The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-09-19 00:00:00

THE ORGAN,

As one important purpose of the building was to se-
cure for Liverpool a hall in which musical performances
of the highest class might be suitably performed, furnish-
ing it with au organ in all respects suitable to the cha-
racter of the building, and the requirements of the public
was an object of paramount importance; and to meet it
neither skill nor the application of scientific resources
have been spared. The instrument, which is of great mag-
nitude and power, has been constructed by Mr. Willis, of
London, under the 'superintendence of Dr. Wesley. For
the following details concerning the organ we are indebted
to the kindness and courtesy of Dr. Thomson, from whose
excellent " Stranger's Vade Mecum" we extract.
The instrument consists of four rows of keys, from G
to A, i. e., GG to A in altissime, 63 notes ; and two octaves
and a half of • pedals, from C to F, i.e., CCC to,F, 30
notes. There are 108 stops, and 8,000 pipes, varying in
length from 32 feet to 3-Bths of an inch, ten octaves
apart. The GREAT ORGAN contains :

Double Diapson

Principal
Principal
Principal
Flute....

Twelfth..
Twelfth..
Fifteenth

16 ftjFifteenth

8 ~ I poubtette

4 „ Posaune...
4 „ Ophicliede
4 „ Trombone,
4 „ Crumpet..

2 ft
2 ranks

5 SO
. 16 ft

Clarion

Double Diapason .. (open
wood)
Double ~ • • (open
metal) 32„ Fourniture
Open „ (wood) 16 „ Posaune
Open „ (metal) 16 „ Trombone
Salcional.... (open metal) 16 , Ophicliede
Bourdon .. (closed wood) 16 Trumpet..
Principal ..... (wood) 8 „ Clarion , „
Principal (actetal) 8,,

3 Ranii

5 9 f
. • • 32ft
... 16,,
... I.q. „

The Sono ORGAIC contains—

et to
I

Double Diapason (closed Corno di Bah.
wood)
Open Diapason.... (wood) 8 „ Ophicliede ....
Stopped Diapason
Flute (orchestral) 4 „ Trumpet ....
Flageolet
Oboe(orchestral middle C) 8 ~ Bassoon
Clarionet (tenor C) 8 „ Contra Fagotto
The SWBLL ORGAN contains—
Double Diapason l6 ft Piccolo
Open SO
Open ~
Stopped ”
Dulciana 8 „ Trombone ..
Principal 4 „ Contra Hautboy
Principal 4 „ Horn .. .....
Flute (open wood) Trumpet
Flute (close wood) 4 „ Oboe
Twelfth
Fifteenth 2 „ Clarion.
_

Fifteenth

2.. ;;IClarion

touh let te 2 Itanlitil ---
The Cnors ORGAN contains—
Doub:e Diapason (closed 'Flute ...
wood)
Open Diapason 8 „ITwelfth .
Dulciana 8 Fifteenth

Viol di Gamba
Claribella ....

Stopped Diapason
Dulcimer

Principal

Celestiana

8 '-,ll%lixture
8 „Cremona.

(Harmonic) 8:,
8„
8„
16 „

(open wood) 2 ft
3 Ranks
3 99
4 ,
16 ft

3 Ranke
... Bft

8 „ITrumpet 8 „
4 „Orchestral Oboe (tenor C) 8 „

4 ,-,1 Clarion

The COUPLERS or MECHANICAL CONNEXIONS are—
Swell to Great Organ Choir to Pedals.
Choir to Great Organ. Great to Pedals.
Solo to Great Organ. Swell to Pedals.
Solo to Choir Organ. I Solo Organs to Pedals.
Great to Swell Organ.

The grand source of the wind is from two. immense
bellows, each having three feeders, placed in the vaults
below the floor of the hall. These are blown by a steam-
engine, consisting of a pair of oscillating cylinders. There
are, besides, twelve other bellows, or reservoirs, each
giving its own appropriate pressure of air to those stops or
pipes which it supplies.
The pneumatic lever is applied •to each of the manuals
distinctly, and also distinctly or separately to the manual
couplers. To the pedal organ there is a double set of
pneumatic levers, but the most elaborate use of this power
is found in its application to the combination of stops ;
here we have it exhibited in a compound form to each
organ individually, and to the whole collectively, where by
one operation the player is enabled to produce a combina-
tion of stops upon the entire instrument at once. This
movement appears in a series of six handsome gold-gilt
knobs, placed immediately under each set of manuals, at
about two keys' distance from each other, occupying a
central position, always within reach of one or other of tthe
performer's thumbs.

The pneumatic lever is also applied to the opening and
shutting of the swell louvres and some other less important
purposes.

- The very extensive use Mr. Willis has made of this ex-
traordinary power seems to have rendered any deviation
from the ordinary valves, in immediate connexion with the
pipes, unnecessary, excepting in the pedal organ, where
the large pipes have a very peculiar valve for their supply,
which is quiet, sound, and free from the resistance result-
ing from the compressed air. Space, however, will not
permit us to describe this curious mechanism. - •
The pedal board is a most ingenious contrivance of Dr.
Wesley's. The pedals radiate to a point some distance
behind the player, when seated at the instrument ; and
are circular on plan, and conically segmental in elevation.
The mode of drawing the stops is different from most
organs that we have seen. Each knob, which is of solid
ivory, presenting itself at an angle Of about 30 degrees ;
by this arrangement, with that of the pedals and the com-
bination movement, the player has remarkable control
over the instrument.

The improvements in the mechanism of this noble organ
are patent, and consist,-Ist. Of the cylindrical valve.
2d. The exhausting valve of the pneumatic lever, which
would, by engineers, be called an opposition surface valve,
its object being to facilitate the exhaustion of the bellows,
and thus to enhance the reiteration of the touch. 3d.
The throttle valve to the same, whereby the noise always
perceptible in pneumatic levers, without this application,
is entirely overcome. This is simply a valve placed over
the aperture through which the wind must pass, to inflate
the pneumatic lever, and although the machine retains all
the impulsiveness necessary to insure punctuality, its im-
petus is gradually checked by the pneumatic bellows
closing this valve, which is admirably contrived to have no
connection with the movement. 4th. The combination
movement,
.and the application of pneumatic levers, in a
compound form, by which we understand one acting upon
another. sth. An improved method of centring or
hinging such movements as lead from draw-stops to slides,
&c. 6th. (Not patent.) A most valuable contrivance in
the coupling of the pedals with the manuals, whereby the
four couplers in reality become eight. This is effected by
two pedals on the left of the performer ; one pedal pro-
duces the connexion in unison with the pedal organ, the
other in octaves with the same. They can be used sepa-
rately or together, and stand in such a position as to enable
the performer by one operation to detach the whole
coupling movement, though the stop be drawn. This is a
mechanical contrivance so unique, and of such importance
and utility, that we cannot help thus expatiating upon it.
We may dismiss the subject of mechanism by remarking
that means are in this instrument employed, for the first
time, by which all the great, and, it was thought, insur-
mountable obstacles to the building of an immense organ
are entirely overcome. The complete force of the organ
will be as much under the command of the performer as
that of a small chamber organ, of a single row of keys,
while the powers of tone and variety of effects will far ex-
ceed those of any instrument yet built. The quality of
the stops (such as we have heard) is exceedingly rich and
powerful, and such as, perhaps, has never been equalled,
and removes all doubt as to the voicing of this super-
latively grand instrument ; and the tone, after all, is the
grand feature of an organ, however necessary may be the
utmost facilities afforded the performer by mechanical
inventions.

THE LAW COURTS.

From the great Hall a passage under the organ leads
directly into the Civil, or as it is more frequently called
the Nisi Prins, Court. This is a spacious apartment of
about eighty feet in length, by about seventy feet in
breadth, surrounded by a cornice resting on twelve granite
columns, in every respect similar to those which adorn the
great Hall; all of them being of the same magnitude,
architectural style, and material. Above the cornice
rises an arched ceiling, tastefully divided into numerous
elegant and well-proportioned panels, the arch or vault,
which springs from all sides of the court, terminating in a
central lantern light, of sufficient dimensions to afford an
ample supply of light. The bench, the seats for the ac-
commodation of the bar, and the jury box, together with
the rows of seats for the public, are all of massive oak. The
decoration of this noble Hall of Justice is simply elegant
rather than ornate ; and it is painted in a style of similar
simplicity and beauty; the prevailing colour being a cool
fawn, progressing by harmonised gradations from the deep
red of the granite columns through various tints of dimi-
nishing fawn till it is almost lost in a warm shade of
white. The Crown Court, or that in which the criminal
business of the assizes is disposed of, is in every respect
similar to the one already described; except that it is at
the south or opposite end of St. George's Hall, with which
it communicates more freely, the entrance being unob-
structed by organ or any other impediment. The Sheriff's
Court, and that for the Vice-Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster is each a well-constructed hall, in which con-
venience and comfort are secured, and between them,
besides robing-rooms attached to each of the courts, is the
Library, a hall of considerable magnitude, fitted up with
elegance.
__

HALLS OF ENTRANCE

The south vestibule, or hall entering immediately from
the grand south portico, is probably the least imposing
public portion of the whole structure. Its dimensions are
limited, and its ornamental enrichments comparatively
tame and meagre. On the contrary, the north Entrance
Hall is a vestibule of great beauty, and pleasing novelty
of effect. It is entered by a broad flight of easy steps,
terminating on a platform, which, by means of a gal-
lery supported ou, and also carrying a range of Doric
columns, is continued round the hall. On the gallery
shove the stairs, at each side is a beautiful and rich
candelabrum; directly in front of the stair-landing
are two well-modelled figures representative of Music
and Dancing; and around the hall are ranged beautifully
executed casts of portions of sculpture from the freeze of
the Parthenon, the world-renowned Temple of Minerva at
Athens. This Hall, which is in all respects an architec-
tural gem, is the principal entrance to