Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine - New York City
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Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
(Episcopal)

1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street
New York, N.Y. 10026
http://www.stjohndivine.org

Organ Specifications:
► IV/146 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Op. 150-A; reb. (2008)
► I/5 Flentrop Orgelbouw (1993) – Portative
► I/8 Casavant Frères, Op. 3130 (1972) – Portable
► IV/141 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Op. 150-A (1954)
► II/10 Everett Orgatron electronic (1941) – Temporary
► IV/84 The Ernest M. Skinner Company, Op. 150 (1906)

See St. Ansgar Chapel, St. James Chapel, Music Suite, and Synod House.
             
Architectural Rendering for Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine - New York City  
Construction of the cathedral began in 1892 as a Byzantine-Romanesque structure according to designs by Heins & LaFarge. When Heins died in 1907, the first design phase came to an end. The Choir, Crossing, and the Chapels of St. Saviour and St. Columba had been completed by 1911. The second phase of construction began in 1916 and was overseen by the new architect, Ralph Adams Cram of Cram, Goodhue and Ferguson, who changed the style from Romanesque to Gothic. Cram's new design extended the Cathedral by 81 feet, to 301 feet. By 1918, the seven Chapels of the Tongues, around the Choir and High Altar, were completed. Each chapel is dedicated to a different immigrant group. Between 1925 and 1933 the Nave, West Front, Baptistry and a portion of the North Transept were constructed. On Sunday, November 30, 1941, the opening of the full length (601 feet) of the Cathedral was celebrated. The very next week, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, halting construction on the Cathedral for the next 32 years.

 

Interior - Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine - New York City

In the 1970s, the Very Rev. James Parks Morton, Dean at the time, urged that work on the cathedral might resume, but with a new emphasis: the Cathedral would hire and train the unemployed and underemployed from the neighborhood to do the work. He urged, "We will revive the art of stonecraft ... and provide our city with a massive symbol of hope and rebirth." A stoneyard was built in 1979 for the stonemasons, and on September 29, 1982, aerialist Philippe Petit crossed Amsterdam Avenue on a 150-foot high wire to deliver a silver trowel to Bishop Paul Moore, marking the start of the next phase of construction.

2008 photo of Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine - New York City (Steven E. Lawson)  
Within a few years, the 150-foot South Tower of the West Front began to inch upward, stone by stone, toward its intended height of 300 feet. By the early 1990s, however, the economy was in recession, the stoneworks went bankrupt, and worked again stopped on the Cathedral, with the exception of the Portal of Paradise, the central entrance on the West Front. The Portal's statuary, designed by master sculptor Simon Verity and carved by Jean Claude Marchionni, is comprised of 8-foot and 3-foot figures from the Old and New Testaments; it was completed in the summer of 1997 and dedicated that fall. The Cathedral is now two-thirds complete. The towers, the transepts, the Great Crossing and the choir roof remain to be completed.

On December 18, 2001, the Cathedral experienced a devastating fire in the unfinished portion of the North Transept, destroying the Cathedral Gift Store and causing extensive smoke damage to the Choir and Chapels. The Great Organ and the other two Aeolian-Skinner organs in the side chapels were also damaged and silenced until they could be cleaned and restored.

After several years of cleaning, during which sections of the cathedral were closed to the public, the cathedral was reopened with festive services on November 30, 2008, exactly 67 years to the date of the dedication of the completed nave. The Great Organ was played and rededicated at this time.

There are also organs in St. Ansgar Chapel, St. James Chapel, and the Synod House.
             
  Aeolian-Skinner organ, Op. 150-A at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine - New York City (photo: Instantencore.com)
 
Console (2008) by Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc.
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 150-A (1954)
Rebuilt by Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc. (2008)
Electro-pneumatic chest action
Solid state key and combination action
4 manuals, 124 registers, 101 stops, 146 ranks







On December 18, 2001, the Great Organ and the other two Aeolian-Skinner organs in the side chapels were heavily damaged by smoke from a devastating fire that broke out in the unfinished portion of the North Transept. All three organs were silenced until they could be cleaned and restored. In 2005, the Great Organ (with the exception of the State Trumpet) was removed by The Organ Clearing House and taken to Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc. of Warrensburg, Mo., for cleaning and repair. The rebuilding was supervised by Douglass Hunt, Curator of Organs at the Cathedral.

