The Longwood Gardens Organ

Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

 

Included below: List of DTR recordings of Longwood Gardens Organ, Description of Longwood Gardens and the organ, and Specifications of the organ.

DTR Recordings of the Longwood Gardens Organ

Compact Discs

DTR8305 The Longwood Gardens Organ, Vol. 1 (Thomas Murray) [CD/cassette]
DTR8605 Longwood Pops (Michael Stairs, Longwood Gardens Organ) [CD/cassette]
DTR8901 March On! (Michael Stairs, Longwood Gardens Organ) [CD/cassette]
DTR9303 Orchestral Hors d'oeuvres (Peter Richard Conte, Longwood Gardens Organ)
DTR9504 It's Christmas Again at Longwood Gardens (Michael Stairs, organ; Davyd Booth, violin
DTR9102 A Longwood Gardens Christmas (Michael Stairs, Longwood Gardens Organ)
DTR9407 A White Christmas at Longwood Gardens (Choral, half with organ accompaniment)
DTR9703 Longwood Sketches--Organ Music of Firmin Swinnen (Peter Richard Conte, Longwood Gardens Organ)

Cassettes & Custom CDs

Longwood Gardens Hymnbook (J. Richard Szeremany) DTR8509
Longwood Pops (Michael Stairs) DTR8605  (CD: DTR8605CD)
Longwood Potpourri (Paul Danilewski) DTR8607  (CD: see DTR8607CD)
The Paradise Garden (Michael Stairs) DTR8701  (CD: see DTR9801)
Christmas at Longwood Gardens (Michael Stairs) DTR8511
Christmas Pops at Longwood Gardens (Michael Stairs) DTR8705 (CD: see DTR9102CD)
A Sacred Longwood Gardens Christmas (J. Richard Szeremany) DTR8505

Longwood Gardens and the Longwood Gardens Organ

Longwood Gardens, located at Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is renowned for magnificent gardens featuring 14,000 varieties of plants. A Quaker family named Peirce purchased the land from William Penn in 1700 and planted ornamental trees. By the mid-19th century, this park had become one of America's choicest aboretums. Pierre S. duPont (1870-1954) bought the property in 1906 and, in addition to heading both DuPont and General Motors, set about to create magnificent formal gardens and fountains that would rival the splendor of Versailles.

Every season is beautiful at Longwood. Spring comes alive with vast expanses of dogwood, rhododendrons, and azaleas. Zinnias, marigolds, and a host of other plants bloom in summer, and illuminated fountains, sometimes with fireworks, color the evening sky on special nights. Fall gives way to brilliant chrysanthemum displays. A visit can be delightful even during the coldest weather. With frigid air lurking just beyond the frosted glass, visitors stroll along flower-lined paths of the vast conservatory.

In addition to being a lover of horticulture, Mr. duPont enjoyed music and made it part of the Longwood tradition. Concerts are held regularly throughout the year. The ballroom, where many of these performances are given, is unique. Of interest are the beautiful crystal chandeliers, the delicate pink glass ceiling, and the walnut parquet floor made from gunstock blocks obtained from army surplus after World War I.

The organ, located in the ballroom, was built in 1930 by the Aeolian Company, and the pipes are housed in a chamber 63 feet wide, 23 feet deep, and 40 feet high which runs parallel to the ballroom. Large brass-framed windows and doors can be opened to allow the music to be heard throughout the conservatories.

Since the instrument was designed to fill an area equal to the space of three large cathedrals, it is extremely powerful. Considered to the on of the finest remaining orchestral organs, the instrument has 10,010 pipes, 250 stops and couplers, five thirty-two foot pedal stops, 364 percussion tones, 70 combination pistons, and a nin-foot concert grand piano. It was rebuilt in 1957 by the Moller Company, and a new four-manual drawknob console was installed.

The organ is well-maintained and has not been tonally altered over the years.

For information about visiting Longwood Gardens, call 610-388-1000.

The Longwood Gardens Organ

Aeolian, 1930; M. P. Moller, 1958
All divisions except Pedal Organ enclosed; all ranks have 73 pipes unless noted otherwise.

