The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-03-04
THE EUHARMoNIC ORGAN.

THE EUHARMONIC ORGAN.
1t is well known to musicians who understand their
business, that he Organ Piano Forte, and other Keyed
instruments are false in respect information. Every
Piano tuner knows that he may not put any two notes
into perfect harmony with each other, without the Ger
tain destruction of some other combination. For in-
stance if YOU tune perfect fifth from c, it will be
too sharp to answer for perfect third from flat
And here lies the diculty-that every string in the
Piano and every pipe in the Organ is compelled to an
swer three OF four different purposes For example,
the string which gives the tone called I, has to
not only for fourth in the scale of major, but
also for the seventh from g. the don,naa for the third
in the scale of fat, and for sharp in the key whose
signature is sir sharps. Now it is automatically de-
monsrabe that for these four different purposes, per-
feet harmony demands four different sounds, varying
from the highest to the lowest less than about
quarter part of tone. The which is proper for the
fourth in major is comma higher than the F which
is the third in D fiat, and it is about comma and
quarter higher than is required for seventh from
below, If, them this note be tuned as to
curatcy either of these purposes, it is perfectly clear
that it very ILL., rather, not at all for eth
er of the Others. Hence the tuner is or3ed dust
equally bud for al-the usual and approved method
at the present time is to tune every fifth abou the
twelfth of comma too fiat; and in this way olrable
average of disturbance is secured.
We may remark in passing, for the benefit of the
initiated, that comma, music. is the ninth part of the
tone from one to tvo of the scale.
The result of the method of tuning described above,
is in general that all the chords falsethere is
nothing perfect but the octave
To be more partcuar-the ftbs twelfth of a
too fat-the tonHks as much too sharp-the
major thirds two-thirds of comma too sharp-the
minor thirds, three quarters of comma, fiat.
Let it be observed, that this is agreed to be, upon
the WHOLE the best temperament for keyed instruments
or rather, the least offensive But that the necessary
disturbances of the organ, present constructed
felt to be extremely annoying, person with delicate
perceptions will hesitate acknowledge. Indeed the
history of the Organ,f hadspace to so into woud
show series of attempts to remedy these defects
Two methods of remedy suggest themselves:-First;
to provide additional keys that you may have
separate one for every different sound. Second: to
conrve vary the pitch of the pipe by shading
or some other means.
When we consider thai it is impossible to get along
with less than 81 different sounds in the octave, be
comes apparent that the first method is mechanically
impractc bic. For no has breadth of hand OF
length Of atm sufficient roach chord or
such keyboard. Attempting this means, some have
tried partial Improvements BY substituting a far add
tional keys, thereby accomplishing but little, while null
tiplying the difficulties ofplayng.
The second method tried by Liston in England
He employed the common keyboard, but sought by
Of pedal action modify the pitch of the
pipe so to it fulfill all the different functions
which were demanded of it. His organ though really
worthy of attention for the beauty of its harmony, was
still full of mperfctions, and upon the whole was con-
sidered failure. There unfortunately a fInda-
mental bunder in Listens theory of harmony, which
was sufficient of itself ruin the enterprise. And
another thing was the impossibit of SO adjusting the
shading apparatus the requisite precision.
The grand desideratum seems to be this. Te have
many pipes you require sounds, and then to have
a pedal action by which you can cause that pipe to
sound which your music calls orand this action must
be prompt, efficient and perfectly convenient.
Now we undertake to say, and ready to maintain
that there is this momant standing in the Church of
the Rev. Mr.. Fox, Indiana place. city of Boston,
gan complete and finished, perfectly fulfilling all these
conditions.
The organ is of the invention and construction of
Messrs. Alley and Poole of Newburyport. 1t has been
seen, heard and examined by large numbers Of mu-
steal professors and amateurs, beside numerous
pany of music LOVERS who go by their instincts ana
satisfaction with its performances is general.
Indeed like all other things, it has to encounter
some degree of skepticsm and dstrus from old pac-
oners, who have borne with jargon until they almost
love it.
But all dsntercsted persons acknowledge the superb
or beauty of the Euharmonic Organ. The question
seems almost too simple toasl. Is not perfect hamo
nv better than discord more or less! Has not every
lover Of music desired and onged for perfect concord
And now that the desire and the longing satisfied
shall we not rejoice =!
At another time, propose to consider some of the
objections which started against the perfect
gan. Il. III.