The historic Church of the Ascension, New York City, has signed a contract for a major new organ with Pascal Quoirin of St. Didier, located in southern France, to be completed at the end of 2010. This will be the first French-built organ ever to be installed in New York City.

The 94-stop, 110-rank instrument has been designed to play as large a part of the repertory as possible. The core of the instrument will be a three-manual classical instrument (Grand Orgue, Positif, Echo/Récit, and Pédale) played by a three-manual mechanical action console. This classical core will consist of a luxurious complement of all the timbres necessary for the French Classical literature, as well as various stops particularly intended for German Baroque music.

A second console - this one with four manuals and electric action - will control that classical core as well as many other stops intended for symphonic repertory, including a large French Romantic Grand Récit Expressif. In particular, the organ has been designed to play the works of Olivier Messiaen. Every registration that Messiaen calls for in his scores will be found in this organ.

The instrument will be situated in the front of the church on two sides of the chancel, flanking the famed 1888 mural "The Ascension" by John LaFarge. Four organ facades - two on each side - will include elaborate wood carvings of peacocks, inspired by the peacocks in the marble reredos, also from the 1880's. Two trompettes en chamade, one on each side of the chancel, will face each other in the manner of the historic Spanish organs.

Unknown by most Americans, Pascal Quoirin has spent his career restoring and building organs throughout the world. Major restorations include many of the great historical instruments of France, such as the Dom Bédos masterpiece at Sainte-Croix in Bordeaux and the Cavaillé-Coll organ in Saint-Cloud, France. Mr. Quoirin's new organs include his recent instrument in the gothic Cathedral of Evreux, France, and instruments in other European countries, Japan, and Mexico. The Church of the Ascension's instrument will be his first organ in the United States.

The new organ is made possible by a grant from the Manton Foundation to honor the memory of Sir Edwin and Lady Manton, who were active members of the Church of the Ascension for over 50 years. The Mantons were avid lovers of music, and particularly the music of Olivier Messiaen and other French composers.

The Quoirin organ will replace the church's 1967 81-rank Holtkamp organ.

The Church of the Ascension is the oldest church building on New York City's Fifth Avenue and has been known for its music program for more than 100 years. Dennis Keene has served as Organist and Choirmaster since 1981. The church is the home of the Voices of Ascension Chorus and Orchestra.