Newberry Memorial Organ

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The Newberry Memorial Organ is among the largest and most notable "Orchestral" organs in North America. Located in Woolsey Hall at Yale University, the organ contains 12,617 pipes, comprising 197 ranks and 142 stops. It is one of the largest organs in the world.

The first Woolsey Hall organ was built by the Hutchings-Votey Organ Company of Boston in 1902. The organ was expanded in 1915 by the J.W. Steere & Son Organ Company of Springfield, Massachusetts. The instrument was expanded again to its current configuration and size in 1928 by the Skinner Organ Company of Boston as Skinner(Op. 722).

The organ is maintained in original playing condition and is utilized throughout the academic year for student organ recitals, organ crawls, gala events and concerts. It is maintained by the Associate Curators of Organs, Nicholas Thompson-Allen and Joseph F. Dzeda.

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• Organ's specificiations

The Newberry Organ's expansion in 1927 was performed by the "Skinner Organ Company" of Boston, MA. The work was directed both by Ernest M. Skinner, and his new Superintendent, recently from England, Mr. G. Donald Harrison. Harrison later became the Tonal Director of the "Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company" when Mr Skinner departed his company and the "Aeolian Organ Company" was formally merged with the Skinner Organ Company. A pipe organ reflects the combined skills of many people, and the Newberry Organ is widely considered to reflect a unique and American pedigree. The lineage of the Newberry Organ as envisioned by Hutchings, Steere, and Skinner builders, Yale Curators and musicians, from prior to 1900 to the present, has resulted in a unique and landmark musical instrument.