West End Presbyterian Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
 
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West End Presbyterian Church

165 West 105th Street at Amsterdam Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10025
http://www.westendchurchnyc.org/


Organ Specifications:
► III/30 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 608 (1953)
► III/18 M.P. Möller, Op. 1608 (1913)
• II/ George Jardine & Son (c.1892)






West End Church's origins date back to a Sunday School begun in 1887. The Presbyterian Extension Committee in New York City leased a lot on West 104th Street on which it put a temporary building made of prefabricated metal parts. Early growth of the church was rapid. In 1904, an article in the New York Herald stated, "The Church . . . was organized only sixteen years ago with 69 members, and now numbers 1,864 communicants. In the sixteen years 2,996 persons have been received into membership. The Sunday School has shown corresponding growth and now numbers 1,366 pupils and teachers. Their property, worth $300,000 entirely free of debt, supports seven home and foreign missionaries, and carries on extensive sociological work . . . It is the largest of the Presbyterian body in New York and the fifth largest in the country.”

West End Presbyterian Church - New York City (1892 lithograph)  
West End's numerical growth was matched by a series of building projects. On Christmas Day 1888, the new church's trustees resolved to purchase property on the northeast corner of 105th Street and 10th Avenue, the present church site, where a building to replace the original “Little Tin Chapel” was erected. This “Second Chapel” was a beautiful marble structure but had serious problems. Nevertheless, it remained in place until the present Parish House was built on its site in 1913. By 1891, the church officers decided to build the “Main Church,” today's church building that was designed by Henry S. Kilburn, a noted church architect.

The West End sanctuary was refurbished in 1966, when its heavy dark wood was given a new lighter color. At that time, the sanctuary's lighting was improved by placing a crystal and bronze chandelier over the choir loft. The chandelier is one of a pair from the Fifth Avenue mansion of Thomas Fortune Ryan, purchased in memory of Mrs. Francis MacDonald Sinclair who had died not long before and who had left an endowment to the church.
               
J.H. & C.S. Odell
Yonkers, N.Y. – Opus 608 (1953)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 28 stops, 30 ranks


In 1952-53, as part of a complete church renovation program, the M.P. Möller organ from 1913 was rebuilt by the J.H. & C.S. Odell Company. The console, which reused the old shell, was fitted with new keyboards, stop tabs, and an all-electric remote control, capture-type combination system. Odell provided new universal wind chests with pitman stop action, but overhauled the existing swell shades and shade actions. All old pipework retained for the new instrument was rebuilt and revoiced to blend with the revised tonal ensemble. The contract did not include rehabilitation of the existing Chimes and Harp actions. The organ was placed in chambers which speak into both the chapel and church sanctuaries, and the console can be moved into either location. The Articles of Agreement (Feb. 13, 1951) stated that Odell would complete the work within three years of signing the contract, for a total consideration of $21,850.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Harmonic Flute
61
8
   Gamba
61
2 2/3
   Twelfth *
61
8
   Doppel Flute
61
2
   Fifteenth *
61
8
   Gemshorn [24 new]
85
     Mixture 3 ranks *
183
4
   Octave *
61
    
Cathedral Chimes
20 bells
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason [12 new]
73
1 3/5
   Tierce *
61
8
   Salicional [49 new]
61
16
   Tuba Major [unit]
85
8
   Voix Celeste [TC]
49
8
   Tuba [ext.]
—
8
   Lieblich Gedeckt [12 new]
61
8
   Oboe Horn
61
8
   Rohr Flute
61
8
   Vox Humana [sep. box]
61
4
   Violina [ext. Vln. Diap.]
—
4
   Tuba Clarion [ext.]
—
4
   Gemshorn
GT
     Blank Stop Tab  
2 2/3
   Quint [from Gemshorn]
GT
     Blank Stop Tab  
2
   Flageolet [from Gemshorn]
GT
     Tremulant  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Dulciana [TC, unit]
80
4
   Dulcet [ext.]
—
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
61
2 2/3
   Dolce Quint [ext.]
—
8
   Gross Flute
61
2
   Piccolo *
61
8
   Dulciana [ext.]
—
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
49
     Tremulant  
4
   Fugara
61
     Harp ["Left out by request']  
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
     Blank Stop Tab  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diapason [2 new]
44
8
   Gemshorn
GT
16
   Sub Bass [in CH, 2 new]
44
4
   Super Octave [Vln. Diap.]
SW
16
   Bourdon [ext. SW Lieb. Ged.]
12
16
   Tuba Major
SW
8
   Choral Bass [ext. Sub Bass]
—
8
   Tuba
SW
8
   Principal [Vln. Diap.]
SW
4
   Tuba Clarion
SW
8
   Bass Flute [ext. Op. Diap.]
—
     Blank Stop Tab  
           
