The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-16
Prof. Penny Makes 1t the Sub
ject of an Address.
Purpose TO Secure Adaptability
to Acoustics of Auditorium.
TO BE 40 FEET WIDE.
Suggests It Should Cover Eli
tire Front of Room.
Also That Electricity Should
Be Used to Operate 1t.

Prof. George B. Penny, of Washburn
college, gave an informal but interest,"
ing lecture on the pipe organ before the
Pipe Organ association at the CONNER
cial club rooms last night At this
meeting also the appointment of a COM
mittee to solicit subscriptions for the
organ fund was authorized. In very
short time the association will have re-
ceived proposals from the most emf
nent organ builders in the United
States for the construction of an organ
which will equal in quality of tone and
variety of effect that in the Mormon
1 tabernacle at Salt Lake City or any OF
those most highly valued in Birming-
| ham, Leeds or Pfttsburg. In the num-
Der of stops the organ need not be SO
large, says Prof. Penny, as the one un-
| der construction in Kansas City or as
some of the other great organs of the
world. The purpose will be to secure
adapta bility to the acoustic properties
and needs of the hall in which it will
be located.
For years have been studying the
municipal phase of musical develop
/ ment and observing it in various parts
of the world,' Prof. Penny said. "Th0
undertaking of large public musical en-
terprises exerts an influence upon the
| town itself and upon the country sur
rounding it, as is witnessed by the de-
velopment of the Messiah concerts by
the little town of Lindsborg in Kansas.
In England and in Germany musical
festivals have taken an important place
in the municipal life of many of the
towns and exert a marked influence
on their social and even their COM
mercial development The municipal
feature of musical culture has not ac-
quired much advancement in this coun-
try but it is being given more and
more attention. Although when came
west it was with the purpose of devot-
ing myself entirely to educational work
1 have not ceased observing. 1 should
like to see the Pittsburg idea carried
out in Topeka: the maintenance of
large choral society and of large pipe
organ in the public hail."
Prof. Penny then plunged into dis
| cussiOn of the relative merits of differ
ent pipe organ arrangements and con-
:, | structions, naming four of the prin-
: cipal pipe organ builders whose reputa-
tions have already been established BY
I successful construction. He said that
) the Improvement by modern inventions
made it possible that some of the newer
builders should now surpass the work
of some of the older firms He said:
1.-The Auditorium pipe organ should
, consist of six separate organs. The
largest organ in the west now is conn
posed of only four but l believe that
! the requirements demand large range
> of possibilities for this instrument
; These organs should be as follows: a
, pedal organ; an orchestral organ, by
: which the effect of an orchestra may
? be secured; swell organ, by which the
+ deepest musical effects may be brought
out; a concert or great organ; SOLO
/ organ and an echo organ. The last
S Two may be operated by single key
, board. The echo effects are very de-
n Sirable and the arrangement or the hali
n is such that it might be placed IN one
e of the alcoves in the balcony. We do
r not want a church organ because that
S is not what we need in the Auditorium
With such an organ as have deScrlp-
ed it will be possible to furnish music
for all the different needs of public en-
tertainments in the city. The orches-
trail organ supplies all the effects OK
reed and stringed instruments com
-. plete Topeka is not large enough 10
support an orchestra and is not likely
to be for several years.
'.It is my idea that the entire front
wall of the hall should be occupied by
: the instrument. The space between the
d two dressing rooms is 40 feet. With
d such width the organ need not be of
great depth, not more than six feet or
d so. The casing to cover the lower part
of the construction will be an expen-
h sive part l suggest that this be con-
structed as a succession of steps capa-
;. BILE of holding the chairs of the choral
society. 1t would be desirable seat
ing arrangement for the singers and
t would economise space on the stage
t The pipes will cover the wall above and
d viii command the entire building, Civ
1 ing an artistic effect as desirable as
n might be conceived. The pipe decora-
e ton will be very beautiful.
Y s.At the front of the stage will be To-
), Gated the key board This will be on a
: piano forte arrangement and VIII oc-
: cupy little space. 1t is my idea that
g this should be an electric organ and
n the key board may be moved from place
t 70 place. In the situation suggested it
: would serve for the director of the
chorus also. The key board is COM
s posed of a series of electric buttons. /
e have played on the electric organ in the
. Salt Lake City tabernacle and am ac-
:, nuainted with the organist there. !
e shall make inquiries of him about the
e durability of the electric organ as COM
: pared with the compressed air makes
and Others The electric organ is OF
a comparatively new conception but gives
great possibilities in musical effects.
a The names of the principal builders
o given by Prof. Penny are: Hook &
n Hastings Hutchins & Voltey, Kimball
n Austin and Lyon & Healy. Some cor
g respondence has already been received
from some Of them. and in a week Oh
two actual proposals will be conS1d-
cred By a resolution adopted iaS
night the executive committee. consist
ing of Edward Wilder, F. H. Foster
and David Bowie, besides the officers OF
. the association, is authorized to confer
with the mayor and city council anc
arrive at an agreement upon terms bs
which the organ shall be kept under
5s the charge of the Pipe Organ aSsOcia-
m ton. This will insure its proper care
1t is desired also by the association t
"a secure from the council the right tC
II book attractions to appear in the Audi
d, torium, paying the city the usual rates
% of rental but devoting the commission
L of MANAGEMENT to the pipe organ FUND
A special committee to secure subscrip
tions for the organ fund will be named
by President J. W. Going within a few
Il days. Many large subscriptions have
n been promised by prominent Topekan:
info tod in