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Complete description of the selected organ
Washington D.C., USA (District of Columbia) - National Cathedral (Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Paul)
Municipal: Washington D.C.
Region:Washington Metropolitan Area
Address: 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 20016, Washington, DC
Website: https://cathedral.org/

Description nr.: 2004611.

Built by: Ernest M. Skinner (1939) - opus 510

YearBuilderOpusActivity
1939 Ernest M. Skinner510 new organ
1964 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company883 enlargement
2028 Foley-Baker Company  reconstruction

  • The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Washington, D.C., was built in gothic style from 1907 until completion in 1990. The church is built as a National Cathedral for the United States of America on Mount Saint Alban. The cornerstone was layed by president Theodore Roosevelt.
  • E.M. Skinner built the main organ for Washington Cathedral in 1937-1939. It had four manuals and pedal and over a hundred stops. In 1958 Aeolian-Skinner installed a new console. Under the advice of Joseph Whiteford, the same firm built a new Gallery Division in 1963/1964, consisting of a Brustwerk, a Positiv and a Baroque-style pedal. A Trompette and Chamade were also added. A major renovation and renovation took place in the years 1971-1975. More than half of the pipework was renewed and the entire instrument re-voiced. This project involved collaboration between various organ builders. The cathedral's nave was dedicated a year later.
  • In May 2023, it was announced that the organ will be rebuilt by the Foley-Baker Organ Company. The work is expected to last from 2024 to 2028. A new organ is being built, using a lot of material from the existing one.

Technical data
Number of stops per division
- Great26 (24)
- Choir23 (19)
- Swell31
- Solo18
- Brustwerk6
- Positiv8 (7)
- Gallery Pedal7 (3)
- Pedal37 (25)
Total number of stops156 (133)
Key actionElectropneumatic
Stop actionElectropneumatic
Windchest(s)Cone chests

Specification
Great (First Bay North Triforium) (C-c''''): Violon 16', Quintade 16', Prinzipal 8', Spitz Prinzipal 8', Waldflöte 8', Holz Bordun 8', Salicional 8', Violon 8', Erzähler 8', Oktav 4', Spitz Oktav 4', Koppel Flöte 4', Quinte 2 2/3', Super Oktav 2', Block Flöte 2', Terzzymbel 6-10 ranks, Mixtur 4-5 ranks, Klein Mixtur 4 ranks, Scharf 4 ranks, Sesquialtera 2 ranks, Bombarde 16', Trompette en Chamade 8' - van Solo, Tuba Mirabilis 8' - van Solo, Posthorn 8', Trompette 8', Clairon 4', Zimbelstern.
