Park Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - New York City
 
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Park Avenue Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)

1010 Park Avenue at 85th Street
New York, N.Y. 10028
http://www.parkavenuechristian.com/


Organ Specifications:
1010 Park Avenue at 85th Street (since 1945)
► III/47 Holtkamp Organ Company, Job 1967 (1982)
► III/ Casavant Frères, Op. 1823 (1946) – Console
► III/47 Hilborne L. Roosevelt, Op. 300 (1886)
142 West 81st Street (1910-1945) – Central Christian Church
► II/13 W.W. Kimball Co. (1932)
► II/20 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 309 (1893)
323 West 56th Street (?-1910)
• unknown
20 West 28th Street (c.1810-?)
• unknown


  Central Christian Church - New York City (photo: Wurts Bros., 1944)
 
142 West 81st Street (1944)
   
The congregation known today as the Park Avenue Christian Church was organized in 1810 as the Church of the Disciples of Christ. The society's first church was located at 20 West 28th Street, after which they moved to 323 West 56th Street. In 1910, the congregation moved to 142 West 81st Street and was known as the Central Christian Church. In 1945, the building was sold to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church (which remains there today), and the congregation moved into the former Park Avenue Presbyterian Church on Park Avenue at 85th Street and was renamed Park Avenue Christian Church. The congregation is a member of the denomination known since 1968 as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Park Avenue Christian Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
credit: Steven E. Lawson  
Park Avenue Christian Church's present edifice was built from 1909-11 for the old South Reformed Dutch Church. The inscription above the main entrance is in Dutch: "EEN DRACHT MAKT MACHT" ("In Unity There is Strength"). Designed by Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson, the French Gothic building was inspired by Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. In 1914, the Reformed congregation formally disbanded and its remaining members merged with the First Union Presbyterian Church to form the Park Avenue Presbyterian Church. In 1937, that congregation merged with Brick Presbyterian (who was seeking to follow its members uptown) and the combined congregations remained here until 1940, when their present building on Park Avenue and 91st Street was opened. From about 1940-45, the Park Avenue edifice was home to the Betina Evangelical Church.

In 1945, Central Christian Church purchased the building and its congregation was renamed Park Avenue Christian Church.
           
  Holtkamp Organ, Op. 1967 (1982) - Park Avenue Christian Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
  credit: Steven E. Lawson
Holtkamp Organ Company
Cleveland, Ohio – Job 1967 (1982)
Mechanical key action
Electro-pneumatic stop action
3 manuals, 37 stops, 47 ranks


The Jarman Memorial Organ, which replaced the original Robjohn/Roosevelt/Casavant organ, was a gift of Clementine Miller Tangeman. It was built in 1982 by the Holtkamp Organ Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Occupying a commanding position in the gallery, the mechanical-action organ is encased. In the center is the Great division, while the side towers contain the enclosed divisions with the Pedal bases in front. The detached three-manual console has electro-pneumatic stop action.

David Higgs, then organist of the church, played the dedicatory recital on Sunday, April 18, 1982, assisted by John Devol's Festival Brass players. The program included works by Clarke, Purcell, Bach, Rorem and Monnikendam.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Pommer
61
4
  Openflute
61
8
  Principal
61
2
  Superoctave
61
8
  Gemshorn
61
 
  Mixture IV ranks
244
8
  Rohrgedackt
61
8
  Trumpet
61
4
  Octave
61
 
     
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Gamba *
61
1 1/3
  Larigot
61
8
  Voix Celeste (FF)
56
 
  Scharf III ranks
183
8
  Hohlflöte
61
16
  Dulzian
61
4
  Principal
61
8
  Oboe
61
4
  Harmonic Flute
61
 
  Tremolo  
2
  Doublette
61
 
 
* 1-4 are Quintadenas
 
     
 
     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Amorosa
61
 
  Terz Zimbel III ranks
183
8
  Flute Celeste (FF)
56
16
  Schalmey
61
8
  Copula
61
8
  Cromorne
61
4
  Rohrflöte
61
4
  Schalmey **
78
2
  Blockflöte
61
 
  Tremolo  
 
  Cornet II ranks (TC)
98
 
 
** double treble
 
     
 
     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Principal
32
4
  Choral Bass
32
16
  Pommer ***
GT
    Rauschwerk III ranks
96
10 2/3
  Grossquinte
32
16
  Posaune
32
8
  Octave
32
8
  Trumpet
32
8
  Flute
32
 
 
*** on electro-pneumatic action
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal   Swell to Great
    Swell to Pedal   Choir to Great
    Choir to Pedal   Swell to Choir
               
Adjustable Combinations
      
   
Swell Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Great Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Choir Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (toe)
General Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
 
  Holtkamp Organ, Op. 1967 (1982) - Park Avenue Christian Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
  credit: Steven E. Lawson
           
