This noble instrument was built by Henry Willis to the specification of Dr. S. S. Wesley, by whom it was opened on the 29th and 30th of May, 1855. The writer made its acquaintance in 1866, when it was tuned on the unequal temperament system. In 1867 Mr. Best succeeded in getting it re-tuned in equal-temperament, several improvements were made, and the wind pressure on four of the reed stops on the Solo organ increased from 9 1/2 inches to 22 inches. In 1898 the organ was thoroughly rebuilt with tubular pneumatic action in place of the Barker levers. The compass of the manuals was changed from GG--a3 to CC--c4,[1] five octaves, and the pedals were carried up to g--33 notes. A Swell to Choir coupler was added (!) and various changes made in the stops, the Vox Humana transferred from the Swell to the Solo organ, and two of the Solo wind-chests were enclosed in a Swell-box. We note that the Tubas are still left outside. The cast-iron pipes of the lowest octave of the 32-ft. Double Open Diapason on the Pedal organ were replaced by pipes of stout zinc, and four composition pedals added to control the Swell stops.
Keyboards of Organ in St. George's Hall, Liverpool.
Two Rows of Stops at Left Omitted
The following is the specification of the organ as it now stands, in its revised form:
FIRST MANUAL (CHOIR), 18 STOPS.
FEET. FEET.
Double Diapason 16 Gamba 4
Open Diapason 8 Twelfth 2 2/3
Clarabella 8 Fifteenth 2
Stopped Diapason 8 Flageolet 2
Dulciana 8 Sesquialtera, 3 ranks
Viol da Gamba 8 Trumpet 8
Vox Angelica 8 Cremona 8
Principal 4 Orchestral Oboe 8
Harmonic Flute 4 Clarion 4
SECOND MANUAL (GREAT), 25 STOPS.
FEET. FEET.
Dble. Open Diap. (metal) 16 Twelfth 2 2/3
Open Diapason, No. 1 8 Fifteenth 2
Open Diapason, No. 2 8 Harmonic Piccolo 2
Open Diapason, wood 8 Doublette, 2 ranks
Open Diapason, No. 3 8 Sesquialtera, 5 ranks
Stopped Diapason 8 Mixture, 4 ranks
Violoncello 8 Trombone 16
Quint 5 1/2 Trombone 8
Viola 4 Ophicleide 8
Principal, No. 1 4 Trumpet 8
Principal, No. 2 4 Clarion, No. 1 4
Flute 4 Clarion, No. 2 4
Tenth 3 1/2
THIRD MANUAL (SWELL), 25 STOPS.
FEET. FEET.
Double Diapason (metal) 16 Piccolo 2
Open Diapason, No. 1 8 Doublette, 2 ranks
Open Diapason, No. 2 8 Fourniture, 5 ranks
Dulciana 8 Trombone 16
Viol da Gamba 8 Contra Hautboy 16
Stopped Diapason 8 Ophicleide 8
Voix Celeste 8 Trumpet 8
Principal 4 Horn 8
Octave Viola 4 Oboe 8
Flute 4 Clarionet 8
Twelfth 2 2/3 Clarion, No. 1 4
Fifteenth, No. 1 2 Clarion, No. 2 4
Fifteenth, No. 2 2
FOURTH MANUAL (SOLO), 15 STOPS.
FEET. FEET.
Viol da Gamba 8 Vox Humana 8
Open Diapason, wood 8 Orchestral Oboe 8
Stopped Diapason 8 Corno di Bassetto 8
Flute (Orchestral) 4 *Ophicleide 8
Flute Piccolo 2 *Trumpet 8
Contra Fagotto 16 *Clarion, No. 1 4
Trombone 8 *Clarion, No. 2 4
Bassoon 8
These stops are all placed in a new swell-box, except those marked*,
which are on the heavy wind pressure.
PEDAL ORGAN (17 STOPS).
FEET. FEET.
Double Open Quint (metal) 5 1/2
Diapason (wood) 32 Fifteenth 4
Double Open Fourniture, 5 ranks
Diapason (metal) 32 Mixture, 3 ranks
Open Diapason (wood) 16 Posaune 32
Open Diapason (metal) 16 Contra Fagotto 16
Salicional (metal) 16 Ophicleide 16
Bourdon (wood) 16 Trumpet 8
Bass Flute (wood) 8 Clarion 4
Principal (wood) 8
COUPLERS.
Solo Super-Octave. Choir to Great.
Solo Sub-Octave. Choir Super-Octave.
Solo to Great. Choir Sub-Octave.
Swell to Great Super-Octave. Solo to Pedals.
Swell to Great Unison. Swell to Pedals.
Swell to Great Sub-Octave. Great to Pedals.
Swell to Choir. Choir to Pedals.
In addition to these coupling movements there are other accessories, consisting of 36 pneumatic pistons, 6 to each manual, and 12 acting upon the Pedal stops. There are also 6 composition pedals acting upon the "Great" and "Pedal" stops simultaneously, and 4 pedals acting upon the Swell organ pistons. The Swell and Solo organs are each provided with tremulants.
Two large bellows in the basement of the Hall, and blown by two steam engines of 8 h.p. and 1/2 h.p. respectively, supply the wind, which passes from the bellows to 14 reservoirs in various positions in the instrument, the pressure varying from 3 1/2 to 22 inches.
ORGAN IN THE CATHEDRAL OF NOTRE-DAME, PARIS, FRANCE.
The ancient organ in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris was built in the reign of Louis XV by Thierry Leselope and the best workmen of his time. In the Eighteenth Century repairs and additions were made by the celebrated Cliquot. Further repairs were made by Dalsey from 1832 to 1838, and in 1863 the French Government confided the complete reconstruction of the instrument to Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. He spent five years over the work, and the new organ was solemnly inaugurated on the 6th of March, 1868.