Newberry Memorial Organ
Encyclopedia
The Newberry Memorial Organ is among the largest and most notable "orchestral" organs
in North America. Located in Woolsey Hall
at Yale University
, the organ contains 197 ranks and 166 stops comprising 12,617 pipes. It is one of the largest organs in the world.
The first Woolsey Hall organ was built by the Hutchings-Votey Organ Company of Boston
in 1902. The organ was expanded in 1915 by the J.W. Steere & Son Organ Company of Springfield, Massachusetts
. The instrument was expanded again to its current configuration and size in 1928 by the Skinner Organ Company of Boston
as Skinner(Op. 722).
The Newberry Organ's expansion in 1927 was performed by the Skinner Organ Company of Boston
, Massachusetts
. The work was directed both by Ernest M. Skinner
, and his new Superintendent, recently from England, Mr. G. Donald Harrison
. Harrison later became the Tonal Director of the Aeolian-Skinner
Organ Company when Mr. Skinner was eased out of his company and the Skinner Organ Company was merged with the Aeolian Organ Company. A pipe organ reflects the combined skills of many people, and the Newberry Organ is widely considered to reflect a unique and American pedigree. The lineage of the Newberry Organ as envisioned by Hutchings, Steere, and Skinner builders, Yale curators and musicians, from prior to 1900 to the present, has resulted in a unique and landmark musical instrument.
Woolsey Hall
is well suited for organ music because the seats do not have sound-absorbing padding and the room has a reverberation of more than four seconds. A generous stage in front of the organ permits concerts with choirs, orchestras and other ensembles.
The organ is maintained in original playing condition, including its original combination action, and is utilized throughout the academic year for student organ recitals, organ crawl
s, gala events, university pageantry and concerts. It is maintained by the Associate Curators of Organs, Nicholas Thompson-Allen and Joseph F. Dzeda.
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
in North America. Located in Woolsey Hall
Woolsey Hall
Woolsey Hall is the primary auditorium at Yale University. Woolsey Hall, which seats 2,695 people, was built as part of the Yale bicentennial celebration in 1901. The architects were Carrère and Hastings, designers of the New York Public Library....
at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, the organ contains 197 ranks and 166 stops comprising 12,617 pipes. It is one of the largest organs in the world.
The first Woolsey Hall organ was built by the Hutchings-Votey Organ Company of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in 1902. The organ was expanded in 1915 by the J.W. Steere & Son Organ Company of Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
. The instrument was expanded again to its current configuration and size in 1928 by the Skinner Organ Company of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
as Skinner(Op. 722).
The Newberry Organ's expansion in 1927 was performed by the Skinner Organ Company of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The work was directed both by Ernest M. Skinner
Ernest M. Skinner
Ernest M. Skinner was one of the most successful American organ builders of the early 20th century.-Early years:...
, and his new Superintendent, recently from England, Mr. G. Donald Harrison
G. Donald Harrison
George Donald Harrison crafted some of the finest and largest pipe organs in the United States. He started out in 1914 as a patent attorney but after military service he began to pursue an interest in pipe organ building working with Henry Willis & Sons of London.After immigrating to America,...
. Harrison later became the Tonal Director of the Aeolian-Skinner
Aeolian-Skinner
Æolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc. — Æolian-Skinner of Boston, Massachusetts was an important American builder of a large number of notable pipe organs from its inception as the Skinner Organ Company in 1901 until its closure in 1972. Key figures were Ernest M. Skinner , Arthur Hudson Marks ,...
Organ Company when Mr. Skinner was eased out of his company and the Skinner Organ Company was merged with the Aeolian Organ Company. A pipe organ reflects the combined skills of many people, and the Newberry Organ is widely considered to reflect a unique and American pedigree. The lineage of the Newberry Organ as envisioned by Hutchings, Steere, and Skinner builders, Yale curators and musicians, from prior to 1900 to the present, has resulted in a unique and landmark musical instrument.
Woolsey Hall
Woolsey Hall
Woolsey Hall is the primary auditorium at Yale University. Woolsey Hall, which seats 2,695 people, was built as part of the Yale bicentennial celebration in 1901. The architects were Carrère and Hastings, designers of the New York Public Library....
is well suited for organ music because the seats do not have sound-absorbing padding and the room has a reverberation of more than four seconds. A generous stage in front of the organ permits concerts with choirs, orchestras and other ensembles.
The organ is maintained in original playing condition, including its original combination action, and is utilized throughout the academic year for student organ recitals, organ crawl
Organ crawl
An organ crawl is a tour of the inner mechanisms of a pipe organ, involving the exploration of parts of the organ not generally accessible to the public, including the pipes, chests, and blowers....
s, gala events, university pageantry and concerts. It is maintained by the Associate Curators of Organs, Nicholas Thompson-Allen and Joseph F. Dzeda.