Choir (Third Bay North Triforium) (C-c''''): Gemshorn 16', Chimney Flute 8', Viola Pomposa 8', Viola Celeste 8', Viole Céleste 8' (2 ranks), Kleine Erzähler 8' (2 ranks), Principal 4', Harmonic Flute 4', Fugara 4', Nasat 2 2/3', Hellflöte 2', Terz 1 3/5', Choir des Violes 5 ranks (8' + 4') - van Swell, Mixture 3-4 ranks, Glockenspiel 2 ranks, Bassoon 16', Trompette en Chamade 8' - van Great, Posthorn 8' - van Great, Tuba Mirabilis 8' - van Great, Trumpet 8', Cromorne 8', Regal 4', Tremulant, Celesta, Sub Celesta.
Swell (C-c''''):
Sowerby Memorial Division (First Bay South Triforium) - 1974: Violoncelle 16', Montre 8', Violoncelle Celeste 8' (2 ranks), Prestant 4', Plein Jeu 5 ranks, Cymbale 4 ranks, Bombarde 16', Trompette 8', Clairon 4'.
String Swell Division (First Bay South Triforium): Flute d'Argent 8' (2 ranks), Eolienne Céleste 8' (2 ranks), Choir des Violes 5 ranks (8' + 4'), Voix Humaine 8'.
Main Swell Division (Second Bay North Triforium): Flûte Courte 16', Bourdon 8', Flûte à Fuseau 8', Flûte Céleste 8' (2 ranks), Viole de Gambe 8', Viole Céleste 8', Voix Céleste 8' (2 ranks), Octave 4', Flûte Traversière 4', Nasard 2 2/3', Octavin 2', Tierce 1 3/5', Petit Jeu 4 ranks, Posaune 16', 2ième Trompette 8', Hautbois 8', Cor d'Amour 8', 2ième Clairon 4', Tremblant.
Solo (Fourth Bay North Triforium) (C-c''''): Diapason 8', Solo Flute 8', Cello 8', Cello Céleste 8', Orchestral Flute 4', Terzzymbel 6-10 ranks - van Great, Full Mixture 7 ranks, Posthorn 16' (TC), Bass Clarinet 16', Trompette en Chamade 8', Tuba Mirabilis 8', Posthorn 8', Trumpet 8', French Horn 8', Clarinet 8', English Horn 8', Flugel Horn 8', Clairon 4', Tremolo, Chimes.
Musician's Gallery Divisions (1963) (C-c''''):
Brustwerk (First Bay North Musician's Gallery): Spitz Principal 8', Praestant 4', Koppel Nasat 2 2/3', Lieblich Principal 2', Mixtur 4-6 ranks, Rankett 8'.
Positiv (First Bay South Musician's Gallery): Nason Gedackt 8', Rohrflöte 4', Nachthorn 2', Terz 1 3/5', Larigot 1 1/3', Sifflöte 1', Zymbel 4 ranks, Rankett 4' - van Brustwerk, Tremulant.
Gallery Pedal (First Bays North and South Galleries): Gedackt Bass 16', Oktav 8', Nason Gedackt 8' - van Positiv, Super Oktav 4', Rohrflöte 4' - van Positiv, Rankett 16' - van Brustwerk, Rankett 4' - van Brustwerk.
Pedal (First through Fourth Bays South Triforium) (C-g'): Subbass 32', Kontra Violon 32', Contre Basse 16', Principal 16', Bourdon 16', Violon 16' - van Great, Violoncelle 16' - van Swell, Violoncelle Céleste 16' - van Swell, Gemshorn 16' - van Choir, Flûte Courte 16' - van Swell, Quinte 10 2/3', Octave 8', Spitzflöte 8', Gedackt 8', Flûte Courte 8' - van Swell, Violoncelle Céleste 8' (2 ranks) - van Swell, Quinte 5 1/3', Choral Bass 4', Cor de Nuit 4', Fife 2', Gross Kornet 4 ranks, Rausch Quinte 2 ranks, Fourniture 4 ranks, Acuta 3 ranks, Bombarde Bass 64' - C-H electronisch, Contre Bombarde 32', Contre Fagot 32', Ophicleide 16', Bombarde 16' - van Swell, Fagot 16', Trompette en Chamade 8' - van Solo, Posthorn 8' - van Great, Tuba Mirabilis 8' - van Solo, Trompette 8', Bombarde 8' - van Swell, Clairon 4', Zink 2'.