Great Organ

(8", 9 1/2", 10" wind pressure)
16' Double Diapason
16' Bourdon
8' First Diapason
8' Second Diapason
8' Third Diapason
8' Fourth Diapason
8' Tibia Clausa
8' Major Flute
8' Gamba
8' Melodia
8' Gemshorn
4' First Octave
4' Second Octave
4' Flute Harmonique
3 1/5' Tenth (61 pipes)
2 2/3' Twelfth (61 pipes)
7' Fifteenth (61 pipes)
V Rank Mixture (306 pipes)
16' Double Trumpet
8' Trumpet Harmonique
4' Clarion
Chimes (34 tones) from Percussion
Celesta (49 tones) from Percussion
Harp 8' (61 tones) from Percussion
Harp 4'
Tremolo
Great Unison Off
Great to Great 16'
String to Great
Percussion to Great
Fanfare to Great

Swell Organ

(7 1/2", 8", 10" wind pressure)
16' Contra Viola Diapason
16' Melodia
8' Diapason Phonon
8' Open Diapason
8' Horn Diapason
8' Geigen Diapason
8' Claribel Flute
8' Viola di Gamba
8' Gamba Celeste
8' Viole d'Orchestra
8' Viole Celeste
8' Salicional
8' Voix Celeste
8' Rohr Flute
8' Flute Celeste
8' Fluto Dolce
4' Octave
4' Flute Traverso
4' Violina

Grand Mixture V:
4' Octave V
2 2/3' Twelfth V (61 pipes)
2' Fifteenth V (61 pipes)
1 1/3' Nineteenth V (61 pipes)
1' Twenty-second V (61 pipes)
2' Flautina (61 pipes)
Dolce Cornet IV (244 pipes)
16' Posaune
16' Vox Humana
8' Vox Humana (p)
8' Vox Humana (f)
8' Oboe
8' Corno di Bassetto
8' Cornopeon
8' French Trumpet
4' Clarion
Chimes (percussion)
Celesta (percussion)
Harp 8' (percussion)
Harp 4' (percussion)
Tremolo
Swell Unison Off
Swell to Swell 16'
Swell to Swell 4'
String to Swell
Percussion to Swell
Fanfare to Swell

Choir Organ

(8" wind pressure)
16' Contra Gamba
8' Open Diapason
8' Geigen Principal
8' English Diapason
8' Hohl Flute
8' Viola
8' Nachthorn
8' Spitzflote
8' Quintodena
8' Dulciana
4' Principal
4' Triangular Flute

III Mixture:
2 2/3' Nazard III (61 pipes)
2' Piccolo III (61 pipes)
1 3/5' Tierce III (61 pipes)
1 1/7' Septieme (61 pipes)
16' Holzregal
16' Fogotto
8' Orchestral Trumpet
8' Oboe d'Amour
8' Musette
4' Oboe Clarion
4' Rohr Shalmei
Chimes (percussion)
Celesta (percussion)
Harp 8' (percussion)
Harp 4' (percussion)
Tremolo
Choir Unison Off
Choir to Choir 16'
Choir to Choir 4'
String to Choir
Percussion to Choir
Fanfare to Choir

Solo Organ
(15", 20", 30" wind pressure)

8' Stentorphone
8' Open Diapason
8' Tibia Plena
8' Philomela
8' Doppel Flute
8' Gross Gamba
8' Gamba Celeste
4' Octave
4' Orchestral Flute

Mixture V:

2 2/3' Twelfth V (61 pipes)
2' Fifteenth V (61 pipes)
1 1/3' Nineteenth V (61 pipes)
1' Twenty-second V (61 pipes)
2/3' Twenth-sixth V (61 pipes)
16' Tuba Profunda (20" wind)
8' Tuba Mirabilis (30" wind)
8' Tuba Sonora (20" wind)
8' French Horn
8' English Horn
8' Bell Clarinet
8' Orchestral Oboe
8' Kenura
8' Vox Humana
4' Tuba Clarion (20" wind)
Chimes (percussion)
Celesta (percussion)
Harp 8' (percussion)
Harp 4' (percussion)
Tremolo
Solo Unison Off
Solo to Solo 16'
Solo to Solo 4'
String to Solo
Percussion to Solo
Fanfare to Solo

String Organ
Floating Division
(8 1/4" wind pressure)

