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The Holtkamp Organ in Crouse College
Built in 1950 by Walter Holtkamp
  • 3 manuals and pedal
  • 62 stops
  • 3,283 pipes and 20 chimes
  • Cited by the Organ Historical Society as an "instrument of exceptional historical merit"

Full view of organ The organ in Setnor Auditorium is one of America's most important historic instruments. It represents a style of American organbuilding that flourished in the mid-20th century and is closely associated with builder Walter Holtkamp. It is widely considered to be his magnus opus.

The organ's character lies in the unique blend of the bright, clear Holtkamp aesthetic and the smooth, orchestral romanticism of the Roosevelt organ that had previously resided in the auditorium. This combination is reflected in the curious sight of the modern appearance of the Holtkamp organ in the Romanesque architecture of the auditorium. (Holtkamp was a great believer in functional appearance; the pipework is unencased, with no facade.)

The impetus for building the organ in 1950 came from Chancellor William Pearson Tolley, who was trying to lure famous organ teacher Arthur Poister to teach at Syracuse by building this and other organs on campus. Poister came and taught for nearly 20 years, making Syracuse University one of the premiere places for organ studies in the 1950's and 60's.

A recent donation allowed for a thorough restoration of the organ. Original mechanical and leather parts that had been failing have now been replaced. This work was recently completed by Kerner and Merchant Pipe Organ Builders of East Syracuse.


Stoplist
Great
Swell
Positiv
Pedal
Quintadena 16' Lieblich Gedackt 16' Copula 8' Grand Bourdon 32'
Principal 8' Geigen Principal 8' Quintadena 8' Principal 16'
Gemshorn 8' Gamba 8' Principal 4' Sub Bass 16'
Gedackt 8' Gamba Celeste 8' Rohr Flöte 4' Gamba 16'
Octave 4' Rohr Flöte 8' Nazard 2 2/3' Quintadena (Gt.) 16'
Gross Octav 4' Flauto Dolce 8' Doublette 2' Lieblich Gedackt (Sw.) 16'
Spitz Flöte 4' Flute Celeste 8' Nacht Horn 2' Octave 8'
Quinte 2 2/3' Octave Geigen 4' Tierce 1 3/5' Violon 8'
Super Octave 2' Bourdon 4' Sifflöte 1' Stille Gedackt 8'
Mixture IV Flautino 2' Cymbal III Quinte 5 1/3'
Scharf III Larigot 1 1/3' Cromorne 8' Choral Bass 4'
Dulzian 16' Sesquialtera II

Hohlflöte 4'
Schalmey 8' Plein Jeu V

Piccolo 2'
Chimes
Bassoon 16'

Rausch Quinte II


Trompette 8'

Mixture III


Oboe 8'

Posaune 16'


Clarion 4'

Dulzian (Gt.) 16'






Trumpet 8'






Rohr Schalmey 4'






Rohr Schalmey 2'
Couplers: Gr/Ped, Sw/Ped, Pos/Ped, Sw/Ped 4', Pos/Ped 4', Sw/Gt 16',
Sw/Gt, Sw/Gt 4', Sw/Pos, Pos/Gt, Pos/Gt 16, [Sw/Sw] 16', [Sw/Sw] 4'
Commercial recordings
Christopher Marks: Discoveries
50 Years of the Crouse Holtkamp
Will Headlee: Crouse College Centennial
Katharine Pardee: Organ Classics at Crouse
For more information about the organ program, please e-mail Univeristy Organist Christopher Marks at csmarks@syr.edu
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