Organists of Old First | Intro: A History

Old First’s Roosevelt pipe organ. Photo by Jane Hively Barber

The organ. It was a big part of our worship life in what now feels like a long time ago. Built by the Roosevelt Pipe Organ Builders, ours is a magnificent three-manual instrument, installed when the 7th Avenue edifice was erected.

The Roosevelt company was founded in 1870 by brothers Hilborne and Frank Roosevelt, cousins of Theodore, who built some of the largest organs in the United States. Today many are still prized for their quality and tone. Since the company closed in 1893, ours was one of the last made by Frank Roosevelt, Hilborne having died in 1886. We are very fortunate indeed to have this remarkable inheritance from our early congregation.

In 1928 the organ was rebuilt by the M. P. Möller Company (1875-1992). Pastor Meeter’s research notes a second console being added in the balcony, to facilitate directing the choir who were situated there. This allowed the director to conduct the choir and play the organ simultaneously. The installation can be dated to 1981 thanks to correspondence between Pastor Meeter and organist, David Byrkit, who oversaw the installation — details to be included in a later post after we interview David and Sharon Byrkit for their story. This second console has since been removed.

In the 1970s the organ was repaired by a dishonest contractor who stole many valuable ranks of pipes and sold them, leaving the organ at about two-thirds of its original capacity. This reportedly was a common occurrence when these instruments were serviced.

Photo by Jane Hively Barber

To fully restore our organ today, it would cost several hundred thousand dollars — which seems like a lot — but a new organ of similar size and quality would run more than a million. Since Pastor Meeter and Aleeza Meir, our current organist, have arrived, we have restored several of the ranks that were the most damaged, and the most missed. There is much more that needs repaired and replaced, with opportunities to upgrade to modern mechanics where prudent, making the organ more durable and easier to play, according to Aleeza.  And — it would be nice to spare Aleeza from the sudden emergencies caused by a failing instrument, as happened one Easter Eve when she remained with an organ repairman until the wee hours of the morning, in fervent prayer that our Easter service would once more be filled with the awe inspiring sound of a magnificent pipe organ (it was).

Visit The New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (NYC AGO) for mechanical specifications of the organ.

If you are reading this online, you might want to listen to one of the 32 pieces of music from Old First’s organ while you read. The Old First recordings start with the 9th video posted. They were recorded by David Byrkit, organist at Old First from 1997-1983, which is when he made these recordings.

Next: the organ makes itself heard — 1891

Old First organ. Photo by Jane Hively Barber