This organ was built by the Austin Organ Company, of Hartford, Conn., in 1912. It was presented to the city of Portland by Mr. Cyrus K. Curtis, of the Saturday Evening Post, in memory of the late Hermann Kotschmar, whose "Te Deum" is well known in the United States. The organ is in a handsome case on the platform at one end of the hall and is entitled to take its place among the world's great instruments. It is certainly a coincidence that those who have been associated with Mr. Hope-Jones in business now rank as the foremost organ builders in America, as witness this fine organ and that in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York.
The Portland organ has four manuals of 61 notes, CC to c3, and pedal of 32 notes, CCC to g. There are 88 sounding stops and 33 couplers.
GREAT ORGAN (18 STOPS).FEET. FEET.Sub Bourdon 32 2d Open Diapason 8Bourdon 16 3d Open Diapason 8Violone Dolce 16 Violoncello 81st Open Diapason 8 Gemshorn 8Doppel Flute 8 Double Trumpet 16Clarabella 8 Trumpet 8Octave 4 Clarion 4Hohl Flute 4 Cathedral Chimes (enclosedOctave Quint 3 in Solo Box).Super Octave 2SWELL ORGAN (16 STOPS).FEET. FEET.Quintaton 16 Harmonic Flute 4Diapason Phonon 8 Flautino 2Horn Diapason 8 Mixture, 3 and 4 ranksViole d'Gamba 8 Contra Fagotto 16Rohr Flute 8 Cornopean 8Flauto Dolce 8 Oboe 8Unda Maris 8 Vox Humana 8Muted Viole 8 TremulantPrincipal 4ORCHESTRAL ORGAN (13 STOPS).FEET. FEET.Contra Viole 16 Quintadena 8Geigen Principal 8 Flute d'Amour 4Concert Flute 8 Flageolet 2Dulciana 8 French Horn 8Viole d'Orchestra 8 Clarinet 8Viole Celeste 8 Cor Anglais 8Vox Seraphique 8 TremulantSOLO ORGAN (12 STOPS)FEET. FEET.Violone 16 Concert Piccolo 2Flaute Major, Open Chests 8 Tuba Profunda 16Grand Diapason 8 Harmonic Tuba 8Gross Gamba 8 Tuba Clarion 4Gamba Celeste 8 Orchestral Oboe (enclosed) 8Flute Overte 4 Tuba Magna 8ECHO ORGAN (IN ROOF) (7 STOPS).FEET. FEET.Cor de Nuit 8 Echo Cornet, 3 ranksGedackt 8 Vox Humana 8Vox Angelica 8 HarpViole Aetheria 8 TremulantFern Flute 4PEDAL ORGAN (AUGMENTED) (21 STOPS).FEET. FEET.Contra Magnaton 32 Gross Flute 8Contra Bourdon 32 Violoncello 8Magnaton 16 Octave Flute 4Open Diapason 16 Contra Bombarde 32Violone 16 Bombarde (25-inch wind) 16Dulciana (from Great) 16 Tuba Profunda 16First Bourdon 16 Harmonic Tuba 8Contra Viole 16 Tuba Clarion 4Second Bourdon 16 (From Solo Enclosed)Lieblich Gedackt (Echo) 16 Contra Fagotto 16Gross Quint 10 1/2 (From Swell)Flauto Dolce 8There are 6 Composition Pedals to the Pedal Organ and 8 AdjustablePistons to each Manual controlling the Stops and Couplers. Stop-keysare used.Accessory: Balanced Crescendo Pedal, adjustable, not moving registers;Balanced Swell Pedal; Balanced Orchestral Pedal; Balanced Solo and EchoPedal; Great to Pedal, reversible; Solo and Echo to Great, reversible;Sforzando Pedal.
The firm of Henry Willis & Sons was established in 1845 by the late "Father" Willis, who took his two sons, Vincent Willis and Henry Willis, into partnership with him in 1878. The majority of the patents and improvements produced by the firm were solely the work of "Father" Willis, although his son Vincent was associated with him in certain of the later patents. Vincent Willis left the firm in 1894, six years previous to the death of "Father" Willis, which occurred in February, 1900, and the business has since been carried on by his son, Mr. Henry Willis, with whom is associated Mr. Henry Willis, Jr., the grandson of the founder.
