The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-03
HISTORY OF AN OhGAE.

h'bAOAA VI nv SNNAN'
The Music Of Nc. PnuI's Oath edraI I'm
london
At this time, when the musical public Is so
much interested IN the subject Of organs, and |
when Erbln Jardne, and Hook arc turning out
such noble instruments, the record Of Il once
famous organ will he Of interest. We fad in the
London Musical lPorH, an interesting history Of
the old organ in St. Paul's, London The in ,tru-
ueut-now set aside for the huge one lately built
| by Messrs. Hil!-.was erected by the celebrated
| Father Schmidt.
| WHO WAS FATHER SCHMIDT
An ordinance passed in the House Of Lords,
dated January 4, 1914, establishing new form Of
| divine worship, in which no music was allowed
| but plain psalm singing it waqthought necessary
for the promotion of true religion thar no organs
| should be suffered to remain in the churches;
that choral books should be torn; panied glass
| windows broken; sepulChru brass inscriptions
deiaCed and, in short that the cathedral service
| should be totally abolished. In consequence OF
i this ordinance, collegiate and parochal churches
| were stripped of their organs and ornaments;
| some OF the instruments were sold TO private
| persons, who preserved them; some were
| totally, and others but partially destroyed;
some were taken away by the clergy in order to
prevent their being destroyed, aud some few
| were suffered to remain among this number WAS
the one in old st. Paul's Cathedral, built by
William Beton, organ bull der to King Henry the
| Eighth. The great fire happening in 1906 de-
|
of 81. Paul's, the organ perishing with it. After
the churches began 10 be rebuilt, and organs
wanted for them, no organ builders except Dali
, | aus Of London, LOOscmOre OF Exeter, IhdmAr OF
Peterborough, and Preston of York, could be
found and these not being sufficient to supply
/ the immediate want Of the cathedral and parish
churches with organs, it was thought expedient
10 invite foreign builders of known abilities TO
! settle in England and the premiums offered on
! This occasion brought over two celebrated work.
= mcn-schmidt and Harris, the former from Ger
no luttD from
r | with him his nephews, Gerard and Bernard, as
assistants; and to distinguish him from these, as
Z, we a 20 express the respect due to his Abilities
which placed him at the head of his profession
l., he was called Father Schmidt The first organ
a Father Schmidt WIS engaged TO build in England
v was for the royal chapel White Hall which, from
= its being put hastily together, did not give entire
a. satisfaction 10 those who were appointed o Judge
"a of its excellence. IL from this failure that he
q never after would agree 10 build an organ upon
short notice, or deliver IL in state OF less orlce-
M ton than he wished.
w w About the latter end of King Charles the
~ Seconds reign, the masters OF the Temple Chlrcl
a, determined upon having an organ erected, RlC
a. received proposals from both Schmidt and Harris
IL who were backed by the recommendation OF 81
ed many powerful friends and celebrated organists
oJ | that they were unable to determine among them
III | selves which to employ. They therefore tOlI
SO the candidates, il each of them would erect ~
tb organ IN different pays Of The church, they wOu
ar retain that which should be declared 10 deserv
,b the preierCucC-tO which both Of the cludl date
p II agreed; aud in about nine months each lad ~
NJ instrument ready for trial. DR.. Bow anl
a | the famous Henry Purcell performed OF
AN Schmdts organ; and Mr.. Luly, Orgauist Il
to ! Queen Catharuc, performed on HaTiss.
,ns They cOnlinECd yieing with each other for ea
VA a tWelyemOnth; and a. length the decision q
ing left to the Lord Chiot Justice Jeffrey, who
tly the society and h terminated the controversy
zen IA favor Of Father Schmidt. Harris's orgau WI
He taken away, and the reed stops were put INTO NJ
H. organ soon ater erected IN 80. andrew Church
yo Ilulbofn, where they are still ia cEi-tc1ca an,
,ie the rest Of the work went towards comaletlnR ~
Nod organ building Tor Christ Church, Dublin. To
a Hon. Roger North, In his memoirs OF music, say
i'm tie competition between Schmidr aud Hl rls VI
r carried on with such VIC ence by tue friend, O
eso both sides, that "thoy were Just not ruined
~ And In the night preceding the las- trial, th
lite triruds Of Harris cut the bellows OF schmidt
ON organ in such manner, that whoa tbs tima 10
,nt playing came, no wind could DO conveyed g. tul
NJ wind chest.
e., In cons queuce Of che Tep1ia'iou which Fdtha
,ri- Schmidt had acquired by building thE tempt
WA organ, he was made choice Of % build an n,tru
ger meDt for St. faui's Cathedral thC "a ere ting.
pace WAS accordingly htsed zap for him. in ia
the cathedral 70 do the work IN, bur J wa, a lon
ila time before he could proceed With t. owing 10
ar, contention between SI Christopher Wren aud ON
" B0an aud Chap.er. Sir CAri5llpaev Wren Ni5he
rbe the organ TO ba placed side OF tlc choir O
ig0 was IN the old cathedral that the whole eNteu
nl- and beauty Of the building might be seen az On
-sat view; the Dean, on the contrary, wished 1
10 have it at the west end Of the choir; al
ese Sir Christopher, after using every el0I
avs and argument to gain his point, was 4
her instructions began the organ; and when IN
Id pipes were finished, found that the case was nt
,sr spacious enough TO contain them all and 5
inb Christopher, tender of his architectural prOpO
tons would not consent 10 let the be eulIrgt
the 10 receive them, declaring the beauty OF the bu
: IN ing 20 be already spoiled by the -- box
mi whistles. Three of the stops In cOn3equenl
nos obliged to be kept out; namely, bassO0n,
I'M clarion and another stop, Of minor cOnse4uenC
mr. which were kept in the cathedral for several yea
atic AFTER Schmidt hoping he might get them In
Ire future period but he died afew years OeioI
fbe Sir Christopher Wren.
ing After all this contention, the architect, sore
ma against his will was obliged 10 make an addtio
ers 10 the case. He not only had been niggardly
am regard 30 the depth of IT, where another fo
in would have been Of no consequence whateYe
,ed but also in the height for when Schmidt came
Vyo put In the large open dapason pipes, in the tW
DIV side fats they appeared through the top nearl
IN foot in length, and spoiled the appearance oi
ate tirely Schmidt now entertained hopes Of hayin
a new case; but Sir Christopher who before wOul
Of not suffer any ornaments on the top, was no
md obliged 10 add several feet else alter the cas-
Iers which yeXed him exceedingly. These Onlmen
ed consisted Of angels, with trumpets, standing
of the side Of a small aari THE color of the voc
are that these were made OF being Lighter Ihan q
ing organ-ease the addition soon discoyeraele'
"te 1HE ORGAN.
ofty aa he !. organ consisted Of twentyseyen stops