Hook & Hastings (Opus No. 1715, 1896)

Location:

Trinity Episcopal Church
371 Delaware Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14202 US
Sanctuary; front
Organ ID: 11083

Update This Entry

Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Episcopal and Anglican Churches
  • The organ has been rebuilt or substantially revised.
  • The organ's condition is not playable.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Jim Stettner on September 29, 2021.

Technical Details:

  • Chests: Slider with pneumatic pull-downs (externally, EP or TP)
  • 44 ranks. 4 divisions. 3 manuals. 40 stops. 51 registers.
All:
  • Chest Type(s): Slider with pneumatic pull-downs (externally, EP or TP) chests
  • Position: In side chambers at the front of the room. Facade pipes or case front visible.
  • Slider Motors: Pneumatic (EP or TP) slider motors.
We received the most recent update for this division from Database Manager on October 24, 2019.
Main:
  • Manuals: 3
  • Divisions: 4
  • Stops: 40
  • Registers: 51
  • Position: Console in fixed position, left.
  • Manual Compass: 61
  • Pedal Compass: 30
  • Key Action: Electrical connection from key to chest.
  • Stop Action: Electric connection between stop control and chest.
  • Console Style: Traditional style with a keyboard cover that can be lifted to form a music rack.
  • Stop Controls: Drawknobs in horizontal rows on terraced/stepped jambs.
  • Combination Action: Fixed mechanical system.
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals, not in standard AGO position.
  • Pedalboard Type: Flat straight pedalboard.
  • Has Combination Action Toe Pistons
  • Has Coupler Reversible Thumb Pistons
We received the most recent update for this console from Database Manager on October 24, 2019.
Scot Huntington on June 30, 2020:

A review of the organ's dedication in 1896 was effusive in its praise of the organ, but cited the performance of the church's choir for that event as decidedly poor and second rate. One curious description of the console is quoted here, but is hard to rationalize in the light of current knowledge of early Hook consoles: "The 38 stops are arranged in a horizontal line right across the organ, just above the swell manual. " The installer is also mentioned: "The organ was put up under the direction of Mr. Arneson, one of the firm's trusted organ builders." Nothing listed in Fox about anyone by this name. To date, no photo or description of the enlarged replacement console of 1897 has surfaced.

We received the most recent update for this note from Scot Huntington on June 30, 2020.

Database Manager on October 24, 2019:

Updated by Scot Huntington, naming this as the source of information: Buffalo Commercial (newspaper) Sept. 4, 1897, page 15.
The organ, costing $8,000, was delivered in September 1896 and was opened on October 6th in time for the Diocesan conference called to select a new Bishop (\"The Buffalo Courier\", Wednesday Oct. 7, 1896). The instrument had electro-pneumatic action to slider chests, used with some regularity by Roosevelt and others, but still somewhat experimental for Hook & Hastings. The 1897 newspaper article cited in the reference for this entry noted Hook & Hastings had just completed enlarging the organ with 5 new stops and had relocated the console to the south (right) side of the chancel, where all subsequent consoles have been placed. This 1897 article is so far the oldest known citation of the stoplist, although it erroneously omits three stops. It is not clear if the added stops were prepared for or if they were added with new chests, pipes, and mechanism. The article states \'the \"Great\" Organ\' was moved to the south side and the light from the (La Farge) window played upon the facade pipes. However, there is not now, nor ever has been a chamber space on the south side (or a window), and the organ chamber and famous transept window are on the North side. Therefore, the only logical conclusion is the console, not the entire organ, was moved to the opposite side of the chancel in 1897. The 1896 Hook facade of 16\' Open Diapason basses is still extant, now with the 1954 Schlicker chancel organ behind it.
Charles Viner subsequently performed unspecified repairs or alterations to the organ, ostensibly in 1907 and ca. 1927, ultimately enlarging it with Solo and Echo divisions (6 ranks, 12 stops, 19 registers) and a large horseshoe console with an extensive complement of couplers and combination pistons. The organ remained in this condition until 1954 when it was replaced by Schlicker with a landmark new organ- 3-manual gallery and 2-manual chancel instruments. Several historic ranks were recycled in the gallery organ and the majority of the chancel organ reused the H&H pipework.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on October 25, 2019.

Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

Altered by Charles Viner in 1907 and in 1927-28.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Buffalo Commercial, Sept. 4, 1897 p. 15; Viner notebook: Open In New Tab Original document from Scot Huntington. Originally published 2019-09-14
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Database Manager on September 14, 2019.

Instrument Images:

Original, unaltered Hook & Hastings chancel facades: Photograph by William T. Van Pelt, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken on 2003-05-04

Pipe Organs in New York sponsored by: