Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-28


Notable INSTRUMENTS I'm This Country
and I'm Eur0Pcs
One of the first. as well as one of the best, Or
gans saw in Europe, says Eugene Thayer In
the Youths Companion. was the one in the pa
rochial kirche in Berlin. The organ was built
by BuchhOlZ. one fthe best and most eminent
OF the European builders Although, strictly
speaking 1t is not one of the great organs OF
| the world, 1t is very large and the best have
ever seen for the Interpretation of true organ
music. 1t is of great power, clearness and bril-
fancy, and 1t may be said, that nearly every
register in it is a master-work in itself. The
organ in the beautiful First Church in Boston
Quilt in Germany by Walcker, the builder of
the great organ in Music HalD, much resembles
it in all its main qualities, although it is not
over twO-thirds as large
at the old cathedral at Merseberg stands one
of the largest and most beautiful organs ever
made 1t has the greatest number Of pipes in
Its front that / have ever seen in an organ
facade. The player sits facing the instrument
and directly back of him (between him and the
congregation) is another smaller organ. COM
plete in itself, with its own case or house.
standing 70 or more feet in front Of the great
organ proper. The effect, both to eye and ear
Is very charming. Engei is the Organist. and
the great Liszt has several times been here to
bring out some pieces for the organ, harp and
quartet OF brass Instruments very wonderful
and beautiful combination. In the Thomas
klrche,. where Hauptman was then cantor, or
music director. was the organ that old
Sebastian Bach used to play. Although it had
been renovated during MendeissOhns time, it
was substantially the same instrument. None
of the modern registers were to be found in it,
although it had drums and bells. The touch
was the hardest ever played, and the tone so
solid as to sound almost cumbrous: further
than this, it did not seem a remarkable instru-
ment.
And now for one Of the so-called wonders of
the world, the famous organ in Freiburg, Swift
Zerland. So much hasbeen written about this
organ that was curious to examine all the
claims that had been made for it. Everybody
had been told SO many times that it was the
largest organ in the world, the best and the
most wonderful. that l was prepared for a sur
prise. was surprised. 1t is not only not the
largest in the world, but it is not more than me-
drum size as compared with the acknowledged
great organs in Europe. And, aside from its
having pretty good diapasons and powerful,
though somewhat disagreeable reeds it is not
remarkable organ at all. 1t has not even full
set of pedals.
Its much-talked-of Vox Humane owes its
effect wholly to its being placed outside the arl-
dItorlum at such distance that the illusion only
remains And here, again. for the next most
famous organ in the world, the organ in the
HARLEM Cathedral, Holland. This is certainly
much larger and better than the Freiburg instru-
ment cutwardly. 1t is not unlike our music
hall organ in size and appearance. husically,
it is more like it than any organ I have ever
heard. This organ is about one hundred and
fifty years old, and it Is noted for having all it's
pipes except twenty recently added made of
metal.
The most curious organ in Europe is the
great one at Weingarten, near Switzerland. It
was built by monk, the celebrated Able Vol
ger, who was an organ player as well as a
priest 1t has ,666 pipes, he having been paid
form for each pipe, large and small. He was
evidently not unmindful of earthly things, for
the sly old dominic filled the organ full of very
small pipes called mixtures. Ordinary
organs have from five to eight ranks, or rows of
| mixtures; this one has over G. hundred. One
would naturally suppose that the tone of the
organ would be consequently very shrill. This
| was not the case. however. The priest was
| musical enough to have them all voiced SO deli
cately that the effect, although it cannot be
called legitimate, was altogether charming. 1t
was as if the air was full of snowfiakes of sound
Besides this feature. the organ has drums, bells.
great and small, angels with drums, and all
sorts ofqueer things and it's case is Ornamented
| and cOored in the most brilliant manner posi-
bic. Large as it looks, it is useless for real
organ music, as it has only an octave and a-half
of the clumsest kind of pedals.
The finest church organ Gin the full sense of
the word that the world contains is in West
minister Abbey. By finest, mean the most
devotional in its quality and effect. How much
may be due to the acoustic qualities of the mar
Vicious edfce in which it stands / cannot saw
nave HOL Hchu us nhe. uOT no expect TO THIS
side OF the heavenly gates. At the time | am
speaking OF, the most celebrated organ in Eng
land was the organ in st. Georges Hail. Liver
pool. This was built by Willis the most emf
neDt of English organ makers. 1t had four
manuals and a great number of pneumatic COM
blnatlon levers, small knobs, by which the
organist could make number of combinations
without taking his hands from the keyboard or
IN any way nterrupting his PLAYING William
Best was years ago appointed the organist of
the hais ana twice week gives regular organ
concerts at siXpence admission.
The largest organ in the world is in the ROYAL
Albert Hall, London. The magnificent hall in
Which it is placed is OVifOrm or egg-shaped. the
organ standing somewhat above the level of the
lower floor. Above are three galleries and over
these grand tier of boxes extending completely
around the auditorium. The hall is capable of
holding from II, 900 to IA 600 auditors Gf re-
member rightly, and it will be seen that only
an organ of great power could adequately fill so
large space The organ case is massive and
strong. although not of ornate design, and the
front pipes are nearly of pure tin (ten per cent
alloy only and their bright polish gives the or
gan very beautiful an imposing appearance.
This organ has four manuals and complete
pedale.
In addition. it has thirty-two combination
knobs eight over each Keyboard, and a large
number OF combination pedals, by means of
which an almost endless variety of effects can
be instantaneously obtained. All the bellows
ana blowing apparatus are placed in large
room by themselves. this room being ALWAYS
kept perfectly dry and of an even temperature.
The effect of some of the solo registers is very
beautiful, and the tone of the full organ grand
and majestic in the extreme. when music which
is adapted to so large an instrument is PLAYED
The total number of registers (actual sets of
pipes is Ill, and the whole number of draw
stops 1875.
The next largest organ in the world (the Ulm
cathedral organ) has just 100 registers None
of these very large organs can be called success
full in the full sense Of the word When the full
power is used, only music of very slow and
massive character can be played. without more
or less confusion as the result. An organ of GO,
or. at most, 20 registers, can furnish all the
variety that can possibly be needed. and. if more
power is desired, the pressure can easily be in
creased to any desired degree Sixty registers
(about 1000 pipes) can be made to speak to-
gether. A greater number than this never did.
and never will, speak with precision or clear
ness
Of all the great organs in our land, the great
organ in the Boston Music Hall is the most
famous. 1t is about twO-thirds the size of the
Albert Hall instrument, and is Justly celebrated
as one OF the most beautiful of the great organs
In the world BY this L mean that it's softer
combinations are all of most beautiful and
lovely character, and their tone of great purity
and beauty. In the full organ is the same old
story of confusion of tone and slowness of speech