St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church - New York City
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Church of St. Elizabeth
(Roman Catholic)

268 Wadsworth Avenue at 187th Street
New York, N.Y. 10033


Organ Specifications:
268 Wadsworth Avenue at 187th Street (since 1927)
► III/45 Casavant Frères, Op. 2585 (1960)
• unknown (1927)
4381 Broadway at 187th Street (1872-burned 1925)
• unknown





Original St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church (1872-1925) - New York City  
The Roman Catholic parish of St. Elizabeth in Fort Washington Heights (as it was then called) was founded in 1869. Nicholas Le Brun designed the first church building, located at 4381 Broadway at 187th Street, that was given by James Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald, who had embraced Catholicism in his later years. The church was dedicated by Archbishop McCloskey on January 14, 1872.

  St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
In 1925, the church burned down and a new structure was built one block to the east on the southwest corner of Wadsworth Avenue and 187th Street. Designed in 1927 by Robert J. Reiley, the exterior is in a neo-Gothic style while the spacious interior – a square room that is as wide as it is long – resembles a Tudor Gothic hall with a flat beamed ceiling. Along the sides walls are stained glass windows that depict the story of Christ, and at the front are frescoes and two large paintings that are surrounded by Carpenter Gothic detailing. The church was dedicated by Cardinal Hayes on September 15, 1929.
 
  Casavant Frères Organ, Op. 2585 (1960) in St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Casavant Frères, Limitée
St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada – Opus 2585 (1960)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 35 stops, 45 ranks



The present organ in in St. Elizabeth's Church was built by Casavant Frères of Canada, under the direction of Lawrence Phelps, Tonal Director. Casavant's factory specification, dated June 16, 1959, shows that the organ was to be divided in two, with one section on each side of the gallery. There are two cantilevered chests on the side walls of the gallery: on the left is the Great division, and on the right is the Positiv. The enclosed Swell division is in a chamber below the Positiv and speaks through grilled panel openings. The detached, three-manual drawknob console is centered against the gallery rail. Casavant reused the panelling and old motor and blower from the previous organ. This organ was tonally finished by Allan van Zoeren and Gayle Monnette. Robert G. Owen played the dedicatory recital on October 2, 1960.

About 1977, the Great Rauschquinte II ranks was altered by Allan J. Ontko, who, at the request of then-organist Warren Foley, shortened the 2' rank of that stop into a 1-3/5' Tierce.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Prinzipal
61
2
   Waldflöte
61
8
   Bordun
61
2 2/3
   Rauschquinte II ranks
122
4
   Oktav
61
1 1/3
   Mixtur IV ranks
244
4
   Koppelflöte
61
     Chimes [from previous organ]  

 

      

 

      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Salicional
61
1
   Cymbal III ranks
183
8
   Salicional Celeste (GG)
54
16
   Fagott (1/2 length)
61
4
   Rohrgedackt
61
8
   Trompete
61
4
   Gemshorn
61
4
   Schalmei (1/2 length)
61
2
   Blockflöte
61
     Tremulant  
               
Positiv Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Spitzflöte
61
2
   Oktav
61
8
   Cor de nuit
61
1 1/3
   Quinteflöte
61
8
   Rohrflöte
61
2 2/3
   Sesquialtera II ranks
122
4
   Principal
61
1/2
   Scharff III ranks
183
4
   Spitzflöte
61
        

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Prinzipal
32
4
   Nachthorn
32
16
   Subbass (wood)
32
2 2/3
   Rauschpfeife II ranks
64
16
   Quintaton
32
16
   Posaune
32
8
   Oktav
32
8
   Trompete
32
8
   Pommer
32
4
   Rohrschalmei
32
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal   Positiv to Great
    Positiv to Pedal   Swell to Great
    Swell to Pedal   Swell to Positiv
               
Adjustable Combination Pistons
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (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)
Full Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe)
               
Reversible Pistons
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Swell to Great (thumb only)
    Swell to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Full Organ (thumb & toe)
               
Balanced Pedals
    Expression for Swell      
    Crescendo for stops and couplers      
               
Indicator Lights
    Wind          
    Full Organ          
    Crescendo          
               
Casavant Frères Organ, Op. 2585 (1960) in St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)   Casavant Frères Organ, Op. 2585 (1960) in St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)   Casavant Frères Organ, Op. 2585 (1960) in St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
               
Sources:
     The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X, Vol. III. New York: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914.
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Ontko, Allan J. Electronic correspondence (Apr. 22, 2005) about Casavant Frères organ, Op. 2585 (1960).
     Casavant Frères Ltée. Factory Specifications of Casavant Frères organ, Op. 2585 (1960). Courtesy Stanley R. Scheer.
     Shelley, Thomas J. The Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of New York 1808-2008. Strasbourg: Éditions du Signe, 2007.

Illustrations:
     Casavant Frères Archives. Console and exposed pipes of Casavant Frères organ, Op. 2585 (1960). Courtesy Stanley R. Scheer.
     Shelley, Thomas J. The Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of New York 1808-2008. Original and present churches.