St. Joseph Catholic Church (Lower East Side) - New York City
 
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Church of St. Joseph
(Roman Catholic)

5 Monroe Street
New York, N.Y. 10002
http://www.stjosephnyc.org/church.html


Organ Specifications:
► II/18 Kilgen Organ Company, Op. 7024 (ca.1940s)
► III/ Fratelli Balbiani (ca.1924)




St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church (Lower East Side) - New York City  
The Roman Catholic parish of St. Joseph ("San Giuseppe") was established by the Missionaries of St. Charles, an order of priests and brothers founded by Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini in 1887 to serve the needs of Italian immigrants. The present church was designed by Matthew W. Del Gaudio and opened in 1924. Shortly after the founding of the parish, the Scalabrinians were joined by the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who helped open St. Joseph School in 1926.

Today, St. Joseph Church is a national parish designated as an Italian and Chinese parish. The parish continues the mission of the Church of St. Joachim, located at 26 Roosevelt Street until the 1960s, which was founded by the Missionaries of St. Charles who arrived in New York City in 1889. Immediately after, Mother Cabrini was welcomed by the same church as she arrived in the United States.

This church was closed by the Archdiocese in 2015.
           
  Geo. Kilgen & Son Organ, Op. 7024 at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church (Lower East Side) - New York City
Kilgen Organ Company
St. Louis, Mo. – Opus 7024 (ca.1940s)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 19 stops, 18 ranks



This organ was originally installed in St. Joachim Catholic Church at 26 Roosevelt Street. When that church was merged into St. Joseph's in the 1950s, the organ was moved to its present location and installed behind the earlier organ case by Balbiani.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
61
     Mixture III ranks
183
8
   Hohlflute
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Dulciana
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Octave
61
    
Chimes
21 tubes

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Geigen Diapason
61
2
   Flautino
61
8
   Stopped Flute
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Viola da Gamba
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Voix Celeste *
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
    
* also draws Viola da Gamba

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Major Bass
32
8
   Flute [Bourdon]
—
16
   Bourdon [unit]
44
8
   Still Gedeckt
SW
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt [ext. SW]
12
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Great Expression Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Swell Expression Pedal   Full Organ Reversible
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal    
               
Geo. Kilgen & Son Organ, Op. 7024 at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church (Lower East Side) - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)   Geo. Kilgen & Son Organ, Op. 7024 at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church (Lower East Side) - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
           
Fratelli Balbiani
Milan, Italy (c.1924)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals


In December 2007, while the Kilgen organ was being tuned, a portion of the stoprail from the previous organ was found stored inside the organ case. In addition to the nameplate stating "Balbiani Milano – New York," a second plate is engraved "Maintained and Installed by Wilfrid Lavallée. Tel. Conn New-York City." Mr. Lavallée was the New York City installer and representative from 1924-1956 for the Casavant Frères firm. Following are the stops listed on the extant stoprail:
               
Primo Manuale (I° Manuale)
    [stoprail section not present for this division]   I° Man + I° Sub  
            I° Man + I° Sup  
            I° Man + III° Sub  
            I° Man + III° Sup  
            I° Man + III° Man  

     

     
Secondo Manuale (II° Manuale)
8
   Dulciana  
4
   Ottava  
8
   Bordone       Ripieno 5 file  
8
   Principale          
               
Terzo Manuale (III° Manuale)
    Tremolo  
8
   Concerto Viole  
4
   Eterea  
8
   Viola  
4
   Flauto  
8
   Flauto  
8
   Oboe Comb.          

     

     
Pedaliera
16
   Contra Basso       Ped + I° Man
16
   Bordone

    Ped + III° Man
            Ped + II° Man Sup
            Ped + III° Man Sup
           
Sources:
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Fox, David H. A Guide to North American Organbuilders (Rev. ed.). Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.
     Mahanor, Tali. Extant stoplist of Fratelli Balbiani organ.
     Mahanor, Tali. Specifications of Kilgen Organ Company organ, Op. 7024 (1940s).
     St. Joseph Church web site: http://www.stjosephnyc.org/church.html

Illustrations:
     Lawson, Steven E. Kilgen Organ Company Organ, Op. 7024.
     St. Joseph Church web site. Exterior and interior.