Auditorium Organ

About the Auditorium Organ

The Auditorium Organ, crafted by the renowned Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company of Boston, Massachusetts, stands as a monumental example of mid-20th century organ building. Installed in 1959, this organ is celebrated as one of the company’s most significant works.

Key Features and Specifications

Visual Centerpiece

The organ’s exposed Great, Positiv, and Pedal pipework create a striking visual focal point in the vast conference chamber, which seats nearly 5,800 people.

Architectural Marvel

The organ is framed by nineteen acoustical clouds and a large rostrum, all under a massive dome with an oculus 100 feet above the floor.

Design Legacy

Initially designed by Donald Harrison, a leading figure in organ building, and completed by Joseph Whiteford with consultants Catharine Crozier and Harold Gleason.

The American Classic Organ

The Auditorium Organ exemplifies the “American Classic Organ” design, blending German and French organ traditions with 20th-century innovations. This design allows for a versatile performance of a wide range of organ literature.

Tonal Foundation

32’ Principal Stop 

The organ’s foundation is a 32’ Principal stop, with pipes ranging from nearly forty feet to the size of a pencil, providing a rich tonal gravity.

Four-Manual Console

The organ is played from a solid walnut four-manual console positioned above the rostrum.

Antiphonal Organ

An antiphonal organ with three divisions is located at the opposite end of the chamber, playable from both a two-manual console in the rear balcony and the main console. A notable feature is the Trompette en chamade, a bold set of horizontal trumpets.

Modern Enhancements

Over the years, additional ranks have been added to enhance the organ’s flexibility. The instrument now includes solid-state relays, combination action, and a MIDI system with digital record/playback capabilities.

Specifications

• Divisions: 9
• Ranks: 113
• Pipes: 6,334

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Great 

Manual II (exposed, 4" wind pressure) 
16’ Sub Prinzipal 
8’ Prinzipal 
8’ Spitzprinzipal 
8’ Flûte Harmonique 
8’ Bourdon 
4’ Principal 
4’ Gemshorn 
4’ Rohrflöte 
2 2/3’ Quinte 
2’ Doublette 
II Sesquialtera (2 2/3’) 
IV-VI Mixtur (1 1/3’) 
IV Scharf (2/3’) 
16’ Kontra Trompete (console preparation) 
8’ Trompete 
Tremulant 
8’ Trompette en Chamade (Bombarde) 
Positiv on Great 

Swell 

Manual III (enclosed, 5" wind pressure) 
16’ Gemshorn 
8’ Geigen Prinzipal 
8’ Viole de Gambe 
8’ Viole Céleste 
8’ Rohrflöte 
8’ Flûte Douce 
8’ Flûte Céleste 
4’ Praestant 
4’ Flûte Harmonique 
2’ Octavin 
III Plein Jeu (2’) 
III Acuta (2/3’) 
16’ Contre Trompette 
8’ Trompette 
8’ Hautbois 
8’ Vox Humana 
4’ Clairon 
Tremulant 
Positiv on Swell   

Choir 

Manual I (enclosed, 5" wind pressure) 
16’ Contre Gambe 
8’ Viola Pomposa 
8’ Viola Céleste 
8’ Gedackt Pommer 
8’ Dolcan 
8’ Dolcan Céleste 
4’ Principal 
4’ Nachthorn 
2’ Blockflöte 
IV Mixtur (1’) 
16’ Fagot 
8’ Cromorne 
4’ Trompette 
Tremulant 
8’ Trompette en Chamade (Bombarde) 
Cymbelstern 
Positiv on Choir   

Positiv 

Floating (exposed, 3 ½" wind pressure) 
8' Prinzipal 
8' Nasonflöte 
4' Praestant 
4' Koppelflöte 
2-2/3’ Nasat 
2' Italian Principal 
1-3/5’ Terz 
1-1/3’ Larigot 
1' Oktav 
III Mixtur (1') 
8' Krummhorn 
Tremulant 

Bombarde 

Manual IV (unenclosed, 6 ¼" wind pressure) 
 V-IX Tierce Mixture (1’) 
16’ Bombarde 
8’ Trompette Harmonique 
4’ Clairon Harmonique 
8’ Trompette en Chamade (25" wind pressure) 
Positiv on Bombarde 

Pedal 

(exposed and unenclosed, 5" and 6 ½" wind pressures) 
32’ Principal (Great extension) 
32’ Resultant 
16’ Contre Basse 
16’ Principal (Great) 
16’ Violone 
16’ Rohrbordun 
16’ Contre Gambe (Choir) 
16’ Gemshorn (Swell) 
8’ Principal 
8’ Violone 
8’ Rohrflöte 
8’ Gemshorn (Swell) 
4’ Choralbass 
4’ Nachthorn 
2’ Blockflöte 
IV Fourniture (5 1/3’) 
III Scharf (1 1/3’) 
32’ Contre Bombarde 
16’ Ophicleide 
16’ Bombarde (Bombarde) 
16’ Fagot (Choir) 
8’ Trompette 
8’ Trompete (Great) 
8’ Bombarde (Bombarde) 
8’ Fagot (Choir) 
4’ Clairon 
4’ Fagot (Choir) 
8’ Trompette en Chamade (Bombarde)   

ANTIPHONAL ORGAN 

Great 

(unenclosed, 4 ½" wind pressure) 
8’ Bourdon 
8’ Spitzflöte 
4’ Principal 
IV Mixtur (1-1/3’) 

Swell 

(enclosed, 4 ½" wind pressure) 
8’ Viola 
8’ Rohrflöte 
4’ Gemshorn 
8’ Trompette 
Tremulant   

Pedal 

(unenclosed, 5" wind pressure) 
16’ Bourdon (Great) 
8’ Principal   

Design Details 

Manual compass 61 notes 
Pedal compass 32 notes 
All standard sub, unison, and super couplers 
Electric stop and key action 
Electronic combination action–128 memories 
Balanced expression pedals: Swell, Choir, Antiphonal Swell, Crescendo 
Programmable crescendo–4 levels 
Keyboards: bone-covered naturals, ebony sharps 
MIDI capabilities 

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