The organs of the Cathedral of St. Patrick were built 1928-1930 by George Kilgen & Son of St. Louis, Missouri. They were built to specifications by the renowned Pietro Yon who had been appointed Music Director and Organist.
The Chancel Organ, originally comprising 30 Ranks, was delivered in 1928 and is located in the North Ambulatory. It was quickly determined that the Gallery Organ required a larger space and in the late 1920s a reinforced concrete extension was added to the gallery. In 1930 the Gallery Organ, originally comprising 117 ranks, was installed with one of the nation’s most glorious wood façades adorned with angels and Latin inscriptions.
In the 1940s and 1950s some tonal alterations were made and in the 1970s and 1980s additional renovations were made, particularly the revoicing of the reeds and the addition of the Trumpette en Chamade.
After more than six decades of continuous daily use, a complete restoration of both organs was begun in 1993. Most essential to this project was the acquiring of new twin consoles from Robert M. Turner of Hacienda, California, since the original consoles had deteriorated beyond repair. Both consoles are able to control the chancel, gallery and nave organs through the use of fiber-optic wiring.
In January and February 1994 scaffolding filled the gallery to provide access for wood craftsmen to clear, repair and oil the façade.
The Peragallo Pipe Organ Company of Paterson, New Jersey was awarded the contract to restore all the pipework, chests and wind systems. The Great, Choir, Swell, Solo, String and Pedal divisions of the gallery organ where all restored as well as the entire chancel organ by 1995. Finally the original echo organ, situated in the south triforium near the transept, underwent tonal modification and the a making it more useful as the Nave division, which includes a new principal chorus and a solo trumpet stop.
The combined organs currently contain 12 divisions, 150 ranks, 177 stops and over 9,000 pipes.
The organ's specifications and general infromation are available as a downloadable PDF below:
