Frobenius Orgelbyggeri
Opus 765, 1972
First Church, Congregational
11 Garden Street
Cambridge, MA, US
56 Ranks - 2,998 Pipes - 4 Physical Divisions
Instrument ID: 7175 ● Builder ID: 7165 ● Location ID: 6799
⬆️ These are database IDs that may change. Don't use as academic reference.EXPLORE IMAGESVIEW STOPLISTSomething not quite correct?Suggest an Edit
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IMAGES
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STOPLISTS
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Click on a stop or division name for additional details if marked with 🛈.
| Manual I (I)🛈 | ||
| 16' | Pommer🛈 | 61 |
| 8' | Prinzipal🛈 | 61 |
| 8' | Flöte🛈 | 61 |
| 4' | Oktave🛈 | 61 |
| 4' | Gemshorn🛈 | 61 |
| 2' | Oktave🛈 | 61 |
| IV | Mixtur🛈 | 244 |
| III | Zimbel🛈 | 183 |
| 8' | Trompete🛈 | 61 |
| 4' | Trompete🛈 | 61 |
| Manual II (II)🛈 | ||
| 8' | Rohrflöte🛈 | 61 |
| 4' | Prinzipal🛈 | 61 |
| 4' | Blockflöte🛈 | 61 |
| 2⅔' | Nasat🛈 | 61 |
| 2' | Oktave🛈 | |
| 2' | Hohlflöte🛈 | 61 |
| 1⅗' | Terz🛈 | 61 |
| 1⅓' | Quinte🛈 | 61 |
| 1' | Oktave🛈 | 61 |
| IV | Scharf🛈 | 244 |
| 16' | Regal🛈 | 61 |
| Manual III (III)🛈 | ||
| 8' | Bordun🛈 | 61 |
| 8' | Viola🛈 | 61 |
| 8' | Celeste [TC]🛈 | 49 |
| 4' | Prinzipal🛈 | 61 |
| 4' | Quintade🛈 | 61 |
| 2' | Oktave🛈 | 61 |
| IV | Scharf🛈 | 244 |
| 16' | Fagott🛈 | 61 |
| 8' | Trompete🛈 | 61 |
| 8' | Oboe🛈 | 61 |
| Pedal🛈 | ||
| 32' | Untersatz🛈 | 32 |
| 16' | Prinzipal🛈 | 32 |
| 16' | Subbass🛈 | 32 |
| 8' | Oktave🛈 | 32 |
| 8' | Spitzflöte🛈 | 32 |
| 4' | Nachthorn🛈 | 32 |
| 4 + 2' | Choralbass🛈 | 64 |
| IV | Hintersatz🛈 | 128 |
| 16' | Posaune🛈 | 32 |
| 8' | Trompete🛈 | 32 |
See Documents tab for detailed specification with Mixture compositions
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CONSOLES
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Builder: Frobenius Orgelbyggeri
Position: Detached, Reversed Keydesk (Mechanical Action)
Design: Traditional Without Cover
Pedalboard Type: Concave Radiating (Meeting AGO Standards)
Features:
3 Manuals (61 Notes)32 Note Pedal4 Divisions41 Stops41 RegistersMechanical (Unknown) Key ActionElectrical Stop Action✓ Combination Thumb Piston(s)✓ Combination Toe Piston(s)Stop Layout: Drawknobs in Horizontal Rows on Terraced/Stepped Jambs
Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Details Unknown)
Combination Action: Adjustable Combination Pistons
Control System: Unknown or N/A
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DETAILS
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Exhibited in the 2000 OHS convention(s)
This instrument is: Extant and Playable in this location
Jim Stettner on November 11th, 2025:
In 1995, the Pedal 8' Spitzflöte had 12 new Hakelled bass pipes installed with the remainder copper pipes unaltered. From the church website about the organ: "Its tonal design reflects an eclectic, neo-classic ideal, with a stoplist including German, French, Italian, and Spanish elements encompassing three centuries of organ building history. It features open-toed voicing of pipes of high tin content, steady wind,and equal temperament; the tonal regulation is unusually meticulous. The stoplist is unique in having exactly the same number of stops on every division; the console design is patterned after the organs of Cavaillé-Coll, with manual order (from the bottom) Great-Positiv-Swell and terraced drawknob layout. There are 40 stops and 55 ranks, the number of pipes totaling 2,949. The mechanical key action is constructed entirely of wood. The facade design mirrors exactly the internal arrangements; the manual chest layouts are in tritones, the pedal chest layout in minor thirds. The case is of pine, measuring 21’x 21′." "Restoration work performed by the Frobenius firm in the early fall of 1995 included a thorough cleaning and through-tuning, a completely new stop action and SSL combination action, tonal re-regulation, and general mechanical refurbishing, including refelting, regulation and new pedal keys." "The organ is played an average of six hours each day by students from the Longy School of Music and Boston University. The organ is featured in a CD recording on the Conch Classics label entitled “Organ Music of Bach and Franck,” performed by James Johnson, Music Director of First Church from 1972 to 1977."
In 1995, the Pedal 8' Spitzflöte had 12 new Hakelled bass pipes installed with the remainder copper pipes unaltered. From the church website about the organ: "Its tonal design reflects an eclectic, neo-classic ideal, with a stoplist including German, French, Italian, and Spanish elements encompassing three centuries of organ building history. It features open-toed voicing of pipes of high tin content, steady wind,and equal temperament; the tonal regulation is unusually meticulous. The stoplist is unique in having exactly the same number of stops on every division; the console design is patterned after the organs of Cavaillé-Coll, with manual order (from the bottom) Great-Positiv-Swell and terraced drawknob layout. There are 40 stops and 55 ranks, the number of pipes totaling 2,949. The mechanical key action is constructed entirely of wood. The facade design mirrors exactly the internal arrangements; the manual chest layouts are in tritones, the pedal chest layout in minor thirds. The case is of pine, measuring 21’x 21′." "Restoration work performed by the Frobenius firm in the early fall of 1995 included a thorough cleaning and through-tuning, a completely new stop action and SSL combination action, tonal re-regulation, and general mechanical refurbishing, including refelting, regulation and new pedal keys." "The organ is played an average of six hours each day by students from the Longy School of Music and Boston University. The organ is featured in a CD recording on the Conch Classics label entitled “Organ Music of Bach and Franck,” performed by James Johnson, Music Director of First Church from 1972 to 1977."
Database Manager on October 1st, 2008:
Updated through online information from Leonardo Ciampa. -- The organ has always been in near perfect condition. In 2000, the Meeting House was renovated and acoustics improved. At that time, Frobenius came from Denmark and did some slight revoicing to better match the new acoustics. One of the most splendid instruments in the Northeast. Peter Sykes has been the music director for many years.
Database Manager on October 30th, 2004:
This entry represents the installation of a new organ. Status Note: There 1997
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