AMIENS.
THE CATHEDRAL.—The Great Organ, which stands in a gallery at the west end of the Church, is one of the oldest in France. It is simple in design, consisting of three flat towers, with flats between them. The case is painted blue, and much gilded. It has a Choir Organ in front, which is an addition, and rather Belgian in style. It is a good-sized instrument, but does not look large enough for so spacious a Church.
In the north aisle of the Choir is an Accompaniment Organ, in a common case, with no pipes; air-holes are cut in the wood-work, some of which show through the backs of the Stalls, from which it is played. The tone of the Great Organ flue stops is coarse, but that of the reeds good, and on the whole the instrument is very suitable for the large Cathedral in which it stands. The quality of the Accompaniment Organ is very fair. In 1868 I heard them both played at Mass. The players were good, especially the organist of the large instrument. 1868, 1875.
ST. ——.—In a Church, the name of which I omitted to note, was an organ, the front of which consisted of a painting of an organ front (scene-painter’s work). It looked dirty, as if it had been up for some time. I suppose they were either short of funds to carry out the design, or there was some yet unsettled dispute pending; such things happen nearer home than Amiens. 1868.