Holy Family Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)
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The Church of the Holy Family
(Roman Catholic)

"The United Nations Parish"

315 East 47th Street
New York, N.Y. 10017
http://www.churchholyfamily.org


Organ Specifications:
Present building (since 1964)
► V/69 Robert M. Turner Organs (1996)
► III/40 Delaware Organ Company, Inc. (1965)
First building (1924-1964)
• unknown



Holy Family Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
   
The Church of the Holy Family was founded in 1924 to serve Italian immigrants on the East Side of Manhattan. The original church was fashioned from a converted brewery stable and served the parish until 1964.

The present church, a Modernist building designed by George J. Sole, was built from 1962-65. Due to its close proximity to the United Nations complex, the church is known today as "The United Nations Parish." In 1965, Holy Family was the first church in the Western Hemisphere to be visited by Pope Paul VI. In 1979, Pope John Paul II extended his blessing on the church, after delivering a human rights message at the United Nations.
           
  Turner Organ Console (1996) at Holy Family Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Robert M. Turner Organs
Hacienda Heights, Calif. (1996)
Electro-pneumatic action
5 manuals, 98 stops, 69 ranks









The present organ at Holy Family Church was built in 1996 by Robert M. Turner Organs of Hacienda Heights, Calif., and incorporates most of the pipework from the previous 1965 Delaware Organ. Scaling and tonal finishing was by Charles Callahan, who also served as the project consultant. Designed as an eclectic instrument, the organ was inspired by the work of the late G. Donald Harrison of the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company. Several stops were built following Harrison's practice and some reedwork is from his early masterpiece, Aeolian-Skinner Op. 886 (1932), originally in the Memorial Church of Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

Turner provided a movable five-manual drawknob console that controls five divisions in the gallery and two divisions in the chancel. The Positiv division, exposed on the right wall of the chancel, was installed in 1999 by the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Ill. Digital stops are by Walker Technical Company, Zionsville, Penn.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Principal [unit]
73
  Fourniture V ranks
305
8
   Diapason
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Principal
—
8
  
Tuba Mirabilis
SO
8
   Bourdon
61
8
   St. Thomas Trumpet
SO
8
   Flûte harmonique
61
  Tremulant
8
   Flauto Dolce
61
  Chimes 
SO
8
   Flute Celeste
61
  Harp
digital
8
   Dulciana
CH
  Celesta
digital
8
   Unda Maris
CH
  Great Sub
4
   Octave
61
  Great Unison Off
4
   Flûte octaviante
61
  Great Super
2 2/3
   Quinte
61
  Positiv to Great 16'
2
   Superoctave
61
  Positiv to Great 8'

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Rohrbass [unit]
73
16
   Bombarde
61
8
   Rohrflöte
—
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Viole de gambe
61
8
   Trompette
61
8
   Voix celeste [TC]
49
8
   Hautbois
61
4
   Prestant
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
4
   Nachthorn
61
4
   Clairon
61
2 2/3
   Nazard [unit]
73
  Tremulant
2
   Octavin
61
  Cymbelstern
1 3/5
   Tierce
61
  Swell Sub
1 1/3
   Larigot [Nazard]
—
  Swell Unison Off
  Cymball III ranks
183
  Swell Super
   
  Chancel on Swell
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Dulciana [unit]
73
  Sesquialtera II ranks [TC]
98
8
   Diapason
61
  Mixture IV ranks
244
8
   Gedeckt
61
8
   Cromorne
61
8
   Cello
61
8
   Tuba Mirabilis
SO
8
   Cello Celeste
61
  Tremulant
8
   Dulciana
—
  Choir Sub
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
49
  Choir Unison Off
4
   Principal
61
  Choir Super
4
   Koppelflöte
61
  Positiv to Choir
2
   Octave
61
  Chancel on Choir
2
   Blockflöte
61
  Tower Carillon
digital

     

     
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Gamba
digital
8
   English Horn
61
8
   Philomela
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Gamba
61
  Tremulant
8
   Gamba Celeste
61
  Harp
GT
8
   Dulciana
CH
  Chimes
digital
8
   Unda Maris
CH
  Solo Sub
4
   Orchestral Flute
61
  Solo Unison Off
8
   St. Thomas Trumpet [horiz.]
61
  Solo Super
8
   Tuba Mirabilis
61
  Positiv Unison Off
8
   French Horn
61
  Chancel on Solo
               
Positiv Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes [mounted on Chancel wall]
8
   Dolcan
61
1 1/3
   Larigot
61
8
   Gedecktpommer
61
  Tremulant
4
   Spillflöte
61
     Positiv to Swell  
2
   Spitzflöte
61
     Positiv to Pedal  
               
Chancel Organ (Manual V) – 61 notes, expressive
8
   Principal
digital
8
   Tuba Mirabilis
SO
8
   Gedeckt
digital
8
   St. Thomas Trumpet
SO
8
   Flute Celeste II ranks
digital
  Chancel Sub
4
   Octave
digital
  Chancel Unison Off
2
   Superoctave
digital
  Chancel Super
8
   Trompette Harmonique
digital
   
