Complete description of the selected organ
Houston TX, USA (Texas) - Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal)
Municipal: Houston TX
Region:Harris County
Address: 1117 Texas Avenue, 77002, Houston, TX
Website: http://www.christchurchcathedral.org/
Description nr.: 2028593.
Built by: Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company (1939) - opus 976
Technical data
Specification
Great Organ - Manual II (C-c''''): Violon 16', Principal 8', Flûte Octaviante 8', Bourdon 8', Viola Pomposa 8' - from Choir, Octave 4', Rohrflöte 4', Super Octave 2', Fourniture 4 ranks (1 1/3'), Cymbel 4 ranks (1'), Contra Tromba 16', Tromba 8', Tromba Clarion 4', Tremulant, Chimes, Trompette en Chamade 8' - from Solo.
Choir Organ (enclosed) - Manual I (C-c''''): Quintaton 16' - digital, English Diapason 8', Concert Flute 8', Viola Pomposa 8', Viola Celeste 8', Dolcan 8', Dolcan Celeste 8' (from G), Octave 4', Zauberflöte 4', Flageolet 2', Mixture 4 ranks (1 1/3'), Corno di Bassetto 8', Cromorne 8', Tremulant, Trompette Harmonique 8' - unenclosed, Trompette en Chamade 8' - from Solo.
Swell Organ (enclosed) - Manual III (C-c''''): Bourdon 16' - digital, Geigen Principal 8', Stopped Diapason 8', Viole de Gambe 8', Viole Celeste 8', Octave Geigen 4', Flûte Harmonique 4', Nasard 2 2/3', Doublette 2', Tierce 1 3/5', Larigot 1 1/3', Plein Jeu 3-4 ranks (2'), Mixture 4 ranks (1 1/3'), Contre Trompette 16', Trompette 8', Hautbois 8', Voix Humaine 8', Clairon 4', Tremulant, Trompette en Chamade 8' - from Solo.
Solo Organ - Manual IV (C-c''''): Trompette en Chamade 8', Contra Tromba 16' - from Great, Tromba 8' - from Great, Trombas II-III 8' - from Great, Trompete Harmonique - from Choir, Cromorne 8' - from Choir, Tromba 4' - from Great.
Positiv - Manual I (C-c''''): Gedeckt 8', Prestant 4', Nachthorn 4', Blockflöte 2', Sifflöte 1', Sesquialtera 2 ranks (2 2/3'), Scharff 3 ranks (1'), Tremulant.
Antiphonal Organ - Floating (C-c''''):
Antiphonal Manual: Bourdon 16', Principal 8', Bourdon 8' - extension, Octave 4', FLute 4' - extension, Fifteenth 2', Mixture 4 ranks (1 1/3').
Antiphonal Pedal: Bourdon 16' - from Manual.
Pedal Organ (C-g'): Violon 32' - digital, Soubasse 32' - digital, Diapason 16' - digital, Principal 16', Violon 16' - from Great, Bourdon 16', Flûte Conique 16' - digital, Principal 8', Violoncello 8' - from Great, Flûte Conique 8', Quinte 5 1/3', Choralbass 4', Nachthorn 4', Tierce 3 1/5', Blockflöte 2', Fourniture 4 ranks (2 2/3'), Bombarde 32' - digital, Posaune 16', Contra Tromba 16' - from Great, Bombarde 16' - digital, Trompette 8' - extension, Tromba 8' - from Great, Cromorne 8' - from Choir, Clairon 4' - extension, Tromba Clairon 4' - from Great, Cromorne 4' - from Choir, Chimes, Trompette en Chamade 8' - from Solo.
Other stops: Zimbelstern.
Couplers: Choir to Great, Choir to Great 16', Choir to Great 4', Swell to Great, Swell to Great 16', Swell to Great 4', Solo to Great, Solo to Great 16', Solo to Great 4', Positiv to Great, Positiv to Great 16', Antiphonal to Great, Antiphonal to Great 4', Swell to Choir, Swell to Choir 16', Swell to Choir 4', Great to Choir, Antiphonal to Choir, Pedal to Choir, Choir to Swell, Positiv to Swell, Antiphonal to Swell, Great Unison Off, Choir to Choir 16', Choir to Choir 4', Choir Unison Off, Swell to Swell 16', Swell to Swell 4', Swell Unison Off, Solo to Solo 16', Solo to Solo 4', Solo Unison Off, Positiv Unison Off.
