Middle Collegiate Church - New York City (photo: Beyond My Ken, 2010)
  Click on images to enlarge
Middle Collegiate Church
(Reformed Church in America)

50 East 7th Street on Second Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10003
http://www.middlechurch.org


Organ Specifications:
50 East 7th Street on Second Avenue (since 1892)
• IV/50 Marshall & Ogletree, Op. 4 (2008)
► III/47 Austin Organs Inc. (1988)
► III/37 J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., Op. 591 (1931); reb. 1960
► I/6 J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., Op. 602 (1950) – Gallery
► III/26 J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., Op. 591 (1931)
► II/19 J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., Op. 299 (1891)
11 Lafayette Place at 4th Street (1839-1892)
• III/40 unknown builder (1846); enl. Hall & Labagh (1857)
Nassau and Cedar Streets (1731-c.1839)
• unknown


Middle Collegiate Church is located on Second Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets in the East Village. Designed by S. B. Reed and built in 1891, the present church building was thoroughly equipped, as one guide said, with reading-rooms, gymnasium, and all appliances for aggressive modern church work. The stained-glass windows are of Tiffany glass. The church was the successor of the Second Middle Collegiate Church, also known as the Lafayette Place Middle Dutch Church, built 1839 and abandoned by the congregation in 1887. Middle Church is part of the Collegiate Church of New York, founded in 1628, and the oldest continuous Protestant society in North America. The Collegiate Church is a congregation of the Reformed Church in America, a denomination known earlier as the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church.
           
  Marshall & Ogletree Organ, Op. 4 (2008) at Middle Collegiate Church - New York City (credit: Adrian Buckmaster)
Marshall Ogletree Associates, Inc.
Needham, Mass. – Opus 4 (2008)
Digital tonal production
4 manuals, 196 registers, 50 native stops



The present organ in Middle Collegiate Church was built by Marshall & Ogletree and installed in 2008. This electronic "virtual organ" has 50 native stops, a total of 196 registers, and 44 audio channels. Specifications were drawn up by Cameron Carpenter, Artist in Residence at the church, who also designed the movable four-manual console that was inspired by the organ formerly in the John Wanamaker Store Auditorium, New York City. Southfield Organs built the console that features color-coded rocker tablets on curved jambs and Alternate Stops for each division.
           

Organ at Middle Collegiate Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Austin Organs Inc.
Hartford, Conn. (1988)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 45 registers, 39 stops, 47 ranks





In 1988, Austin Organs rebuilt the existing Odell chancel and gallery organs, and provided a new console.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
  Principal
61
4
  Wald Flute
61
8
  Doppelflöte
61
2
  Super Octave
61
8
  Gamba
61
     Mixture III ranks
183
8
  Dulciana
61
8
  Trompete
61
4
  Octave
61
        

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon
61
1 1/3
  Larigot
61
8
  Viola
61
 
  Plein Jeu III ranks
183
8
  Viola Celeste
61
 8
  Trompette
61
8
  Gedeckt
61
8
  Oboe
61
4
  Principal
61
4
  Rohr Schalmei
61
2
  Block Flute
61
     Tremulant  

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Melodia
61
2 2/3
  Nazard
61
8
  Flauto Dolce
61
1 3/5
  Tierce
61
8
  Flute Celeste
61
8
  Cromorne
61
4
  Rohrflöte
61
     Tremulant  

     

     
Antiphonal Organ (Floating) – 61 notes
    Manual       Pedal  
8
  Principal
61
16
  Violone
32
8
  Holz Gedeckt
61
8
  Principal
ANT
4
  Octave
61
8
  Gedeckt
ANT
4
  Koppelflöte
61
        
2
  Doublette
61
        
    Mixture III ranks
183
        
8
  Petite Trompette
61
        
    Tremulant          
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Diapason
32
8
  Bass Flute (fr. Bdn)
—
16
  Bourdon
44
8
  Gedeckt
SW
16
  Gedeckt
SW
4
  Principal (fr. 8')
—
8
  Principal
44
     Mixture III ranks
96
               
Organ facade at Middle Collegiate Church - New York City Organ facades at Middle Collegiate Church - New York City
           
J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co.
Mt. Vernon, N.Y. – Opus 591 (1931); rebuilt by Odell (1960)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 47 registers, 35 stops, 37 ranks


In 1960, the Odell Company rebuilt and overhauled their 1931 organ and the 1950 Gallery division, keeping the organ playable and in tune while work was being done. Odell added several new ranks, revoiced the Gallery Trumpet [Tuba Harmonic] and other stops as required, and repitched the entire organ at A=440. Other work included replacing the Swell and Choir tremulants, providing a new set of Chimes, and releathering where necessary. The console was returned to the shop and rebuilt with a new Klann action.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Diapason [unenclosed]
73
4
  Waldflöte
73
8
   Doppelfloete
73
2 2/3
   Octave Quint [1960]
61
8
   Dulciana
73
2
   Super Octave [1960]
61
8
   Gamba
73
8
   Tuba
73
4
   Octave [unenclosed]
73
     Tremulant  
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Diapason
73
     Plein Jeu III ranks [1960]
183
8
   Stopped Flute
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Voix Celeste (TC)
61
8
   Vox Humana
73
4
   Violina
73
     Tremulant  
2
   Blockflöte [1960]
61
     Chimes [replaced 1960]  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Melodia
73
4
   Rohrfloete
73
8
   Flute Celeste (TC)
61
2
   Flageolet [1960]
61
8
   Viole d'Orchestre
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Dolce
73
     Tremulant  
               
