The restored and expanded
Whitelegg-Möller organ, Op. 6425
Enjoy a YouTube playlist filled with selections played on our new organ.
The design and execution of this organ project for the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral was undertaken by Emery Brothers, Adam Dieffenbach, President, for the restoration and augmentation of M. P. Mo¨ller opus 6425. Built in 1936, with 3 manuals, 33 ranks, this fine organ is at the heart of this project. It was built for and previously installed in Schwab Auditorium, Penn State University, State College, PA.
The organ restoration project began in the spring of 2018 with the award of a major grant from the Wyncote Foundation to the Cathedral as recommended by Frederick Haas and Rafael Gomez. Inspired by this gift, further support came from members of the Cathedral community, and now this organ has been restored and enlarged. The Cathedral now has an organ that will support a vibrant and growing music program, including choral work, organ recitals, liturgical and congregational accompaniment.
The tonal design of the original Mo¨ller Op. 6425 was by Richard Whitelegg, Tonal Director for the Mo¨ller company in the mid 1930’s. Whitelegg’s approach showcases English influences and brighter choruses of reeds and Diapasons than those more typical of the early 20th century. Augmentations made to this fine instrument as part of the current project are from select pipework from the Möller factory while Whitelegg was tonal director, thus maintaining the pedigree. Seven ranks of pipes are retained from our own Cathedral’s previous 1903 Austin organ complement Whitelegg’s tonal palette, preserving sounds linking us to our musical past.
The newly augmented organ now comprises 3,277 pipes in 7 divisions with 4 manuals and 55 ranks of pipes, including 3 Nave divisions at the west end of the Cathedral, providing luxurious support from the 4 corners of the Cathedral Nave. With the exception of the bottom octaves of the 32’ Bourdon (south Chancel chamber) and both the 16’ Open Diapason and 16’ Gedeckt pipes in the balcony surrounding the Rose Window, the entire organ is enclosed in four chambers, giving impressive control of the organ’s wide dynamic range.
The Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral and Emery Brothers wish to acknowledge assistance from: The Reuter Organ Company, Lawrence Kansas; Opus-Two Instrument Control Systems; Paul Reese of PR3 Contracting, Lancaster, PA for extensive carpentry; and Nelson Brown, electrician, Philadelphia. We also acknowledge with gratitude Cathedral staff members: Wesley Parrott, Organist; Thomas Lloyd, Canon for Music and the Arts; Lamont Murray, Manager of Cathedral Properties; Lynn Buggage, Canon for Administration; The Very Rev. Judith A. Sullivan, Dean; and The Right Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez, the 16th Bishop of Pennsylvania for their unfailing help and cooperation through this project.
by Wesley Parrott, Cathedral Organist, October 2021
Cathedral Pipe Organ Specifications
Whitelegg-Möller Opus 6425 (1936)
with additions by Emery Brothers, Allentown, PA (October, 2021)
GREAT: | |
16’ Double Open Diapason | 12 pipes |
8’ First Open Diapason | 73 pipes |
8’ Second open diapason | 73 pipes |
8’ Claribel Flute | 73 pipes |
8’ Gemshorn | 73 pipes |
4’ Octave | 73 pipes |
4’ Harmonic Flute | 73 pipes |
2’ Fifteenth | 61 pipes |
III Mixture | 183 pipes |
16’ Trombone (Möller Op. 6512) | 12 pipes |
8’ Tromba (ext. of Trombone) | 73 pipes |
8’ Tuba (Ch) (by F. J. Rogers, 15” pressure) | 73 pipes |
Tremolo | Nave Swell on Great |
Chimes | Nave Great on Great |
Great 4' | Nave on Great Pistons |
Great 16' | Pedal Combinations on Great |
Great Unison Off | |
SWELL: | |
16' Lieblich Gedeckt | 73 pipes |
8' Geigen Principal | 73 pipes |
8' Rohr Flute | 73 pipes |
8' Salicional | 73 pipes |
8' Voix Celeste (t.c.) | 61 pipes |
4' Principal | 73 pipes |
4' Triangular Flute | 73 pipes |
IV Mixture | 244 pipes |
16' Double Trumpet (from 1903 Austin) | 73 pipes |
8' Trumpet | 73 pipes |
8' Oboe | 73 pipes |
