Pipe Organ Database

a project of the organ historical society

Henri Lahaise (1968)

Originally Geo. S. Hutchings (& Co.) (Opus 410, 1897)

Location:

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Basilica (Mission Church)
1545 Tremont Street
Boston (Roxbury Crossing), MA 02120 US
Organ ID: 8517

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Roman Catholic Churches
  • The organ has been altered from its original state.
  • The organ's condition is unknown.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from John Roper on June 22, 2021.

Technical Details:

  • Chests: Slider, Information unknown or not applicable
  • 76 ranks. 4 divisions. 3 manuals. 49 stops. 54 registers.
Great:
  • Chest Type(s): Slider chests
  • Position: In a gallery-level case at the rear of the room.
  • Built by Henri Lahaise
We received the most recent update for this division from John Roper on June 22, 2021.

Swell:
  • Chest Type(s): Slider chests
  • Position: In a gallery-level case at the rear of the room.
  • Built by Henri Lahaise
We received the most recent update for this division from John Roper on June 22, 2021.

Choir:
  • Chest Type(s): Slider chests
  • Position: In a gallery-level case at the rear of the room.
  • Built by Henri Lahaise
We received the most recent update for this division from John Roper on June 22, 2021.

Pedal:
  • Position: In a gallery-level case at the rear of the room.
  • Built by Henri Lahaise
We received the most recent update for this division from John Roper on June 22, 2021.
Main:
  • Built by Henri Lahaise
  • Manuals: 3
  • Divisions: 4
  • Stops: 49
  • Registers: 54
  • Position: Console in fixed position, center.
  • Manual Compass: 61
  • Pedal Compass: 32
  • Key Action: Electrical connection from key to chest.
  • Stop Action: Electric connection between stop control and chest.
  • Console Style: Traditional style with roll top.
  • Stop Controls: Drawknobs in vertical rows on angled jambs.
  • Combination Action: Adjustable combination pistons.
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals.
  • Pedalboard Type: Concave radiating pedalboard.
  • Has Crescendo Pedal
  • Has Tutti Reversible Thumb Pistons
  • Has Tutti Reversible Toe Pistons
  • Has Combination Action Thumb Pistons
  • Has Combination Action Toe Pistons
  • Has Coupler Reversible Thumb Pistons
  • Has Coupler Reversible Toe Pistons
We received the most recent update for this console from John Roper on June 22, 2021.
Database Manager on November 24, 2017:

Updated by William Catanesye, who maintains the organ.
Pedal compass expanded from 30 to 32 in 1968

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on August 31, 2009:

Posted to PipeChat August 30, 2009 by Dick Lahaise: -- The organ at Mission Church was built in 1897 by George Hutchings (Opus 410) Bob and Dick Lahaise of Jamaica Plain in consultation with Charles Fisk modified the action, extended the pedal compass to 32 and rebuilt the chests in 1968 and made further tonal reinstatements in 1997. (by which time Bob had died of cancer) Scott Huntington wrote in the OHS 2000 yearbook, "The 1968 rebuild of the Mission Church Hutchings aimed to give the organ a fluency in French and German Baroque music. More recent attention has endeavored to restore some of the opulent provision of eight foot tone found in the 1897 specification. The Great plenum and effective chorus reeds throughout the instrument remain essentially intact."

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

The original builder was George S. Hutchings (1897, Opus 410).

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

Status Note: There 1995

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

New slider chests. A new console was provided, though the bat-wing console still existed. The tonal work in consultation with Charles Fisk. Historic Organs Recital 22 Oct 1989. Additional modifications and tonal changes by Lahaise in 1997.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Source not recorded: Open In New Tab Typed stoplist from the OHS PC Database.
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Instrument Images:

Nave, Gallery, and Organ Case: Photograph by Len Levasseur. Taken on 2008-09-15

Console: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2019-07-22

Manuals and couplers: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2019-07-22

Pedalboard, swell shoes, and toe pistons: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2019-07-22

The view from the balcony down the nave: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2019-07-22

Right stopjamb: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2019-07-22

Left stopjamb: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2019-07-22

Builders' nameplate: Photograph by Andrew Scanlon. Taken on 2022-08-28

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