Gallery (playable on Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Diapason [unit]
73
4
   Viol
—
8
   Gedeckt [unit]
85
2 2/3
  Nazard
—
8
   Viola [unit]
73
2
   Piccolo
—
4
   Octave
—
8
   Tuba Harmonic
73
4
   Stopped Flute
—
     Tremulant  
4
   Flute Ouverte [unit]
73
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Diapason [unit]
56
8
   Bourdon
SW
16
   Bourdon
32
8
   Violoncello
32
16
   Bourdon
SW
4
   Super Octave [1960]
—
8
   Diapason
—
        
               
Gallery Pedal Organ – 32 notes, enclosed
16
   Violone [unit]
44
8
   Gedeckt
GAL
8
   Violone [ext.]
—
8
   Tuba
GAL
           
J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co.
New York City – Opus 602 (1950)
Electro-pneumatic action
1 manual and pedal, 14 stops, 6 ranks


In 1950, a Gallery division was added as a memorial gift from the old St. Nicholas Collegiate Church, located on Fifth Avenue at 48th Street and razed in 1949, using pipes from the J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 368 (1899). Odell installed the division and a new Spencer blower in a tower room at the southwest corner of the church. The 1931 Odell console was modified to include the new stops, with the manual stops being playable from the Choir keyboard. Total cost of the addition was $4,000.
               
Manual (playable on Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Diapason [unit]
73
4
   Viol
—
8
   Gedeckt [unit]
85
2 2/3
  Nazard
—
8
   Viola [unit]
73
2
   Piccolo
—
4
   Octave
—
8
   Tuba Harmonic
73
4
   Stopped Flute
—
     Tremulant  
4
   Flute Ouverte [unit]
73
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes, enclosed
16
   Violone [unit]
44
8
   Gedeckt
GAL
8
   Violone
—
8
   Tuba
GAL
           
J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co.
Mount Vernon, N.Y. – Opus 591 (1931)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 29 registers, 26 stops, 26 ranks


In 1931, J.H. & C.S. Odell installed an all-new organ with Odell pitman chests. This organ was rebuilt by Odell in 1960.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Diapason [unenclosed]
73
4
   Octave [unenclosed]
73
8
   Doppelfloete
73
4
   Waldfloete
73
8
   Dulciana
73
8
   Tuba
73
8
   Gamba
73
     Tremulant  
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Diapason
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Stopped Flute
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
8
   Voix Celeste (TC)
61
     Tremulant  
8
   Aeoline
73
     Chimes  
4
   Violina
73
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Melodia
73
8
   Unda Maris (TC)
61
8
   Flute Celeste (TC)
61
4
   Rohrfloete
73
8
   Viole d'Orchestre
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Dolce
73
     Tremulant  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Diapason [unit]
44
8
   Diapason
—
16
   Bourdon
32
8
   Bourdon
SW
16
   Bourdon
SW
8
   Violoncello
32
           
J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co.
New York City – Opus 299 (1891)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 18 registers, 17 stops, 19 ranks


The original organ in the present building was built in 1891 by J.H. & C.S. Odell of New York City. Odell's Articles of Agreement, dated September 1891, states that the two-manual organ would be "set-up all complete ready for use in the church on Second ave. & 7th St. warranted perfect in every respect, on or before the Fifteenth day of January 1892," and would cost $3,500.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8
   Open Diapason
58
2 2/3
  Twelfth
58
8
   Keraulophon
58
2
   Fifteenth
58
8
   Melodia [Stopped Bass]
58
     Mixture 3 ranks
174
4
   Wald Flute
58
8
   Trumpet
58
4
   Octave
58
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
73
2
   Flautina
58
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe (TC)
46
8
   Stopped Diapason
73
8
   Bassoon
12
4
   Violina
61
     Tremolo  
               
Pedal Organ – 27 notes
16
   Bourdon [large scale]
27
        
8
   Bass Flote or Violoncello
27
        
               
Mechanical Registers
    Swell to Great (coupler)   Patent Reversible (Swell to Great)
    Swell to Pedal   Bellow Signal
    Great to Pedal   Balance Swell Pedal
               
Compositions Pedal on Great Organ
    Piano          
    Forte          
           
Organ in church located at 11 Lafayette Place:

Unknown Builder
(1846); enlarged by Hall & Labagh (1857)
Mechanical action
3 manuals, 40 stops


The 1861 American Musical Directory stated that this organ had "3 banks keys, 40 stops, 2 ½ octaves pedals. Built in 1846; and enlarged in 1857, by Hall & Labagh." Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     American Musical Directory. New York: Thomas Hutchinson, 1861.
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Ochse, Orpha. "A Glimpse of the 1860s," The American Organist (Nov. 1969).
     Odell, Edward. Articles of Agreement with specification of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 299 (1891).
     Odell, Edward. Specification of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 591 (1950).
     Odell, Edward. Specification of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 602 (1960).
     Ward, Emory. Faith of Our Fathers Living Still: The Story of Marble Collegiate Church. New York: Marble Collegiate Church, 1978.

Illustrations:
     Buckmaster, Adrian. Marshall & Ogletree Organ, Op. 4 (2008).
     Lawson, Steven E. Austin Organ (1988).
     Levasseur, Len. Interior showing Marshall & Ogletree Organ, Op. 4 (2008).
     Wikipedia.org. Exterior (credit: "Beyond My Ken" 2010).