The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-10-09


THE New ORGAN N THE FIRST BAPTIST
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF IT'S CONTENTS
A CONCERT PROPosED-This splendid in.
strument, which has been nearly two years
in process of construction, is now being
tuned under the personal supervision OF
the accomplished builder, Mr.. w. B. d.
Simmons, and it is hoped will be entirely
completed within the next ten days.
We have hitherto briefly noticed the
fact that this organ is the finest south OF
the Potomac, but having secured full
description, are pleased to present it as .
matter of interest to many Of our readers j:
There are really four organs, the
contents of each of which are sub
joined. The great organ contains the
following stops: Bourbon, l6 feet
open diapasor, s feet; stopped diapason,
feet; bell gambia, s feet principal, feet
flute harmonique, feet; twelfth, 22s feet
fifteenth, feet mixture, I ranks trum-
pet, feet.
The small organ consists Of twelve stops,
all Of which are enclosed in the swell box
bourbon, l6 feet, tenor C to G.; open dia-
pason and quintation bass, s feet stopped
diapason bass; stopped diapason treble,
feet; rtO! domore, feet, tenor; princi-
pal, feet; mixture, 8 ranks hautboy, 5
feet; bassoon, feet; trumpet bass, S feet
trumpet treble, feet.
The choir organ contains tho following
! stops: EOlina, 16 feet dulcana, 8 feet
keraulophon, S feet; stopped diapason, $
feet; flute Il cheminGe, 4 feet; gcmShorn,
4 feet; piccolo, , feet; co,re di Jasseto,
feet. The pedals affect three stops, and
there are ten mechanical registers.
By the terms Of the contract, all mate
rials used in the organ were such as insure
durability, reliability, the best mechanism
and tone. All metal pipes except tho
small ends of the reed stops) above the
pitch of tenor E, diapason, are made OF
| organ metal consisting of not less than 33
per cent. tin., No antimony or type metal
is used in the organ. The bellows are of
ample size and double leathcred. The
manual and pedal action were required to
be as light as possible, to insure sufficient
passage of wind and reliable action.
There arc four pedals, to operate upon
such stops or couplers as may be preferred,
one of which is arranged so as to take oil
and put on the pedal open lG feet, or great
and small coupler, thus enabling the or
ganist to pass from the full great organ to
the choir, and have at once soft pedal
pass, without changing the stops by his
hands.
Particular attention has been given to
the finishing Of all the stops, with view
to obtaining combined richness and pu
rity of tone, with such variation in the
power and quality of the respective stops
as best insure individuality Of character
when separately used, and proper
blending when combined. There are also
five composition pedals, designed to draw
stops in groups and combinations more
quickly than could be done by the hand
registers.
The case of the organ is painted white,
Of Doric style, in harmony with the archi-
| lecture OF the church. 1t is about cjgh-
teen feet high, eighteen feet wide, and
twelve feet deep.
In order to put up the organ in proper
| style it was found necessary to make a
chamber in the rear of the pulpit for the
| accommodation of the instrument. A no.
yclty in southern churches has thus been
introduced. The congregation will have
the grand organ before them, and the
choir will face the people.
These improvements have not been ac-
complishcd without considerable expense
in addition to the original cost of the organ
and it has been proposed that grand con-
cert should be given to assist in its defray-
mcnt. At these public performances, if
his engagements will permit, Professor G.
! C. Whiting, the distinguished organist at
| Kings chapel, Boston, and Of Boston
Music Hall, will give selections Of music
of character calculated to dcvclopc the
varied resources Of the instrument. Timely
notice will be givenof the evenings selected
for the concert, and We have little doubt
that the church will be crowded on the
| occasion.