THE CHURCHES OF RICHMOND
Photography by John G. DeMajo

 

THE CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART
Richmond, VA.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL ORGAN 1906-1991
(Thanks to Mr. Patrick Carlin, Cathedral Organist, for the following information)

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Richmond, Virginia) organ was built by the John Brown Company of Wilmington, Delaware, and installed by Mr. C. B. Brown prior to the dedication of the Cathedral on November 29, 1906. The dedication booklet states that when it was installed, it was the largest in the country. (This is doubtful.) The original organ contained forty-seven ranks, seven couplers and nineteen accessories; it had a total of 3,916 pipes. The action was tubular-pneumatic, with an extended console placed in the center of the gallery.

In 1912, just six years after the organ was built, it was rebuilt by M. P. Moller, Inc. of Hagerstown, Maryland, and provided with the more up-to-date electric action. It was necessary to reduce the number of ranks to thirty-nine. The new console was placed at right angles to the organ, and the couplers were increased from the original seven to twenty.

In 1931, Moller added a new drawstop action to the console. Also, the diapason basses were installed and the tonal balance was improved in depth, sparkle, clarity and color.

In 1940, the organ was completely rebuilt and redesigned by the Tellers Organ Company. New ventil chests were added throughout. Also a new console was placed again in the center of the gallery. Several new ranks of pipes were added to the 1912 Moller organ. Only the case pipes remained of the original John Brown organ.

The blower was added by Tellers in 1940. It appears to be a used 1925 vintage kinetic blower from a theater organ. It puts out 24 inches of wind pressure.

Tellers again updated the organ in 1949 by extending several ranks of pipes.

In 1967, the organ was “baroque-a-fied” by the addition of eight new ranks, including several trumpet stops and a 16 foot metal pedal open diapason. This work was done by Thomas Schaettle, the Cathedral organist at that time. This pipework was provided by the A. R. Schopp's SonsCompany.

The current Cathedral organ project is in two phases. The first phase has just been completed by Robert G. Lent of the Shenandoah Organ Studio. Over the past two years, Mr. Lent has completely rebuilt the organ, replacing the three manual Tellers console with two new four manual consoles, one in the gallery and the other in the chancel. A totally new solid state multiplex relay system was installed that controls the entire organ. Also added is the new eight foot solid brass Trumpet En Chamade, the pipework being done by A. R. Schopp's Sons Company.

Yet to be completed (phase two) is the addition of a fifteen rank chancel organ. This organ will act as an antiphonal organ to the gallery organ. It also will be used to accompany the choir for liturgical events and concerts.

History provided by: Hon. Thomas O. Jones, Cathedral Parishioner and Choir Member
 

 

 

               
SPECIFICATIONS

 

 

GREAT

 

 SWELL

 

CHOIR

 

16

Violone                 

16

Bourdon

8

Bourdon

8

Open Diapason   

8

Flute

8

Dulciana

8

Bourdon              

8

Ouintadena

8

Unda Maris

4

Octave

8

Viola

4

Fugura

22/3

Twelfth

8

Voix Celeste

4

Spindle Flute

2

Fifteenth

4

Octave

2 2/3

Nazard

IV

Fourniture

4

Flute Harmonic

2

Piccolo

8

Trumpet en

2 2/3

Twelfth

1 3/5

Tierce

 

     Chamade

2

Principal

1

Sifflote

 

Chimes

2

Fifteenth

8

Trumpet En Chamade

 

Cymbalstern

IV

Plein Jeu

 

Tremolo

 

 

III

Carillon

16

Choir to Choir

 

 

16

Contra  Fagotto

 

    Choir Unison

16

Sw to Gt

8

French Trumpet

4

Choir to Choir

8

Sw to Gt

8

Fagotto

 

Chimes

4

Sw to Gt

4

French Clarion

8

Gt to Ch

16

Chancel Sw to Gt

4

Oboe Clarion

8

Chancel Gt to Ch

8

Chancel Sw to Gt

 

Tremolo

8

Sw to Ch

4

Chancel Sw to Gt

16

Swell to Swell

8

Chancel Sw to Ch

16

Ch to Gt

 

Swell Unison

8

Bomb to Ch

8

Ch to Gt

4

Swell to Swell

 

 

4

Ch to Gt

 

 

CHANCEL ORGAN

8

Bomb to Gt

PEDAL

 

(IN PREPARATION)

4

Bomb to Gt

32

Resultant

CHANCEL GREAT

 

 

32

Bourdon

8

Principal

BOMBARDE

16

Pedal Open

8

Gedeckt

8

Double Flute

16

Open Diapason

4

Octave

IV

Mixture

16

Violone

2

Super Octave

8

Trumpet Herique

16

Bourdon

IV

Mixture

8

Clarinet

16

Lieblich Gedeckt

 

