First (org. Second) Church of Christ, Scientist - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
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First Church of Christ, Scientist
(originally Second Church of Christ, Scientist)

10 West 68th Street at Central Park West
New York, N.Y. 10023


Organ Specifications:
► IV/66 Henry Pilcher's Sons, Op. 1431 (1928)
► IV/48 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 369 (1899)


The building now known as the First Church of Christ, Scientist, was originally built as the Second Church of Christ, Scientist. Frederick R. Comstock designed the copper-domed, Beaux-Arts cube which was begun in 1899, completed in 1901, and dedicated (when the mortgage was paid) in 1911. Its expansive interior includes a stained glass ceiling, a gallery on three sides of the auditorium, and an imposing organ case above the musicians' gallery.

Second Church of Christ, Scientist - New York City (photo: Wurts Bros., c.1901)   First (org. Second) Church of Christ, Scientist - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)   First (org. Second) Church of Christ, Scientist - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
           

1955 Austin Console of Henry Pilcher's Sons organ, Op. 1431 (1928) in First (orig. Second) Church of Christ, Scientist - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
  Austin Console (1955)
Henry Pilcher's Sons
Louisville, Ky. – Opus 1431 (1928)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 74 stops, 66 ranks



In 1928, Henry Pilcher's Sons of Louisville, Ky., built a new organ (Opus 1431) with 4 manuals and 65 ranks of pipes, retaining some Odell pipes and the original Odell case; it is believed that this was Pilcher's second largest instrument. The Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Conn. replaced the console in 1955 and made two alterations in the Choir division: the Flute Celeste was replaced with a 2-2/3' Nazard, and the 2' stop was changed to a 1-3/5' Tierce. For many years there was an organ recital on Thanksgiving Day for the benefit of those attending the Macy's Parade that begins a few blocks north of the church.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, partially enclosed
16
   Open Diapason * [façade]
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Open Diapason I *
61
2 2/3
   Harmonic Flute 
61
8
   Open Diapason II *
61
2
   Quint 
61
8
   Open Diapason III *
61
  Super Octave 
61
8
   Doppel Flute
61
8
   Mixture II-III ranks [orig. III rks]
171
8
   Gamba
61
  Tromba 
61
8
   Gemshorn
61

  Tremolo
   
   
* unenclosed
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
73
4
   Violina
73
8
   Open Diapason
73
4
   Gemshorn
73
8
   Stopped Diapason
73
2
   Flautino
61
8
   Concert Flute
73
 
   Dolce Cornet III ranks
183
8
   Viol d'Orchestra
73
16
   Contra Fagotto
73
8
   Viol d'Orch. Celeste [TC]
61
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Vox Celeste [TC]
61
8
   French Horn
73
8
   Aeoline
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
4
   Hohl Flute
73

  Tremolo  

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Viol [1-12 unenclosed]
73
4
   Rohr Flute 
73
8
   English Diapason 
73
2 2/3
   Nasard [orig. Flute Celeste]
61
8
   Melodia
73
1 3/5
   Tierce [orig. 2']
61
8
   Viola
73
8
   Clarinet 
73
8
   Quintadena
73
8
   Cor Anglais
73
8
   Dulciana
73

  Tremolo  

     

     
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Stentor Diapason
73
16
   Sub Tuba [unit]
85
8
   Gross Flute
73
8
   Tuba
—
8
   Gross Gamba
73
4
   Tuba Clarion
—
8
   Gross Gamba Celeste II ranks
134

  Tremolo  

     

     
Echo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Cor de Nuit
73
4
   Willow Flute 
73
8
   Dulciana
73
8
   Vox Humana 
73
8
   Unda Maris
73

  Tremolo   
8
   Viol Aetheria
73

  Chimes   
8
   Vox Angelica
73

  Celestial Harp +  
8
   Vox Seraphique
73

 
+ in own swell box atop main organ

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Resultant
—
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
32
   Contra Bourdon [unit]
44
8
   Octave [Maj. Op. Diap.]
—
16
   Major Open Diapason [unit]
44
8
   Bass Flute [Sub Bass]
—
16
   Violone [ext. GT Op. Diap. III]
12
8
   Cello [GT Gamba]
GT
16
   Minor Open Diapason
GT
16
   Trombone
32
16
   Sub Bass [unit]
44
16
   Sub Tuba
SO
16
   Contra Viol
CH
8
   Tuba
SO
16
   Bourdon
—

  Chimes
EC
16
   Dulciana
32

     

     

     

  [all expected couplers + Swell to Great 2-2/3' on 1955 Austin console]
           
  Facade and console of J.H. & C.S. Odell Organ, Op. 369 (1899) at the Second Church of Christ, Scientist - New York City
J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 369 (1899)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 47 stops, 48? ranks


Facade of J.H. & C.S. Odell Organ, Op. 369 (1899) at the Second Church of Christ, Scientist - New York City  

The original organ and case in the Second Church of Christ, Scientist, were built in 1899 by J.H. and C.S. Odell of New York City. The following specification was recorded in an organ notebook by Lynnwood Farnam (1885-1930), noted concert organist of the early 20th century.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Double Open Diapason
61
4
   Octave 
61
8
   First Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Second Open Diapason
61
2 2/3
   Octave Quint 
61
8
   Viola di Gamba
61
2
   Super Octave 
61
8
   Dulciana
61
 
   Mixture III  ranks
183
8
   Doppel Flöte
61
8
   Trumpet
61

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
61
2
   Flautino
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
     Dolce Cornet III ranks
183
8
   Salicional
61
16
   Contra Fagotto
61
8
   Voix Celeste [TC]
49
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Aeoline
61
8
   Orchestral Oboe
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
4
   Hohl Flöte
61
     Tremulant  
4
   Gemshorn
61
        

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
61
4
   Rohr Flute
61
8
   Melodia
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Viole d'Orchestre
61
8
   Clarinet 
61
8
   Dolce
61
     Tremulant  
4
   Violina
61
        

     

     
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Gross Flöte
61
8
   Tuba Mirabilis
61
8
   Violoncello
61
4
   Tuba Clarion [ext.?]
12

     

     
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
32
   Contra Bourdon
30
8
   Violoncello
30
16
   Open Diapason [wood]
30
8
   Bass Flute
30
16
   Bourdon
30
16
   Trombone
30
16
   Dulciana
30
8
   Tromba [ext.?]
12
               
Couplers, &c (tablets)
    Great to Pedal 8'       Choir to Great 16', 8'  
    Swell to Pedal 8'       Solo to Great 8'  
    Choir to Pedal 8'       Swell to Choir 8'  
    Solo to Pedal 8'       Swell to Swell 4'  
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'          
           
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. 1184. Specification of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 369 (1899). John de Lancie Library, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia. Sally Branca, Archivist. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     J.H. & C.S. Odell web site: http://www.odellorgans.com
     Glück, Sebastian. Specifications (with corrections) of Henry Pilcher's Sons organ, Op. 1431 (1928).

Illustrations:
     Farnam, Lynnwood. Facade of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 369 (1899). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     J.H. & C.S. Odell web site. Facade and console of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 369 (1899).
     Lawson, Steven E. Cxterior; color interiors; Austin console of Henry Pilcher's Sons organ, Op. 1431 (1928).
     Wurts Bros. (New York, N.Y.). B&w interior (c.1901). Courtesy James Lewis.