8' Vox Humana | 73 pipes |
Tremolo | |
Swell 4' Swell 16' | |
Swell Unison Off | |
Nave Swell on Swell | |
Nave Great on Swell | |
Nave on Swell Pistons | |
Pedal Combinations on Swell | |
CHOIR: | |
8' Concert Flute | 73 pipes |
8' Viola | 73 pipes |
8' Viola Celeste (t.c.) | 73 pipes |
8' Dulciana | 97 pipes |
8' Unda Maris (t.c.) | 61 pipes |
4' Flute d'Amour | 73 pipes |
4' Dulcet (from Dulciana) | |
2 2/3' Dolce Twelfth (from Dulciana) | |
2' Dolce Fifteenth (from Dulciana) | |
8' Clarinet | 73 pipes |
16' Trombone (Gr) | |
8' Tromba (Gr) | |
8' Tuba | Choir 2 2/3' |
Tremolo | Choir Unison Off |
8' Harp (t.c.) (49 bars) | Nave Swell on Choir |
Chimes (G-g) (25) | Nave Great on Choir |
Choir 16' | Pedal Combinations on Choir |
Choir 4' | |
PEDAL: | |
32' Bourdon | 12 pipes |
32' Resultant | 12 pipes |
16' Diapason | 32 pipes |
16' Double Diapason (Gr) | |
16' Bourdon | 32 pipes |
16' Lieblich Gedeckt (Sw) | |
16' Gemshorn (Gr) | 12 pipes |
8' Octave (ext. of Diapason) | 12 pipes |
8' Major Flute (ext. of Bourdon) | 12 pipes |
8' Claribel Flute (Gr) | |
8' Gemshorn (Gr) | |
4' Triangular Flut (Sw) | |
32' Trombone (notes 1-12 are III Harmonics) | 36 pipes |
16' Trombone (Gr) | |
16' Double Trumpet (Sw) | |
8' Tromba (Gr) | |
8' Double Trumpet (Sw) | |
8' Tuba (Ch) | |
4' Double Trumpet (Sw) | |
Chimes (Gr) (25) | |
NAVE PEDAL: | |
32' Resultant | |
16' Open Diapason (Nv Gr) | 12 pipes |
16' Gedeckt (Nv Sw) | |
8' Open Diapason (Nv Gr) | |
8' Gedeckt (Nv Sw) | |
4' Open Diapason (Nv Gr) | |
4' Gedeckt (Nv Sw) | |
16' Fagotto (Nv Sw) | |
8' Fagotto (Nv Sw) | |
4' Cromorne (Nv Gr) | |
NAVE GREAT: | |
8' Open Diapason (from Möller Op. 6512) | 61 pipes |
8' Doppleflute (Roosevelt, notes 1-12 from Melodia) | |
8' Melodia (from 1903 Austin) | 62 pipes |
8' Bois Celeste (t.c.) (from 1903 Austin) | 49 pipes |
4' Octave (from Möller Op. 6512) | 73 pipes |
2' Super Octave (from Möller Op. 6512) | |
II Grave Mixture (from Möller Op. 6512) | |
8' Flugelhorn (from Reuter, revoiced) | 61 pipes |
8' Cromorne (from 1985 Austin) | 61 pipes |
Tremolo | |
8' Tuba (Ch) | |
Tower Bells (13) | |
Chimes (Gr) (25) | |
Great on Nave | |
Nave Great 16' | |
Nave Great 4' | |
Nave Great Unison Off | |
NAVE SWELL: | |
16' Gedeckt (from Möller Op. 6512) | 12 pipes |
8' Viole (from 1903 Austin) | 73 pipes |
8' Voix Celeste (from 1903 Austin) | 61 pipes |
8' Gedeckt (from Möller Op. 6512) | 73 pipes |
4' Open Flute (from 1985 Austin) | 73 pipes |
2 2/3' Nazard | |
2' Piccolo (from Möller Op. 6512) | 12 pipes |
1 3/5' Tierce | |
16' Fagotto (from Möller Op. 9453) | 12 pipes |
8' Fagotto (from Möller Op. 9453) | 73 pipes |
Tremolo | |
Zimbelstern | |
Nave Swell 16' | |
Nave Swell 4' | |
Nave Swell Unison Off |
COUPLERS:
Great to Pedal 8’ & 4’
Swell to Pedal 8’ & 4’
Choir to Pedal 8’, 5 1/3’, 4’
Nave Great to Pedal 8’ & 4’
Nave Swell to Pedal 8’
Swell to Great 16’, 8’, 4’
Choir to Great 16’, 8’, 5 1/3’, 4’, 2 2/3’
Nave Great to Great 8’ & 4’
Nave Swell to Great 8’ & 4’
Swell to Choir 16’, 8’, 4’
Nave Great to Choir 8’ & 4’
Nave Swell to Choir 8’ & 4’
Choir to Swell 8’, 4’, 2 2/3’
Nave Great to Swell 8’
Nave Swell to Swell 8’
Great/Choir Transfer
Sforzando
Crescendos: Full and Orchestral (programmable)
Sostenuto pistons for all manuals
Sostenuto release/Tremolos On pedal spoon
Pedal Divide (self adjusting down to 3 half steps)
8 Manual pistons per manual
8 Pedal pistons
18 General pistons
300 piston levels X 3
Memory Up and Memory Down pistons
Sequencer
Next and Previous pistons under Swell, Great, Choir and Pedal pistons
All Next piston
General Cancel Piston
Set Piston
5 Swell Pedal and Swell shade locators
Swell shade matrix for Chancel and Nave shade controls
Manual and Pedal coupler reversibles
Swell to Great reversible piston
Choir to Great reversible piston
Swell to Choir reversible piston
Transposer (+ or – 16 half steps)
Record/Play back
Second 3 manual console in Balcony(from the previous Austin Organ)
New Main 4 manual Console by Reuter Organ Co.
New chests for Nave Divisions by Reuter Organ Co.
Opus-Two operating system