4

Clarion Herique

8

Octave

CHANCEL SWELL

4

Bombarde to

8

Cello

16

Rohr Bourdon

 

Bombarde

8

Open Flute

8

Rohr Flute

16

Gt to Bomb

8

Bourdon

8

Gemshorn

8

Gt to Bomb

4

Choral Bass

8

Gemshorn Celeste

16

Chancel Gt to Bomb

4

Flute

4

Principal

8

Chancel Gt to Bomb

IV

Mixture

4

Rohr Flute

16

Sw to Bomb

16

Contra Bombarde

2

Principal

4

Sw to Bomb

16

Contra Fagotto

2

Flute

16

Chancel Sw to Bomb

8

Bombarde

1 1/3

Quinte

8

Chancel Sw to Bomb

8

Fagotto

8

Trumpet

4

Chancel Sw to Bomb

4

Clarion

 

Tremelo

8

Ch to Bomb

8

Gt to Pedal

 

 

4

Ch to Bomb

8

Sw to Pedal

CHANCEL PEDAL

 

 

8

Chancel Gt to Pedal

16

Rohr Bourdon

 

 

8

Chancel Sw to Pedal

8

Principal

 

 

8

Ch to Pedal

8

Flute

 

 

4

Ch to Pedal

4

Octave

 

 

8

Bomb to Pedal

4

Rohr Flute

 

 

4

Bomb to Pedal

 

 
 
 
 
CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART
ORGAN HISTORY
As documented by Donald Traser

Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Laurel Street and Cathedral Place

John Brown organ, 1906, 3m/53r

GREAT


16    Double Open Diapason                      61 pipes, metal
8     Open Diapason (Major)                       61 pipes, metal
8     Open Diapason (Small)                       61 pipes, metal
8     Viol d'Orchestra                         61 pipes, metal
8     Doppel Flote                               61 pipes, wood
8      Dulciana                                        61 pipes, metal
6     Quint                                     61 pipes, metal
4      Harmonic Flute                                  61 pipes, metal
4     Octave                                          61 pipes, metal
2 2/3 Octavo Quint                               61 pipes, metal
2     Super Octavo                                    61 pipes, metal
IV      Mixture                                         244 pipes, metal
8      Trumpet                                         61 pipes, metal
4      Clarion                                         61 pipes, metal

SWELL

16      Bourdon                                         61 pipes, wood
8     Open Diapason                                  61 pipes, metal
8     Echo Salicional                          61 pipes, metal
8      Aeoline                                         61 pipes, metal
8     Voix Celesto                                   61 pipes, metal
8      Stopped Diapason                          61 pipes, wood
4     Fugara                                          61 pipes, metal
4     Wald Flute                               61 pipes, wood
3     Dulcet                                          61 pipes, metal
2      Flautina                                        61 pipes, metal
IV    Dolce Cornet                                    244 pipes, metal
16    Contra Faggotto                            61 pipes, reeds
8      Cornopean                                       61 pipes, reeds
8     Oboe and Bassoon                         61 pipes, reeds
8     Vox Humana (in double box)             61 pipes, reeds

CHOIR

16      Lieblich Gedacht                          61 pipes, wood
8     Geigen Principal                           61 pipes, metal
8      Melodia                                         61 pipes, wood
8     Dolce                                     61 pipes, metal
8      Quintadena                                61 pipes, metal
4     Rohr Flote                               61 pipes, wood
4      Violina                                         61 pipes, metal
2      Concert Piccola                           61 pipes, metal
8      Clarionet                                       61 pipes, reeds
8     Unda Maris                               61 pipes, wood

PEDAL

32    Contra Bourdon                                   30 pipes, wood
16    Double Open Diapason                      30 pipes, wood
16      Violone (augmented)                         30 pipes, metal
16      Bourdon                                         30 pipes, wood
8      Violincello                               30 pipes, metal
8     Bass Flute                               30 pipes, wood
4      Principal                                       30 pipes, metal
16      Trombone                                        30 pipes, reeds

COUPLERS


Great to Pedal; Swell to Pedal; Choir to Pedal; Swell to Great unison & super; Swell to Choir; Choir to Great; Tremolo to Swell; Tremolo to Choir

COMBINATION AND PEDAL MOVEMENTS
Great Organ Forte with appropriate pedal; Great Organ Mezzo with appropriate pedal; Great Organ Piano with appropriate pedal; Swell Organ Forte with appropriate pedal; Swell Organ Mezzo with appropriate pedal; Swell Organ Piano with appropriate pedal; Choir Organ Forte with appropriate pedal; Choir Organ Piano with appropriate pedal; Pedal to Great reversible; Full Organ Pedal

Rear gallery installation with tubular pneumatic action.

Information from photocopies of dedication booklet, no title.

