The E.M. Skinner organ dates from 1930 and was one of the last instruments Ernest Skinner designed and finished before he retired from the company. It represents the culmination of his career and reflects the influences of Willis, Cavaille-Coll, and G. Donald Harrison. All of the unique orchestral voices invented or perfected by Skinner are found on the organ as well as a progressive treatment of a well-developed diapason chorus.
The organ chamber is located at the lofty triforium level in the south wall near the front of the cathedral. From a rather shallow 15′ deep chamber finished with hard plaster, the organ speaks clearly into the perfect acoustics of the cathedral. The console was originally housed in the choir loft opposite the pipe chamber but was moved in 1980 to the floor level of the sanctuary where the music area now is located.
In the late 1980s the restorative work was completed by Sam Koontz of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The organ is currently serviced by the Muller Organ Co. of Croton, Ohio which has been selected to completely restore the organ in the near future. The organ remains today as Skinner left it in 1931, both tonally and mechanically.
https://organhistoricalsociety.org/
E.M. Skinner Organ on Facebook – Refer to the events listing on this site for organ updates as well as concerts at the cathedral featuring the organ.
Top List 1930 Skinner Organ – Opus 820
GREAT
6-inch wind
16′ Double Diapason
8′ Second Diapason
8′ Third Diapason +
8′ Viola +
8′ Harmonic Flute
8′ Gedeckt +
8′ Erzähler
4′ Octave
4′ Flute +
22/3′ Twelfth
2′ Fifteenth*
IV Chorus Mixture*
IV Harmonics*
16′ Trumpet
8′ Tromba*
4′ Clarion
+ = enclosed in Choir
* = 10-inch wind
SWELL
6-inch wind, enclosed
6′ Melodia
8′ Diapason*
8′ Salicional
8′ Voix Celeste
8′ Rohrflöte
8′ Flute Celeste II
8′ Echo Gamba
4′ Flute Triangulaire
4′ Octave*
2′ Flautino*
V Mixture
16′ Waldhorn*
8′ Trumpet
8′ Oboe d’Amore
8′ Vox Humana
4′ Clarion*
Tremolo
* = 10-inch wind
SOLO
10-inch wind, enclosed
8′ Gamba
8′ Gamba Celeste
8′ Flauto Mirabilis
4′ Orchestral Flute
16′ Corno de Bassetto (ext. of 8 foot)
8′ Corno di Bassetto
8′ English Horn
8′ French Horn +
8′ Tuba Mirabilis +
Tremolo
+ = 20-inch wind
CHOIR
6-inch wind, enclosed
16′ Gamba
8′ Diapason
8′ Concert Flute
8′ Gamba
8′ Kleine Erzähler
8′ Kleine Celeste (t.c.)
4′ Gemshorn
4′ Flute
22/3′ Nazard
2′ Piccolo
III Carillon
16′ Fagotto
8′ Flügel Horn
8′ Clarinet
Tremolo
Harp
Celesta
PEDAL
6-inch wind, unenclosed
2′ Major Bass (ext. Bourdon)
16′ Diapason
16′ Contra Bass
16′ Metal Diapason (Great)
16′ Gamba (Choir)
16′ Dulciana
16′ Melodia (Swell)
16′ Bourdon
8′ Octave (ext. Diapason)
8′ ‘Cello (ext. Contra Bass)
8′ Gedeckt (ext. Brourdan)
8′ Stillgedeckt (Swell Melodia)
4′ Super Octave (ext. Contra)
IV Mixture*
32′ Fagotto (Choir)
16′ Trombone +
16′ Waldhorn (Swell)
16′ Fagotto (Choir)
8′ Tromba + (Ext. Trombone)
* = 6-inch wind
+ = 15-inch wind
Organ CDs
Do you love organ music? We have a small selection of CDs for purchase from our gift shop. CDs are $5.00 each and can be mailed anywhere in the United States. To order, please email office@rosarycathedral.org or call 419-244-9575.
Ken Cowan and Ernest Skinner. Transcription specialist Ken Cowan performs a mixed program of original organ works and organ adaptations of familiar pieces. In addition to Mendelssohn’s Sonata No. 1 in F Minor and Franck’s Choral No. 1 in E Major, both beautifully played, Ken Cowan shows off the many orchestral sounds of the Skinner with transcriptions of Dvorak, Humperdink and von Weber. Includes music of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mendelssohn, Bossi, Franck, Gigout, Fleury, Antonin Dvorak, von Weber.
Organ Masterpieces from the Cathedral of St. Patrick, New York City — Stanley H. Cox, organist.
España. The Toledo Diocesan Choir, Paul Monachino, director. In June of 2005, the Toledo Diocesan Choir embarked on a 10-day tour of Spain where they enjoyed many unique and memorable experiences. The highlight of the trip was a visit to our sister city, Toledo, where the choir sang for the morning Mass in the cathedral and performed an evening concert to a large and enthusiastic audience at San Tome church. The choir was designated as official ambassadors to Toledo as the two cities begin their 75th anniversary of their sister city relationship. The recordings are all live performances from the various venues where the choir sang, most of which were during the celebration of Mass. The recording equipment itself was required to be of the simplest nature and optimal microphone placement was not always possible. Thanks to David Mariasy’s engineering expertise in preparing this recording we feel that it has captured the essence of the tour and the awesome experience of singing in so many magnificent spaces.