Church of the Gesu: Rear Upper Gallery
1733 Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
Images
c. 1905 - Published photo of the organ when new (company ad?) (Photograph from an archival source: Company ad, submitted by Paul R. Marchesano/Paul R. Marchesano)
c. 2010 - Facade side, another view (Photograph by John McEnerney, submitted by Paul R. Marchesano/Paul R. Marchesano)
c. 2010 - Facade side view (Photograph by John McEnerney, submitted by Paul R. Marchesano/Paul R. Marchesano)
2019 - Facade detail (Photograph from an archival source: PSP, submitted by Paul R. Marchesano/Paul R. Marchesano)
2019 - Nave and organ in balcony (Photograph from an archival source: PSP, submitted by Paul R. Marchesano/Paul R. Marchesano)
Notes
2023-04-13 - The Contract for the New Organ
March 1905
Gift of Bernard Corr
On Wednesday February 15th, the W. W. Kimball Company, of Chicago Ill., having made the most satisfactory offer, and having given us the fullest guarantee for the reliability of the organ which they propose to erect in our Church, were awarded the contract for its construction. The guarantee, which extends over five years, is in the shape of a bond deposited with the City Trust Company of Philadelphia, for the entire cost of the organ. The builders are allowed six months for its erection, and will be engaged for some six weeks or thereabouts in the actual work of putting it into position. It will be the first organ built by the firm in this city, and we are confident that for this reason alone, if for no other, they will give us a specimen of their best workmanship. The W. W. Kimball Company have an almost unrivalled financial standing, and although hitherto they have not succeeded in gaining an entrance into Philadelphia, they have nevertheless constructed organs in New York, Pittsburgh, Rochester and other large cities.
The New Organ
On the evening of Sunday Oct 29th, the congregation was afforded, for the first time, an opportunity of hearing the Bernard J. Corr Memorial Organ, and judging its merits. A recital, participated in by the following eminent organists of our city, enabled all who were present to reach the conclusion, that in this new organ, the Gesu has an instrument of abundant power and of exceptionally sweet musical tone. The artists contributing to the pleasure of the evening were:
Francis J. O'Brien, Organist and Choirmaster of the Gesu
David D. Wood, Organist and Choirmaster of St. Steven's Church
William Sylvano Thunder, Organist and Choirmaster of the Cathedral
Martin J. Douville, Organist and Choirmaster of St. Charles' Church
In addition to the instrumental numbers on the program, the vocal selections rendered by the boy choir of the Church called for unstinted praise, the Credo from the Mass of the Angels being exceptionally fine.
--*Golden Jubilee Booklet* published in 1938 -Paul R. Marchesano
2023-04-13 - "A proposal was solicited from the Mudler-Hunter Company to repair the organ by removing the tubular pneumatic action and redoing the console. The proposal was dated July 1946 for the amount of $17,930.60 and this amounted to a major overhaul. Also another document surfaced which was an accounting of the purchase of the Allen Organ from Strawbridge & Clothier at 8th & Market St. The amount was $13,725.00 in June of 1953. And so for the difference of approximately $4200.00 the church lost a fine pipe organ. All this transpired before the parish began its decline. To put this in perspective, $4200.00 in this era amounted to a teacher’s salary for one year."
-- *The Church of the Gesu* web page, John McEnerney -Paul R. Marchesano
Stoplist
Sourced from church publication, Golden Jubilee, 1938 which references in detail the original contract. Source: The Church of the Gesu web page by John McEnerney
Great (unenclosed) Open Diapason 16, Open Diapason 8, Viol D’Gamba 8, Stentorphone 8, Gemshorn 8, Doppel Flute 8, Quinte 5⅓ (independent?), Octave 4, Hohl Flute 4, Twelfth 2⅔, Fifteenth 2, Mixture V, Tuba Mirabilis 16, Trumpet Harmonique 8, Clarion 4
Swell (expressive) Bourdon 16, Open Diapason 8, Bell Diapason 8, Viola Pomposa 8, Salicional 8, Violin Diapason 8, Aeoline 8, Vox Celeste 8, Stopped Diapason 8, Principal 4, Flute Harmonique 4, Flageolette 2, Cornet III, Oboe & Bassoon 8, Vox Humana 8, Cornopean 8, Chimes
Choir (expressive) Contra Violone 16, Concert Flute 8, Diapason D’Amour 8, Melodia 8, Dulciana 8, Violina 4, Flute D’Amour 4, Piccolo Harmonique 2, Clarionet 8
Pedal (CC – f) Grand Sub Bass 32, Resultant 32, Open Diapason 16, Bourdon 16, Tuba Major 16, Violin Major 16, Flute 8, Violincello 8, Hohl Pfeife 4
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