Accessories: 15 General Thumb Pistons, 8 Thumb Pistons to Great, 8 Thumb Pistons to Choir/Positiv, 8 Thumb Pistons to Swell, 8 Toe Studs to Pedal, Sequencer, Manual I - II Transfer.
YouTube
Prelude and Fugue on "Union Seminary" (Gerre Hancock) / Daryl Robinson (2020)
Houston TX, USA (Texas) - Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal)
Municipal: Houston TX
Region:Harris County
Address: 1117 Texas Avenue, 77002, Houston, TX
Website: http://www.christchurchcathedral.org/
Description nr.: 2028593.
Built by: Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company (1939) - opus 976
| Year | Builder | Opus | Activity | 1939 | Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company | 976 | new organ | 1954 | Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company | 976A | restoration and enlargement | 1968 | Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company | 976B | restoration and enlargement | 1984 | Visser-Rowland Association | 68 R | restoration | 1992 | Schantz Organ Company | 1990 | enlargement | 1993 | John Hendriksen | restoration and enlargement | 2012 | Rosales Organ Builders | rebuild | 2012 | Joe Sloane | rebuild | 2012 | Richard Houghten | rebuild |
- The organ of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, Texas, was built by Aeolian-Skinner in 1938-1939 as their opus 976. It replaced an organ by Hutchings-Votey from 1908, that was lost due to a fire on March 22, 1938. The new organ could be dedicated on March 12, 1939. Consultant was Ned Gammons, organist of the cathedral. The organ has been overhauled and enlarged by Aeolian-Skinner in 1954 en in 1968. The Visser-Rowland Association worked on the instrument in 1984, rebuilding the console and the coupler system. The organ is located on the choir of the church. It is baptised the Edwin Robinson Spotts Memorial Organ.
- In 1992, in the nave of the church a new Antiphonal Organ was installed, called the William N. Barnard Memorial Organ. This organ, constructed by the Schantz Organ Company, is connected to the main console. John Hendriksen overhauled the Aeolian-Skinner organ in 1993.
- The current situation dates from 2012, when a major renovation was carried out by three organ builders: Manuel Rosales, Joe Sloane and Richard Houghten. A new console was installed, and new stops were added, including some digital stops by Walker Technical Co.
Technical data
| Number of stops per division | |
| - Great Organ - Manual II | 14 (12) |
| - Choir Organ (enclosed) - Manual I | 15 (13) |
| - Swell Organ (enclosed) - Manual III | 19 (17) |
| - Solo Organ - Manual IV | 7 (1) |
| - Positiv - Manual I | 7 |
| - Pedal Organ | 27 (11) |
| - Antiphonal Organ - Manual | 7 (5) |
| - Antiphonal Organ - Pedal | 1 (0) |
| Total number of stops | 97 (66) |
| Key action | Electrical |
| Stop action | Electrical |
| Windchest(s) | Slider chests |
Specification
Great Organ - Manual II (C-c''''): Violon 16', Principal 8', Flûte Octaviante 8', Bourdon 8', Viola Pomposa 8' - from Choir, Octave 4', Rohrflöte 4', Super Octave 2', Fourniture 4 ranks (1 1/3'), Cymbel 4 ranks (1'), Contra Tromba 16', Tromba 8', Tromba Clarion 4', Tremulant, Chimes, Trompette en Chamade 8' - from Solo.
Choir Organ (enclosed) - Manual I (C-c''''): Quintaton 16' - digital, English Diapason 8', Concert Flute 8', Viola Pomposa 8', Viola Celeste 8', Dolcan 8', Dolcan Celeste 8' (from G), Octave 4', Zauberflöte 4', Flageolet 2', Mixture 4 ranks (1 1/3'), Corno di Bassetto 8', Cromorne 8', Tremulant, Trompette Harmonique 8' - unenclosed, Trompette en Chamade 8' - from Solo.
