Organs

The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even that that of any other art . . . In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies, and powerfully lifts up man’s mind to God and to higher things: Pope Paul VI in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.

Organ of the Basilica The two M. P. Möller organs of the Basilica’s Upper Church (located at the rear of the nave and in the west chancel triforium respectively) were built in 1965, a gift of Cardinal Spellman, the Catholic Chaplains and military personnel of the United States. A classical but eclectic character lies at the root of both instruments’ disposition, for they were designed at a time notable for many attempts to return to a purer, more historically-based aesthetic in organ building. However, the 1960s was also a period now rather notorious for its marking the apex of a revolution against the Romantic style of organ building arguably more appropriate for instruments in larger buildings. Originally, the nave organ incorporated two ‘mirror’ rückpositiv divisions, attached to the organ’s tribune rail, but these were re-located within the main casework in 2001 when the south wall was adorned with the sculptured ‘Universal Call to Holiness’. Goulding & Wood’s work at that time also included the provision of two identical 4-manual consoles, enabling both West Chancel and South Gallery organs to be played from either end of the building.

Organ of the Basilica Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) gave the world premiere of his Méditations sur le Mystére de la Sainte Trinité on the south gallery organ in 1972 and other important organists who have performed at the Basilica have included Maurice Duruflé, Marcel Dupré, Virgil Fox, Martin Baker, Flor Peeters, Thierry Escaich, Philippe Léfèbrve, Frederick Swann, Stephen Tharp and Jeremy Filsell.

Whilst the principal ‘symphonic’ instrument in the south gallery houses 9,393 pipes, in which 157 stops operate 172 ranks, The Schudi organ in the Crypt Church was built in the German baroque style of Bach’s contemporary Silbermann (1683-1753). Dedicated in 1987, this two-manual mechanical-action organ contains 1,355 pipes spread over 25 ranks.

The South Gallery Organ

Möller (1964) – Goulding & Wood (2000-2001)

GREAT
32’ Contre Violone
16’ Violone
8’ Principal
8’ Chimney Flute
8’ Viola
5 1/3’ Grosse Quinte
4’ Octave
4’ Spitzflote
2-2/3’ Quinte
2’ Super Octave
2’ Blockflöte
1 1/3’ Mixture IV
2/3’ Scharf IV
16’ Fagott
8’ Trompete
4’ Clarion 61
8’ Pontifical Trumpet (BOM)

SWELL
16’ Contre Viole
8’ Principal
8’ Gedeckt
8’ Viole
8’ Viole Celeste
4’ Octave
4’ Traverse Flute
2 2/3’ Twelfth
2’ Flageolet
1-3/5’ Seventeenth
2’ Plein Jeu III-IV
½’ Cymbale III
16’ Contre Hautbois
8’ Trompette
8’ Hautbois
8’ Voix Humaine
4’ Clairon
Tremulant

CHOIR
16’ Quintaton
8’ Principal
8’ Orchestral Flute
8’ Gemshorn
8’ Gemshon Celeste
4’ Fugara
4’ Chimney Flute
2’ Zauberflöte
2/3’ Carillon III
16’ Bass Clarinet
8’ Petite Trompette
4’ Clairon
8’ Pontifical Trumpet (BOM)
Tremulant

POSITIV RIGHT
16’ Singend Gedeckt
8’ Holzgedeckt
4’ Prinzipal
4’ Holhflöte
2’ Blockflöte

1’ Sifflöte
2/3’ Mixture IV
8’ Cromorne
Tremulant

POSITIV LEFT
16’ Geigen
8’ Principal
8’ Rohrflöte
4’ Principal
4’ Koppelflöte
2 2/3’ Rohr Nasat
2’ Octave
2’ Spielflöte
1 3/5’ Terzflöte
1 1/3’ Quintflöte
1 1/3’ Mixture IV
Tremulant

BOMBARDE
8’ Diapason
8’ Open Flute
4’ Octave Major
2’ Plein Jeu IV
1’ Harmonics IV
16’ Bombarde Harmonic
8’ Trompete Harmonique
4’ Clarion Harmonique
8’ Pontifical Trumpet
Tremulant

PEDAL
64’ Gravissima
32’ Contre Violone
32’ Contre Bourdon
16’ Principal
16’ Bourdon
16’ Violone (GT)
16’ Gemshorn
16’ Violone (SW)
16’ Contrebasse
16’ Quintaton (CH)
10 2/3’ Grosse Quinte
8’ Octave
8’ Stopped Flute

8’ Viole (GT)
4’ Choralbass
4’ Open Flute
2’ Hohlflöte
4’ Mixture IV
1 1/3’ Acuta III
32’ Contre Bombarde
16’ Bombarde
16’ Basson (SW)
16’ Fagott (GT)
8’ Trumpet
4’ Clairon
4’ Rohrschalmei

The West Chancel Organ

Möller (1964) – Goulding & Wood (2000-2001)

GREAT
16’ Bourdon
8’ Principal
8’ Bourdon
4’ Octave
4’ Flute a Fuseau
2’ Flute a Bec
1 1/3’ Mixture IV
8’ Trompete

SWELL
16’ Gedeckt
8’ Principal
8’ Gedeckt
8’ Viole
8’ Viole Celeste
4’ Octave
4’ Harmonic Flute
2’ Gemshorn
2’ Plein Jeu III-IV
16’ Contre Hautbois
8’ Trompette
8’ Hautbois
4’ Clairon
Tremulant

CHOIR
16’ Dolcan
8’ Spitzprincipal

8’ Rohrflöte
8’ Dolcan
8’ Dolcan Celeste
4’ Oktav
4’ Blockflöte
2 2/3’ Nazard
2’ Principal
1 3/5’ Tierce
1’ Fourniture III
8’ Corno di Bassetto
Tremulant

PEDAL
32’ Contre Bourdon
16’ Soubasse
16’ Bourdon (SW)
16’ Gedeckt (SW)
16’ Viole (GT)
16’ Dolcan (CH)
8’ Octave
8’ Stopped Flute
4’ Choralbass
4’ Open Flute
2 2/3’ Rauschquinte II
1 1/3’ Mixture II
16’ Bombarde
16’ Basson (SW)
8’ Bombarde
4’ Chalameu

The Crypt Church Organ

Schudi (1987)

HAUPTWERK
8’ Principal
8’ Rohrflöte
4’ Octave
2 2/3’ Quinte
2’ Superoctave
1 3/5’ Terz
1 1/3’ Mixtur IV
8’ Trompete
Tremulant

OBERWERK
8’ Gedackt
8’ Viol di Gamba
4’ Rohrflöte
2’ Principal
1 1/3’ Quinte
1’ Sifflet
2/3’ Cymbel II
8’ Schalmey
Tremulant

PEDAL
16’ Subbass
8’ Principal
8’ Bordun
4’ Octave
2 2/3’ Rauschpfeife III
16’ Posaune
8’ Trompete