Better Pipe Organ Database


Steere & Turner [John S. Steere] Opus 131 (1879)

Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church: Sanctuary; rear gallery
8th Street & N Street NW
Washington, DC

OHS convention: 1964, 2011


Images


ca. 2021 - Rear gallery with organ (Photograph from an archival source: Parish Facebook page, submitted by Jim Stettner/Jim Stettner)

2010-11-16 - Nave, Gallery, and Pipe Facade (Photograph by Len Levasseur/Database Manager)

2010-11-16 - Keydesk (Photograph by Len Levasseur/Database Manager)

Consoles

Main


Notes

2013-04-06 - Updated through online information from Chad Hrdina. -Database Manager

2022-10-31 - The present Steer & Turner organ, Opus 131, was installed in 1879. An electric blower was probably installed in the tower in 1936 when the building was completed. On the recommendation of Fr. George Gleason of Baltimore, a respected organ consultant, the original flat pedalboard was replaced in 1951 with a 32-note AGO radiating and concave type. In 1954, the Newcomer Organ Company replaced the original double-fold reservoir with standard Möller reservoirs. Newcomer listed the organ as a Wm. Bardroff and the Baltimore firm replaced the stop tablets when the organ was under its care. The organ was so identified during the 1964 OHS Convention and then it was discovered that indeed, it was a Steer & Turner. In 1977, the organ was partly refurbished by Lewis & Hitchcock. This project reversed some of the unsatisfactory 1973 restorative work. Further work was done by Central Pipe Organ Service, including the replacement of the AGO pedalboard with a flat 30-note pedalboard similar to the original. -- *2011 OHS Atlas* -Paul R. Marchesano


Stoplist

Source: 2011 OHS Atlas

GREAT (58 notes) Open Diapason 16 (1–12 zinc, in facade, 1–30 zinc; 31–58 common metal, slotted), Open Diapason 8 (#1 in facade, 1–17 zinc; 18–58 common, slotted), Viole de Gamba 8 (1–12 zinc, rest spotted metal; 13–49 slotted, 50–61 tuning slides), Dulciana 8 (1–12 zinc, rest spotted metal; 13–49 slotted, 50–61 tuning slides), Melodia 8 (1–12 stopped wood, 13–58 open wood, metal scrolls), Stopped Diapason 8 (1–49 stopped wood, 50–61 common metal; tuning slides), Octave 4 (1–5 zinc, 1–12 slotted, 13–58 tuning slides; common metal), Flute Harmonic 4 (1–12 zinc, rest spotted metal; harmonic from d1, #55 is a replacement pipe), Twelfth 2⅔ (1–17 slotted, rest tuning slides; common metal), Fifteenth 2 (1–12 slotted, rest tuning slides; common metal), Mixture III 1⅓ (174 pipes, all common metal; rank 1, #1–5 slotted, rest slides), Trumpet 8 (regulation flaps, tapered shallots, harmonic from A#3, zinc bells #1–16, #17 up spotted metal; #54–58 slotted flues, spotted metal), Clarinet (t.c.) 8 (flared bells, moveable, tapered shallots, #50–58 slotted flues)

Unknown

SWELL (61 notes, enclosed) Bourdon 16 (stopped wood, 1–8 outside Swell box), Open Diapason 8 (1–12 offset, 1–17 zinc, rest common metal; slotted), Salicional 8 (1–8 offset, 1–12 spotted metal butts, zinc bodies, rest spotted metal; 1–49 slotted, 50–58 tuning slides, 1–32 beards, #33 has added beard; #51 and #55 missing), Stopped Diapason 8 (1–49 stopped wood, 50–58, common metal, tuning slides; #49 is a replacement pipe), Violina 4 (spotted metal, bearded to #21, slotted #1–52, rest tuning slidesopen wood, metal scrolled tuning flaps; open common metal flues #50–58 to top), Waldflute 4 (open wood, metal scrolled tuning flaps; open common metal flues #50–58 to top), Cornet III 2 (174 pipes , common metal, heavy nicking, #1 and 2 of 15th slotted, #1–5 of 19th slotted, rest tuning slides), Oboe & Bassoon 8 (tapered shallots, flared bells, zinc stems to #17, rest spotted metal, slotted spotted metal flues #50–58; regulation flaps to #36, #37–49, dead length), Vox Humana 8 (common metal, 1/8 length, soldered caps, #50–58 slotted spotted metal flues), Tremulo

PEDAL (30 notes) Double Open Diapason 16 (open wood), Double Stopped Diapason 16 (stopped wood), Violoncello 8 (slotted, roller beards, spotted metal butts, zinc bodies to #24, then spotted metal to #30)

COUPLERS (above Swell keys) 1st Manual to Pedal, 2nd Manual to Pedal, 1st to 2nd Manual

COMBINATION PEDALS 2nd Forte, Mezzo, Piano (LEFT), 1st to Ped Rev, Swell (CENTER), 1st Piano, Mezzo, Forte (RIGHT)


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