Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-11-26
A FINE INSTRUMENT OF WORSHIP
Description of the New Organ at the Col
lege Street Church.

Description of the New Organ at the Col
lege Street Church.
The fine new organ, which was heard
for the first time at the concert in the Col
lege street church, Tuesday evening, is not
only one of the finest instruments in the
State, but is peculiarly well adapted to its
present purposes and location, The com
mttee of the church which had the choice
of an instrument assigned to them was
generously instructed by the donor of the
organ Mr.. George Morton, to take a tour
of observation with refence to ascertain
ing the respective merits of the best organ
builders. Preparatory to this work sew
eral skilled organists were consulted with
reference to the qualities needed in an in
strument to thoroughly adapt it to the
uses and service of this particular church.
Regard was paid both 10 the size of the
audience room and to the nature of must
cal effects suitable to the expression of re-
ligiouS sentiment. With the specification
substantially determined several of the
prominent builders were visited and con
sultation held regarding the construction
of this special instrument. The wisdom
of placing the contract with Mr.. George
>. Hutchings of Boston is fully justified in
the result, which Is an instrument of rare
excellence in every respect.
The artistic and architectural plan eX-
hibit the taste of Mr.. Ilutchings, who per
sonally designed this part of the work
after visiting the church tor this purpose.
| The wood work is of ash, moulded AID
carved to correspond with the general
style around it, and forming Il suitable
framework for the richly decorated pipes
which give an imposing effect by their
skilltul arrangement. The colorng is OF
Il somewhat new order, being produced
by bronzng in metallic shades of gold
silver, copper aad Furnished steel, while
the rich contrast with the fresco in the
church is of advantage to both.
In its mechanism the organ is a
marvel of compleXity, as all large
The workmanship and the excellence
of material have been matter of favorable
comment to all who have watched its
erection. The disposition of the variou,
parts has been so skillfully planned that
in conn aratVely restricted space moth
| inG seems Cramped and the tone is not i'm
| paired by the location. Attention to the
minutest detail and thorough honesty in
construction characterize the work
| throughout.
The highest excellence is. of course, tC
be sought in the musical qualities of the
instrument. Regarding tone, three gen
cral qualities may be named the open
]
To the attainment of the proper quality
in each OF these departments the organ
| builders effort is chiefly directed 1t i,
! high praise of this builders achievement
to say that in each particular his work
| bears favorable comparison with that OF
| all others, apparently combining all eX
cellences that have yet been attained.
Each stop has its individual tone clearly
defined, it maintains this quality through
out its entire compass, which is an eX-
ceedingly rare excellence, and it is conSe.
quently of singularly even temper Each
stop, examined by itself, yields a fullness
OF tone which renders it capable of being
used effectively alone, instead of depend
ing on the help of some other stop III com
bination to cover up its defects. This
probably explains the secret, why the
| llutchings organ is not only SO beautiful
i'll solo use, but increasingly effective in
combination. Because there are SO few
foreign qualities mixed with the pure
tone, one stop does not neutraliZe the eff
feet of another, but the two coalesce in Il
remarkable harmony of tone. Then the
range of tone covered by the various stops
is wide, from the broad pervasive Bour-
dOn To the intense, penetrating oboe. Thi :
TACT, together with the balance of the
instrument, accounts for the impression il
makes of unity and of abundant resource
1t Is like well selected and efficiently
conducted orchestra, every instrument
having It's due prominence, yet each sub
ordinate TO the whole The special char
acterlstlc of this organ is its delcacy and
purity and fullness OF tone, rs contrasted
with force and brllliancy and power. 1t
was made as an instrument of worship
rather than for the uses of the concert
hall, yet it is by no means lacking in ma
jesty and grandeur of effect.