Aeolian-Skinner organ, Op. 150-A at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine - New York City  
   
Several changes and additions were made to the organ: in the Great division, a vintage Skinner 3-1/5' Gross Tierce was added on blank actions; and in the Swell division, a new 8' Flauto Dolce (made to Aeolian-Skinner patterns) replaced the 8' Spitzflöte. In the Solo division, a vintage 8' Diapason was placed on blank actions; the 8' French Horn was relocated on added vintage Skinner actions; and a vintage 8' Corno di Bassetto was added and placed on the old French Horn actions. In the Pedal division, a vintage Skinner 16' Subbass and actions were added; the Cello III was reactivated and the 8' Spitzflöte (which in 1963 had replaced it) was relocated to an added vintage Aeolian-Skinner windchest; the former Mixtur IV was separated into two stops: a 5-1/3' Quinte and Mixtur III; and the lowest 12 notes of the original 32' Bombarde (Skinner Op. 150) were revoiced and reactivated as the 32' Contre Ophicleide. The State Trumpet was restored by Douglass Hunt. Quimby also built a new four-manual console with solid state combination action, replicating the style of the original 1911 Skinner shell and the console interior as rebuilt on location by Aeolian-Skinner. The rebuilt organ was reinstalled in the summer and fall of 2008, and rededicated on Sunday, November 30, 2008.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Montre
61
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
16
   Quintaten
73
2
   Doublette °
85
8
   Principal
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Diapason °
79
2 2/3
   Sesquialtera II ranks
122
8
   Viola
61
2
   Plein Jeu III-VI ranks
294
8
   Hohl Flöte
61
2
   Grande Fourniture V-VIII rks
369
8
   Holz Gedeckt
61
1 1/3
   Kleine Mixtur IV ranks
244
8
   Erzähler
61
1/2
   Cymbel III ranks
183
8
   Quintaten (fr. 16')
—
16
   Fagot
61
5 1/3
   Quinte
61
     Great Unison Off  
4
   Principal °
85
     Bombarde on Great  
4
   Octave °
85
     State Trumpet on Great  
4
   Spitzflöte
61
     Nave on Great  
4
   Flute Couverte
61
        
3 1/5
   Gross Tierce (new 2008)
61
    
° double treble
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Gamba
73
2/3
   Scharff III-IV ranks
220
16
   Bourdon
73
16
  
Double Trumpet
preparation
8
   Geigen Principal
73
16
   Contra Fagotto
73
8
   Viole de Gambe
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Viole Celeste
73
8
   Trompette
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Voix Celeste
73
8
   Voix Humaine
73
8
   Gedeckt
73
4
   Octave Trumpet
73
8
   Flauto Dolce (new 2008)
73
4
   Clairon
73
8
   Flute Celeste
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Unda Maris II ranks
146
     Swell to Swell 16'  
4
   Prestant
68
     Swell to Swell 4'  
4
   Violina
68
     Swell Unison Off  
4
   Flauto Traverso
68
     Bombarde on Swell  
2
   Octavin
61
     State Trumpet on Swell  
2
   Plein Jeu IV ranks
244
     Nave on Swell  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Sanftbass
73
1 1/3
   Grave Mixtur III ranks
183
8
   Viola Pomposa
73
1/3
   Zimbel III ranks
183
8
   Viola Celeste
73
16
   English Horn
73
8
   Concert Flute
73
8
   Cromorne
73
8
   Nason Flute
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Dolcan
73
4
   Trompete
73
8
   Dolcan Celeste
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Dulcet II ranks
146
     Choir to Choir 16'  
4
   Principal
68
     Choir to Choir 4'  
4
   Koppelflöte
61
     Choir Unison Off  
2 2/3
   Rohr Nasat
61
8
   Tuba Major
SO
2
   Blockflöte
61
4
   Tuba Clarion
SO
1 3/5
   Terz
61
     Bombarde on Choir  
1 1/3
   Larigot
61
     State Trumpet on Choir  
1
   Sifflöte
61
     Nave on Choir  
               
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Diapason (new 2008)
73
     Solo to Solo 16'  
8
   Flauto Mirabilis
73
     Solo to Solo 4'  
8
   Harmonic Flute
73
     Solo Unison Off  
8
   Cello
73
8
   Tuba Major +
61
8
   Cello Celeste
73
4
   Tuba Clarion + °
73
4
   Hohlpfeife
73
    
