Diocese of Buffalo
Catholic Social Teaching

Latest News

Events

The Centennial Organ

Organ  

The Hook and Hastings Organ in St. Joseph's Cathedral has rendered service to the Church and community for over 124 years. It has become part of the foundation and fabric of the Cathedral, sounding forth daily since its installation in 1877. Historians recognize it as one of the finest surviving examples of late 19th century American organs.

This irreplaceable instrument was originally constructed as a showpiece for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, and stood in the East Gallery of the Main Exhibition Hall. There, it was heard in nearly 1000 recitals, sending its glory into a room 50 times the size of the Cathedral. The organ won first prize, and was acclaimed as the "dictionary of American organs whose mechanical and tonal effects are unequaled." It was formally installed in the Cathedral on February 13, 1877. Since then, it has led worshipers through joy and sadness, war and peace, in over 50,000 liturgies.

The Most Reverend Henry J. Mansell, Bishop of Buffalo, commissioned restoration of the organ as part of his overall renovation plan for Saint. Joseph's Cathedral. In July 1999, a team from the Andover Organ Company of Lawrence, Massachusetts dismantled the organ and transported it back to Massachusetts. The project was completed in March 2001.

The Bishop's Council of the Laity and other funding Sources provided support for this endeavor.

On Monday, June 11, 2001 at 7:30 p.m., the renovated organ was blessed by Bishop Mansell. A recital, featuring renowned concert organist Thomas Murray, followed the blessing.

A one hour tour of the Cathedral is available by appointment, including a demonstration of the historic Hook & Hastings Organ. Call Kathy Amend at 687-1338.

List of Stops

GREAT
16' Open Diapason Old 61 Pipes
8' Open Diapason Old 61 Pipes
8' 2nd Open Diapason from 16' O.D. 12 Pipes
8' Doppel Flöte Old 61 Pipes
8' Gamba Old 61 Pipes
6' Quinte Old 61 Pipes
4' Octave Old 61 Pipes
4' Flute Harmonique Old 61 Pipes
3' Twelfth Old 61 Pipes
2' Fifteenth Old 61 Pipes
III-IV Cornet Old 232 Pipes
IV Mixture Old 244 Pipes
V Cymbale New 305 Pipes
16' Trumpet Old 61 Pipes
8' Trumpet Old 61 Pipes
4' Clarion Old 61 Pipes
  Blank Knob    
  Great to Great 16'    
  Great to Great 4'    
  Great Unison    
SWELL
16' Bourdon Old 61 Pipes
8' Open Diapason Old 61 Pipes
8' Viola Old 61 Pipes
8' Voix Céleste Old Pipes Tellers 49 Pipes
8' Stopped Diapason Old 61 Pipes
8' Quintadena Old 61 Pipes
4' Octave "Old E&GG H&H, Op.869" 61 Pipes
4' Violina Old 61 Pipes
4' Flauto Traverso Old 61 Pipes
2 2/3' Cornet Nazard Old from Cornet 61 Pipes
2' Flautino Old from Cornet 61 Pipes
1 3/5' Cornet Tierce "Old Pipes Hook, Op. 869 " 61 Pipes
IV Mixture New 244 Pipes
16' Contra Fagotto "From Oboe, New Bass " 12 Pipes
8' Cornopean Old 61 Pipes
8' Oboe Old 61 Pipes
8' Vox Humana Old 61 Pipes
  Tremolo    
  Chimes    
  Swell to Swell 16'    
  Swell to Swell 4'    
  Swell Unison Off    
CHOIR
16' Lieblich Gedeckt Old Pipes Estey Op. 3079 61 Pipes
8' Geigen Principal Old 61 Pipes
8' Dulciana Old 61 Pipes
8' Melodia Old 61 Pipes
8' Rohr Flöte Old 61 Pipes
4' Octave Op 501 Hook Geig. Prin. 61 Pipes
4' Fugara Old 61 Pipes
4' Flute d'Amour Old 61 Pipes
2 2/3' Quint Flöte New 61 Pipes
2' Piccolo Old 61 Pipes
1 3/5' Tierce New 61 Pipes
1 1/3' Octave Quint New 61 Pipes
III Mixture New 183 Pipes
8' Trumpet "Old Pipes, Estey Op.3079 " 61 Pipes
8' Clarinet Old 61 Pipes
8' Vox Angelica Old 61 Pipes
8' Cromorne New 61 Pipes
4' Clarion from 8' Trumpet 12 Pipes
  Tremolo    
  Choir to Choir 16'    
  Choir Unison Off    
SOLO
8' Stentorphon "Old, New or old trebles " 61 Pipes
8' Tuba Mirabilis Old 61 Pipes
V Grand Cornet T.C. "8' fr. Opus 501, 4' fr. Sw. "  
    "Cornet, 2 2/3',2',1 3/5' New" 245 Pipes
  Blank Knob    
  Solo to Solo 16'    
  Solo to Solo 4'    
  Solo Unison Off    
CELESTIAL
16' Gemshorn "Old , treb fr.Estey 4079" 61 Pipes
8' Philomela New 61 Pipes
8' Gemshorn from 16' Gemshorn 12 Pipes
8' Dolcan Gamba Old Pipes Hutchings 61 Pipes
8' Gamba Céleste Old Pipes Hutchings 49 Pipes
8' Spitzflöte New 61 Pipes
8' Spitzflöte Céleste New 49 Pipes
4' Hohlpfeife "Old Pipes Hook, Opus 355" 61 Pipes
2' Harmonic Piccolo Hutchings. Votey fr. Chicago 61 Pipes
8' French Horn Old Pipes Gottfreid 61 Pipes
8' Cor Anglais "Old Pipes Estey, Opus 3079" 61 Pipes
  Tremolo    
  Celestial Bells    
  Harp    
  Celestial to Celestial 16'    
  Celestial to Celestial 4'    
  Celestial Unison Off    
PEDAL
32' Bourdon Old 32 Pipes
16' Open Diapason Old 32 Pipes
16' Violone Old 32 Pipes
16' Dulciana Great 16' OD. 32 Notes
16' Gemshorn From Celestial 32 Notes
16' Bourdon From 32' Bdn. 12 Pipes
16' Lieblich Gedeckt From Choir 32 Notes
12' Quinte From 32' 7 Pipes
8' Octave From 16' OD. 12 Pipes
8' Bell Gamba Old 32 Pipes
8' Violoncello From Violone 12 Pipes
8' Gemshorn From Celestial 32 Notes
8' Gedeckt From Choir Lieblich 32 Notes
5 1/3' Octave Quinte Old Pipes 32 Pipes
4' Principal Old Pipes 32 Pipes
4' Super Octave From Bell Gamba 12 Pipes
IV Mixture 5 1/3' Quint & Old Pipesfr.Estey 3079 68 Pipes
V Gross Harmonics Old Pipes 96 Pipes
32' Contra Bombarde "New, Ext. Trombone " 12 Pipes
16' Trombone Old 32 Pipes
16' Bassoon From Sw. Oboe 32 Notes
8' Trumpet From Trombone 12 Pipes
8' Posaune Old Pipes 32 Pipes
8' Oboe From Sw. 32 Notes
4' Clarion From Posaune 12 Pipes