Swell Organ (enclosed) - Manual III (C-c''''): Bourdon 16' - digital, Geigen Principal 8', Stopped Diapason 8', Viole de Gambe 8', Viole Celeste 8', Octave Geigen 4', Flûte Harmonique 4', Nasard 2 2/3', Doublette 2', Tierce 1 3/5', Larigot 1 1/3', Plein Jeu 3-4 ranks (2'), Mixture 4 ranks (1 1/3'), Contre Trompette 16', Trompette 8', Hautbois 8', Voix Humaine 8', Clairon 4', Tremulant, Trompette en Chamade 8' - from Solo.
Solo Organ - Manual IV (C-c''''): Trompette en Chamade 8', Contra Tromba 16' - from Great, Tromba 8' - from Great, Trombas II-III 8' - from Great, Trompete Harmonique - from Choir, Cromorne 8' - from Choir, Tromba 4' - from Great.
Positiv - Manual I (C-c''''): Gedeckt 8', Prestant 4', Nachthorn 4', Blockflöte 2', Sifflöte 1', Sesquialtera 2 ranks (2 2/3'), Scharff 3 ranks (1'), Tremulant.
Antiphonal Organ - Floating (C-c''''):
Antiphonal Manual: Bourdon 16', Principal 8', Bourdon 8' - extension, Octave 4', FLute 4' - extension, Fifteenth 2', Mixture 4 ranks (1 1/3').
Antiphonal Pedal: Bourdon 16' - from Manual.
Pedal Organ (C-g'): Violon 32' - digital, Soubasse 32' - digital, Diapason 16' - digital, Principal 16', Violon 16' - from Great, Bourdon 16', Flûte Conique 16' - digital, Principal 8', Violoncello 8' - from Great, Flûte Conique 8', Quinte 5 1/3', Choralbass 4', Nachthorn 4', Tierce 3 1/5', Blockflöte 2', Fourniture 4 ranks (2 2/3'), Bombarde 32' - digital, Posaune 16', Contra Tromba 16' - from Great, Bombarde 16' - digital, Trompette 8' - extension, Tromba 8' - from Great, Cromorne 8' - from Choir, Clairon 4' - extension, Tromba Clairon 4' - from Great, Cromorne 4' - from Choir, Chimes, Trompette en Chamade 8' - from Solo.
Other stops: Zimbelstern.
Couplers: Choir to Great, Choir to Great 16', Choir to Great 4', Swell to Great, Swell to Great 16', Swell to Great 4', Solo to Great, Solo to Great 16', Solo to Great 4', Positiv to Great, Positiv to Great 16', Antiphonal to Great, Antiphonal to Great 4', Swell to Choir, Swell to Choir 16', Swell to Choir 4', Great to Choir, Antiphonal to Choir, Pedal to Choir, Choir to Swell, Positiv to Swell, Antiphonal to Swell, Great Unison Off, Choir to Choir 16', Choir to Choir 4', Choir Unison Off, Swell to Swell 16', Swell to Swell 4', Swell Unison Off, Solo to Solo 16', Solo to Solo 4', Solo Unison Off, Positiv Unison Off.
Accessories: 15 General Thumb Pistons, 8 Thumb Pistons to Great, 8 Thumb Pistons to Choir/Positiv, 8 Thumb Pistons to Swell, 8 Toe Studs to Pedal, Sequencer, Manual I - II Transfer.
| Literature |
Pieter A. Visser, Organ Builder : His Life, Work and Rejuvenation of Principles of Classical Organ Building / Jon Allan Stuber. - Austin : The University of Texas, 2001. - (Treatise). |
| Recordings |
A Love So Fierce : The Complete Solo Organ Works of David Ashley White / Daryl Robinson. - Acis Productions APL61020 (CD). - 2021. |
| Links |
https://www.christchurchcathedral.org/organs/ |