Trinity Lutheran Church - Brooklyn, New York
Trinity Lutheran Church

411 Forty-sixth Street at Fourth Avenue
Sunset Park (Brooklyn), N.Y. 11220
www.trinitybrooklyn.org

Organ Specifications:
411 46th Street at Fourth Avenue (since c.1917)
► III/27 M.P. Möller, Op. 9645 (1962) – Upper Sanctuary
► II/13 M.P. Möller, Op. 10137 (1966) – Lower Sanctuary
► II/9 Estey Organ Company, Op. 2403 (1925) – Lower
► II/14 Estey Organ Company, Op. 1861 (1921) – Upper
Corner 22nd Street and Third Avenue (1894-c.1917)
• unknown


Trinity Lutheran Church had it roots in the religious revival which swept over Southern Norway in the latter part of the 19th century. Norwegian immigrants, who had been profoundly influenced by this spiritual awakening, settled in Brooklyn and met informally for fellowship and Christian nurture. The need for the formation of a congregation was apparent, and Trinity Norwegian Lutheran Church in Brooklyn's Sunset Park/Bay Ridge area was organized on July 29, 1890. During the following year the society became part of the United Norgwegian Lutheran Church in America. The first church building was located on the corner of 22nd Street and Third Avenue. Services were conducted in the Norwegian language until 1915, when English worship and instruction were added.

The present building on the corner of 46th Street and Fourth Avenue was constructed between 1910 and 1917. Built of brick with limestone trim, the church and adjoining two-story rectory were designed in the Neo-Gothic style by Foster, Gade & Graham. The Sigmond Memorial Education building was added in 1950. The church and rectory are listed in the National Registry of Historic Places in the Sunset Park Historic District.

The arrival of a large number of Puerto Ricans and other Latinos in the neighborhood served by Trinity resulted in the establishment of a Latino ministry in 1953. Worship services in the Spanish language began in 1976. Concurrent worship in English and Spanish continues, with a variety of worship styles that befit the respective traditions.
           
  M.P. Möller organ, Op. 9645 (1962) in Trinity Lutheran Church - Brooklyn, NY
   
Organ in Upper Sanctuary:

M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 9645 (1962)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 33 stops, 27 ranks





The organ in the main (upper) sanctuary is located at the rear of the balcony, with the enclosed Swell and Choir divisions flanking the exposed Great in the center. Seating for the choir has been provided in four tiers in front of the organ, surrounding the compact, key-desk console at the center of the gallery rail. Twenty-four couplers are provided and there are six combination pistons, adjustable from the console, for each division, plus six for full organ, duplicated by toe studs. The specifications were drawn up by Mr. Donald V. Corbett in cooperation with Mr. Harold Heiberg and the instrument was built and installed in 1962 by M. P. Möller, Inc., of Hagerstown, Maryland.
               
Great Organ(Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Quintaten
61
2
   Super Octave
61
8
   Principal
61
     Fourniture III ranks
183
8
   Spitzflöte
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Octave
61
     Chimes  
4
   Quintaten [ext.]
24
        

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Rohrflöte
61
2
   Nachthorn [ext.]
12
8
   Viola Pomposa
61
     Plein Jeu III ranks
183
8
   Viola Celeste [TC]
49
8
   Trompette
61
4
   Prestant
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Nachthorn
61
        

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Holzgedeckt
61
2
   Flötenprinzipal
61
8
   Gemshorn
61
     Sesquialtera II ranks
122
8
   Gemshorn Celeste [TC]
49
8
   Bombarde
61
4
   Koppelflöte
61
     Tremolo  

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Sub Bass [unit]
56
4
   Octave [ext.]
—
16
   Quintaten
GT
4
   Flute [ext.]
—
16
   Gemshorn [ext. CH]
12
16
   Contre Bombarde [ext. CH]
12
8
   Principal [unit]
44
8
   Bombarde
CH
8
   Bass Flute [ext.]
—
4
   Clairon
CH
8
   Gemshorn
CH
        
           
  M.P. Möller organ, Op. 10137 (1966) in Lower Sanctuary of Trinity Lutheran Church - Brooklyn, NY
   
Organ in Lower Sanctuary:

M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 10137 (1966)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 20 stops, 13 ranks


The Gottfred Nilssen Memorial Organ in the lower sanctuary was built in 1966 by M.P. Möller of Hagerstown, Md. It is installed to the left of the chancel, with the exposed Great and Pedal in front of the enclosed Swell division. The rolltop console is centrally placed on the choir loft platform at the left of the auditorium. There are 12 couplers and 11 combination pistons.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Bourdon
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Erzähler
61
     Mixture III-IV ranks
220

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Rohrbourdon [unit]
85
2
   Klein Octav [ext.]
—
8
   Rohrflöte [ext.]
—
2
   Flautino [from Nazard]
—
8
   Spitz Gamba
61
1 1/3
  Larigot [ext.]
—
4
   Geigen Principal
73
8
   Trompette [1-12 half length]
61
4
   Flute [ext.]
—
     Tremulant  
2 2/3
   Nazard
73
        

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Bourdon [ext. GT]
12
8
   Bourdon
GT
16
   Rohrbourdon
SW
4
   Choral Bass [ext.]
—
8
   Principal [unit]
44
4
   Rohrflöte
SW
           
Previous organ in Lower Sanctuary:

Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 2403 (1925)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 9 stops, 9 ranks


The Estey Organ Company Shop Order for their Op. 2403 shows that the detached two-manual console had celluloid keys, and that 5" wind pressure was used throughout. Oak was used for the 99-square-foot case and 100-square feet of paneling, and the 17 front pipes would be bronzed.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Melodia
61
8
   Dulciana
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
8
   Oboe [TC]
49
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
     Tremolo  
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
30
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Great 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Pedal to Pedal 4'  
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2 affecting Great & Pedal Stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Swell & Pedal Stops
               
Pedal Movements
    Great to Pedal Reversible      
    Balanced Swell Pedal      
    Crescendo Pedal      
         
Previous organ in Upper Sanctuary:

Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 1861 (1921)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 14 stops, 14 ranks


In 1921, the Estey Organ Company built an organ for the Upper Sanctuary. The following specifications were recorded (Feb. 15, 1937) by Louis F. Mohr & Co., an organ service concern in the area. Mohr noted that the organ had an "extended console."
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Major Flute
61
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
8
   Clarabella
61
  "1 Chime"
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
61
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute Traverso
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
8
   Oboe [TC]
49
8
   Gamba
61
  Tremolo
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
30
        
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
30
        
               
Couplers ("8 couplers")
    [Great to Pedal 8']   [Swell to Great 16', 8', 4']
    [Swell to Pedal 8', 4']   [Swell 16', 4']
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Great & Pedal Stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Swell & Pedal Stops
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal      
    Crescendo Pedal      
           
Sources:
     Carnahan, John. Factory Shop Order of Estey Organ, Op. 2403 (1925).
     The Estey Pipe Organ web site: www.esteyorgan.com
     Lewis, James. Specifications of Estey Organ, Op. 2403 (1925).
     Mohr, Louis F. & Co. Specifications of Estey Organ, Op. 1861 (1921). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Mohr, Louis F. & Co. Specifications of Estey Organ, Op. 2403 (1925). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Thaddeus, Mark. Stoplist of M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 9645 (1962).
     Thaddeus, Mark. Stoplist of M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 10137 (1966).
     Trinity Lutheran Church web site: www.trinitybrooklyn.org

Illustrations:
     Trinity Lutheran Church web site. Exterior; M.P. Möller organs, Op. 9645 (1962) and Op. 10137 (1966).