University of Minnesota Northrop Auditorium Minneapolis, MN This organ received OHS Citation number 249 (1990)

University of Minnesota

Northrop Auditorium

Minneapolis, MN

This organ received OHS Citation number 249 (1990)

Builder: Aeolian-Skinner

Opus: 892, 892A, 892B, 892C

Manuals: IV

Stops: 102

Pipes: 7068

Ranks: 107

Action: Electro-Pneumatic

Year: 1932-1935

--Information from Charles Hendrickson and David Engen.

Foley-Baker, Inc. has removed the Northrop Organ and it has been put in storage on campus. Northrop Auditorium is being down-sized from a 4800 seat room to a 2800 seat room. There will be three balconies rather than the preset one. The organ chambers have been re-designed and the grillwork will be made much more sound transparent. There are no plans to change the specification or tonal design.

Last Update: 2/2011

GREAT ORGAN

16 Diapason

8 First Diapason

8 Second Diapason

8 Third Diapason

8 Flute Harmonique

8 Gedeckt

8 Viola

8 Gemshorn

5-1/3 Quint

4 Octave

4 Second Octave

4 Flute

3-1/5 Tenth

2-2/3 Twelfth

2 Fifteenth

VII Plein Jeu

IV Harmonics

16 Contra Tromba

8 Tromba

4 Octave Tromba

Harp

Chimes

Celesta

SWELL ORGAN

16 Bourdon

16 Gemshorn

8 Geigen Diapason

8 Hohlflöte

8 Rohrflote

8 Fluato Dolce

8 Flute Celeste

8 Salicional

8 Voix Celeste

8 Echo Gamba

8 Echo Celeste

4 Octave Geigen

4 Flute

4 Violina

2-2/3 Twelfth

2 Fifteenth

V Dolce Cornet

V Chorus Mixture

16 Posaune

8 French Trumpet

8 Cornopean

8 Oboe

8 Vox Humana

4 Clarion

Tremolo

Harp

Celesta

Chimes

CHOIR ORGAN

16 Contra Viola

8 Diapason

8 Concert Flute

8 Cor de Nuit

8 Dulcet II

8 Dulciana

8 Unda Maris

4 Flute

4 Gemshorn

2-2/3 Nazard

2 Piccolo

1-3/5 Tierce

1-1/3 Larigot

III Dulciana Mixture

16 Fagotto

8 Trumpet

8 Orchestral Oboe

8 Clarinet

Tremolo

Harp

Celesta

Northrop Auditorium was completed in 1930, and the organ was installed in four stages between 1932 and 1935 as funds became available. There is virtually no reverberation in the 4800-seat auditorium. The organ is installed in the upper center of the proscenium shell and the console is located on a lift in the front-center of the orchestra pit seventy feet below and behind the proscenium. The organ is best heard in the balcony. It was designed by Ernest Skinner but installed and finished by G. Donald Harrison. The organ almost died a couple of times but has been lovingly cared for by Gordon Schultz, who has kept the organ operational since the 1970s.

Housed in the ceiling of the auditorium, above the stage and behind the proscenium, the organ speaks through the proscenium’s grillwork and is played from a four-manual console located in the orchestra pit. Completely unaltered, intact, and in its original condition after 75 years, the Northrop organ possesses enormous historical value and is one of the most important instruments in the Upper Midwest.