The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-13
A FASCINATING ART.
What Centuries Accomplished in
Organ Building.

Organ building is an ancient art, and fas-
cinating one Indeed, itcOmprehends many
arts in one. a large organ factory must
have its workers in wood and its workers in
metal; 1t must have nearly every branch Of
mechanical work and complicated machin-
cry, and for much of the work highly skilled
and painstaking mechanics, voicers and fin
isherS.
The early history of the organ is very OBJ
scure, though mention is made of wind in
struments in the classical times, and even
apparent actua drawings of pneumatic or
gan are found in treatise by Hero of Alex
andria. The first keyboard was introduced in
the eleventh century, but it was centuries
later before the organ began to assume any
thing approaching a perfect state. From
the sixteenth century, when the instrument
attained great completeness, the English
and German instruments have continued to
improve in detail The English builders
more recently took the best features
from their neighborS, and their organs be-
came more perfect and probably superior to
those of any other country But that time
has passed.. We find the American iuStru-
ment embodying the best features of all
other styles combined, while having the Su-
periority of American mechanical improve
ments and the attainments of two genera
tons of American art, science and thought
in bringing the noble instrument TO as near
perfection as man may reasonably hope to
see.
Organ building in America dates back
hardly more than 125 years. The Pagan
ish organ found little favor with the Puri-
tans of New England. An English organ
taken 10 Boston in l714 remained the only
one for many years. In 1902 the first Ameri-
can Organ--a small one-was built In 1893
Mr. " NJ (,rpdri4.h bt,;
and in 1927 Mr.. Z. Hook, who had studied
with MIR. Goodrich, commenced to build or
ganS in Salem, Mass, with his brother,
George. Soon after the brothers established
themselves in Boston and earned, by excel
lent work Il high reputation. In 1850 when
10 years old, MI. F. II. Hastings eeame en-
gagged with Them and ten years later was
admitted as partner. Both of the old part
ners have passed away. The house has been
III existence for over sixty years and has
achieved an honorable reputation by con-
tlnualiy applying advanced scientific ard
artistic principles and studying the most
practical and economical processes Of pro-
ductiOn.
The magnificent organ of st. Mary's Ca
thedral, built by Hook Il Hastings of Bos-
ton, is OF unusual size, and ranks among the
largest American organs. 1t occupies
commanding position in the front gallery.
and presents to view an imposing front 40
feet wide and about 50 feet high, comprs-
ing groups OF many pipes of largest size,
aud casing Of California redwood. 1t has
three manuals, &C to a, IS notes; and
pedals, CCC to d, y notes. With % stops, u
pedal movements, and 2942 pes.
We nave built score or more of organs
OF this size" said Mr.. Hastings, yet l
think this Is one OF my very best. No organ
ever gave me more real satisfaction than
and none were ever more effective for their
size l am told that his Grace, Archbishop
Rordan. gave US the order without getting
other bids"
Near Boston is the pretty rural village of
Kendall Green. Here IS the organ factory
the largest of its knd-and here live the
prosperous, thrifty people whose work is
sent far and wide throughout the land.
Many instruments from the hands of
these careful workmen now have a world
VIDE reputation. The grand organ in Bos-
ton Cathedral-the largest church organ in
Amerlca-has no rival in the completene SIS
OF It's parts, and the grandeur, power and
exceeding beauty of its many tones. The
large and powerful Hook IL Hastings Seen
tenniaf organ ranks among the famous in
suuments OF the world, aud has been ad-
mlred by almost every nation for its
wonderful power and effectiveness. Their
grand organ in the Cincinnati Music Hall is
the largest in America. 1t may easily be
Imagined that IN such perfect establish
ment, around which the Ken ial Green COM
munity has grown, there are unequaled
facilities for building organs. Here are
new machinery, large lumbrr-houses, dry
inG-rooms, all modern labOr-saving devices.
and in fine perfect mandatory On large
scale.
The number of experts and skilled me-
chanicS employed is very large. and many of
them have been there for forty years. Or
gans made by them are found in every part
of the world. For durability and for beauty,
fullness and purity of voicing, their crown
ing excellence is universally recognized.