The New York herald., 1866-07-23
TINE GREAT ORGAN or PLYMOUTH CHURCH.


THE GREAT ORGAN or PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
It's History, Cost, Size, Capacity, Peculfart.
ties and Completi0n-The Largest OrgaR
Built In America.
In January 1885, Plymouth Church Society, or
Brooklyn, made Q contract with Boston firm for an
organ which was to be the second largest in America
and TO be finished in January, 1885, The original
voted By the society thousand dollars but slncs
Il has been increased to about thousand dol
lara The organ now stands In Mr. Beecher's church.
and is truly huge concern.
sns AND CASE.
The instrument measures from the basement 10 its
highest point forty EIGHT feet four inches; its depth
twenty three feet and the width from side 70 sidcs
twenty nine feet The style Of adornment adopted By
the builders Is that Of the Yenaissomthat Is classical
with variation where good taste demands Il
The front s composed Of three large arches,
separated by four pilaste in front Of which are round
fued columns surmounted by composite capitals above
which are the freze cornce and entablaure In each
Of the three arches nine pipes composing the bases
OF the sixteen feet and eight feet dapason OF the Great
Organ The centre pipe alone which the largest metal
pipe in the instrument cost $780, All these pipes arc
made Of pure English block tin highly FURNISHED to give
appearance Of silver The centre arch Is surmountea
by what in architecture, Is called broken pedment Ia
which the carved image Of cherub stands out in relsf
against the white background. Projecting over each
side arch is horizontal Of pipes, trumpet shaped
being the pipes OF tho Tuba Airabil,s, beside
which on the extreme end OF either side
is an urn carved in wood. The case Is made OF solid
black walnut throughout The contrast between this
and the silver pipes Is striking 1t OF the few
stances In an American organ in which the exterior
pipes have been given silver color; II is marked
improvement on the usual gilt and makes very chasto
appearance.
COMPASS INSTRUMENT.
The organ has four manuals, in each Of which are
pedal there are thirty keys, from to F. This
braces the entire range OF the musical scae-ten CO.
human ear can easily appreciate. The tone OF the
lower notes. which very often muled to give
but little variety are expected to be very clear ans
distinct.
Is interesting feature The wind is supplied by four
bellows and two reservoirs putting in motion pneumatic
lever which Is applied TO the organ The Couples
throughout attached to it, so that all four manuals
can be played at once almost as easily as the Keyboard
Of grand piano. Every register in the organ is ope-
rated by the pneumatic power and secures uniform
very easy motion in all weahers The cost OF this
has great involved the making Of
large number OF small bellows placed in different parts
OF the organ Its advantage obvious and is in
provement the many organs In which is required
weight Of some five or six pounds to bring down key
THE HYDRAULIC POWER E
O novel feature Ia this country Four engines, with
upright cylinders inches in diameter with twelve
inch stroke levers attached u the four bellows
the water being supplied from the main pipe Of the
Ridgewood aqueduct. When the full power OF tho
organ being employed demanding Ding large quantity 1S q
when softer portions are In use they move gently ana
silently. The whole Is under control Of the organrt.
means Of crank placed at his side
THg TUBA MRABnIs
Is stop which has before been introduced In
Emerca in the organ at the Boston Music Hall,
which is the largest in this country though It has been
used for several years England All the pipes Of this
stop made Of pure tin; the bass pipes which are
shaped trumpes project over the top OF tho organ
horizontally, and form pleasing effect by the peculiar
flv NJ thai nd
black walnut They are reed stops OF eight feet and
four feet pch Of enormous power At the same time 70
They have somewhat Of the effect Of trumpet in theie
tone but areSf greater power Some idea may be formed
OF these registers by the fact that the Two combne
almost equal 70 the strength Of tho remainder Of he
organ.
both free reed pipes Of SINGULAR and beautiful
quality. The vox Angelica is intended 70 be similar %
inasmuch the pipes Of this stop reproduce exactly Tie
sound Of the above mentioned instrument The Euphoos
Is also something new on this continent
vOx HUMANA AND CnESCRNDo MovRmxnT.
choir Of human voices in the distance It's sound ~
in il II Is free reed stop. and placed in the sven
organ tha II be rendered soft loud at Wte,
from one single stop, which may bc IN uso the power
can be gradually Increased until all the pipes In The
n % ss q g %
30 done without disturbing tho combination whsc
may be IN use at tho time Is complete success. aa6
sTyRs
There arc sixty-nve regster thirteen Of which -
mechanical leaving nfty-two full sounding stops, ex.
tending throughout the entire compass there not being
incomplete stop the instrument OF these one =
thirtytwo feet in LENGTH i've OF sixteen feet besides
three additional ones, giving sixteen feet tone, makng
nne-sixeen feet tone. There are twenty-five Of sshs
feet pitch
CONCERTS.
The organ a. II now stands IL the largest ever but -
America The Boston Music hall organ the largest e
tho continent but built In Germany The cost -
the instrument Is about twenty-five thousand dollar
very low figure considering the immense labor expended
on its construction The organist Is Mr.. r. y Muller,
man OF large experience
There has been some talk Of giving weekly concerts
with the organ Saturday afternoons They would -
undoubtedly very successful for there are many vey
desrous Of hearing the Instrument whose Sundays are
passed In their own houses OF worship end elsewhere
The organ will be opened publicly IN short tms.