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes, enclosed
32
   Contra Violone [ext. SO]
digital
4
   Choralbass
GT
32
   Untersatz
digital
4
   Flûte
GT
16
   Contrebasse
digital
2
   Superoctave
GT
16
   Principal
GT
     Mixture III ranks
96
16
   Subbass
digital
32
   Ophicleide
digital
16
   Contra Gamba
SO
16
   Posaune
digital
16
   Rohrbass
SW
16
   Bombarde
SW
16
   Dulciana
CH
8
   Trumpet
GT
8
   Octave
32
4
   Clarion
GT
8
   Principal
GT
4
   Clairon
SW
8
   Gemshorn
32
8
   St. Thomas Trumpet
GT
8
   Gamba
SO
     Chimes
SO
8
   Rohrflöte
SW
     Chancel on Pedal  
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Solo to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Solo to Swell 16', 8', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Choir to Swell 8'
    Solo to Pedal 8', 4'   Great on Solo
    Pedal Divide   Great / Choir Transfer
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   SW CH SO Shades on Swell
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   All Swells to Swell
    Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'   Solo Melody to Great 8'
    Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'    
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Chancel Organ 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb)
Solo Organ 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb)
Swell Organ 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb)
Great Organ 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb)
Choir Organ 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb)
Pedal Organ 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (toe)
General 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20 (thumb & toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
  Set (thumb)
               
Reversibles
    Chancel to Pedal Reversible (thumb)   Sforzando I (thumb & toe)
    Solo to Pedal Reversible (thumb & toe)   Sforzando II (thumb & toe)
    Swell to Pedal Reversible (thumb & toe)   All Swells to Swell (thumb)
    Great to Pedal Reversible (thumb & toe)   CH SW SO to Swell (thumb)
    Choir to Pedal Reversible (thumb & toe)   String 32' (foot paddle)
    Swell to Great Reversible (thumb)   Flue 32' (foot paddle)
    Choir to Great Reversible (thumb)   Reed 32' (foot paddle)
    Swell to Choir Reversible (thumb)    
               
Piston Sequencer Controls
    NEXT – under D2 of Solo manual (thumb)  
    NEXT – under G20 of Swell manual (thumb)  
    NEXT – immediately to right of Crescendo Pedal (toe)  
    PREV – under G20 of Great manual (thumb)  
               
Accessories
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Great   Crescendo Blind Check (thumb)
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Choir   Crescendo Clear (thumb)
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Solo & Chancel   Crescendo Adjust (thumb)
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Swell   Crescendo A (thumb)
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal   Crescendo B (thumb)
    Memory Level Down (thumb)   Crescendo C (thumb)
    Memory Level Up (thumb)   Crescendo Std. (thumb)
               

Turner Organ (1996) at Holy Family Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)

Turner Organ (1996) at Holy Family Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)
           
  Delaware Organ Console (1966) at Holy Family RC Church - New York City (Courtesy Holy Family Church)
Delaware Organ Company, Inc.
Tonawanda, N.Y. (1965)
Electro-pneumatic stop action
Setterboard combination action
3 manuals, 35 stops, 40 ranks







The first organ in the present building was built in 1965 by the Delaware Organ Company of Tonawanda, N.Y. Delaware installed the organ on one level across the rear gallery, with pipes arranged in an asymmetric manner on exposed chests to promote visual interest. The entire organ was voiced on 2½" wind pressure with open toe voicing and all flue pipes were unnicked. On January 18, 1966, the organ was dedicated by John Grady, Director of Music, assisted by an orchestra directed by Emmanuel Balaban. Mr. Grady's program included Handel's Concerto No. 5 and the Poulenc Concerto, as well as solo works by Bach, Brahms, Lidon and Widor. Pierre Cochereau, organist of Notre Dame, Paris, continued the dedicatory series with a recital on May 15, 1966.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Principal
61
2
   Flachflöte
61
8
   Bordun
61
     Fourniture IV ranks
244
4
   Octave
61
8
   Trompette en chamade
61
               
Positiv Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Gedeckt
61
     Scharff IV ranks
244
8
   Principal
61
8
   Dulcianregal en chamade
61
4
   Koppelflöte
61
8
   Krummhorn
61
2
   Principal
61
8
   Trompette en chamade
GT
    Sesquialtera II ranks
122
        

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Rohrflöte
61
8
   Fagott
61
8
   Viola
61
4
   Schalmei
183
8
   Viola Celeste [TC]
49
     Tremulant  
4
   Nachthorn
61
     Swell to Swell 16'  
2
   Weit Principal
61
     Swell Unison Off  
1 1/3
   Quint
61
     Swell to Swell 4'  
    Cymbel III ranks
183
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Principal [ext. GT]
12
4
   Pommer
—
16
   Subbass
32
  
   Mixture III ranks
96
16
   Rohrbourdon [ext. SW]
12
16
   Posaune [unit]
44
8
   Principal
32
8
   Trumpet
—
8
   Pommer [unit]
44
4
   Schalmei
SW
4
   Choralbass
32
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Positiv to Great 8'
    Positiv to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Positiv 8'
               
Adjustable Combinations (by Setterboard in drawer above top manual)
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Positiv Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (toe)
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb & toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
               
Reversibles
    Swell to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Positiv to Pedal (thumb & toe)
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Sforzando (thumb & toe)
               
Expression
    Balanced Swell Pedal      
    Crescendo Pedal      
               

Delaware Organ (1966) at Holy Family RC Church - New York City (Courtesy Holy Family Church)

 Delaware Organ (1966) at Holy Family RC Church - New York City (Courtesy Holy Family Church)
           
Sources:
     Church of the Holy Family web site: http://www.churchholyfamily.org
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     "Holy Family Church Lists Organ Recital," The New York Times (May 8, 1966).
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     "Parish Church of UN Opens New Delaware,"The Diapason (March 1966). Courtesy Paul J. Murray.
     Recital program by Pierre Cochereau (May 15, 1966) with specifications of Delaware Organ (1965). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.

Illustrations:
     Holy Family Church. Photos of Delaware organ (1965).
     Lawson, Steven E. Exterior; interior; Robert M. Turner organ (1996).