Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
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Builder: Skinner Organ Company Year: 1931 Opus: 855 / 855-A No. manuals: 4 No. stops: 37 (40 prepared for) No. ranks: 50 (45 prepared for) No. pipes: 3,035
Specification
GREAT ORGAN SWELL ORGAN
16' Diapason pf 16' Bourdon 73
8' First Diapason pf 8' Geigen Diapason 73
8' Second Diapason 61 8' Rohrflöte 73
8' Third Diapason 61 8' Salicional 73
8' Flute Harmonique 61 8' Voix Celeste pf
8' Stopped Diapason 61 8' Flauto Dolce pf
5 1/3' Quint pf 8' Flute Celeste pf
4' Octave 61 8' Aeoline 73
4' Gemshorn 61 4' Octave Geigen 73
3 1/5' Tenth pf 4' Lieblich Flute pf
2 2/3' Octave Quint pf 2' Fifteenth pf
2' Super Octave 61 V Mixture 305
IV Harmonics pf III Carillon pf
16' Contra Tromba pf 16' Posaune 73
8' Tromba pf 8' Trumpet 73
4' Clarion pf 8' Oboe 73
4' Clarion 73
CHOIR ORGAN Tremolo
16' Contra Spitzflöte pf
8' Spitzflöte 73 SOLO ORGAN (prepared for)
8' Viola pf 8' Orchestral Flute
8' Dulciana 73 8' Cello
8' Unda Maris (TC) pf 8' Cello Celeste
4' Gemshorn 73 4' Flute Harmonique
4' Flauto Traverso pf 8' Tuba Mirabilis
2 2/3' Nazard pf 8' English Horn
2' Flautino pf Tremolo
1 3/5' Tierce pf
1 1/3' Larigot pf PEDAL ORGAN
IV Dulciana Mixture 244 32' Contra Bourdon pf
16' Fagotto pf 16' Diapason 32
8' Trumpet pf 16' Contra Bass 32
8' Clarinet pf 16' Diapason GT pf
Tremolo 16' Bourdon 32
16' Spitzflöte CH pf
ECHO ORGAN (prepared for) 16' Echo Lieblich SW
8' Echo Viole 8' Octave 12
8' Viole Celeste 8' Flute 12
8' Cor de Nuit 8' Spitzflöte CH
8' Vox Humana 8' Still Gedeckt SW
Tremolo 4' Super Octave 12
Chimes IV Mixture pf
32' Contra Bombarde pf
ANTIPHONAL ORGAN (1957, Op. 855-A) 16' Bombarde pf
8' Principal 61 16' Fagotto CH pf
4' Octave 61 8' Octave Bombarde pf
III-V Kleinmixtur 245 4' Clairon pf
VI-VIII Plein Jeu 427
8' Trompette Harmonique 61
4' Clairon Harmonique 12
Notes: Sacred Heart Church is located in the affluent Shadyside section of Pittsburgh, directly across the street from Calvary Episcopal Church, with its IV/142 Casavant.
The gothic nave is of cathedral size – very lofty and reverberant. The organ was originally planned for 95 ranks, but only 33 ranks were installed, according to the OHS Opus List. An Antiphonal division was installed as Op. 855-A in 1957. Some more stops must have been added along the way. The main organ chambers, located in the chancel, are hidden by drapes. The choir is divided on each side of the chancel and the console is on the left side facing toward the nave. The console cabinet is quite interesting – it picks up the unique design of the choir stalls. A gentleman who was practicing at the time of my visit was quite helpful with details about the organ, to the extent of his knowledge, and did a good demo for me. He mentioned that the drawknobs, couplers and pistons were replaced by Allen knobs, couplers and pistons a few years back. The console now has a solid row of pistons under each manual, with no road signs whatsoever.
The organ sounded excellent - very English. The Antiphonal and the Trompette Harmonique were quite effective.
The contract was signed with Skinner, but the organ was completed as an Aeolian-Skinner.
Console replaced c.2006 with console from Op. 991 (Broadway Tabernacle, New York City)
Organ Historical Society Database: https://pipeorgandatabase.org/OrganDetails.php?OrganID=23701