 

As rebuilt by M. P. Moller (1912, 1931), Tellers (1940, 1949), and Thomas Schaettle (1967)

GREAT

1.    16      Violone
2.    8      Open Diapason
3.    8      Bourdon
4.    4      Octave
5.    2 2/3 Twelfth
6.    2      Fifteenth
7.    IV      Fourniture
8.    8      Bearpipe
9.          Chimes

SWELL

10.   16      Flute
11.   8      Open Flute (from #10)
12.   8      Quintadena
13.   8      Viole
14.   8      Viole Celeste
15.   4      Octave
16.   4      Harmonic Flute
17.   2 2/3 Flute Twelfth
18.   2      Principal
19.   2      Flute Fifteenth (from #17)
20.   IV      Plein Jeu
21.   III      Carillon
22.   16      Contra Fagotto
23.   8      French Trumpet
24.   8      Fagotto (from #22)
25.   4      French Clarion (from #23)
26.   4      Oboe Clarion (from #22)
Tremolo

CHOIR

27.   8      Bourdon
28.   8      Dulciana
29.   8      Unda Maris


30.   4      Fugara
31.   4      Spindle Flute
32.   2 2/3 Nazard
33.   2      Piccolo
34.   1 3/5 Tierce
35.   1      Sifflute
36.         Chimes (#9)
Tremolo

BOMBARDE (playable from Great & Choir)
37.   8      Bombarde Heroique
38.   4      Clarion Herooique

SOLO (playable from Great & Choir)

39.   8      Double Chimney Flute
40.   IV      Ripieno
41.   8      Clarinet
Tremolo    

PEDAL

42.   32      Diapason Resultant
43.   32      Bourdon
44.   16      Open Wood
45.   16      Open Diapason
46.   16      Violone (#1)
47.   16      Bourdon (from #43)
48.   16      Gedeckt (#10)
49.   8      Octave (from #45)
50.   8      Cello
51.   8      Open Flute (from #10)
52.   8      Bourdon (from #43)
53.   4      Super Octave (from #45)
54.   4      Flute (from #10)
55.   2      Flute (from #10)
56.   IV      Mixture
57.   16      Trombone
58.   16      Contra Fagotto (#22)
59.   8      Trumpet (from #57)
60.   8      Fagotto (from #22)
61.   4      Clarion (from #57)
62.   4      Oboe Clarion (from #22)
Chimes (#9)

Site visit by DT.

As rebuilt by Shenandoah Organ Studios (1991)

GREAT

16      Violone
8     Open Diapason
8      Bourdon
4     Octave
2 2/3 Twelfth
2      Fifteenth
IV      Fourniture


8      Trumpet en Chamade
Chimes
Cymbalstern

SWELL

16      Bourdon
8     Flute
8      Quintadena
8     Viola
8     Viola Celeste
4     Octave
4     Flute Harmonic
2 2/3 Twelfth
2      Principal
2      Fifteenth
IV    Plein Jeu
III      Carillon
16    Contra Fagotto
8     French Trumpet
8      Fagotto
4     French Clarion
4     Oboe Clarion
Tremolo

CHOIR

8      Bourdon
8      Dulciana
8     Unda Maris
4     Fugara
4      Spindle Flute
2 2/3 Nazard
2      Piccolo
1 3/5 Tierce
1      Sifflote
8      Trumpet en Chamade
Chimes
Tremolo

BOMBARDE

8     Double Flute
IV      Mixture
8     Trmpet Herique
8      Clarinet
4      Clarion Herique

PEDAL

32      Resultant
32      Bourdon
16    Pedal Open
16    Open Diapason
16      Violone
16      Bourdon
16      Lieblich Gedeckt
8     Octave


8     Cello
8     Open Flute
8      Bourdon
4     Choral Bass
4     Flute
IV      Mixture
16    Contra Bombarde
16    Contra Fagotto
8      Bombarde
8      Fagotto
4      Clarion

COUPLERS
Swell to Great 16, 8 & 4; Chancel Swell to Great 16, 8 & 4; Choir to Great 16, 8 & 4; Bombarde to Great 8 & 4; Swell to Swell 16 & 4, unison off; Choir to Choir 16 & 4, unison off; Great to Choir; Chancel Great to Choir; Swell to Choir; Chancel Swell to Choir; Bombarde to Choir; Great to Bombarde 16 & 8; Chancel Great to Bombarde 16 & 8; Swell to Bombarde 16, 8 & 4; Chancel Swell to Bombarde 16, 8 & 4; Choir to bombarde 8 & 4; Great to Pedal 8  74; Swell to Pedal 8 & 4; Chancel Great to Pedal; Chancel Swell to Pedal; Choir to Pedal 8 & 4; Bombarde to Pedal 8 & 4

The organ remains a gallery installation with 4-manual consoles in both the gallery and chancel.  The chancel division is prepared for.

Information from dedication program, September 15, 1991