16' Contra Basso
16' Contra Salicional
8' Violoncello
8' Violoncello Celeste
8' Viola di Gamba
8' Viola di Gamba Celeste
8' Salicional
8' Voix Celeste
8' Viole d'Orchestra
8' Viole Celeste
8' Viola Sordo
8' Viola Celeste
8' Violino Sorda
8' Violino Celeste
8' Viola d'Amour
8' Viola d'Amour Celeste
4' Violina
4' Gambetta
4' Solicet
8' Vox Humana
16' Piano (85 notes)
8' Piano (9-foot
4' Piano concert grand)
String Unison Off
String to String 16'
String to String 4'
Tremolo

Fanfare Organ
Floating Division

8' Trumpet Harmonic (23 1/4" wind)
8' Trumpet Miliraire (Brass 23" wind)
8' Post Horn (23" wind)
4' Trumpet (23" wind)
Tremolo
Fanfare Unison Off
Fanfare to Fanfare 16'
Fanfare to Fanfare 4'

Percussion Organ
Floating Division

Xylophone 8' (61 pipes)
Xylophone 4'
Celestial Harp 8' (49 tones)
Celestial Harp Vibrato 8'
Glockenspiel 8' (single)
Glockenspiel 8' (repeat)
Triangle (playable on Choir only)
Tambourine (Choir only)
Castanets (Choir only)
Tom Tom (Choir only)
Snare Drum (tap; Choir only)
Snare Drum (roll; Choir only)
Tympany (tap; Pedal only)
Tympany (roll; Pedal only)
Cymbals (Pedal only)
Snare Drum (roll; Pedal only)
Bass Drum (Pedal only)

Pedal Organ
(7-1/4",8",9",23-1/4" wind pressure) 64'Gravissima (resultant; 32 notes)

32' Double Open Diapason (32 pipes)
32' Contra Violone (32 pipes)
32' Contra Bourdon (32 pipes)
16' First Open Diapason (12 pipes)
16' Second Open Diapason (32 pipes)
16' Diapason Phonon (32 pipes)
16' Diapason (Great - 32 notes)
16' Violone (12 pipes)
16' First Bourdon (32 pipes)
16' Second Bourdon (32 pipes)
16' Melodia (Swell - 32 notes)
16' Viola Diapason (Swell - 32 notes)
16' Gamba (Choir - 32 notes)
10 2/3' Quint (32 notes)
16' Salicional (Great - 32 notes)
8' Octave (12 pipes)
8' Cello (12 pipes)
8' Flute (12 pipes)
8' Gedeckt (12 pipes)
V Rank Mixture (160 pipes)
4' Super Octave (12 pipes)
32' Contra Fagotta (Choir - 12 pipes)
32' Contra Bombarde (32 pipes)
16' Tuba Profundo (Solo - 32 notes)
16' Double Trumpet (Great - 32 notes)
16' Bombarde (12 pipes)
16' Posaune (Swell - 32 notes)
16' Fagotto (Choir - 32 notes)
8' Tromba (12 pipes)
4' Clarion (12 pipes)
16' Piano (String)
8' Piano (String)
4' Piano (String)
Chimes (Percussion)
Pedal 4'
Pedal Divide

Couplers

Great to Pedal
Great to Pedal 4'
Swell to Pedal
Swell to Pedal 4'
Choir to Pedal
Choir to Pedal 4'
Solo to Pedal
Solo to Pedal 4'
Fanfare to Pedal
Fanfare to Pedal 4'
String to Pedal
String to Pedal 4'
Percussion to Pedal 4'
Swell to Great 16'
Swell to Great 8'
Swell to Great 4'
Choir to Great 16'
Choir to Great 8'
Choir to Great 4'
Solo to Great 16'
Solo to Great 8'
Solo to Great 4'
Choir to Swell 16'
Choir to Swell 8'
Choir to Swell 4'
Solo to Swell 16'
Solo to Swell 8'
Solo to Swell 4'
Solo to Choir 16'
Solo to Choir 8'
Solo to Choir 4'
Swell to Solo 16'
Swell to Solo 8'
Swell to Solo 4'
Choir to Solo 16'
Choir to Solo 8'
Choir to Solo 4'