Zimbelstern
5 bells
2
   Doppel Flöte
61
     Bombarde on Solo  
8
   Flugel Horn
73
     State Trumpet on Solo  
8
   French Horn
73
     Nave on Solo  
8
   Corni di Bassetto (new 2008)
73
    
+ unenclosed
8
   Vox Baryton
73
    
° double treble
    Tremulant          
               
Bombarde Organ – 61 notes (floating)
   West End – 61 notes (floating)
1
   Tierce Mixture V-IX ranks
376
8
   State Trumpet (50" wind)
61
16
   Bombarde
61
        
8
   Trompette Harmonique
61
        
4
   Clairon Harmonique
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Open Bass
68
8
   Cello III ranks
96
32
   Contra Violone
44
5 1/3
   Quinte (sep. fr former Mixtur IV)
32
16
   Open Bass (fr. 32' Op Bs)
—
4
   Choral Bass
32
16
   Contre Basse
32
4
   Montre
GT
16
   Subbass (new 2008)
32
4
   Nachthorn (fr. 32' Op Bs)
—
16
   Violone (fr. 32' Violone)
—
2
   Blockflöte
32
16
   Montre
GT
2 2/3
   Mixtur III ranks
96
16
   Contra Gamba
SW
1 1/3
   Scharff IV ranks
128
16
   Bourdon
SW
32
   Contre Ophicleide
68
16
   Sanftbass
CH
32
   Contre Bombarde (ext. BO)
12
16
   Quintaten
GT
16
   Ophicleide (fr. 32' Oph)
—
10 2/3
   Quintaten
GT
16
   Bombarde
BO
8
   Principal
32
16
   Contra Fagotto
SW
8
   Open Flute (fr. 32' Op Bs)
—
8
   Trumpet (fr. 32' Oph)
—
8
   Montre
GT
8
   Bombarde
BO
8
   Spitzflöte
32
4
   Clarion (fr. 32' Oph)
—
8
   Pommer Gedeckt
32
2
   Rohr Schalmei
32
8
   Quintaton
GT
        
             
Nave Organ – 61 notes
16
  
Quintaten
preparation
4
  
Octave
preparation
8
  
Principal
preparation
2
  
Super Octave
preparation
8
  
Spitzflöte
preparation
   
Mixture III-V ranks
preparation
               
Nave Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  
Bourdon
preparation
4
  
Super Octave
preparation
8
  
Octave
preparation
       
               
Coupler Rail
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'     Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Great to Pedal 8'     Solo to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'     Choir to Swell 8'
    Solo to Pedal 8', 4'     Solo to Swell 8'
    Bombarde to Pedal 8'     Great on Solo
    Nave Manual to Pedal 8'     State Trumpet on Pedal
    Pedal Divide     State Trumpet Master (red)
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'      
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'     Manuals Reversed (Great & Choir)
    Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'     All Swells to Swell
           
Adjustable Combinations
   
Solo Organ Pistons 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Swell Organ Pistons 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Choir Organ Pistons 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb & toe)
Nave Organ Pistons 0-1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20 (thumb)
Entire Organ Pistons 21-22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29-30 (toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
  Set (thumb)
           
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal (thumb & kick-pedal)     Full Organ I (thumb)
    Swell to Pedal (thumb & kick-pedal)     Full Organ II (thumb)
    Choir to Pedal (thumb)     Full Organ (kick-pedal)
    Solo to Pedal (thumb)     Open 32' (kick-pedal)
    Bombarde to Pedal (thumb)     Violone 32' (kick-pedal)
    Nave to Pedal (thumb)     Bombarde 32' (kick-pedal)
    Bombarde on Solo (thumb)     Pedal on Great Combs. (thumb)
    Bombarde on Swell (thumb)     Crescendo Off (thumb)
    Bombarde on Great (thumb)     Pedal Divide (thumb)
    Bombarde on Choir (thumb)      
    Nave on Great (thumb)     All Swells to Swell (thumb)
           
