The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-25
A Wonderful Instrument.

There is much talk among the musical
people OF Helena just now about a most
wonderful Instruments church organ
called the vocation. We have been often
asked the past week the question, .What is
a vocalion?" For the benefit of our inter
ested friends we will give the description
as furnished US BY Mason & Risch, of Wor-
Mass, the inventors and manufac-
turers. and it is claimed by them and a host
OF the great organlsts of eastern cities that
1t Is one of the most important inventions
in the musical world of the nineteenth cen
tnry and is the only effective substitute for
the pipe organ in the world: The vocation
is an organ constructed on the principles of
the pipe organ. In each of these instru-
ments the tone is produced by the station
airy vibrations of columns of air. Thew
differ. however, in two very important par.
tlculars, i. e., in the method adopted for
producing the stationary vibrations, and in
the size OF the chambers to which the sta
tionary vibrations are confined. In the vo-
Gallon metallic reeds are employed to pro-
duce the vibrations; in the pipe Or
gan air reeds perform this func-
ton; Inc former require chambers of
small capacity, the latter chambers (pipes)of
large capacity. BY this ingenious device of
substituting the metallic reed for the air
reed, tones are obtained which have ALL tho
purity and power of those obtained from
pipes, entirely free from the snarl and twanp.
which renders so disagreeable the tones Of
a common reed organ. The small size of
the chambers required for the vocation en-
ables the manufacturers to compress the
space necessary for a many-yoiced organ
into dimensions suitable for the parlor and
moderate sized churches.
From this description of the method TIM
ployed, OF producing pure pipe-tones from
| YQadd tho ~ Ynrfo r,o 10
musical instrument, capable in every re.
spect of replacing the more costly and
bulky pipe organ, will be at once apure.
hended. ~
We would say We have listened to til,
vocation now on exhibition at Jackson,
MUSIC house. and were not only pleased. blu,
surprised. The tone is und~istinpuishabIe
from hat of a first class pipe organ and il
played the same as a pipe organ. From
wat we have seen and heard of the yocaIior
we can fully endorse the following:
1T ID not an unwarranted prediction tina,
tne vocation must come into general church
service as a substitute for small pipe or
gans. EBEN ToUuEE.
Music, Boston.
II cheerfully give my testimony as to thu
vocalion's admirable orean-like tone. VA
rlety OF compass, and general a~daptabilit,
for church and parlor use."
s.. b. WHITNEY,
Organist Church of the Advent. Boston.
For small church or concert room
nothing can be found equal to a vocation
for power and beauty of tone"
A. a.. MEssrrER, Mus. Doc.
Organist Trinity church, New York.
Excepting, perhaps, the larger pipe or
Rans OF the best builder, the vocation is i,
every sense preferable" s.. b. WH1rELEY.
Organist church OF the HOLY Spirit. New
York. WV
II find it difficult to detect anv materi,
difference between the vocation and q first
class pipe organ" Gee. FL. GRAyEs.
Organist Reformed church, Cohoes, n, Y
And a host of others, among which ar
some OF the most eminent organists of tn
world.