* new pipes in 1953
Couplers
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Great to Pedal 8'   Great to Great 4', Unison Off
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir to Choir 16', 4', Unison Off
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Piston Combinations ("All electric Remote Control, Capture type system")
   
Swell stops and Couplers Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Great stops and Couplers Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Choir stops and Couplers Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Pedal stops and Couplers Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (toe)
Generals Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb & toe)
General Cancel (thumb & toe)
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Great to Pedal Rev. (thumb & toe)
    Balanced Choir Pedal   Swell to Pedal Rev. (thumb & toe)
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal   Choir to Pedal Rev. (thumb & toe)
    Sforzando Piston (toe)    
               
Accessories
    Wind Indicator Light   Fluorescent Console Light
    Crescendo Indicator Light   30 Amp. Rectifier for Organ current
    Sforzando Indicator Light    
               
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 1608 (1913)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 18 stops, 18 ranks


The contract dated June 6, 1913, states that M.P. Möller agreed to build a three-manual-and-pedal organ that would be installed on or before September 15, 1913 (the organ was shipped on October 6, 1913). Total cost of the organ was $6,000, less a $2,000 allowance for the old organ. The Great, Solo and Pedal Organs were installed in a tower chamber in a rear corner of the gallery, while the Choir Organ was installed in the basement below the pulpit, speaking through tone registers around the edge of the platform. The console, located with the choir behind the pulpit, was mounted on a track, allowing it to be moved between the church and the adjoining chapel.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Solo
16
  Bourdon
61
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
61
8
   Open Diapason [unenc.]
73
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
8
  Diapason Phonon
61
16
   Tuba Major
85
4
   Octave [ext. Op. Diap.]
—
8
   Tuba Mirabilis
—
8
   Doppel Flöte
61
4
   Tuba Clarion
—
8
   Gemshorn
61
8
   Oboe Horn
61
 
Solo Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed with Great
8
  Diapason Phonon
GT
8
   Gross Flöte
CH
8
  Doppel Flöte
GT
8
   Viol d'Gamba
CH
8
  Viol d'Orchestre
GT
4
   Dolce
CH
8
  Viol Celeste
61
8
   Flute d'Amour
CH
8
  Gemshorn
GT
8
   Clarinet
CH
4
   Flute Harmonic
GT
     Tremolo  
8
   Oboe Horn
GT
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
    Under Chancel Platform:       In Gallery: (preparation)  
8
   Violin Diapason
61
8
   Rohr Flöte
—
8
   Gross Flöte
61
8
   Aeoline
—
8
   Viol d'Gamba
61
8
   Unda Maris
—
8
   Dolce
61
8
   Vox Humana
—
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
     Cathedral Chimes
—
8
   Clarinet
61
     Concert Harp
—
    Tremulant          
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes, enclosed in Gallery except as noted
16
  Sub Bass [Chancel]
42
8
   Octave
—
8
  Bass Flute [Chancel]
—
16
   Tuba Major
GT
16
   Open Diapason
42
8
   Tuba Mirabilis
GT
16
   Bourdon
GT
4
   Tuba Clarion
GT
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal     Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Solo to Pedal     Solo to Choir
    Choir to Pedal     Choir 16', 4'
    Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'     Solo 16', 4', Unison Off
               
Mechanicals
    Wind Indicator          
    Crescendo Indicator          
               
Adjustable Combination Pistons
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Great Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Solo Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Choir Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Pedal Organ
               
Pedal Movements
    Great to Pedal Reversible   Balanced Choir Expression Pedal
    Balanced Swell Expression Pedal   Grand Crescendo Pedal
               
George Jardine & Son
New York City – Opus 1046 (c.1892)
Unknown action
2 manuals


The original organ in West End Presbyterian Church was built c.1892 by George Jardine & Son of New York City. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.

This organ was replaced by a larger instrument built by M.P. Möller In 1913. The Jardine organ was then rebuilt by Möller (1913, Op. 1625) to have two manuals and twenty-five stops, and was installed in St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church of Newburgh, N.Y.
               
Sources:
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Farnam, Lynnwood. "Organ Notebook," p.1638. Specification of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1608. John de Lancie Library, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia; Sally Branca, archivist. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     Smith, Nathan. Electronic mail (Nov. 12, 2010) regarding M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1625 (1913) as installed in St. Francis of Assisi R.C. Church, Newburgh, N.Y.
     "Three Manual By Odell For West End Presbyterian, N.Y.," The Diapason (June 1, 1952). Stoplist of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 608 (1953). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications and Articles of Agreement of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 608 (1953).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1608 (1913).
     "Unusual Scheme Solves A Problem," The Diapason (Nov. 1, 1913). Stoplist of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1608 (1913). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     West End Presbyterian Church web site: http://www.westendchurchnyc.org/

Illustrations:
     Lawson, Steven E. Color exterior.
     Welke, Robert A. 1892 photo-lithograph. Architecture and Building (Vol. XVI, No. 19, May 7, 1892).
               
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