Accessories
    Signal (left SO key cheek)   Piston Sequencer:
    Memory Level ↑ (right SO key cheek)   PREV (left GT key cheek)
    Memory Level ↓ (right SO key cheek)   NEXT (left GT key cheek)
    Nave Exp on Solo (left SW key cheek)   PREV (right GT key cheek)
    Nave Exp on Swell (left SW key cheek)   NEXT (right GT key cheek)
    Nave Exp on Choir (left SW key cheek)   PREV (on Gen. 21 toe stud) *
    Nave Exp on Cresc. (left SW key cheek)   NEXT (on Gen. 26 toe stud) *
    Crescendo Std. (right SW key cheek)   NEXT (on Gen. 27 toe stud) *
    Crescendo A (right SW key cheek)   List in Use (thumb)
    Crescendo B (right SW key cheek)  
    Crescendo C (right SW key cheek)  
* activated by button in controls drawer
           
Expression
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Choir      
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Swell      
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Solo      
    Crescendo Pedal      
           
  Flentrop Orgelbouw "Kistorgel" (1993) at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
   
  Flentrop Orgelbouw "Kistorgel" (portative) at Carnegie Hall - New York City (photo: Flentrop Orgelbouw B.V.)
Flentrop Orgelbouw
Zaandam, The Netherlands (1993) – "Kistorgel"
Mechanical action
1 manual, 5 stops, 5 ranks


The Flentrop "kistorgel" was built in 1993 for the Centennial Season of Carnegie Hall. Funding for the organ was provided in part by the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Flentrop built similar organs for the Academy of Kazan and the Academic Hospital in Leiden. All of the five stops are divided at tenor b/middle c, and the keyboard can transpose up and down a half-tone. The Flentrop portative organ was gifted by Carnegie Hall to the cathedral in 2012.


Manual – 54 notes
8
   Bourdon  
54
4
   Prestant  
54
4
   Fluit  
54
2
   Octaaf  
54
1 1/3
  Quint  
54
               
           
  Casavant Frères Organ, Op. 3130 (1971) in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Casavant Frères, Limitée
St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada – Opus 3130 (1972)
Mechanical key and stop action
1 manual, 6 stops, 8 ranks


In the early 1970s, the cathedral desired a portable organ that could be easily moved to any location on the nave floor. Such an organ was designed by Th. Kuhn Orgelbau of Männedorf, Switzerland, but was actually built by Casavant Frères of St. Hyacinthe, Québec. All of the manual stops were contained in a plain oak case, behind which was the Pedal Bourdon. Horizontal levers under the keyboard controlled the manual stops while the pedal Bourdon and coupler were activated by hitch-down foot pedals. Although the factory specifications are dated March 12, 1971, documentation inside the organ stated that it was built in March 1972.

In 2009, following the reopening of the cleaned and restored cathedral, the organ was relocated to the north choir aisle.

In 2010, the organ was sold and moved to the chapel of St. Anthony Roman Catholic High School in South Huntington, L.I.
               
Manual – 54 notes
8
   Gedackt  
54
4
   Prinzipal  
54
4
   Rohrflöte  
54
2
   Gemshorn  
54
1
   Zimbel III ranks  
162
         
Pedal – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon  
30
         
Coupler
    Manual to Pedal    
 
 
Casavant Frères Organ, Op. 3130 (1971) in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
             
  Alec Wyton at console of Aeolian-Skinner organ, Op. 150A (1951) in Cathedral of St. John the Divine - New York City
  Alec Wyton at console (1960s)
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 150-A (1951)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 115 registers, 95 stops, 141 ranks (139 ranks in 1963)





On December 7, 1951, a contract totalling $48,378 was awarded to the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company of Boston for the rebuilding and enlargement of the organ. Aeolian-Skinner, under the direction of G. Donald Harrison, assigned Opus 150-A to this monumental task which occured during the years 1952-54. Dr. Norman Coke-Jephcott (1893-1962), organist and choirmaster of the Cathedral, wrote that "the final specification includes a great deal which was not provided for in the original contract, particularly in regard to extensive additions to the Great and Choir organs and, of course, the State Trumpet. I would imagine that about one hundred of the one hundred and forty-one ranks of pipes are new which, with allowance for the existing mechanism and including the re-voicing of the old pipes, would indicate approximately $80,000 worth of work on the part of the builder."

Special features of the organ were the high-pressure State Trumpet on 50" of wind pressure at the west end, the high-pressure Solo Tubas, a battery of Bombarde reeds, and the remarkably effective 32' stops. The pipes are divided between two large spaces on the north and south sides of the Great Choir. The console is located in the gallery above the south choir stalls, where the organist is invisible to the congregation.

