Instruments
Our wonderful array of instruments and exceptional space and acoustics in the heart of Back Bay, make First Church Boston a destination for many soloists and chamber groups to host their concert series and recitals. We have a 64-rank Casavant three-manual pipe organ that moves us to reflective meditations and celebratory fanfares, and to accompany the joyous singing of our hymns.
Organs
Sanctuary Organ
Casavant Fréres | 1972 | Opus 3140
GREAT
1. Quintaden 16′
2. Prinzipal 8′
3. Rohrfloete 8′
4. Oktav 4′
5. Waldfloete 4′
6. Quinte 2 2/3′
7. Octav 8′
8. Kornett V 8′
9. Mixtur VI 1 1/3′
10. Dulzian 16′
11. Trompete 8′
POSITIV
12. Gedackt 8′
13. Prinzipal 4′
14. Koppelfloete 4′
15. Nasat 2 2/3′
16. Oktav 2′
17. Blockfloete 2′
18. Terz 1 3/5′
19. Quinfloete 1 1/3′
20. Siffloete 1′
21. Scharf IV 1′
22. Zimbel III 1/4′
23. Krummhorn 8′ Tremulant
SWELL
24. Gedackfloete 8′
25. Salizional 8′
26. Vox coelestis 8′
27. Spitzfloete 4′
28. Gemshorn 2′
29. Sesquialtera II 2 2/3′
30. Kleinmixtur III 2/3′
31. Oboe 8′ Tremulant
PEDAL32
Prinzipal 16′
33. Subbass 16′
34. Oktav 8′
35. Bordun 8′
36. Choralbass 4′
37. Rohrpfeife 4′
38. Nachthorn 2′
39. Mixtur V 2′
40. Posaune 16′
41. Fagott 16′
42. Trompete 8′
43. Schalmei 4′
COUPLERS: Positive and Swell to Great; Great, Positive, Swell to Pedal
COMBINATION ACTION: Six pistons each division; eight general pistons. Pedal and general pistons operated by thumb and toe studs. Full organ (thumb and toe); general cancel; adjuster (8 postions). Reversible pistons: Great, positive, Swell to Pedal; Pedal and Swell to Great.
Mechanical key action; mechanical swell pedal; electric combination action.
Hale Chapel Organ
Casavant Fréres | 1972 | Opus 3129
MANUAL
Gedackt 8′
Prinzipal 4′
Rohrfloete 4′
Gemshorn 2′
Zimbal III I
PEDAL
Subbass 16′
COUPLER: Manual to Pedal
All manual stops are split at middle C.
Pianos
There are also three beautiful grand pianos, a Steinway B concert piano used to accompany us and to play the loveliest of the piano solo repertoire, a Steinway L in our chapel used for summer services there and for choir rehearsals, and a rare and beautiful 1850’s Broadwood. Our D. Jacques Way Flemish-style two-manual harpsichord gifted to us by congregant, Ellis L. Phillips III, is a source of beauty and inspiration, allowing us to authentically perform music of the Baroque era.
Sanctuary Piano
Steinway “Model B”
Hale Chapel Piano
Steinway “Model L”
Auditorium Piano
Yamaha Upright “Model U”
Harpsichord
Flemish-style, two manual, by D. Jacques Way (1980)
8′, 8′, 4′, buff
GG to g”, transposing (415/440)
motto on lid: Virtutem Posuere Dii Sudore Parandum (The gods have contrived that excellence is to be had thru sweat)
motto on lid flap: Sollicite jucunda oblivio vitae (Delightful forgetfulness of the troubles of life)
Handbells
Whitechapel, London
three octaves, C4-A6 (excluding C#4)
First Church’s handbells are officially known as the “Houghton Handbells,” cast by Whitechapel, London. Mabel Houghton collected and rang these bells, intending them to go to First Church for continued hearing.