Mechanicals and Accesssories
  
    Balanced Swell Pedal (mechanical)  
    Balanced Choir Pedal (mechanical)  
    Great to Pedal Reversible (toe)  
    Swell to Pedal Reversible (toe)  
    Choir to Pedal Reversible (toe)  
    Sforzando Reversible (toe)  
           
           
           
           
Casavant Frères, Limitée
St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada – Opus 1823 (1946) – Console
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 40 registers


The Memorandum of Agreement dated August 1, 1945, shows that Casavant Brothers, Ltd., would build and install a new electro-pnematic drawknob console to control the existing organ for a consideration of $2,700. Casavant's console specifications indicate that the manuals had a compass of 61 keys and the pedals had 32 keys, but it is not known if the original 58 / 30 compasses of the 1886 Roosevelt organ were extended to 61 / 32 when that organ was moved to the present church by the Austin Organ Company in 1911. The three-manual console had exterior woodwork of oak and the interior fittings—such as key-frames, stop-jambs and music rest—were of polished walnut.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Double Open Diapason  
4
  Octave  
8
   First Open Diapason  
4
  Harmonic Flute  
8
  Second Open Diapason  
2
   Fifteenth  
8
  Doppel Flute  
  Mixture III ranks  
8
  Gamba  
8
  Trumpet  
8
  Muted Viole  
     
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon       Cornet Mixture III-V ranks  
8
  Open Diapason  
16
  Contra Fagotto  
8
  Flute Pavillion  
8
   Cornopean  
8
  Stopped Diapason  
8
  Oboe  
8
  Viole d'Orchestre  
8
  Vox Humana  
8
  Viole Céleste       Tremulant  
8
  Dolce       Swell Sub  
4
  Hohl Flute       Swell Super  
2
   Flageolet          
 
     
 
     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Geigen Principal  
2
   Piccolo  
8
  Dulciana  
8
   Clarinet  
8
  Concert Flute       Tremulant  
8
  Quintadena  
 
Chimes
preparation
4
  Fugara       Choir Sub  
4
   Flute d'Amour       Choir Super  
 
     
 
     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Open Diapason  
8
  Violoncello  
16
  Bourdon  
8
   Flute  
16
  Dulciana  
16
  Trombone  
10 2/3
  Quint  
  Blank knob  
               
Couplers (rocking tablets above top manual)
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'    
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Full Organ (at far right)
               
Adjustable Combination Pistons
   
Great Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Swell Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Choir Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Pedal Pistons 1-2-3 (thumb)
General Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (foot)
  General Release (thumb)
  Adjuster
               
Reversible Pistons
    Great to Pedal (thumb & foot)   Swell to Choir (thumb)
    Swell to Pedal (thumb)   Full Organ (thumb & foot)
    Choir to Pedal (thumb)   Swell Unison Off (on manual frame)
    Swell to Great (thumb)   Choir Unison Off (on manual frame)
    Choir to Great (thumb)    
               
Balanced Pedals
    Swell Pedal to Swell      
    Swell Pedal to Choir      
    Crescendo on all stops & couplers      
               
Indicators
    Crescendo          
    Wind          
    Voltmeter          
           
  Nave Organ Case in Park Avenue Christian Church - New York City (photo: Sebastian M. Glück)
  Nave case (credit: Sebastian M. Glück)
Hilborne L. Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 300 (1886)
Tubular-pneumatic chests
Mechanical key action
3 manuals, 40 stops, 47 ranks


In 1886, Hilborne L. Roosevelt rebuilt the 1860 Robjohn organ in the previous South Dutch Reformed Church, located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 21st Street. In 1911, the Austin Organ Company rebuilt the organ and moved it to the new church building on Park Avenue.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, partially enclosed with Choir
16
  Double Open Diapason
58
4
  Flute Harmonique *
58
8
  Open Diapason
58
2 2/3
  Octave Quint *
58
8
  Bell Diapason
58
2
  Super Octave *
58
8
  Viola di Gamba
58
  Mixture 4 ranks *
232
8
  Doppel Flöte
58
8
   Trumpet *
58
4
   Octave *
58
    
* enclosed in Choir swell-box

             
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon, Treble and Bass
58
4
  Hohl Flöte
58
8
  Open Diapason
58
2
   Flageolet
58
8
  Flute à Pavillon
58
    Cornet 3, 4 & 5 ranks
230
8
  Salicional
58
16
   Contra Fagotto
58
8
  Dolce
58
8
  Cornopean
58
8
  Stopped Diapason
58
8
  Oboe
58
4
   Octave
58
8
   Vox Humana
58
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Geigen Principal
58
4
   Fugara
58
8
   Dulciana
58
4
   Flute d'Amour
58
8
   Concert Flute
58
2
   Piccolo Harmonique
58
8
   Quintadena
58
8
   Clarinet
58

     

