ROTTERDAM.

GROOTEKERK (St. Lawrence).—At the west end stands a very large organ. The centre tower, which is ninety feet high from the ground, and is crowned with an angel holding a trumpet, has two tiers of pipes, the lower containing fifteen, and the upper nineteen. On each side is a flat with three tiers of pipes; then a flat of four tall pipes; and at each end a tower surmounted with a vase, containing five pipes, belonging to the thirty-two feet stop, and which look very long and thin, as they have a rather narrow scale. On a bracket, outside the north tower, is an angel playing on the lute; on the south side, one who plays on the flute. The buffet, or lower part of the case, rises in a curve to the centre; the Choir Organ in front, has its tallest tower in the centre, surmounted by three angels; next to which is a flat of two tiers of pipes, seven in each; then a flat of four pipes, and at each end a tower of seven pipes. The organ loft is white, and supported by eight Ionic columns, with bronze capitals, and the culs-de-lampe of the three towers of the Choir Organ are also bronze. The pipes had gilt mouths, the wood-work was all brown oak, much carved with festoons of flowers, and sham curtains for claires-voies. I heard the organ at a week-day evening service, the tone was good, but wanting in fulness. I suspect I did not hear the full power. 1872.

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ST. Lawrence (Groote Kerk) Rotterdam.

17TH. SEPT. 1872.

UTRECHT.

THE CATHEDRAL (St. Martin).—The organ stands where the nave of the Cathedral, which has fallen down, commenced, and beneath it is a pulpit with a square sounding-board. It is a new instrument, of a light yellow colour, in modern German Gothic. The great case consists of three equal towers, of seven pipes each, the centre surmounted by King David, and the others by pinnacles of open-work; and an open-work gallery joins these together, beneath which are two flats, the upper part of which is an elaborate Gothic window, the background of dark blue, with four and twenty pipes in each, divided by the mullion of the window. The Choir Organ consists of a large gable, of open Gothic work, between two pinnacled towers of seven pipes each. In the centre is a sort of Gothic window, with two flats of twelve pipes, and on each side, a flat with a double tier of pipes, adjoining the towers. A gallery, decorated with quatre-foils, connects the two organs. The mouths of the pipes are gilt, and there is some gilding about the case, which cannot be called a handsome one, as it violates all the rules of what a good organ case should be. 1872.

ST. NICOLAS.—At the west end is a very curious little old organ, with a quaint Choir Organ in front, supported by a single square column. It consists of two flat overhanging towers, with an angular centre tower, rather taller, all crowned with Gothic pinnacle work. The flats joining these towers, which rise to the centre tower, have each fourteen pipes, above which are a set of pipes with two bodies, two mouths, and two feet; in fact two pipes joined together at their feet. I could not see how they could be supplied with wind. The Choir Organ in front has three angular towers, with no flats between them; the centre, the tallest, has seven pipes; the others have five pipes on their outer side, and on their inner side pipes similar to those in the upper part of the flats of the Great Organ. A small curved compartment on each side, completes this case. The mouths of the pipes are gilt, and there is some gilding about the case. It was dusk when I saw this organ, which I am sure is worth a careful examination, as there is much about it that is old and curious. 1872.

In the museum of the Archbishop are some painted shutters belonging to some old organ, the bass being David playing before the Ark, and the treble, David playing before Saul. 1872.