SPECIFICATIONS
for
Main Street Baptist Church
Binghamton, New York


The 1908 Estey Facade has been retained.

GREAT

16
  Pommer
Pedal
8
  Open Diapason
61
pipes
8
  Koppel Flute
61
pipes
4
  Octave
61
pipes
4
  Gedeckt
61
pipes
2 2/3
  Twelfth
61
pipes
2
  Fifteenth
61
pipes
III
  Mixture
183
pipes
16
  Fagotto
Swell
8
  Tuba
Solo
  Great 4

SWELL

16
  Lieblich Gedeckt
12
pipes
8
  Diapason
61
pipes
8
  Stopped Flute
61
pipes
8
  Viola Pomposa
61
pipes
8
  Viola Celeste tc
49
pipes 
4
  Octave
61
pipes
4
  Fugara
12
pipes
4
  Harmonic Flute
61
pipes
2
  Klein Octave
12
pipes
IV
  Plein Jeu
244
pipes
16
  Fagotto
12
pipes
8
  Cornopean
61
pipes
8
  Oboe
61 
pipes 
  Tremulant
 
 
  Swell 16
 
 
  Swell Off
 
 
  Swell 4
 

SOLO

8
  Concert Flute
61
pipes
8
  Gemshorn
61
pipes
8
  Gemshorn Celeste tc
49
pipes
4
  Open Flute
61 
pipes
2 2/3
  Nasard
61 
pipes
2
  Piccolo
12
pipes
1 3/5
  Tierce
61
pipes
8
  Clarinet
61
pipes
8
  Tuba
61
pipes
    Tremulant
    Chimes
25
notes
    Zimbelstern
7
bells
    Solo 16    
  Solo Off    
  Solo 4    

PEDAL

*32
  Contra Bourdon  
*16
  Principal  
16
  Bourdon
32
pipes
16
  Lieblich Gedeckt
 
Swell 
8
  Octave
32
pipes 
8
  Bourdon
12
pipes
8
  Viola
Swell
8
  Stopped Flute
Swell
4
  Choral Bass
32
pipes
4
  Concert Flute
Solo
2
  Concert Flute
Solo
*32
  Tuba Profunda
Solo
16
  Tuba Profunda
 
Solo 
16
  Fagotto
 
Swell 
8
  Tuba
 
Solo
8
  Cornopean
 
Swell
4
  Schalmei
 
Swell

COUPLERS

Great to Pedal 8
Swell to Pedal 8
Swell to Pedal 4
Solo to Pedal 8
Solo to Pedal 4
Swell to Great 16
Swell to Great 8
Swell to Great 4
Solo to Great 16
Solo to Great 8
Solo to Great 4
Solo to Swell 16
Solo to Swell 8
Solo to Swell 4
Great to Swell 8
Swell to Solo 8
Great to Solo 8

MIDI

MIDI on Great I, II, III, IV
MIDI on SwellI, II, III, IV
MIDI on Solo I, II, III, IV
MIDI on Pedal I, II, III, IV

 

*16' Principal notes 1-12 are electronic.
*32' Bourdon notes 1-12 are electronic.
*32' Tuba Profunda 1-12, are resultant derived from Principal 16'

The challenges that new organ projects present to the builder is one aspect of our profession that makes our work so rewarding and enjoyable, and our Opus 53 for Main Street Baptist Church was no different. Once a specification was agreed upon, the task of how to fit 32 ranks in a space that previously held nineteen, all the while making service and tuning access simple, proved to be one of the greatest challenges of the project. The resulting layout, with the expressive divisions partially cantilevered on either side of the central Great organ allows for excellent tonal egress, tuning stability, and the aforementioned maintenance access.

Apart from the five ranks of new pipes made in our shop, the bulk of the pipework comes from existing material, either from the previous organ or from our stock. Existing pipework is cleaned, rebuilt, and revoiced to provide brand new tone from old pipes. Notable is the Great chorus, with pipework from the famed American builder Ernest Skinner, and the Solo Tuba from a 1930s M.P. Möller organ, voiced by Möller tonal director Richard O. Whitelegg. The 16´ octave of the Tuba presented one of the greatest challenges to the layout, and though jokingly at first, we realized that its installation horizontally in the Solo chamber not only solved the layout issue, but satisfyingly stretched our engineering abilities.

The tonal design and voicing, both of new and old ranks seek to coax the unforced beauty from each pipe, producing elegant individual voices, as well as a finely-blended and warm ensemble suitable to accompanying congregational and choral singing – the organ’s primary purpose. The instrument makes use primarily of electro mechanical action, for simplicity, economy, and reliability. Electro-pneumatic action is employed for large bass pipes, and for the high pressure Tuba. Pressures range from 3 to 11 inches water column.

An early E. M. Skinner drawknob console, rebuilt with new Harris stop and coupler controls and a Classic Organ Works relay system provide for control of the tonal resources.

Throughout the project, the close and easy relationship with the staff of the church, specifically Joseph Kotylo, has made this one of the more enjoyable jobs we have completed. We thank Main Street Baptist for entrusting us with the creation of its new organ, hoping it inspires church-goers and music lovers alike for generations.

Russell and Company

Jason Ballard, Larry Chace, Erik Johansson, Paul McTaggart, Larry Nevin, Jonathan Ortloff, Carole Russell, and Stephen Russell.