Battell Chapel Virtual Tour
The Ellen Battell Stoeckel Memorial Organ
To replace the venerable instrument that had served Battell since its erection in 1876, the University, in 1951, engaged the services of Mr. Walter Holtkamp of Cleveland, Ohio. Under the guidance of Professor H. Frank Bozyan, Mr. Carl Lohmann, the Reverend Sidney Lovett, Professor Luther Noss, Dean Charles H. Sawyer and Dean Bruce Simonds, the Holtkamp Company was charge with creating an organ that would meet the special needs of the Chapel, both for choral accompanying and concert performances. The Holtkamp Company based the organ upon ideas gained from a careful study of the tonal and architectural designs of European instruments from the 17th and 18th centuries. The organ seeks to achieve the clearest possible ensemble, avoiding the use of all stops and devices that in any way defeat this objective. The organ consists of two consoles, one in the north transept gallery, the other in the apse, both of which may be played from either of the two consoles. The organ in the north transept gallery consists of 43 stops (3046 pipes). The large Pedal division occupies the left area of the transept, the Great division the center, the Swell in the enclosure on the right, and extending over the railing, the Rückpositiv.
The organ in the north gallery is dedicated in memory of Ellen Battell Stoeckel. The organ in the apse was provided for by Samuel Thorne, 1896, in memory of his three sons, Lewis Thorne, 1931, Peter Thorne, 1940 and Neale Thorne, 1942.
The rose window in the north gallery bears the motto of the State of Connecticut, Qui transtulit sustinet. On the outer walls, two stone tablets appear on either side of the window; one with the state motto, the other with that of the college, Lux et Veritas.
View a stop list of the Holtkamp Organ
Listen to an example of the Holtkamp Organ (MP3)
Widor: excerpt from Symphonie VI: Intermezzo
