Saenger Theatre
New Orleans, Louisiana

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142 North Rampart Street
Opened: February 5, 1927
Architect: Emile Weil
4000 seats

 

The specification of the Robert Morton organ in the New Orleans Saenger Theatre is unchanged from the revision in 1927 which removed from the organ the V'Oleon & added the Fife & Vibrato Violins.

This specification listing was made by Dr. Barry Henry in 1975.

 

SAENGER THEATRE

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
 

ROBERT MORTON ORGAN
 

OPUS 1650

 

 

CONSOLE:
  FOUR MANUALS ON LIFT - RIGHT OF ORCHESTRA PIT
  265 STOP TABLETS
  SWELL PEDALS: LEFT-RIGHT-MASTER-CRESCENDO
RANKS - 26
CHAMBERS - LEFT - 14 RANKS
  RIGHT - 12 RANKS

 

LEFT CHAMBER      
  DIAPHONIC DIAPASON   16' to 8', 85 pipes, 15" w.p., except 16' offset at 20" w.p.
 
Left chamber:
16' Tuba offset at left, Tibia Plena at right against wall.		   Left chamber:
Vibrato Violins at center
     
 
Left chamber:
Trumpet offsets.		   Left chamber:
Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Orch. Bells at left against wall.
     
  TIBIA PLENA   16' to 4', 85 pipes, stoppered wood
  FIFE   (Flute Harmonique) 4' to 1'
  GAMBA   16' to 2', 97 pipes
  VIOLA CELESTE   (Essentially a gamba celeste) 8' to 4', 73 pipes
  VIBRATO VIOLINS   (2 rank celeste with one valve for the same note of each rank) 8'to 4', 73 pipes each rank
  TUBA   16' to 4', 85 pipes
  KINURA   8', 73 pipes
  FRENCH HORN   8', 73 pipes
  KRUMET   8', 73 pipes
  TRUMPET   8' to 4', 73 pipes
  ENGLISH HORN   16' to 4', 85 pipes, 20" w.p.
  VOX HUMANA SOLO   8', 73 pipes, 7 1/2" w.p.
  CHIMES    
  ORCHESTRA BELLS   no re-its
  SLEIGH BELLS   49 notes, Deagan
  GLOCKENSPIEL   reiterating
  XYLOPHONE    
  SNARE DRUM    
  TAMBOURINE    
  CASTANETS    
  TOM TOM    
  WOOD BLOCK    
  CHINESE GONG    
  KETTLE DRUM    
  CYMBAL    
  CRASH CYMBAL    
  TRIANGLE    
  BIRD WHISTLE    
  BELL   Gone by 1975

 

RIGHT CHAMBER      
  OPEN DIAPASON   16' to 4', 85 pipes
     
     
     
     
  TIBIA CLAUSA   8' to 2', 85 pipes
  CONCERT FLUTE   16' to 1 3/5', 97 pipes
  QUINTADENA   8', 73 pipes
  VIOLIN   16' to 4', 85 pipes
  VIOLIN CELESTE (2 RANKS)   16' to 4', 85 pipes each rank (pedal not celested)
  SAXOPHONE   8' to 4', 73 pipes
  OBOE HORN   16' to 4', 85 pipes
  ORCHESTRAL OBOE   8', 73 pipes
  VOX HUMANA FOUNDATION   8' to 4', 73 pipes, 7 1/2" w.p.
  CLARINET   8', 73 pipes
  MARIMBA HARP    
  RAIN EFFECT   Oscillating metal sheet with BB's
  CHRYSOGLOTT    
         
TREMULANTS      
  LEFT      
  LEFT REEDS      
  TIBIA PLENA      
  RIGHT      
  RIGHT REEDS      
  TIBIA CLAUSA      
         
COMBINATION PISTONS      
 
PEDAL   8
ACC.   10
GREAT   10
SOLO   10
ORCH.   10
     
       
       
       
       
  SETTER BOARDS AT CONSOLE  
Console, 1975
Knife switch at right had been installed previously for console lights

