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E. & G. G. Hook Opus 264 (1860)

Trinity Episcopal Church
3d & C Streets NW
Washington, DC

Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)


Consoles

Main


Notes

2005-02-16 - Identified from company publications as edited and expanded in <i>The Hook Opus List 1829-1935</i>, ed. William T. Van Pelt (Organ Historical Society, 1991). -Database Manager

2017-01-06 - Updated by Steven Bartley, citing information from this publication: Evening Star 4/20/1960 pg3 & https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/james-renwicks-trinity-episcopal-church-was-a-striking-place-of-worship/2014/01/04/7dbc07c2-73c1-11e3-9389-09ef9944065e_story.html?utm_term=.6c00b0b0f2ca.<br>Trinity Episcopal Church, was a colorful building and had an interesting but short life, in the nation-s Capital. Designed by New York-s reigning architect, James Renwick. The building for this well-to-do congregation, took its cues from Renwick-s recently finished Smithsonian Institution building.<br>The building was a bit of a curiosity, sort of Steamboat-Gothic. Great twin towers rose with a nearly flat roof, and large cupola. It lasted 85 years before being demolished and looked much like an unfinished wedding cake.<br>Comments made in the 4/20.1860 Evening Star paper-s review of the dedication ".....This organ is undoubtedly one of the best the Messrs. Hook & Co. have yet sent into the District and its presence among us is another evidence of the increasing interest felt by our citizens in the cause of the divine art, more particularly that branch of the art devoted which, dedicated and devoted to the praise and worship of the Most High, claims the first and most earnest attention.<br>The instrument under consideration is one of considerable power; but owing to the position in which it is unfortunately placed, it is almost impossible to judge of the amount it actually possesses. The same cause is a great drawback to the proper development of sweetness of the fancy stops in the swell organ.<br>There are 26 speaking stops, six coupling stops, two row of keys, two octaves of pedals, and two composition pedals (used for throwing off and on certain of the more powerful stops in the great organ) The bellows are perhaps scarcely of sufficient capacity; but that in some degree will be remedied as the colored gentleman who has charge of the wind department becomes more familiar with his duty. The pedal stops are good, particularly in the peculiar style of staccato basses in which Mr. Palmer so frequently indulges; their shortness and quickness in answer to the pressure of the foot rendering them particularly effective. The viol de gamba, dulciana and flute of the great organ are admirable for solo; the diapason are probably better than any in the city, unless it be the organ of St. Aloysius. (by George Simmons) Very frequently the Principal is considered diapason by organ builders, and the stop labeled accordingly; but in this case the metal of the pipe is sufficiently heavy to give full open tone required for diapason.<br>Let the Trinitarians congratulate themselves upon their instrument; but urge them to get somebody who can play it properly, in the Sabbath service, or it will soon lose caste.� -Database Manager

2023-07-06 - Info from http://www.streetsofwashington.com/2019/08/trinity-episcopal-church-once-one-of.html ; Evening Star 23 November 1936, pg. 21 The church was located at 3d & C Streets NW. It was closed in 1922, then demolished in 1936. The organ was used in a combination organ project with the extant Hook organ at St Mark's Episcopal , Capital Hill. (see OHS entry 1630) No follow up information was announced in the DC news papers, no mention of the organ firm that did the work. -Steven Bartley


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