Ci>ass Xa.]

ORGANS, BY WILLIS, GBAY AND DAVISOX, SCTILLZE, &c.

5th. The composition pedals are exceedingly simple intheir construction, the performer having merely to movethe keys above mentioned, which being very light aremoved with great ease. The usual heavy iron-work isentirely done away with, and the action much simplifiedand condensed.

Mr. H. Willis’s organ consists of three rows of keys,from C C to G (56 notes'), and two octaves and a fifth ofpedals, namely, from C C C to G (32 notes).

The pneumatic lever, as improved by the builder, isapplied to the great and swell organs ; the choir touch islightened by pneumatic contrivance, counteracting theresistance ottered by the pressure of the air, and a re-markably effective valve is applied to the 32 and 16 feetwood stops in the pedal organ, called the patent cylin-drical pedal valve, though used for other purposes in thesame instrument. The bellows supplying the swell organare placed in the box itself, and give two pressures of air.The whole of the draw-stop movement is centred in apeculiar way —also patent.

The various organs have applied to them a novel andconvenient movement for arranging the stops, called“ The Patent Combination Movement.”

The swell-box is constructed of 3-incli pir.e plank, withdouble front, upon the Venetian principle; the shatters ofwhich (40 in number) are made of 2-inch pine, withleathered joints, See.

The instrument will stand in a height of 27 feet, as atpresent arranged, and is 25 feet wide, by 22 feet 6 inchesin depth ; but it is capable of extensive alterations at atrifling expense, should they be necessary.

The following is a synopsis of its contents :—

Great organ, C C to G

Stops.- 20

Swell organ, C C to G

_ 22

Pedal organ, C C C to G -

- 14

Clioir organ, C C to G

- 14

Couplers -

- 7

Observation 1.—The whole of the stops extendthroughout the compass of the various claviers, exceptthe orchestral oboe, which, from its close resemblance tothat instrument, is only of the same compass.

Observation 2.—The plan of placing the bellows in theabstract swell overcomes all the evils resulting from con-finement of air by closing the front, thus the pipes remainin tune. The other advantages are obvious.

The following is a description of M. Ducroquetsorgan.

The instrument is composed of 20 stops; with twomanuals and German pedals. Each manual comprisesfive octaves, from C C to C, and the pedals two octaves,from C C C to C. There are ten stops on the lower, orgreat organ manual.

Observation 1.—All the reed-stops on this manual areestablished on a separate wind-chest, and supplied withair at a greater pressure than that of the diapason stops.

Observation 2.—The reed-stops and the furniture canbe withdrawn at pleasure by means of a pedal.

There are eight stops on the upper or swell manual.

Observation 1. — All the stops on this manual areinclosed in a swell.

Observation 2.—The upper manual can be coupled withthe lower in three different ways, namely, in unison,octave above, and octave below. The couplers arebrought into play by pedals, and in consequence of theapplication of the pneumatic lever, do not add in theslightest degree to the weight of the touch, whatever maybe the number employed.

Pedal Stops.

Pipes.

Pedal pipes, 16 feet - - 25Ophicleide , 16 feet 25

Observation.—The pedals act at pleasure on the bassof the great organ by a coupler.

The instrument is contained in a handsome oak ease inthe Gothic style. It measures 30 feet high, 12 feet broad,and 6 feet deep.

All the mechanical parts of this organ are constructed

of the best materials, and executed on the most approvedprinciples. In addition to many late and importantimprovements, will he found peculiar dispositions, whichhave been adopted with a view of enabling it to compete,both in power and variety, with instruments constructedon a much larger scale.

Connoisseurs will, no doubt, be struck with the pro-portionably greater number of reed-stops introduced intoM. Ducroqukt s organ, compared with organs of thesame dimensions built either in England or Germany .The object has been to obtain a fuller orchestral effect;many of these stops, such as the oboe, cor-Anglais, andbassoon, being particularly adapted for the execution ofsolos ; while the trumpet, clarion, and double-trumpetstops give unusual energy to the fortissimo passages.

It may, however, be necessary to observe, that the dia-pasons, which can alone give to the organ its essentialcharacter, have been by no means neglected. Of thesethere are two of 16 feet, and eight of 8 feet, five of whichcommence on the CC. It may be added, that amongthese stops are two of remarkable power and brilliancy,the harmonic flute and bell diapason; the latter of recentinvention, never having yet been introduced in aDy otherorgan.

This instrument, built expressly for the Great Exhibi-tion , for the special purpose of representing the actualstate of organ-building in France , is equally suitableeither for a church or a large concert-room.

A fourth Council Medal was also awarded by the Juryto Messrs. Gray and Davison, London , who have in-vented a very ingenious and simple contrivance to com-bine the great organ with the swell organ, by means ofa pedal, which acts with the utmost ease, and by whicha very effective sforzando may be produced; thus en-larging the musical field of the performer, and addingvariety to the otherwise monotonous character of themost powerful and magnificent of all musical instru-ments.

Messrs. Gray and Davison’s organ contains theirnewly-invented stop, the hcraulophon, first introduced bythem in the organ at St. Paul’s Church, Wilton Place.It lias also three manuals, and an independent pedalorgan. There are—

Stops.

In the great organ - - 14

,, swell ,, 9

,, choir „ - - 8

„ pedal „ - - 4

,, couplers,, 5

and six composition pedals.

Mr. J. C. Bishop, London , and Mr. J. W. Wai.ker,London , have exhibited but lew specimens of theirorgan-building. Such makers have not been passed overby the Jury without Honourable Mention, having everbeen in the foremost rank of organ-builders.

A Prize Medal has been awarded by the Jury to JohanFranz Schulze, and Sons, Zollverein , for an organ,which possesses two manuals, and ail independent pedalorgan. There are—

Stops.

In the great organ 8

„ choir „ 6

,, pedal ,, - 5

Messrs. Schulze’s organ has blind prospect-pipes; theconstruction of the interior is therefore more simple. Itrequires no roller-boards, and is constructed with squares,which go in an oblique direction to the valves. In front,a vacant place for tuning is left, and the smaller stopsmay be placed in front, to the great advantage of thetone of the organ.

2ndly. It has a more powerful tone than others oflarger dimensions; it lias also several soft stops—thewhole being constructed after the theory of ProfessorTopfer.

3rdly. It takes r.p less room than any other with thesame number of stops, it weighs less, and requires lesslabour than organs of the same proportions.

4thly. It has claims for its comparative cheapness,