St. Mark's Episcopal Church - Jackson Heights, Queens, NY
  Click on image to enlarge
St. Mark Episcopal Church

33-50 82nd Street
Jackson Heights (Queens), N.Y. 11372
http://saintmarks.net


Organ Specifications:
► II/31 Casavant Frères, Op. 3018 (1969)
► III/22 Aeolian Company, Op. 1304 (1915); inst. (1929)


St. Mark's Church was established in 1923 and is located in Jackson Heights, a bedroom community in the borough of Queens. The core of the neighborhood, included St. Mark's Church, was originally built as a planned community of garden apartments and single family homes on tree-lined streets. The church is within the Jackson Heights Historic District, designated in 1993 by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
         
Casavant Frères, Limitée
St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada – Opus 3018 (1969)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 24 stops, 31 ranks


The present organ in St. Mark's Church was built by Casavant Frères of Canada. Casavant employed electro-pneumatic action, and provided an all-electric detached console having tilting tablets above the upper keyboard. The console case, organist's bench and pedalboard are of oak, finished to match the surrounding woodwork, while mahogany was used for the console interior.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 56 notes
16
   Quintaden
56
2
   Flachflöte
56
8
   Prinzipal
56
2 2/3
   Sesquialtera II ranks
112
8
   Rohrflöte
56
1 1/3
   Mixtur IV ranks
224
4
   Oktav
56
8
   Trompete
56
4
   Koppelflöte
56
     Chimes [from previous organ]
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 56 notes, enclosed
8
   Bordun
56
1 1/3
   Quintflöte
56
8
   Salizional
56
1/2
   Scharf III ranks
168
8
   Vox coelestis [TC]
44
8
   Oboe
56
4
   Spitzflöte
56
     Tremulant  
2
   Prinzipal
56
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Subbass
32
4
   Choralbass
32
16
   Quintaden
GT
2
   Mixtur III ranks
96
8
   Prinzipal
32
16
   Posaune [L/2]
32
8
   Gedacktpommer
32
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal          
    Swell to Pedal          
    Swell to Great          
               
Combination Pistons (hold-set type)
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (toe)
Full Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb & toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
               
Reversible Toe Pistons
    Great to Pedal          
    Swell to Pedal          
    Full organ          
               
Balanced Pedals
    Swell expression          
    Crescendo          
               
Indicator Lights
    Crescendo          
    Full organ          
    Wind          
         
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 1304 (1914)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 30 stops, 22 ranks


The Aeolian Specification (Mar. 4, 1914) states that this organ for the Residence of Mr. Willard D. Straight in Manhattan was to be completed on or about January 1, 1915; however, the organ was shipped May 13, 1915. According to the signed contract (Apr. 22, 1914), the cost of the organ was $16,250.

On June 20, 1929, the Aeolian Company was contracted (for a consideration of $5,000) to remove the Straight organ from storage, repair and replace parts, and deliver it to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Jackson Heights, Queens.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (4" wind pressure)
8
   Diapason
61
4
   Flute (high)
61
8
   String F
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   String P
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Flute F
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Flute P
61
        

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed (4" wind pressure)
8
   String F
61
16
   Flute (deep)
61
8
   String F Vibrato [TC]
49
8
   Flute F
61
8
   String P
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   String P Vibrato [TC]
49
8
   Vox Humana
61
    String P (mixture, 3 rks)
183
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes (Compounded from Manual I)
8
   Diapason
GT
4
   Flute (high)
GT
8
   String F
GT
2
   Piccolo
GT
8
   String P
GT
8
   Trumpet
GT
8
   Flute F
GT
8
   Clarinet
GT
8
   Flute P
GT
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Contra Basso F (deep)
30
16
   Flute P (deep)
SW
16
   Flute F (deep)
30
        
               
Percussion Instruments
   
Harp F & P  
    Playable from either Manual I, II or III
   
Chimes F & P  
    Playable from either Manual I, II or III
               
Couplers
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell Octave, Sub-Octave, Release
    Choir to Pedal   Great Octave, Sub-Octave, Release
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir Octave, Sub-Octave, Release
    Choir to Great    
               
Adjustable Combination Pistons (located under Swell Organ Manual)
    Six Adjustable Tutti Combinations and Release, affective on entire Organ including Harp and Chimes. (To be spaced between "sharp" keys.)
         
    Stop-Action Connection } With these Pistons, located at left sie of Combination Pistons, the Tablet Stop-Action can be made active or inactive as desired.
    Stop-Action Release }
       
               
    Coupler Combination   (Two Pistons, or one tablet to be determined.)

     

     
Accessories
    Sforzando   Choir Silent
    Tonal [Crescendo]   Swell Silent
    Great & Choir Expression   Pedal Silent
    Swell Expression   Great & Choir Tremolo
    Great Silent   Swell Tremolo
               
Aeolienne
    Normal   }   Control, 58-note music
    Reverse } Control 116-note music   Pedal Augment
    Unison   }   Aeolian Ventil
    Choir Upper   Aeolian Tempo
    Choir Lower   Aeolian Reroll
         
Foot Pistons (Located in Pedal Keyframe)
    Great to Pedal    
    Swell to Pedal    
    Choir to Pedal    
           
Sources:
     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.
     St. Mark Episcopal Church web site: http://saintmarks.net
     Scheer, Stanley. Casavant Frères, Limitée Factory Specification, Opus 3018, May 15, 1968.
     Smith, Rollin. The Aeolian Pipe Organ and its Music. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1998.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification for Aeolian Organ, Op. 1304 (1914).

Illustration:
     Parish Profile, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Jackson Heights, Queens, N.Y.