ANTWERP.

THE CATHEDRAL (Notre Dame) has a grand instrument at the west end, standing in a gallery of black and white marble, supported by scagliola columns on black plinths. The gallery projects very much in front of the organ, so as to allow room for an orchestra. The centre tower contains seven pipes, and has on each side a bowed compartment of seven pipes, and next a flat of six pipes. These have over them a seated angel, so as to fill up the space between the centre and the next towers, which each contain five pipes. The next is a bowed compartment of three slender pipes, then a flat of three pipes, and at each end is a tower of five pipes surmounted by an angel playing on a large lute. The centre tower is surmounted by a sitting figure with angels, backed with carved work, above which is a winged angel holding a palm branch. The intermediate towers have each a high finial, with two angels holding trumpets. The oak work is elaborately carved, the claires-voies are gilt, and between the feet of the pipes carved work is inserted, which is also gilt. The mouths of the pipes, which, when I saw them, were in dirty condition, are gilt. The west window appears above the organ case, but the end of the Church is gloomy, and it is difficult to make out detail. I did not much admire the tone of this instrument. 1872.

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ANTWERP CATHEDRAL

11TH. SEPTR. 1872.

THE ENGLISH CHURCH has a small organ in the west gallery, consisting of one manual with ten stops and no pedal, the tone bad. The oak case in the Renaissance style, with three towers, the smallest in the centre. Although the pipes of the outer towers are arranged in a semi-circle, the top is square, the gilded work at the top of the pipes making a sort of capital, which looks very well. 1872.

ST. GEORGE.—A new church, highly decorated, has at its west end a divided Gothic organ, not otherwise remarkable. 1872.

ST. JACQUES.—A semi-divided organ stands on a Choir Screen of black and white marble, the front towards the west, has on each side next the pillars of the church, a tower of seven pipes, then a small flat, beyond which is a still smaller flat. A low straight piece of oak carving joins this to similar work on the opposite side. The Choir front consists of a low centre, which has a bas-relief of St. Cecilia, below which is a small oval opening, which I fancy is useful to the organist. On each side of this is a flat of six pipes, a tower of five pipes, a flat of four pipes, and lastly, a tower of five pipes surmounted by figures. This portion of the case is low, and looks like a Choir Organ rather larger than usual. On each side of this work, comes a small flat of five pipes, then a larger flat of five pipes, and a tall tower of five pipes, all of which are crowned with figures and carving. The feet of the pipes in these last divisions commence about the level of the middle of those in the centre part. The mouths of the pipes are gilt, and have gilded work between their feet. This instrument is an excellent specimen of an organ standing on a Choir Screen, and so arranged as not to injure the view up and down the church. 1872.

ST. PAUL (Dominicans).—The organ, with its Choir Organ in front, said to be the finest in Belgium, and as far as the case and carving is concerned it well may be, stands at the west end of the Church, in a semi-circular gallery of black and white marble, with gilt balustrades. The rough outline of the case may be said to be a steep gable, with fantastic carvings above. The central portion stands on a very high plinth, the middle tower, which is crowned with a phœnix, standing above much curious carving, has five pipes carried on “ponts,” and has on each side a double tier of eleven pipes, then an angular tower, crowned with a lyre and two angels, beyond which is a flat of seven pipes. All the wood-work is well carved, with a little gilding judiciously used. On each side of this central portion is a tower springing from a corbel, at a much lower level than the rest of the work, so that the tops of the pipes, which are five, standing on “ponts,” are about level with the tops of the lowest pipes in the centre of the case. They are crowned with domes, from which dragons peep, and are surmounted by winged angels bearing trumpets. The Choir case has three angels on its central tower of seven pipes, on each side of which are two tiers of small pipes, and then an angular tower, surmounted by an angel. A wooden gallery joins the Choir case to the inner angle of the outer towers of the Great case, and a like gallery joins these towers to the walls of the nave. All this work overhangs the marble gallery below, and its curved supports are beautifully carved. The lower gallery contains the usual fittings of an orchestra, the pipes are quite plain and the leaf of their mouths is rounded, not sharp as in the Cathedral, or at St. Jacques, and no carving is introduced between their feet. 1872.

The wood of all these organs is dark, not black, oak, and the sculpture excellent.

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ST. PAULS ANTWERP

12TH. SEPTR. 1872