Mannes School of Music on West 85th (since 1984) - New York City
Mannes College of Music

150 West 85th Street
New York, N.Y. 10024
http://www.mannes.newschool.edu




Mannes School of Music on East 70th Street (1916-1919) - New York City  
Mannes College of Music was founded by David and Clara Mannes in 1916 as The David Mannes Music School. David Mannes (1866-1959) was concertmaster of the New York Symphony, conducted by the legendary Walter Damrosch. Clara Damrosch Mannes (1870-1948), Walter's sister, was an accomplished pianist. In the early twentieth century, David and Clara concertized widely in the United States and Europe as a violin/piano sonata duo. The school's first building was located at 174 East 70th Street.
  Mannes School of Music on East 74th Street (1919-1985) - New York City


In 1919, only three years after its founding, the school had grown so much that Mannes moved into three combined brownstones on East 74th Street, where it remained for 65 years. Leopold Mannes, son of the founders, a composer, pianist, and President of the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation, became Assistant Director of the school in 1940, later serving as President. Under his leadership, distinguished musicians such as George Szell, Georges Enesco, and Bohuslav Martinu taught at Mannes. Most importantly, Leopold Mannes transformed the school into a College of Music offering a Bachelor's curriculum beginning in 1953.

In 1984, President Dr. Charles Kaufman moved Mannes to a new larger home on West 85th Street, and in 1989, Mannes joined the New School for Social Research which later became New School University.

The college has had many well-known graduates and faculty, including Richard Goode, Murray Perahia, and Frederica von Stade. Presidents have included Rise Stevens, Sidney Gelber, and John Goldmark.
           
Skinner Organ Company
Boston, Mass. – Opus 298 (1919)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 21 stops, 13 ranks, 764 pipes


The entire organ, with the exception of the Great 8' Diapason, was enclosed in one swell box. Lynnwood Farnam (1885-1930), noted concert organist of the early 20th century, recorded the following specification in one of his "organ notebooks." Farnam included the comments: "Pleasant little organ. Too bad the Gt. action is noisy. The Unda is ppp. and not borrowed."

On the typed Skinner Company Factory Specification two stops are pencilled-in additions to the original stoplist: the 4' Unda Maris (2 rks) and the 16' English Horn. Also in pencil are "No Ped. to Manual" (referring to the combination action) and "No tracker touch."

The fate of this organ is unknown.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
  Diapason [unenclosed]
61
8
  Gedeckt
SW
8
  Spitz Flute
SW
4
  Flute
SW
8
  Flute Celeste [TC]
SW
8
  Flugel Horn
SW
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Diapason
61
4
  Flute
61
8
  Gedeckt
61
4
   Unda Maris II ranks
110
8
  Salicional
61
16
  English Horn
61
8
  Voix Celeste
61
8
  Flugel Horn
61
8
  Spitz Flute
61
  Tremolo  
8
  Flute Celeste [TC]
49
     
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Bourdon
44
8
  Still Gedeckt
SW
16
  Echo Lieblich
SW
16
  English Horn
SW
8
  Gedeckt [ext.]
—
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4'
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Swell Pistons 1-2-3 (thumb)
Great Pistons 1-2-3 (thumb)
Pedal Pistons 1-2-3 (foot)
  Adjuster
           
Mechanicals
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal   Sforzando Reversible
           
Sources:
     Aeolian-Skinner Archives web site: http://aeolianskinner.organsociety.org/
     Farnam, Lynnwood. Specification of Skinner organ, Op. 298 (1919). Farnam "Organ Notebook" (p. 1318), John de Lancie Library, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia; Sally Branca, Archivist. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     Mannes College of Music web site: http://www.mannes.newschool.edu/
     Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.
     Skinner Organ Company Factory Specifications of Skinner organ, Op. 298 (1919). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.

Photos:
     Mannes College of Music web site: http://www.mannes.newschool.edu/