George Warrington Curtis Residence

16 West 53rd Street
New York, N.Y. 10019



George Warrington Curtis was an artist and sculptor, a member of the Racquet and Tennis Club, the National Golf Links, and was a director of the Aeolian Company. He maintained a residence 16 West 53rd Street, later moving (c.1908) to 70 West 53rd Street. Curtis also had an estate in Southampton, L.I., where he was a pioneer summer resident, active in local affairs, and served on the board of the Southampton Hospital for several years. The 1920 Social Register shows that Mr. Curtis was married to Mary L. Jenkins, but at the time of his death his wife was Jeannette Glass. He died after a brief illness in Southampton on September 11, 1927, at the age of 58. The funeral was held two days later in the music room of his summer residence, with Harry Rowe Shelley of New York City at the Aeolian organ.
           
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 979 (1905)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 24 stops, 23 ranks


This organ was installed in a chamber along one side of the music room, while the Echo organ was in a chamber at the end of the library. As stated in the contract dated February 17, 1905, the organ was to be completed and ready for use on or before October 15th, 1905. The organ cost $15,000 less a discount of 20% ($3,000), "owing to the fact that the purchaser is a director of the Aeolian Company."

Mr. Curtis had this organ moved to his summer residence in Southampton, Long Island, where it was enlarged twice: to III/34 (shipped: June 18, 1908) and to III/47 (shipped Mar. 20, 1910).
               
Manuale I – 61 notes, enclosed with Manuale II
8
   Principale Grande
61
8
   Flauto Primo
61
8
   Viola Pomposa
61
4
   Flauto Ottava
61
8
   Viola Marina
61
8
   Tromba
61
8
   Viol d'Amore
61
8
   Corno di Bassetto
61
               
Manuale II – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bardone
61
8
   Flauto Lontano
61
8
   Eufonia
61
4
   Violetta
61
8
   Violino Primo
61
2
   Flauto Piccolo
61
8
   Voce Angelica
61
8
   Oboe di Caccia
61
8
   Viol Sordino
61
        
               
Echo – 61 notes, enclosed (playable from either Manuale I or II)
8
   Viola Distante
61
8
   Pastorita
61
8
   Quintatoni
61
8
   Voce Umana
61
               
Pedale – 30 notes
16
   Contra Basso
30
8
   Flauto Grande [ext.]
12
16
   Basso Minore
30
        
               
Couplers
    Manuale II to Manuale I   Manuale II to Pedale
    Manuale II to Manuale I, Ottava   Manuale I to Pedale
        Echo Organ Ventil
               
Aeolienne
    Aeolian "Normal" Coupler   )
         (Manuale II Solo, Manuale I Accompaniment)   ) Special 116-note Scale
    Aeolian "Reverse" Coupler   ) Aeolian Pipe Organ Music
         (Manuale I Solo, Manuale II Accompaniment)   )
    Aeolian Ventil    
    Aeolian Tempo    
    Aeolian Reroll    
    Manuale I to Aeolian   ) Regular 58-note
    Manuale II to Aeolian   ) Scale, Aeolian
    Pedale to Aeolian   ) Grand Music
         
Combination Pistons
    Manuale I Piano Combination Piston
    Manuale I Mezzo Combination Piston
    Manuale I Mezzo Forte Combination Piston
    Manuale I Forte Combination Piston
    Manuale II Piano Combination Piston
    Manuale II Mezzo Combination Piston
    Manuale II Mezzo Forte Combination Piston
    Manuale II Forte Combination Piston
         
Accessories
    Manuale I Tremolo   Manuale I & II Balanced Exp. Pedal
    Manuale II Tremolo   Echo Balanced Expression Pedal
    Echo Tremolo   Balanced Crescendo Pedal
           
Sources:
     "Funeral of G. W. Curtis," The New York Times (Sept. 14, 1927).
     "George W. Curtis Dead," The New York Times (Sept. 12, 1927).
     Smith, Rollin. The Aeolian Pipe Organ and its Music. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1998.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of Aeolian Organ, Op. 979 (1905).