PEDAL
           
32'   RESULTANT BASS   Tibia Plena, note + 5th      
16'   TUBA          
16'   MAJOR DIAPHONE          
16'   MINOR DIAPHONE          
16'   TIBIA PLENA          
16'   FLUTE BASS          
16'   GAMBA          
16'   CONTRA VIOLIN          
16'   ENGLISH HORN          
16'   CONTRA OBOE HORN          
8'   TUBA          
8'   DIAPHONIC DIAPASON          
8'   OPEN DIAPASON          
8'   TIBIA PLENA          
8'   TIBIA CLAUSA          
8'   FLUTE          
8'   GAMBA          
8'   QUINTADENA          
8'   VIOLIN          
8'   VIBRATO VIOLINS          
8'   ENGLISH HORN          
8'   KINURA          
8'   OBOE HORN          
8'   ORCHESTRAL OBOE          
    BASS DRUM          
    KETTLE DRUM          
    CYMBAL          
    CRASH CYMBAL          
8'   PEDAL          
8'   ACCOMPANIMENT          
8'   GREAT          
8'   SOLO PIZZICATO          
               
SECOND TOUCH:          
    BASS DRUM          
    KETTLE DRUM          
    CYMBAL          
    CRASH CYMBAL          
    CHINESE GONG ROLL          

 

ACCOMPANIMENT
         
16'   VIOLIN    
8'   TUBA    
8'   DIAPHONIC DIAPASON  
8'   OPEN DIAPASON        
8'   SAXOPHONE        
8'   TIBIA PLENA        
8'   TIBIA CLAUSA        
8'   CONCERT FLUTE        
8'   GAMBA        
8'   QUINTADENA        
8'   VIOLA CELESTE        
8'   VIOLIN        
8'   CELESTE VIOLIN        
8'   VIBRATO VIOLINS        
8'   KRUMET        
8'   ENGLISH HORN        
8'   KINURA        
8'   FRENCH HORN        
8'   OBOE HORN        
8'   CLARINET        
8'   FOUNDATION VOX HUMANA        
8'   SOLO VOX HUMANA        
4'   TIBIA CLAUSA        
4'   CONCERT FLUTE        
4'   GAMBA        
4'   VIOLA CELESTE        
4'   VIOLIN        
4'   CELESTE VIOLIN        
4'   VIBRATO VIOLINS        
2 2/3'   CONCERT FLUTE        
2'   CONCERT FLUTE        
2'   GAMBA        
    MARIMBA HARP        
    CHRYSOGLOTT        
    ORCHESTRA BELLS        
    GLOCKENSPIEL        
    SNARE DRUM LOUD   Mute off    
    SNARE DRUM SOFT   Mute on    
    TAMBOURINE        
    CASTANET        
    TOM TOM        
    WOOD DRUM        
    CHINESE GONG        
16'   ACC. TO ACC.        
4'   ACC. TO ACC.        
8'   GREAT TO ACC.        
8'   SOLO TO ACC.        
8'   SOLO PIZZICATO TO ACC.        
    UNISON OFF        
             
SECOND TOUCH:        
8'   TUBA        
8'   DIAPHONIC DIAPSON        
8'   OPEN DIAPASON        
8'   TIBA PLENA        
8'   TIBIA CLAUSA        
8'   ORCHESTRA TO ACCOMPANIMENT        
8'   ORCHESTRAL OBOE        
8'   CLARINET        
4'   TIBIA CLAUSA        
    CHIMES        
    TRIANGLE        
    BIRD    

 

GREAT

  
         
16'     TUBA  
16'     DIAPHONE  
16'     TIBIA PLENA  
16'     FLUTE  
16'     GAMBA  
16'     VIOLA CELESTE TC  
16'     VIOLIN  
16'     CELESTE VIOLIN  
16'     ENGLISH HORN  
16'     CONTRA OBOE HORN  
8'     TUBA  
8'     TRUMPET  
8'     DIAPHONIC DIAPASON  
8'     OPEN DEAPASON  
8'     SAXOPHONE  
8'     TIBIA PLENA  
8'     TIBIA CLAUSA  
8'     CONCERT FLUTE  
8'     GAMBA  
8'     QUINTADENA  
8'     VIOLA CELESTE  
8'     VIOLIN  
8'     CELESTE VIOLIN  
8'     VIBRATO VIOLINS  
8'     KRUMET  
8'     ENGLISH HORN  
8'     KINURA  
8'     FRENCH HORN  
8'     OBOE HORN  
8'     CLARINET  
8'     ORCHESTRAL OBOE  
8'     FOUNDATION VOX HUMANA  
8'     SOLO VOX HUMANA  
4'     TUBA  
4'     TRUMPET  
4'     OPEN DIAPASON  
4'     SAXOPHONE  
4'     TIBIA CLAUSA  
4'     CONCERT FLUTE  
4'     GAMBA  
4'     VIOLA CELESTE  
4'     VIOLIN  
4'     CELESTE VIOLIN  
4'     VIBRATO VIOLINS  
4'     ENGLISH HORN  
4'     OBOE HORN  
4'     FOUNDATION VOX HUMANA  
2 2/3'     CONCERT FLUTE  
2'     CONCERT FLUTE  
2'     GAMBA  
1 3/5'     CONCERT FLUTE  
      MARIMBA HARP  
      CHRYSOGLOTT  
      ORCHESTRA BELLS  
      GLOCKENSPIEL  
      XYLOPHONE  
      SLEIGH BELLS  
      CHIMES  
16'     GREAT TO GREAT  
4'     GREAT TO GREAT  
16'     SOLO TO GREAT  
8'     SOLO TO GREAT  
4'     SOLO TO GREAT  
8'     SOLO PIZZICATO TO GREAT  
         