Since its installation, very few major repairs were made on the 1954 instrument beyond regular maintenance and releathering. The exception was the rehabilitation of the State Trumpet by Austin Organs Inc. of Hartford, Conn., when it was found in the mid-1990s that the structure of the stop high on the West End of the nave was in a precarious state.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Montre
61
4
   Flute Couverte
61
16
   Quintaten
73
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
8
   Principal
61
2
   Doublette °
85
8
   Diapason °
79
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Viola *
61
2 2/3
   Sesquialtera II ranks
122
8
   Hohl Flöte *
61
2
   Plein Jeu III-VI ranks
294
8
   Holz Gedackt *
61
2
   Grande Fourniture V-VIII rks
368
8
   Erzähler *
61
1 1/3
   Kleine Mixtur IV ranks
244
8
   Quintaten (fr. 16')
—
1/2
   Cymbel III ranks
183
5 1/3
   Quint
61
16
   Fagot
61
4
   Principal °
85
     Bombarde on Great  
4
   Octave °
85
    
° double treble
4
   Spitzflöte *
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Gamba *
73
2
   Plein Jeu IV ranks
244
16
   Bourdon *
73
2/3
   Scharff III-IV ranks
220
8
   Geigen Principal
73
16
   Contra Fagotto *
61
8
   Viole de Gambe
73
8
   Trompette
68
8
   Viole Celeste *
73
8
   Cornopean *
68
8
   Salicional *
73
8
   Oboe *
61
8
   Voix Celeste *
73
8
   Voix Humaine *
61
8
   Gedeckt
73
4
   Octave Trumpet *
61
8
   Spitzflöte *
73
4
   Clairon
61
8
   Flute Celeste
68
     Tremulant  
8
   Unda Maris II ranks *
146
     Swell 16'  
4
   Prestant
61
     Swell 4'  
4
   Violina *
61
     Swell Unison Off  
4
   Flauto Traverso *
61
     Bombarde on Swell  
2
   Octavin
61
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Sanftbass *
73
1
   Sifflöte *
61
8
   Viola Pomposa
73
1 1/3
   Grave Mixtur III ranks
183
8
   Viola Celeste
73
1/3
   Zimbel III ranks
183
8
   Concert Flute *
73
16
   English Horn
61
8
   Nason Flute *
73
8
   Cromorne
61
8
   Dolcan *
68
8
   Clarinet *
61
8
   Dolcan Celeste (TC) *
56
4
   Trompete
68
8
   Dulcet II ranks *
146
     Tremulant  
4
   Montre
68
    
Harp
preparation
4
   Koppelflöte
61
     Choir 16'  
2 2/3
   Rohr Nasat
61
     Choir 4'  
2
   Blockflöte
61
     Choir Unison Off  
1 3/5
   Terz *
61
     Bombarde on Choir  
1 1/3
   Larigot *
61
    
Zymbelstern
5 bells
               
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Flauto Mirabilis *
61
     Tremulant  
8
   Harmonic Flute *
73
8
   Tuba Major * (unenclosed)
61
8
   Cello *
73
4
   Tuba Clarion ° (unenclosed)
73
8
   Cello Celeste *
73
    
Chimes
preparation
4
   Hohlpfeife *
61
     Solo 16'
2
   Doppel Flöte *
61
     Solo 4'
8
   Flugel Horn *
61
    
Solo Unison Off
8
   French Horn *
73
    
Bombarde on Solo
8
   Vox Baryton *
61
    
° double treble
               
Bombarde Organ – 61 notes (floating)
  West End – 61 notes (floating)
1
   Tierce Mixture V-IX ranks
376
8
   State Trumpet (50" wind)
61
16
   Bombarde
61
        
