Ernest White (1901-1980) - Organist and Organbuilder
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Ernest White Studio

Parish House – Church of St. Mary the Virgin
145 West 46th Street
New York, N.Y. 10036



Organ Specifications:
• II/12 Rieger Orgelbau (1954)
► III/39 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 8516 (1952)
► III/34 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Op. 1080 (1946)
► II/20 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Op. 995 (1939); rev.



Ernest White was born on June 20, 1901 in London, Ontario. He studied violin locally and organ at the Toronto Conservatory of Music with Ernest MacMillan and Healey Willan. He moved to New York in 1926 for lessons with Lynnwood Farnam and was acclaimed for his performance at the 1927 AGO Convention in St. Louis. He was organist-choirmaster 1927-35 at St. James Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, and 1935-37 at Trinity Church, Lenox, Mass. For 21 years (1937-58) Ernest White was associated with the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York City, first as organist, and later as music director, where it was his custom to give two series of organ recitals each year.

Ernest White  
White also became tonal director for the organ builder M.P. Möller, of Hagerstown, MD, designing and supervising installations in the USA and Canada, including those in New York at St. George's Episcopal Church, the Interchurch Center Chapel, and a studio organ at St. Mary the Virgin. White taught at Bard College (Columbia University) and Pius X School of Liturgical Music in New York (1935-38), at the Music Teachers' College, University of Western Ontario (1948-51), at Jordan College (Butler University) and the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis (1963-71), and at the University of Bridgeport, Conn, 1971-3. He became organist-choirmaster at St. George's Church, Bridgeport, in 1973. He gave over 1000 organ recitals featuring both old and modern repertoire. He was noted also for his trail-blazing editions of early organ music and for his recordings, among which was the first issued of Messiaen's La Nativité du Seigneur. Rollin Smith (AGO and RCCO Music, August 1977) said of White, 'That he was able to synthesize the many contingencies of organ playing and organ construction into one pioneering point of view will distinguish his name and stature for many years to come'.

Ernest White died in Fairfield, Conn., on September 21, 1980.
           
Rieger Orgelbau
Schwarzach, Austria (1954)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 12 stops


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
             
  M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 8516 (1952) - Studio of Ernest White - Church of St. Mary the Virgin, New York City (courtesy Jeff Scofield)
Organ in Choir Room:

M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 8516 (1952), rev.
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 41 stops, 39 ranks, 2,310 pipes






This organ was expanded from a small instrument built by M.P. Möller for the 1952 AGO Convention held in San Francisco. The convention organ had two manuals (Great and Positiv) and a small Pedal division with duplexed stops from the Positiv. Following the convention, White had the organ enlarged to 71 registers, with a new three-manual drawknob console controlling 41 stops, 39 ranks, and 2,310 pipes. It was then moved to the Choir Room (originally the gymnasium) of St. Mary the Virgin where it was heard in recitals, recordings and broadcasts. The organ was also featured in several Möller advertisements at that time. In 1956, the organ was again rebuilt, enlarged to 63 ranks, and moved to St. Paul Redeemer Episcopal Church in Chicago.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (3" pressure)
16
   Bourdon
61
2
  Octavin
61
8
   Bourdon
61
     Cornet II ranks
122
8
   Salicional
61
     Fourniture III-IV ranks
257
4
   Prinzipal
61
     Tremulant  
4
   Nachthorn
61
     Great Unison Off  
2 2/3
   Quint
61
        
               
Positiv Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes (3" pressure)
8
   Quintaton
61
     Positiv 16'  
2
   Principal *
61
     Positiv Unison Off  
    Cymbal III ranks
183
     Positiv 4'  
           
* replaced original 4' Gemshorn
               
Swell I Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (3½" pressure)
8
   Gambe
61
4
   Schalmei
61
8
   Gambe Celeste
61
     Tremulant  
2
   Blockflöte
61
     Swell I 16'  
16
   Krummhorn
61
     Swell I Unison Off  
8
   Trompette
61
     Swell I 4'  
               
Swell II Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (3½" pressure)
8
   Gemshorn
61
8
   Musette
61
8
   Gemshorn Celeste
61
     Tremulant  
8
   Rohrflöte
61
     Swell II 16'  
4
   Fugara [later removed]
(61)
     Swell II Unison Off  
    Plein Jeu IV ranks
244
     Swell II 4'  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes (3" pressure)
16
   Bourdon
GT
3 1/5
   Terz
32
16
   Soubasse
32
2 2/3
  Quint
GT
16
   Quintaten [ext. POS]
12
2 2/7
  Septieme
32
8
   Spitzprinzipal [unit]
44
2
  Octavin
GT
8
   Stopped Diapason [unit]
56
2
   Stopped Diapason
—
8
   Bourdon
GT
     Cornet II ranks
GT
5 1/3
  Grossquinte
32
32
   Sackbutt [later addition]
32
4
   Spitzprinzipal
—
16
   Krummhorn
SW I
4
   Stopped Diapason
—
        
4
   Nachthorn
GT
     Zimbelstern  
               
Couplers (tablets above top manual)
    Great to Pedal 8'   Positiv to Great 16', 8'
    Positiv to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell I to Positiv 8'
    Swell I to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell II to Positiv 8'
    Swell II to Pedal 8', 4'   Great to Positiv 8'
    Swell I to Great 8'   Great to Swell 8'
    Swell II to Great 8'    
             
 

Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 1080 (1946) - Studio of Ernest White - Church of St. Mary the Virgin, New York City (photo courtesy Jonathan Bowen)
Organ located in Choir Room, 3rd Floor of Parish House:

Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 1080 (1946)
Electro-pneumatic action
Wind pressure: 3 inches throughout
3 manuals, 27 stops, 34 ranks, 1,852 pipes


