa
61
     Plein Jeu III ranks
183
8
   Viola Celeste [TC]
49
8
   Trompette
73
4
   Prestant
61
4
   Clairon [ext.]
—
4
   Rohrflöte [ext.]
—
     Tremulant  
               
Positiv Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, unenclosed (3" wind pressure)
8
   Holzgedeckt
61
1 3/5
   Terz
61
8
   Koppelflöte
61
1
   Sifflöte
61
2 2/3
   Nasat
61
8
   Krummhorn
61
2
   Flötenprinzipal
61
     Tremulant  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes (3½" and 4" wind pressure)
16
   Contrebasse
56
4
   Octave [ext. Contrebasse]
—
16
   Bourdon
56
4
   Flute [ext. Bourdon]
—
16
   Rohrflöte
SW
16
   Contre Trompette [ext. SW]
12
8
   Principal [ext. Contrebasse]
—
4
   Clairon
SW
8
   Bass Flute [ext. Bourdon]
—
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Swell to Positiv 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 16', 4', Unison Off
    Positiv to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Positiv 16', 4', Unison Off
    Positiv to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Combination Pistons
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 affecting Great stops and couplers
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 affecting Swell stops and couplers
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 affecting Positiv stops and couplers
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 affecting Pedal stops and couplers
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 affecting all stops and couplers
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Crescendo Pedal   Swell to Pedal Reversible
        Sforzando Reversible
               
Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 2658 (1927)
Electro-pneumatic key action
3 manuals, 38 stops, 26 ranks


In 1927, the Estey Organ Company installed a three-manual organ, along with a luminous console, in the school chapel. The Estey Shor Order for this organ noted, "Auditorium seats 600. Keep voicing down as organ is abundantly large for auditorium."
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason [unit]
85
2
   Fifteenth [ext.]
—
8
   Gross Flute *
73
16
   Tuba Profunda [unit]
97
8
   Viol de Gamba *
73
8
   Tuba [ext.]
—
8
   Gemshorn *
73
4
   Clarion [ext.]
—
4
   Octave [ext.]
—
     Tremulant  
4
   Flute Harmonic *
73
    
* enclosed with Choir
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon [unit]
97
4
   Flute [ext.]
—
8
   Open Diapason
73
2
   Flautino [ext.]
—
8
   Gedeckt
73
8
   Oboe [reedless]
73
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
73
8
   Saxophone [reedless]
73
8
   Muted Viol
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
8
   Salicional
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Voix Celeste [TC]
61
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
73
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
61
8
   Concert Flute
73
4
   Wald Flute
73
8
   Clarabella
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Dulciana
73
     Tremulant  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diapason
44
8
   Flauto Dolce [Bourdon]
—
16
   Bourdon
44
8
   Cello [Violone]
—
16
   Violone
44
16
   Tuba Profunda
GT
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
8
   Tuba
GT
8
   Octave [Op. Diap.]
—
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 16', 4', Unison Separation
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Separation
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir 16', 4', Unison Separation
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Combination Pistons
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 affecting Great stops and couplers
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 affecting Swell stops and couplers
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 affecting Choir stops and couplers
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 affecting Pedal stops and couplers
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 affecting all stops and couplers
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Great & Choir Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Swell to Pedal Reversible
    Crescendo Pedal   Sforzando Reversible
               
Sources:
     Carnahan, John. Factory Shop Order for Estey Organ, Op. 2658 (1927).
     The Estey Pipe Organ web site: www.esteyorgan.com
     Poly Prep Country Day School web site: http://www.polyprep.org
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 9695 (1962).

Illustrations:
     eBay.com. Postcard (1912) Polytechnic Preparatory School.
     Poly Prep Country Day School. Exterior.
     Scofield, Jeff. Möller Organ photo.