8
   Trompette Harmonique
61
        
4
   Clairon Harmonique
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Open Bass *
68
8
   Gedeckt Pommer
32
32
   Contra Violone *
44
8
   Quintaton
GT
16
   Open Bass * (fr. 32' Open Bass)
—
4
   Choral Bass
32
16
   Contre Basse
32
4
   Montre
GT
16
   Violone * (fr. 32' Violone)
—
4
   Nachthorn * (fr. 32' OB)
—
16
   Montre
GT
2
   Blockflöte *
32
16
   Contra Gamba
SW
5 1/3
   Mixtur IV ranks
128
16
   Bourdon
SW
1 1/3
   Scharff IV ranks
128
16
   Sanftbass
CH
32
   Contre Bombarde (ext. BO)
12
16
   Quintaten
GT
16
   Ophicleide *
56
10 2/3
   Quintaten
GT
16
   Bombarde
BO
8
   Principal
32
16
   Contra Fagotto
SW
8
   Montre
GT
8
   Trumpet * (fr. Ophicleide)
—
8
   Flute Harmonique * (fr. 32' OB)
—
8
   Bombarde
BO
8
   Spitzflöte (1963)
32
4
   Clarion * (fr. Ophicleide)
—
         [originally Cello III ranks ]  
2
   Rohr Schalmei
32
               
       
* retained or revoiced from Skinner, Op. 150
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Solo to Great 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Solo to Choir 8'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Great on Solo
    Solo to Pedal 8', 4'   Bombarde on Pedal
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   State Trumpet on Pedal
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   State Trumpet Master (red)
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Solo & Bombarde Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb) Cancel (right SO key cheek)
Swell Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb) Cancel (left SW key cheek)
Great Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb) Cancel (right GT key cheek)
Choir Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb) Cancel (right CH key cheek)
Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb & toe) Cancel (left CH key cheek & toe)
General Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb & toe)  
  General Cancel (thumb)  
  Set Piston (under key sill)  
               
Mechanicals
    Swell Expression Pedal   Bomb. on Pedal Rev. (thumb & toe)
    Choir Expression Pedal   16' Man. & 32' Ped. Silent (thumb) **
    Solo Expression Pedal   Chorus Reeds Silent (thumb) **
    Crescendo Pedal **   Mixtures Silent (thumb) **
    Great to Pedal Reversible (thumb & toe)   All Swells to Swell Ped. Rev. (thumb)
    Swell to Pedal Reversible (thumb & toe)   Full Organ (thumb & toe) **
    Choir to Pedal Reversible (thumb & toe)   32' Violone Reversible (toe)
    Solo to Pedal Reversible (thumb & toe)   32' Open Reversible (toe)
    Bombarde on Solo Reversible (thumb & toe)   32' Reed Reversible (toe)
    Bombarde on Swell Reversible (thumb & toe)   Signal Light
    Bombarde on Great Reversible (thumb & toe)   Signal Button
    Bombarde on Choir Reversible (thumb & toe)  
** with light indicator
           
  Norman Coke-Jephcott at the Everett Orgatron (1941) in the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine - New York City
 
Dr. Norman Coke-Jephcott at the console of the Everett Orgatron (1941)
Everett Piano Company
South Haven, Mich. (1941)
Everett Orgatron
2 manuals, 25 stops, 10 generators



During the period when the Skinner organ was being moved from its temporary position in the nave to its permanent location in the chancel, the cathedral acquired an Everett Orgatron and six tone cabinets from the John Wanamaker Store. The Everett Orgatron was invented in 1935 by Frederick A. Hoschke of South Haven, Mich.; following his death in 1936, it was manufactured by the Everett Piano Company of that city until 1946, when the patents were sold to the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company. The Orgatron was basically an amplified reed organ that was controlled by a traditional two-manual stop-key console built to AGO standards. With ten sets of reeds, the Orgatron provided a smoother sound than the "pop" of the Hammond electronic organ and was thus more suitable for hymn playing and sustained sacred music.
               
Great Organ – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason FF
61
8
   Dulciana MP
61
8
   Open Diapason F
—
8
   Dulciana P
—
8
   Open Diapason MF
—
8
   Dulciana PP
—
8
   Flauto Traverso F
61
4
   Octave F
61
8
   Flauto Traverso MF
—
    
Chimes [A to E]
preparation
8
   Flauto Traverso P
—
        
               
Swell Organ – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Geigen Diapason F (TC)
49
8
   Viole P
—
16
   Geigen Diapason P (TC)
—
8
   Viole Celeste F (TC)
49
8
   Viole F
61
8
   Viole Celeste MF (TC)
—
8
   Viole MF
—
4
   Flute F
61
8
   Viole MP
—
4
   Flute MF
—
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Major Bass FF
32
8
   Bass Flute F
32
16
   Major Bass F
—
8
   Bass Flute MF
—
16
   Major Bass P
—
        
