Morris High School - Bronx, N.Y.
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Morris High School Campus

1110 Boston Road at East 166th Street
The Bronx, N.Y. 10456
http://www.morriscampus.org


Organ Specifications:
► III/26 M. P. Möller, Inc., Op. 3984 (1924)
► III/26 W. W. Kimball Co. (1904)


Auditorium of Morris High School - Bronx, N.Y.  
Morris High School opened in 1897 as the Mixed High School and was the first public high school in the Bronx. The school moved into its current Collegiate Gothic building in 1904, which is one of the masterpieces of the New York City school architect, Charles B. J. Snyder. The auditorium (now Duncan Hall), a high church-like space with a balcony, is perhaps the finest interior in any city school. The room contains elaborate Gothic plasterwork, steel-ribbed vaults set within Tudor arches, stained-glass windows, and a pipe organ facade. It is decorated with several murals, most prominently the French artist August Gorguet's monumental 1926 World War I memorial entitled After Conflict Comes Peace. In 1982, the auditorium interior was designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. The historic building’s exterior facade and auditorium, along with the surrounding avenues, are part of the Morris High School Historic District. The New York City School Contruction Authority restored the auditorium in 1991.

Notable alumni include: Judith Crist, film critic; Armand Hammer, industrialist; David Lerner, investment banker; Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State; Gabe Pressman, NBC-TV anchorman; Carlos Rivera, former Fire Commissioner; Henry Santos, singer with ‘Aventura’.
               
  Auditorium of Morris High School - Bronx, N.Y. (photo: Robert Colasacco)
   
  Organ Case in Morris High School - Bronx, N.Y. (photo: Robert Colasacco)
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 3984 (1924)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 26 stops, 26 ranks







On April 16, 1924, a contract was awarded to the M.P. Möller company for the repair and rebuilding of the existing 1904 Kimball organ. Möller installed a new electro-pneumatic action, new swell engines, and a new three-manual console on a movable platform. The contract did not call for replacement or additional pipes. Total cost of the project was $3,685. Click here to view the Möller contract.

The organ was removed sometime in the 1960s, leaving only the facade pipes. The case was originally mahogany.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Bourdon
61
4
   Principal
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Doppel Flute
61
8
   Orchestral Trumpet
61
8
   Gamba
61
        
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Violone
61
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Viol Diapason
61
4
   Flute Traverso
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Aeoline
61
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Vox Celeste (TC)
49
        
 
      
 
      
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
61
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
8
   Melodia
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Clarinet
61
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason
30
16
   Bourdon
30
16
   Violone
30
8
   Violoncello
30
               
Couplers
    Swell to Pedal       Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'  
    Great to Pedal       Choir to Swell 16', 8', 4'  
    Choir to Pedal       Great 16', 4'  
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'       Swell 16', 4'  
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'       Choir 16', 4'  
               
Mechanicals
    Swell Tremulant       Crescendo Indicator  
    Choir Tremulant          
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Swell & Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5
Great & Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5
Choir & Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5
Full Organ Pistons 1-2-3
               
Pedal Movements
    Great to Pedal Reversible      
    Balanced Swell Pedal      
    Balanced Choir Pedal      
    Grand Crescendo Pedal, Sforzando Second Touch  
               
  c.1905 photo Auditorium of Morris High School - Bronx, N.Y.
W. W. Kimball Company
Chicago, Ill. (1904)
Tubular-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 26 stops, 26 ranks




The original organ for the Morris High School Auditorium was built by the W.W. Kimball Company of Chicago. In 1924, the organ was rebuilt and repaired by M.P. Möller, who replaced the tubular-pneumatic action with their electro-pneumatic action. As none of the stops were changed during the rebuild, the following specification is derived from the Möller specifications seen above.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Bourdon
61
4
   Principal
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Doppel Flute
61
8
   Orchestral Trumpet
61
8
   Gamba
61
        
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Violone
61
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Viol Diapason
61
4
   Flute Traverso
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Aeoline
61
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Vox Celeste (TC)
49
        
 
      
 
      
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
61
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
8
   Melodia
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Clarinet
61
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason
30
16
   Bourdon
30
16
   Violone
30
8
   Violoncello
30
               
Sources:
     Architects of Achievement website: http://www.archachieve.org/RealWorld2/Morris/index.html
     Bronx Symphony Orchestra website: http://www.bronxsymphony.org
     "Bronx's Big High School. Largest of Its Class in the City to be Opened Tomorrow," The New York Times (Jan. 24, 1904).
     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.
     Gray, Christopher. " Streetscapes/Charles B. J. Snyder; Architect Who Taught a Lesson in School Design," The New York Times (Nov. 21, 1999).
     Half-Million-Dollar High School Dedicated," The New York Times (June 11, 1904).
     Hermalyn, Gary. Morris High School and the Creation of the New York City Public High School System. The Bronx, New York: The Bronx County Historical Society, 1995.
     Herszenhorn, David M. "The Decline and Uplifting Fall of Morris High," The New York Times (June 30, 2005).
     Higgins, T. L. "Model Schools in Borough of Bronx," The New York Times (May 17, 1908).
     Martin, Douglas. "About New York; Walls Crumble, But Morris High Retains Its Spirit," The New York Times (Dec. 10, 1988).
     Morris Campus website: http://www.morriscampus.org
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 3984 (1924).

Illustrations:
     Bronx Symphony Orchestra website. Auditorium interior.
     Colasacco, Robert. Auditorium and Organ Case.