Bill and Skinner

Randolph plays one of the largest aeolian-skinner organ in Manhattan at the Church of the Intercession.

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• Aeolian-Skinner
• organ
• 70 Ranks
• music
• Church
• Intercession

[Your1Advocate]

Thxs bhigdaddymark for the history lession on these wonderful instruments up here in Harlem. We, here at Intercession, are having our first Blessing of Musicians: "Blessing and Jamming". It would be great if you could attend.

[bhigdaddymark]

@Your1Advocate I live in Florida, and I'm not sure when I'll be in NYC as I wanted to come up before the summer ended, but you all had a very hot summer as I understand it. Of course your summers are nothing compared to Orlando, FL., but we have much better A/C down here so it's tolerable. I didn't wish to sweat as though the law was after me, hence my delaying my trip to NYC until it cooled off. So I might not make it, but thanks anyway for the info.

[bhigdaddymark]

The St. Philip's organ had a new 3-manual draw-knob console installed in 1967 by Austin Organs, and it retained the signed G. Donald Harrison plate. The organ is 41 stops/36 ranks. The 1927 E.M. Skinner at St. Martin's, Harlem is 53 stops/46 ranks. Alright, that's enough organ history in African-American churches for you....

[bhigdaddymark]

The organ I misidentified is a 1927 E.M. Skinner Opus 653 that was moved from St. John's Church, Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C. to St. Martin's, Harlem in 1940. At some point, the original console was replaced with a 2nd hand 3 manual Austin stop/tab console. St. Philip's, Harlem has Aeolian-Skinner Opus1208 (1952) designed and installed by G. Donald Harrison. It has the very first Trompette en Chamade in NYC predating the most famous en chamade (Op. 150A) stop in the world by 2 years. >>>

[bhigdaddymark]

For information on this fine and previous Intercession organs, please go to the New York City chapter of the AGO website.

[bhigdaddymark]

@pipeorgan4ever Yes, read my comments. When rebuilds happen, whomever the rebuilder is will in most cases provide a new console as in the case of Aeolian-Skinner Opus 150A (Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine) which has a new Quimby console, and all Quimby did was restore/clean that organ. Console replacement is usually done on an as needed basis....

[bhigdaddymark]

@mpsnknox Correction, and just realized who you are! This organ came from St. Paul's Chapel (part of Trinity Parish) in lower Manhattan. Trinity wanted to replace the A-S with a tracker, and thought that this instrument would work well in Chapel of the Intercession (as it was known then). It's Aeolian-Skinner Opus 768-A (1950). It was rebuilt/revoiced with a new console added by Schlicker and installed in 1964. It's 52 stops/67 ranks and replaced Austin Opus 441 (1912) 67 stops/55 ranks 4 manual

[bhigdaddymark]

@mpsnknox organ as well. The organ could be in a better room accoustically, and could use some Walker additions; Great-16'/4' reeds Pedal- 32' Bombarde or Posaune, 32' Principal or something as such, and a firey Trompette en Chamade above the gallery. But these things take money......

BDM

[bhigdaddymark]

@mpsnknox It's an AEolian-Skinner. Schlicker did some work on it maybe 40 years ago, and part of that work included a new console. I don't remember everything that they did on that organ as I hadn't played it perhaps 3 years before I moved outta NYC in 1987. This organ was rescued from a church in Washington, D.C. in the 60's when Intercession bought it. I used to be the summer sub organist for Bill Randolph for many years there. Not only is he one of the finest organists in NYC, that's a fine>>

[mpsnknox]

Thats not an Aeolian Skinner. Its a Schlicker.

[pipeorgan4ever]

A-S with a Schlicker console?