               
Couplers & Controls
    Swell to Great Coupler   Tremulant
    Great to Pedal Coupler   Echo Orgatron only
    Swell to Pedal Coupler   Echo and Main Orgatron
           
Accessories
    Balanced Swell Expression Pedal      
    Balanced Great Expression Pedal      
    Grand Crescendo Pedal      
             
  Console of Ernest M. Skinner Organ, Op. 150 (1911) at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine - New York City
The Ernest M. Skinner Co.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 150 (1906)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 104 registers, 75 stops, 84 ranks, 5,614 pipes




The original organ in the cathedral was built by The Ernest M. Skinner Co., of Boston. Although the contract for Skinner's Opus 150 was signed on May 19, 1906, it would be another four years before the structure was sufficiently complete to begin installation of the organ. The $45,000 cost of the organ was donated by Governor Levi Parsons Morton. In early 1911, the organ was completed. Clarence Dickinson played the dedicatory recital in March 1911, and a dedication ceremony took place in April. Skinner's organ introduced several tonal developments, including the French Trumpet, Flügel Horn, Gamba Celeste, and 32' Violone.

Temporary Nave Altar (c.1939) in the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine - New York City (NY Diocesan Archives)  
Temporary Nave Altar and Chancel (c.1939)  
In 1939, the Ernest M. Skinner & Son Organ Co., of Methuen, Mass., temporarily removed the console, Great, Swell and the Diapason, Bourdon and Trombone ranks of the Pedal to the concrete partition wall between the Nave and Crossing during the installation of the vaulted ceiling in the Great Choir. Following construction, the organ was reinstalled in 1941.

In the photo at left, the Skinner console can be seen behind the choirs stalls on the right.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Diapason
61
8
   Harmonic Flute
61
16
   Bourdon
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   First Diapason
61
4
   Gambette
61
8
   Second Diapason
61
4
   Flute
61
8
   Third Diapason
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Philomela
SO
     Mixture V ranks
305
8
   Gross Flute
61
16
   Ophicleide
SO
8
   Hohl Flute
61
8
   Trombone
SO
8
   Gedackt
61
4
   Clarion
SO
8
   Gamba
61
     Blank knob  
8
   Erzähler
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Dulciana
73
4
   First Flute
73
16
   Bourdon
73
4
   Second Flute
73
8
   First Diapason
73
4
   Violina
73
8
   Second Diapason
73
2
   Flautino
61
8
   Third Diapason
73
     Mixture V ranks
305
8
   Spitzflöte
73
16
   Trumpet
73
8
   Salicional
73
16
   English Horn
73
8
   Voix Celeste
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Viola
73
8
   French Trumpet
73
8
   Aeoline
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Unda Maris
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
8
   Claribel Flute
73
4
   Clarion
73
8
   Gedackt
73
     Tremolo  
4
   Octave
73
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Gedackt
73
2
   Piccolo
61
16
   Gamba
73
16
   Fagotto
73
8
   Diapason
73
8
   Saxophone
73
8
   Geigen Principal
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Concert Flute
73
8
   English Horn
73
8
   Quintadena
73
8
   Orchestral Oboe
73
8
   Dulciana
68
8
   Vox Humana
73
8
   Dulcet II ranks
134
     Tremolo  
4
   Flute
73
     Carillons  
4
   Fugara
73
        
               
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Stentorphone
73
16
  
Ophicleide
97
8
   Philomela
73
8
   Tuba Mirabilis
73
8
   Claribel Flute
73
8
   Tuba (fr. 16' Ophicleide)
—
8
   Harmonic Flute
73
8
   Flugel Horn
73
8
   Gamba
73
8
   Clarinet
CH
8
   Gamba Celeste
73
8
   Orchestral Oboe
CH
4
   Octave
73
4
   Clarion (fr. 16' Ophicleide)
—
4
   Hohl Pfeife
73
     Tremolo  
4
   Flute [Doppel Flute]
73
     Blank knob *  
       