SECOND TOUCH:  
16'     TUBA  
16'     DIAPHONIC DIAPASON  
16'     TIBIA PLENA  
16'     TIBIA CLAUSA (TC)  
16'     GAMBA  
16'     OBOE HORN  
8'     SOLO TO GREAT  

 

SOLO

  

ORCHESTRA
             
16'   TUBA   8'   TUBA
16'   TIBIA PLENA   8'   TRUMPET
16'   TIBIA CLAUSA (TC)   8'   DIAPHONIC DIAPASON
16'   ENGLISH HORN   8'   OPEN DIAPASON
16'   CONTRA OBOE HORN   8'   SAXOPHONE
8'   TUBA   8'   TIBIA PLENA
8'   TRUMPET   8'   TIBIA CLAUSA
8'   DIAPHONIC DIAPASON   8'   CONCERT FLUTE
8'   OPEN DIAPASON   8'   GAMBA
8'   SAXOPHONE   8'   QUINTADENA
8'   TIBIA PLENA   8'   VIOLA CELESTE
8'   TIBIA CLAUSA   8'   VIOLIN
8'   CONCERT FLUTE   8'   CELESTE VIOLINS
8'   GAMBA   8'   VIBRATO VIOLINS
8'   QUINTADENA   8'   KRUMET
8'   VIOLA CELESTE   8'   ENGLISH HORN
8'   VIOLIN   8'   KINURA
8'   CELESTE VIOLINS   8'   FRENCH HORN
8'   KRUMET   8'   OBOE HORN
8'   ENGLISH HORN   8'   ORCHESTRAL OBOE
8'   KINURA   8'   SOLO VOX HUMANA
8'   FRENCH HORN   4'   TIBIA PLENA
8'   OBOE HORN   4'   TIBIA CLAUSA
8'   CLARINET   4'   GAMBA
8'   ORCHESTRAL OBOE   4'   VIOLA CELESTE
8'   FOUNDATION VOX HUMANA   4'   VIOLIN
4'   TIBIA PLENA   4'   CELESTE VIOLINS
4'   TIBIA CLAUSA   4'   ENGLISH HORN
4'   GAMBA   2'   TIBIA CLAUSA
4'   VIOLA CELESTE   2'   GAMBA
4'   VIOLIN       MARIMBA HARP
4'   CELESTE VIOLINS       CHRYSOGLOTT
4'   VIBRATO VIOLINS       XYLOPHONE
2'   TIBIA CLAUSA       CHIMES
    MARIMBA HARP   16'   ORCHESTRA TO ORCHESTRA
    CHRYSOGLOTT   4'   ORCHESTRA TO ORCHESTRA
    GLOCKENSPIEL        
    ORCHESTRA BELLS  

FIFE DIVISION
    XYLOPHONE   2'   PEDAL
    SLEIGH BELLS   2'   ACCOMPANIMENT
16'   SOLO TO SOLO   4'   GREAT
4'   SOLO TO SOLO   2'   GREAT
8'   GREAT TO SOLO   1'   GREAT
5th   SOLO TO SOLO   2'   SOLO
        2'   ORCHESTRA

 

EFFECTS TOE PISTONS    
  THUNDER   multiple 16' pipes from existing ranks  
  RAIN      
  SURF      
  BOAT WHISTLE      
  CRASH CYMBAL      
  BELL      
  CLAXON      


    The 25 horsepower Spencer Turbine Co. blower for the New Orleans Saenger Robert Morton organ.

The generator is not driven from the blower; the motor-generator set can be seen at right.
The starter for the blower's motor is partially obscured behind the nice new flexible wind conductor on the output.

Photographs provided by Dr. Barry Henry

 

   

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