The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1873-04-02
THE nor ORGANISE.


Mozart's first experience Of a large organ
was in the monastery of little town on the
banks Of the Danube. He was only then six
years old, and in company with his father
had left his home in Salzburg, and started
upon long course of travel. All day long
they had been sailing down that majestic
river, past crumbling ruins, frowning castles,
cloisters hidden away among the crags, tow
ering cliffs, quiet villages nestled in sunny
valleys, and here and there deep gorge that
opened back from the gliding river, its hollow
distance blue with fathomless shadows, and its
loneliness and stiffness stirring the boys heart
like some dim and vast cathedral.
The company of monks with whom they
had been travelling that day were at supper in
the refectory of the closter, when father
Mozart took Wolfgang into the chapel to see
the organ.
And now as the boy gazed with something
of awe upon the great instrument, looming up
in the shadows of the great empty church, his
face lit up with serene satisfaction, and every
motion and attitude of the little figure ex-
pressed wondering reverence. What tones
must even now be slumbering in those mighty
pipes? Tones which, if once awakened, could
give utterance to all that voiceless beauty
which the days scenes had, showed him--life
and death I; present and past the peaceful
river and the deserted ruin the sunshine
unfailng, and the unfailing shadow at its side.
Father" said the boy, "explain to me
those pedals at the organs feet, and let me
play?"
Well pleased, the father complied. Then
Wolfgang pushed aside the stool, and when
father Mozart had filled the great bellows, the
efin organist stood upon the pedals and trod
them as though he had never needed to have
their management explained.
How the deep tones woke the sombre
stiffness of the old church The organ
seemed some great uncouth creature, roaring
for very joy at the caresses of the marvellous
child.
The monks, eating their supper in the re-
fectory, heard the tones and dropped knife and
fork in establishment. The orsanist of the
brotherhood was among them but never had
he played with such power and freedom.
They listened; some grew pale others crossed
themselves till the prior rose up, summoned
all his courage, and fastened into the chapel
The others followed, but when they looked up
into the organ-loft, 10 there was no form of
any organist to be SEEM though the deep tones
still masscd themselves in new harmonies. and
made the stone arches thrill with their power.
1t is the devil himself, cried the first one
of the monks drawing closer to one of his
companions, and giving a scared look over his
shoulder into the darkness of the aisle.
cit is miracle " said another. But
when the Oldest of their number mounted the
stairs to the organ front, he stood petrified
with amazement.
There stood the tiny figure, treading from
pedal to pedal, and at the same time clutching
the keys above with his little hands, gathering
handsful of those wonderful chords as if they
were voets, and flinging them out into the
solemn gloom behind him. He heard nothing,
saw nothing besides his eyes beamed like
stars, and his whole face lighted with i'm
FASHIONED joy Louder and fuller rose the
hamonies, streaming forth in swelling pillows,
till at last they seemed to reach sunny shore,
on which they broke; and then whispering
ripple of faintest melody fingered a moment
in the air, like the last murmur of wind
harp, and all was still.