Year: 1866

It is pleasing indication both of our in creasing musical tas te and general prosperity that So many good sized organs have, within year or two, been either set up or orde1s l in different churches in the county. In 1868, if we recollect the time alright, Mir W illiam A Johnson ot Westield Mass built an organ for Congregational Church in Vest Winsted with two banks of keys and about 20 stops. It is a. gcod instrument, the best of MT Johnson's we ever saw, and has some very fine stops, although it's general effect is some- what injured by it's position in an inconven- iently shaped recess.

 .4 An gan as large has been contracted for by the Episcopal Church in this village; and the Episcopal Society of New Milford are about ordering one we understand, of nearly the same size. . MT Elmore Smith of New Haven has put up during the past summer, nice little organ of his own manufacture in the North Congrega- tional church at Woodbury. It has, about eight full stops, voiced very sweetly and of excellent quality the instrument was most carefully and thoroughly made, as any one who knows the builder would expect.

 About three months since new organ was setup in the Congregational church at Washing ton by the Hooks of Boston, which, though con taining only about 13 full stops. shows all the characteristics of the late instruments built by that celebrated firm. Although it is bril- nt :t harsh and is of the kind especially adapted to the performance of orchestral music The tones are so bright and clear, so we'll contrast ed, and so readily responsive to the touch, that the effect upon the player is very inspiriting and the familiar harmonies. half forgotten melo lies, and new fancies, which are the nat ural outcome when an organist sits down to take little comfort by himself, rattle off with an ease and vigor which surprises as much as it delights him. We do not wonder that so fine an instrument finds great favor among people who take 10 music more kind ly than IS at all common in this part of the world and we hope they will fill it up, as soon as possible, to the scheme designed for it. The stops to be added are with one ex- ception the softer ones they would increase greatly it's variety and sweetness, and render it much more easily managed

 Within the past few years the Messrs Hooks have made great change in their style of voicing organs. The sweet soft quality of tone found in their older instruments, has gradually given place to the loud and bril- liant voicing which characterizes every one of their late organs organs we have seen or heard described. Whether, however, instruments of that kind are we'll adapted for use in orii- nary church services, and to quiet style of music, we are considerably doubtful With excellent management they can certainly be made very effective, but in country churches and with comparatively small organs, always more difficult to to manage than larger ones, we think the requisite taste and skill would in many cases be found wanting. These gentlemen are undoubtedly the most popular | builders in the country and for the most part derive their high reputation: yet our own taste is for softer, sweeter style of instru- ment than they now produce.