Organ & Instruments

E.M. Skinner Opus 306, 1920

The great American organ builder Ernest M. Skinner built the Holy Cross organ in the pre-Aeolian Skinner years. Termed “The American Classic,” E.M. Skinner’s organs are by nature symphonic organs, and Skinner was the best of the American organ builders of the early 20th century. His instruments are characterized by a lush, romantic sound, rich in beautiful string stops and other orchestral imitations. Additionally, the astonishing acoustics of our one hundred and twenty-year-old church further amplify our Skinner Opus 306’s renowned symphonic sounds.

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Victorian Parlor Organ

Circa 1890-1908

Built by the Adler Organ Co., Louisville, Kentucky

Sold by Sears, Roebuck and Company with Sears stenciling

Purchased and donated to the parish by The Rev. Kenneth Paul in the early 1980s

Our pump organ was designed for a home, as it employs a cabinet on top of the actual organ The pump organs without the high cabinet were used in more utilitarian settings, particularly places of worship.

 

Steinway & Sons Grand Piano

Donated to Holy Cross

Refurbished and refinished by Pendley Piano Gallery, Shreveport, 2021.

Harpsichord by Xavier Leigh-Flanders

Given by The Rev. Robert Park former assistant priest at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Shreveport and Rector, St. John’s Church, Minden, Louisiana.

Given in memory of Mrs. Park’s aunt, acquired 1983-1984

History of the organs of Holy Cross

1905

Hook and Hastings Co., Opus 1613, 1894, two manual, 12 registers (stops), hand-pumped tracker

Boston organ builders furnished all the organs that have been used at Holy Cross beginning with a 2-manual hand-pumped tracker organ built by the firm of Hook and Hastings, their Opus 1613 of 1894.  This instrument was moved to 875 Cotton Street when the church was built. The organ had been used in the previous St. Mark’s building located at the corner of Market and Fannin streets.

1911

Hooks and Hastings Organ Sold

The Hook and Hastings organ was  sold to Dunlap Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, for approximately $3,200.00 and was used by that congregation for many years until it was sold to William Garrett of Haslam, Texas, for use in his residence.

1911

Purchase of new Hutchings Organ

A new 3-manual electro-pneumatic organ was purchased from the Hutchings Organ Company of Boston in 1911 for the sum of $10,000.00.

1912

Huthchings Organ installed

Original installation had been projected for December 1911, but investigation into the vestry minutes of St. Mark’s reveals that the installation was delayed until December 1912.

1919

Church Fire

The Hutchings instrument had a relatively short life as it was destroyed by a fire that did considerable damage to the chancel and sanctuary area of the church in 1919.

1920

New organ purchased from the Skinner Organ Co. Boston, Mass.

In the spring of 1920, a contract was signed with the Skinner Organ Company of Boston for a new 3-manual instrument to replace the Hutchings.

1921

Skinner Opus number 306 installed

The Skinner organ was completed in the early part of 1921 and bears Skinner’s Opus number of 306.  It was used for the first time in services on April 21, 1921.

1921

Inaugural recital for the new Skinner Opus 306

Leo Bonnell Pomeroy, the organist of the church, presented the first in a series of recitals on May 10, 1921, to celebrate the completion of the new Skinner organ.  A notice in The Diapason for June 1, 1921, noted that “Mr. Pomeroy will make a feature of the sonatas of Guilmant in their order.”  The program for the inaugural recital was as follows:

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor – Bach

Spring Song – Macfarlane

Sonata no. 1 in D Minor – Guilmant

Evening Rest – Hollins

Grand Fantasia – Bartlett

Arpa Notturna – Yon

Chant de Bonheur – Lemare

Marche Cortege – Gounod-Archer

1949

Aeolian-Skinner Co. rework creating Skinner Opus 306-A

Aeolian-Skinner reworked and replaced some of the tonal resources of the 1920 Skinner.

1954

Holy Cross purchases Skinner organ from St. Mark's

Over one-hundred members of St. Mark’s decided to stay at 875 Cotton Street and create Holy Cross. They purchased the Skinner organ for $10,000 from St. Mark’s.

1989

Mechanical reconstruction

Mechanical reconstruction by The Range Organ Company, Mesquite, Texas, 1989.

1997

Mechanical Restoration

Peterson Chimes installed by Range Organ Co., 1997, placed in Celesta knob position.

2015

Mechanical Restoration

Mechanical work on Great, Swell, and Choir including releathering of various components by Garland Pipe Organs and Organ Supply Industries.

2017

Restoration of Orchestral Oboe

Restoration of Orchestral Oboe by Robert Gladden & Associates Pipe Organs and Trivo Company, Inc.

2018

Mechanical restoration

Restoration of Flugelhorn (Swell) and Posaune (Swell) by Robert Gladden & Associates Pipe Organs and Trivo Company, Inc.

2021

Mechanical restoration and upgrades

Motherboard ugrade by Robert Gladden & Associates Pipe Organs and Trivo Company, Inc.