* orig. to be Cymbal III; 8' French Horn added (1941)
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Diapason
68
8
   Gedackt (fr. First Bdn)
—
32
   Contra Violone
44
4
   Super Octave (fr. 32' Diap)
—
16
   Diapason
44
32
   Bombarde (ext. SO Tuba Mir)
12
16
   Second Diapason (fr. 32' Diap)
—
16
   Euphonium (ext. SO Tuba Mir)
12
16
   Violone (fr. 32' Violone)
—
16
   Ophicleide
SO
16
   First Bourdon
44
16
   English Horn
SW
16
   Second Bourdon
SW
8
   Tuba Mirabilis
SO
16
   Gamba
CH
8
   Tuba
SO
16
   Dulciana
SW
4
   First Clarion (fr. Tuba Mir)
SO
8
   First Octave (fr. 16' Diap)
—
4
   Second Clarion (fr. Tuba)
SO
8
   Second Octave (fr. 32' Diap)
—
8
   Pizzicato  
               
Couplers
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Solo to Choir 8'
    Great to Pedal 8'   Great to Solo 8'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Solo 8'
    Solo to Pedal 8', 4'   Choir to Solo 8'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Great to Great 4'
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
    Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir to Choir 16', 4', Unison Off
    Solo to Swell 8'   Solo to Solo 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Choir 8'    
               
Adjustable Combinations (adjustable at the console and visibly moving registers)
   
Solo Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb) Ped-Man On/Off
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 (thumb) Ped-Man On/Off
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb) Ped-Man On/Off
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb) Ped-Man On/Off
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (toe)  
Full Organ Pistons 1-2 (thumb & toe)  
  Set Piston (thumb)  
               
Mechanicals
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Solo   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Choir   Swell to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Swell   Sforzando Pedal
    Register Crescendo Pedal    
             
Sources:
     Aeolian-Skinner Archives website: http://aeolianskinner.organsociety.org/Specs/Op00150.html. Specifications of Aeolian-Skinner organ, Op. 150 (1906).
     Aeolian-Skinner Archives website: http://aeolianskinner.organsociety.org/Specs/Op00150a.html. Specification of Ernest M. Skinner organ, Op. 150-A (1951).
     Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, pub. by the Cathedral League. New York: St. Bartholomew's Press, 1916.
     Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine website: http://www.stjohndivine.org/
     "Dedication at Cathedral," The Diapason (June 1911). Specification of Ernest M. Skinner Organ, Op. 150 (1906). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     Dolkart, Andrew S. and Matthew A. Postal. Guide to New York City Landmarks (Third Edition). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004.
     Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     "Everett Orgatron in Majestic Cathedral Setting," Presto Music Times (Sep. 1941, No. 2302):35.
     Hall, Edward Hagaman. A Guide to the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in the City of New York (Third Ed.). New York: The Laymen's Club of the Cathedral, 1922.
     Holden, Dorothy. The Life and Work of Ernest M. Skinner. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1987.
     Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.
     Organ Historical Society Pipe Organ Database: http://database.organsociety.org/index.html.
     Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc. website: Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc. Specifications of Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 150-A (1954) as rebuilt (2008).
     Casavant Frères Ltée. Factory Specification (Mar. 12, 1971) of Casavant Frères organ, Op. 3130. Courtesy Stanley Scheer.
     "Stop, Open and Reed – a Periodical Presentation of Pipe Organ Progress". Boston: Skinner Organ Company, 1922-1927.
     "The Last Page: The Everett Orgatron," The American Organist (July 1999). Specification of the Everett Orgatron.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Console details for Aeolian-Skinner organ, Op. 150-A (1954).

Illustrations:
     Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine website. Ernest M. Skinner Company organ case.
     Episcopal Diocese of New York Archives. Photo (c.1939) of temporary Nave Altar and Chancel. Courtesy Wayne Kempton, Archivist.
     Flentrop Orgelbau B.V. Flentrop Kistorgel (1993).
     Hanoverian Foundation website: http://www.hanoverianfoundation.org/AlecWyton/Gallery.html. Photo (1960s) of Alec Wyton at console of Aeolian-Skinner organ, Op. 150-A (1961).
     Holden, Dorothy. The Life and Work of Ernest M. Skinner. Console of Ernest M. Skinner organ, Op. 150 (1906).
     Instantencore.com. Console (2008) built by Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc.
     Lawson, Steven E. Casavant Frères organ, Op. 3130 (1972) in north Choir aisle (2010).
     Lawson, Steven E. Exterior showing South Tower (2008).
     Lawson, Steven E. Flentrop Orgelbouw organ (1993) in north Choir aisle (2014).
     Presto Music Times (Sep. 1941, No. 2302):35. Dr. Norman Coke-Jephcott at Everett Orgatron.