This testimony of Abraham Ritter, an organist of good standing in the Moravian Church, gives some idea of the excellence of the work and of the reputation which Tannenberger still had in the nineteenth century.
In a letter written from Lancaster, Dec. 24, 1770, the following testimony is added:
“Yesterday we had the pleasure of hearing, for the first Time, the new Organ, in the High Dutch Reformed church of this Place, accompanied with a variety of vocal Music, composed on the Occasion which I may venture to say, not only from my own Experience, but the Approbation of all present, was never equalled in any Place of Worship in this Province, or perhaps upon this Continent. The Organ was made by Mr. David Tannenberg, of Litiz, a Moravian Town not far from this Place; and I dare venture to assert, is much superior in Workmanship and Sweetness of Sound, to any made by the late celebrated Mr. Feyring, who was so justly taken notice of for his Ingenuity; does great Honour to the Maker; is worth the Attention and Notice of the Curious, who may happen to pass this way; and will undoubtedly recommend him to all who are desirious of having Works of that Nature.”[64]
In spite of his reputation as an organ builder, we learn that in 1790 he was a bankrupt.[65] He died May 19, 1804, stricken by paralysis while tuning an organ at York, Pa.[66]
We have already spoken of Gottlieb Mittelberger and his organ, and, although we cannot depend upon his statements, there may be some truth in his somewhat exaggerated account of the dedication of his organ. It is at least interesting, and shows that the people as a whole were certainly not prejudiced against music. He says:
“After this work had been set up and tuned it was consecrated with great rejoicing and delivered to the Christian St. Michael’s Church for the praise and service of God.
“The crowd of hearers was indescribably large; many people came from a great distance, 10, 20, 30, 40 and even 50 hours’ journey, to see and hear this organ. The number of hearers, who stood inside and outside the church, both German and English, were estimated at several thousands. I was appointed school-master and organist. As I became more and more known in Pennsylvania, and the people learned that I had brought fine and good instruments with me, many English and German families came 10, 20 and 30 hours’ journey to hear them and the organ, and they were greatly surprised because they had never in all their lives seen or heard an organ or any of those instruments.[67]
“At the present time [1754] there are 6 organs in Pennsylvania—the first is in Philadelphia, the 2nd in Germantown, the 3rd in Providence, the 4th in New Hanover, the 5th in Dulpehocken, all of them came to this country during the four years of my sojourn there.”[68]
This statement concerning the number of organs in Philadelphia cannot be true, as we have shown above that there were several. In his list of the organs in Pennsylvania, he neglects to mention the one made for the Moravian Church at Bethlehem in 1746.[69] The number of people which he claims was present at the dedication is probably exaggerated, and, as Mittelberger was the chief performer, we can pardon him this slip of the pen. It is probable, however, that there was a large number of people present, as there would be at any new event entering into their narrow lives—especially as there was no charge for admission.
In 1762 a new organ was built in Philadelphia by Philip Feyring for St. Paul’s Church. He is the other claimant to the honor of being the greatest organ builder of his day.[70] One of the newspapers was evidently partial to him, since it gives this notice.