This unusual Aeolian-Skinner organ was located in the Choir Room of the Parish House of St. Mary the Virgin. The studio organ was purchased in 1947 by Gordon Jeffrey for Aeolian Hall, London, Ontario, and was transferred to the London site under White's supervision.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Quintaton
61
2 2/3
  Quint
61
8
  Bourdon
61
2
  Octavin
61
4
  Prestant
61
    Fourniture IV ranks [8' series]
244

     

     
Swell I Organ (Man. III) – 61 notes, enclosed
  Swell II Organ (Man. III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Gambe
61
16
  Fagot
61
8
  Gambe Celeste [TC]
49
8
  Trompette
61
4
  Rohrflöte
61
4
  Cromorne
61
    Plein Jeu III ranks [8' series]
183
 
     
    Tremulant          

     

     
Positiv Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
  Cor de Nuit
61
1 3/5
   Tierce
61
4
  Koppelflöte
61
  Cymbale III ranks [4' series]
183
2 2/3
  Nazard
61
    Positiv 16'  
2
   Blockflöte
61
     Positiv 4'  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Contrebasse
32
32
   Sackbut *
—
16
  Quintaton
GT
16
  Fagot *
—
8
  Spitz Principal
32
8
  Fagot *
—
8
  Rohrflöte
32
4
   Fagot *
—
    Cornet II ranks
64
   

  Fourniture IV ranks
128
 
 
* electronic; added at a later time
               
Couplers (tablets above top manual)
    Positiv to Pedal 8'   Positiv to Swell
    Positiv to Pedal 4'   Swell Flues to Positiv
    Swell Flues to Pedal 8'   Swell Reeds to Positiv
    Swell Reeds to Pedal 4'   Swell Flues to Swell 16'
    Positiv to Great   Swell Flues to Swell 4'
    Swell Flues to Great   Swell Reeds to Swell 16'
    Swell Reeds to Great   Swell Reeds to Swell 4'
    Great to Swell    
         
             
Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 995 (1939, rev.) in Ernest White Apartment - New York City (photo: Ernest White)
Organ in Ernest White apartment, 4th Floor of Parish House:

Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 995 (1939); rev. 1941 and 1942
Electro-pneumatic action
Wind pressure: 2½ inches throughout
2 manuals, 17 stops, 20 ranks, 1,070 pipes





Aeolian-Skinner Op. 995 (1939) was installed in Ernest White's apartment, located on the fourth floor of the Parish House of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. Additions were made in 1941 (Op. 995-A), late 1941 (Op. 995-B) and 1942 (Op. 995-C), ultimately enlarging the organ to 17 stops and 20 ranks. In 1945, the organ was sold to Gordon D. Jeffrey, who installed it in his apartment in London, Ontario. Additions were made in 1947, and it was moved to Duke University, Durham, N.C. The organ was later relocated to Harold Andrews in Greensboro, NC, and was extant as of 2009.
               
Manual I – 61 notes
8
  Salicional
61
8
  Krummhorn [Op. 995-A]
61
4
  Rohrflöte
61
    Manual I 16'  
2
   Italian Principal
61
     Manual I 4'  
    Fourniture III ranks [Op. 995-A]
183
        

     

     
Manual II – 61 notes
8
  Nason Flute
61
  Scharf III ranks [Op. 995-A]
183
4
  Nachthorn [Op. 995-A, rep. 4' Prin.]
61
  Tremulant [added after 1939]  
2 2/3
  Nasat
61
    Manual II 4'
1 3/5
   Terz
61
        
               
Pedal – 32 notes
16
  Quintaton [ext. Nason Flute]
12
5 1/3
  Rohrquint [ext. Nasat]
12
10 2/3
  Grossnasat [Quintaton]
—
     Mixture III ranks [Op. 995-B]
96
8
   Spitzprincipal
32
16
   Dulzian [Op. 995-C]
32
8
   Gedecktpommer [Nason Fl.]
—
        
             
Couplers (tablets above top manual)
    Manual I to Pedal 8'    
    Manual II to Pedal 8', 4'    
    Manual II to Manual I 16', 8', 4'    
             
Accessories
    Cymbelstern        
    Ten adjustable combinations    
             
Sources:
     The American Organist (Feb. 1954). Specifications for M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 8516 (1952). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     Babin, Kyle. "Music at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, New York City (1868-Present), and Its Importance in the History of Sacred and Secular Music." New York: Manhattan School of Music doctoral thesis, May 2008.
     Barnes, William Harrison. The Contemporary American Organ: Its Evolution, Design and Construction (Sixth Edition). New York: J. Fischer & Bro., 1956.
     Callahan, Charles. The American Classic Organ – A History in Letters. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1990. Aeolian-Skinner Shop Notes (Oct. 12, 1955).
     The Canadian Encyclopedia of Music in Canada web site: www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com
     The Diapason (Apr. 1955). Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 8516 (1952). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     eBay.com. Details of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 9254 (1962). Courtesy Randall Newman.
     Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.  
     Scribner, David C. Conversations with Edward Linzel.
     Smith, Rollin. "Ernest White," Music – The A.G.O. & R.C.C.O. Magazine (Vol. 11, No. 8, Aug. 1977). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Illustrations:
     Barthel, Alan. Photo of Ernest White. Courtesy Kyle Babin.
     Bowen, Jonathan. Aeolian-Skinner organ, Op. 1080 (1946).
     Scofield, Jeff. M.P. Möller organ, Op. 8516 (1952).
     White, Ernest. Aeolian-Skinner organ, Op. 995 (1939, rev.); Ernest White Papers. Courtesy Kyle Babin.