Other specifications
Different specifications The planned specification of the rebuilt organ (2024-2028) is, according to a proposal from May 2023:
Great Organ: Double Diapason 32' (extension), Diapason 16', Violone 16', First Diapason 8', Second Diapason 8', Third Diapason 8' (extension), Harmonic Flute 8', Violone 8' (extension), Salicional 8', Bourdon 8', First Octave 4', Second Octave 4', Chimney Flute 4', Twelfth 2 2/3', Fifteenth 2', Seventeenth 1 3/5', Mixture 4 ranks, Scharff 4 ranks, Ophicleide 16', Trumpet 8', Tuba Mirabilis 8' (Solo), Trompette en Chamade 8' (Solo), Clarion 4', Chimes (Solo), Harp (Choir), Celesta (Choir).
Bombarde Organ: Cornet 5 ranks, Terzzymbel 10 ranks, Bombarde 16', Trompette 8', Clarion 4'.
Choir Organ: Contra Gamba 16', Diapason 8', Gamba 8', Gamba Celeste 8', Chimney Flute 8', Concert Flute 8', Viole 8', Voix Celeste 8', Kleiner Erzähler 8', Erzähler Celeste 8', Octave 4', Koppel Flute 4', Gambette 4', Nazard 2 2/3', Piccolo 2', Tierce 1 3/5', Larigot 1 1/3', Mixture 4 ranks, Glockenspiel 2 ranks, Bassoon 16', Trumpet 8', Bassoon 8' (extension), Clarinet 8, Tuba Mirabilis 8' (Solo), Trompette en Chamade 8' (Solo), State Trumpet 8' (Solo), Harp, Celesta, Zimbelstern.
Swell Organ: Geigen Diapason 16', Flûte Courte 16', Diapason 8', Geigen Diapason 8' (extension), Stopped Diapason 8', Viole de Gambe 8', Viole Celeste 8', Voix Celeste 2 ranks (8' ), Flauto Dolce 8', Flute Celeste 8', Octave 4', Flûte Traversière 4', Octavin 2', Chorus Mixture 5 ranks, Cymbal 4 ranks, Contra Fagotto 32', Bombarde 16', Trompette 8', Hautbois 8', Cor d'Amour 8', Vox Humana 8', Clairon 4'.
Solo Organ: Diapason 8', Flauto Mirabilis 8', Cello 8', Cello Celeste 8', Octave 4', Orchestral Flute 4', Full Mixture 6 ranks, Corno di Bassetto 16', Tuba 8', Trompette Harmonique 8', Corno di Bassetto 8' (extension), French Horn 8', English Horn 8', Flugel Horn 8', Clairon Harmonique 4', Tuba Mirabilis 8', Trompette en Chamade 8', State Trumpet 8, Harp, Celesta.
String Division: Coeur des Violes 5 ranks (8'-4'), Viols d'Orchestre 3 ranks (8'), Eolienne Celeste 2 ranks (8'), Flûte d'Argent 2 ranks (8'), Vox Humana 8'.
Pedal Organ: Contra Violone 32' (extension), Subbass 32' (extension), Contra Bass 16', Bourdon 16', Principal 16', Diapason 16' (Great), Geigen Diapason 16' (Swell), Violone 16' (Great), Contra Gamba 16' (Choir), Flûte Courte 16' (Swell), Octave 8', Diapason 8' (Great), Bourdon 8' (extension), Spitzflöte 8', Cello 3 ranks (8'), Flûte Courte 8' (Swell), Choral Bass 4', Cor de Nuit 4', Fourniture 4 ranks, Basse de Cornet 4 ranks (32'), Double Trombone 64' (extension), Contra Trombone 32' (extension), Contra Fagotto 32' (Swell), Trombone 16', Ophicleide 16' (Great), Corno di Bassetto 16' (Solo), Fagotto 16' (Swell), Bassoon 16' (Choir), Trumpet 8', Fagotto 8' (Swell), Bassoon 8' (Choir), Clarion 4', Bassoon 4' (Choir), Tuba Mirabilis 8' (Solo), Trompette en Chamade 8' (Solo), Chimes.
Gallery Great: Principal 8', Octave 4', Superoctave 2', Mixture 4 ranks.
Gallery Choir: Gedeckt 8', Dulciana 8', Rohrflute 4', Nachthorn 2'.
Gallery Pedal: Bourdon 16' (extension), Principal 8', Octave 4' (extension).
Nave Great: Principal 8', Octave 4', Fifteenth 2'.
Nave Swell: Bourdon 8', Viole 8', Viole Celeste 8', Flute 4', Trumpet 8'.
Nave Pedal: Bourdon 16' (extension), Bourdon 8' (Nave Swell), Contra Trumpet 16' (extension).
Literature
  • Een praatje met U over Orgels en Orgelspel in Amerika/ Flor Peeters. - In: De Schalmei, 1e Jaargang Nr. 5, September 1946.
  • 38. Orgelstudienfahrt (USA) : 16. September - 3. Oktober 1996 / Hans Uwe Hielscher. - [Wiesbaden] : [Hans Uwe Hielscher], 1996.
  • Organ Historical Society : Convention Handbook : Washington, D.C. June 27-July 2, 2011. - Richmond, Virginia : Organ Historical Society, 2011.
  • Here & There : Organbuilders. - In: The Diapason, 114th Year, No. 5, May 2023.
Recordings
  • Americana : Jeremy Filsell plays the Organ of Washington National Cathedral / Jeremy Filsell. - Raven Records OAR-942 (2CD). - 2012.
  • French masterpieces / Douglas Major. - Gothic Records G 49108 (CD).
  • Bach at National Cathedral / Douglas Major. - Gothic Records G 49104 (CD).
  • 20th century organ music for two : volume 2 / The Chenaults. - Gothic Records G 49073 (CD).
  • The Washington organ book / Haig Mardirosian, Robert Grogan, Russell Woollen, Daniel E. Gawthrop, Lawrence P. Schreiber, Douglas Major. - Gothic Records 49059 (CD). - 1993.
  • The Great Organ of Washington Cathedral / Douglas Major. - Gothic Records G 49058 (CD). - 1993.
  • Leo Sowerby : Symphony in G major : The great organ of Washington Cathedral / William Whitehead. - Resmiranda 8004 (CD). - 1989.
  • Festival Music / Douglas Major. - Gothic Records G 118 316 (CD). - 1984.
Links http://www.dcago.org/washington-national-cathedral.html
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