Voices of Ascension

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Manton Organ makes its way from the Pascal Quoirin workshop to Church of the Ascension

As many of you know, we are hearing the first sounds of the new Manton Organ in church each Sunday.  Built by Pascal Quoirin of St. Didier, France, it is the first French-built organ ever installed in New York City, and will no doubt be one of the most significant organs of our time.  During the Fall the organ was assembled here, the mechanisms all put together, and the glorious organ cases installed.  The next and final phase - the tuning and "voicing" (the tonal regulation) of all the 6,183 pipes - began in mid-December.  From now until the end of March, more and more pipes will be heard, week by week, as they are tuned and voiced.  The organ will be gradually growing to its full size.  We look forward to an extraordinary Holy Week this year, and, beginning May 1, the official inauguration of this magnificent instrument.  Details of the inaugural events are listed on our Concerts / Tickets page.  In these next few months, we invite you to join us each Sunday at the 11:00am service (come early for the Preludial music at 10:45-10:50!) as we discover all the new sounds, week by week.

January 2010 (Dennis Keene)

Yesterday, we heard the first notes from the organ.  Pascal Quoirin and his team are now in residence, making daily progress on giving voice to this enormous instrument.  Of the 112 ranks of pipes, the first six ranks have been tuned, cut, and voiced.  The church congregation eagerly anticipates a return to the sanctuary for services, and we are counting the days to our Organ Inaugural Concerts in May and June.  Check the photo gallery for work in progress.

The Pascal Quoirin Team is making incredible progress assembling the organ.  The organ is being built in two separate organ galleries flanking the altar.  There are four facades with graduated pipes in a beautiful modern wooden case embellished with peacocks and birds of paradise inspired by the marble reredos behind the altar.  The 32-foot pipes are in place, as are the bombardes.  The four-manual tracker console has an enormous frame of wires - currently visible - that resemble a loom, linking each key to the organ chamber above.  Every day brings us closer to completion.  Check the photo gallery for work in progress.

The final container arrived early this morning, and the church is filled with steel frames, thousands of wooden and metal pipes, two consoles, and all of the mechanical and electrical equipment required to assemble this extraordinary organ.  We anticipate eight weeks of assembly and installation followed by voicing of each and every pipe.  The project will be finished in time for Easter services at Church of the Ascension as well as the Voices of Ascension Inaugural Organ Concert Festival in May and June 2011.

The truck arrived around 10:45am. After inspecting the container and breaking the seal, the maritime insurance representatives gave the go-ahead to begin unloading. Francois and David gave instructions to the workmen, and the odyssey began!

A large group assembled in front of the Church of the Ascension at 6:00 this morning to await the arrival of the first container holding crates of organ pipes. First to arrive were members of the contruction team who opened the church, followed by Artistic Director Dennis Keene, architect Leo Blackman and photographer Tom Ligamari. They were joined by Francois and David from the Pascal Quoirin workshop, and a work crew of eight men to unload the crates under the direction of Francois and David. Also in attendance was long-time friend of Voices of Ascension and maritime attorney Charles Schmidt, as well as representatives of the shipping line including an insurance specialist to witness the breaking of the seal on the container. Each person was prepared to play his role in this remarkable event, when we received word that there was a delay with the trucking company. We now expect delivery later this morning.

After months of painstaking planning, preparation and assembly, the Pascal Quoirin team has carefully packed our organ into large containers for the transatlantic journey. Shipped from Marseilles just a few days ago, the organ will reach New York via Malta at the end of September. Watch here for progress reports and photos marking the travel, arrival, installation, and voicing of this remarkable instrument.