Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-20
THE TABERNACLE ORGAN.

The instrument constructed many
years ago In this city as a feature OF
the great Tabernacle, has gained world
wide celebrity So has the choir which
has rendered such beautiful music, ac-
oompanled by the famous organ, The
people OF Utah are pardonably proud OF
both There have been many improve
ments Of the choir II was long age
acknowledged that Improvements were
needed in the organ. This has been
urged by the organlsts and conceded by
ali musicians who have either manipu-
lated or inspected the grand old instru-
ment
Percelvlng this necessity and desiring
that there should be nothing lacking to
make our organ equal at least to any
other IN the world, President Lorenzo
Snow made arrangements with a we'll
known and reliable firm TO effect the
necessary changes and improvements.
II was agreed that the organ should be
ready to use by the first OF April II
was not IN the contract that II should
be fully completed by that date. Pur-
suant to these arrangements the organ
has been reconstructed as TO the entire
interior Some OF the old pipes had to
be set aside. All that were found In
condition for permanent use have been
retained though all are not yet in place,
New stops and pipes with new effects
have been added But the instrument
is not yet complete.
In view Of the situation any public
criticism Of II is, to say the least, pre-
mature. 1t is with great regret there
fore that we learned of the uncalle1-for
remarks Of Professor Evan Stephens to
the choir on Thursday evening, and his
published comments on Friday morn
Ing These are replied to In the Deseret
News today, by Professor ]. ]. McClel-
land, the organist and Mr.. F. w,
liedgeland who is In charge OF the work
Of reconstruction. We also give place
to a communication from Professor
Stephens.
The general opinion Is that the
esteemed choir leader has made grave
mistake His criticism not only re-
fleets on the substantial firm that has
the contract for the work, upon the
courteous and skilful gentleman who
has It in charge, upon the organist who
manipulates the instrument. and upon
the building In which 1t is heard, but
upon the President Of the Church, who
Is the other contracting party. 1t con-
veys the impression that $4,000 has
been worse than wasted In the recon-
stfuctlon Of the organ, All this Is
startling to the public and injurious to
all parties concerned
As to the contract time referred to
by Prof. Stephens, he Is mistaken and
II he were not 1t was none Of his busl-
ness to raise the question. He Is not
a party to the contract. President
Snow understands what he Is about
and his undisputed business qualihca-
lions render him a competent judge on
this matter. II he Is satisfied with
the progress Of the work, that is SUN
Client. Professor McClellan's clear and
explicit statement should be salts
factory to all who read It. Mr., Hedge
land will wait until the work Is done
before making a detailed and technical
report concerning It. He naturally
feels indignant at the attack which
puts him in an undeseryed and I'M
favorable attitude.
AS TO the power Of the instrument
and the probability that the choir will
De drowned by the volume Of its sound
Is that fault in the organ? VIII not
the loudness and softness Of the tones
be regulated by the organst? We no
tlced in listening TO 1t some notes 50
soft and delicate, that we feared the
great audience could not hear them
IT is not necessary to overwhelm the
choir at any time, and II this should
occur, who that Is rational would
blame the instrument instead Of the
player? There should be perfect har-
mony between the choir leader and the
organist, or there cannot be full har-
mony in our musical services. And
surely the instrument however power
ful, can be so regulated as to suit both
choir and congregation.
The choir Is under the direction Of the
leader, the organ in charge Of the Or
ganIst. But the latter must be guided
In some degree by the former, so that
the accompaniment will not over
shadow the singing. This can all be
regulated by a proper understanding
between the two musicians There neen
be no friction. There must not be.
We all want the best results possible.
We believe they will be reached when
the organ is completed. and the organ
list has had time TO practice upon It,
and Its pipes and stops have been FREE
Quently used II is practically a new
instrument though a large portion Of
the old pipes viii be in place Wait an
1t is finished before passing judgment
upon it, and then wait until by use and
practice lis fun tones and various beau.
ties can be developed and exhibited.
The Latter-day Saints may rest as.
sured that no install. has been made.
In the reconstruction Of the far-famed
Tabernacle organ. The bringing dowr
OF the keyboard, so that the organlsi
can see the choir leader, and hear hli
own work; the addition Of those splen,
did effects which Professor Stephen