|
| |
Not much is known about the first instrument. The only information we have is
from two letters to the Parish Magazine in 1885. The first is from George
Sampson, then Organist and Choirmaster of S. Alban's:
'I am anxious...to state briefly to your readers the reasons, which make it
little short of an absolute necessity, that a new organ should be
provided...with as little delay as possible. The present instrument is quite
inadequate to reproduce either organ or orchestral music. It only has two
manuals...The Swell extends from Tenor C to F3 in Alt, and the Great from CC to
F3, being two notes short of the usual scale....The pedal organ consists of a
single stop and this is...too loud for the soft stops, and too weak for the ful
organ. The pedal clavier consists of 29 notes, the proper number being 30...The
touch of the keys is so stiff and uneven as to render good execution an
impossibility; and the whole mechanism of the drawstops, pedals etc. is
inconvenient and clumsy.
'I have heard persons say that the present instrument is very sweet-toned: there
is some truth in this statement, but the result is due to the church itself, and
not to the organ. S. Alban's is a magnificent building for sound, and in this
way serves to conceal the defects of the organ from all but the unfortunate
organist, who...cuts and maims his fingers in his efforts to produce rapid
movements. But the perfect acoustic properties of the church would add
enormously to the valuse of a really good organ, and I cannot but feel that in
this way we may, for a comparatively small outlay, add greatly to the beauty and
dignity of our beautiful service.
'I can only add in conclusion, and I do it without fear of contradiction from
any musician, that if the musical portion of our services are to hold the
position we rightly claim for them, a new organ is an immediate and pressing
necessity.'
The builder of this instrument, G.M. Holdich, defended himself:
'...the organ has been in the church ever since the consecration. When it was
built it was intended solely for the use of the church, and I can warrant it to
go...for another twenty years. This organ was not constructed with a view of
having organ recitals and the display of fancy stops...I am sure the
congregation appreciates the tone and quality of the instrument...In reference
to an organ of the dimensions described by Mr. Sampson, there is no room for
such an instrument.'
Well, whatever the quality of this instrument, it was decided that a new organ
should be built and to call the second organ of S. Alban's 'really good' is
something of an understatement!
Edward Batting
|