     
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
  Open Diapason
30
8
  Violoncello
30
16
  Dulciana
30
8
  Flute
30
16
   Bourdon
30
16
   Trombone
30
10 2/3
  Quint
30
        
           
Organ in the former Central Christian Church at 142 West 81st Street:

W.W. Kimball Co.
Chicago, Ill. (1932)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 32 registers, 13 stops, 13 ranks


In 1932, the existing Odell organ in Central Christian Church was replaced by a new instrument built by the W.W. Kimball Co. of Chicago. The specification was by R. P. Elliot in consultation with Hugh Porter, who dedicated the organ on October 12, 1932.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Diapason
73
4
   Clarabella (from 8')
—
8
   Erzahler
73
8
   Tromba
73
8
   Clarabella
85
     Tremulant  
8
   Dulciana
73
    
Chimes
20 tubes
4
   Octave
73
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Gedeckt
109
2
   Gedeckt (from 16')
—
8
   Violin Diapason
73
1 3/5
  Gedeckt (from 16')
—
8
   Gedeckt (from 16')
—
16
   Waldhorn
97
8
   Viola
73
8
   Waldhorn (from 16')
—
8
   Salicional
73
4
   Waldhorn (from 16')
—
4
   Gedeckt (from 16')
—
8
   Vox Humana
73
4
   Salicional (from 8')
—
     Tremulant Vox  
2 2/3
  Gedeckt (from 16')
—
     Tremulant  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes, enclosed
32
   Resultant
—
8
   Bourdon (from 16')
—
16
   Diapason (ext. GT)
12
8
   Gedeckt
SW
16
   Bourdon
56
4
   Bourdon (from 16')
—
16
   Gedeckt
SW
16
   Waldhorn
SW
8
   Diapason
GT
8
   Waldhorn
SW
           

Organ in Central Christian Church at 142 West 81st Street:

J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 309 (1893)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 18 stops, 20 ranks


The original organ in the church building at 142 West 81st Street was built in 1893 by J.H. & C.S. Odell for the Church of the Eternal Hope (Third Universalist Society), who erected the edifice in 1893.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8
  Open Diapason
58
8
  Grosse Flöte
58
8
  Keraulophon
58
4
  Principal
58
8
  Dulciana
58
        

 

     

 

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon Bass
12
4
  Forest Flute
58
16
  Bourdon Treble
46
2
  Piccolo
58
8
  Gemshorn
58
  Mixture, 3 ranks
174
8
  Gamba
58
8
   Cornopean
58
8
  Dulce d'Amour *
46
8
  Oboe
58
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
        
4
   Violina
58
    
* lower octave grooved into Gamba
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
  Double Open Diapason
30
        
16
  Bourdon
30
        
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Reversible, Swell to Great
    Swell to Pedal       Super Octave, Great to Swell
    Great to Pedal          
               
Mechanical Accessories
    Bellows Signal       Balance Swell Pedal  
    Wind Indicator          
               
Pedal Movements
    Piano on Great Organ      
    Forte on Great Organ      
    Great to Pedal, Reversing Pedal      
           
Pneumatic Compositions on Swell Organ
1.
   Full Organ
2.
   Full without Mixture or Cornopean
3.
   Gemshorn, Gamba, Dulce, Stopped Diap., Violina, Piccolo
4.
   Gemshorn, Gamba, Dulce, Stopped Diap.
5.
   Gamba, Dulce, Stopped Diap.
6.
   Dulce, Stopped Diapason
7.
   Dulce d'Amour
8.
   Dulce d'Amour, Oboe, Tremulant
    "The above compositions to be worked by piston knobs between manuals."
           
Sources:
     The American Organist (Nov. 1932). Stoplist of W.W. Kimball Organ (1932) at Central Christian Church.
     Cameron, Peter T. "A Chronology of the Organ Builders Working in New York City from the Mid-eighteenth Century to the Early Twentieth Century", The Bicentennial Tracker. Richmond: Organ Historical Society, 1976.
     Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Glück, Sebastian M. Corrections to Holtkamp organ specification.
     Holtkamp Organ Company advertisement, The American Organist (June 1981). Specification of Holtkamp Organ, Op. 1967 (1982).
     Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977.
     Park Avenue Christian Church web site: http://www.parkavenuechristian.com/
     Rothstein, Edward. "Church Dedicates Organ At David Higgs Concert," The New York Times (Apr. 20, 1982).
     Scheer, Stanley. Factory Specification (Aug. 1, 1945) of Casavant Frères Organ, Op. 1823 (1946).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification of J.H. & C.S. Odell Organ, Op. 309 (1893).

Illustrations:
     Glück, Sebastian M. Nave organ case.
     Lawson, Steven E. Interior; Holtkamp Organ, Op. 1967 (1982).
     Park Avenue Christian Church web site. Exterior.
     Wurts Bros. (New York, N.Y.), 1944. Exterior of Central Christian Church on West 81st Street.