The famous traditions of the firm in the field of reed-voicing and flue tone have been maintained by the present partners, who are both experienced voicers; and in general up-to-date mechanical details the firm is in the forefront of the English organ-building industry; as is evidenced by their recently obtaining the contract for the magnificent divided organ which they have now under construction (1913) for the enormous New Cathedral of Liverpool, the specification of which is here appended.
There are five manuals, of 61 notes, CC to c3, and a radiating and concave pedal board of 32 notes, CCC to g. There are no extensions or duplications. With the exception of the Celestes, which go down to FF only, every stop is complete, of full compass. There are 167 speaking stops and 48 couplers, making a total of 215 draw stop knobs.
PEDAL ORGAN (33 STOPS).FEET. FEET.Dble. Open Diapason, wood 32 *Violoncello, metal 8Dble. Open Diapason, metal 32 Flute, metal 8Contra Violone, metal 32 *Quintadena, metal 8Double Quint, wood 21 1/3 Twelfth, metal 5 1/3Open Diapason No. 1, wood 16 Fifteenth, metal 4Open Diapason No. 2, wood 16 Mixture, 17th, 19th, 22dOpen Diapason No. 3, wood 16 Fourniture, 19, b2l, 22, 26, 29Open Diapason, metal 16 Contra Trombone 32Contra Basso, metal 16 *Contra Ophicleide 32*Geigen, metal 16 Trombone 16Dolce, metal 16 Bombardon 16*Violone, metal 16 *Ophicleide 16Bourdon, wood 16 *Fagotto 16*Quintaton, metal 16 Octave Trombone 8Quint, wood 10 2/3 *Octave Bassoon 8Octave, wood 8 Clarion 4Principal, metal 8* Stops marked * are in separate Swell Box.Wind pressures: 6, 7, 10, 15, and 25 inches.CHOIR ORGAN (23 STOPS).FEET. FEET.Contra Dulciana 16 *Gambette 4*Contra Gamba 16 Dulciana 2Open Diapason 8 *Flageolet 2*Violin Diapason 8 *Dulciana Mixture, 10, 12, 17,Rohr Flute 8 19, 22*Claribel Flute 8 *Bass Clarinet 16Dulciana 8 *Baryton, dble. vox humana 16*Gamba 8 *Corno di Bassetto 8*Unda Maris (FF) 8 *Cor Anglais 8Flute Ouverte 4 *Vox Humana 8*Suabe Flute 4 *Trumpet (orchestral) 8Dulcet 4 *Clarion 4* Stops marked * in separate Swell Box.Wind pressures: 4 inches; Trumpet and Clarion, 7 inches.GREAT ORGAN (28 STOPS, 1 COUPLER).FEET. FEET.Double Open Diapason 16 Octave Diapason 4Contra Tibia 16 Principal 4Bourdon 16 Flute Couverte 4Double Quint 10 2/3 Flute Harmonique 4Open Diapason, No. 1 8 Twelfth 2 2/3Open, No. 2 8 Fifteenth 2Open, No. 3 8 Piccolo Harmonique 2Open, No. 4 8 Mixture, 10, 12, 17, 19, 22Open, No. 5 8 Sesquialtera, 19, b21, 22, 26, 29Open, No. 6 8 Double Trumpet 16Tibia Major 8 Trumpet 8Tibia Minor 8 Trompette Harmonique 8Stopped Diapason 8 Clarion 4Doppel Flöte 8 Solo Trombas on GreatQuint 5 1/3 (By Coupler)Wind pressures: 5, 10, and 15 inches.[Transcriber's note: in "Sesquialtera", the "b21" above, the "b"represents the music "flat" symbol.]SWELL ORGAN (31 STOPS).FEET. FEET.Contra Geigen 16 Lieblich Flöte 4Contra Saliciona 16 Doublette 2Lieblich Bordun 16 Lieblich Piccolo 2Open Diapason, No. 1 8 Lieblich Mixture, 17, 19, 22Open Diapason, No. 2 8 Full Mixture, 12, 17, 19, b21, 22Geigen 8 Double Trumpet 16Tibia 8 Wald Horn 16Flauto Traverso 8 Contra Hautboy 16Wald Flöte 8 Trumpet 8Lieblich Gedackt 8 Trompette Harmonique 8Echo Gamba 8 Cornopean 8Salicional 8 Hautboy 8Vox Angelica (FF) 8 Krummhorn 8Octave 4 Clarion, No. 1 4Geigen Principal 4 Clarion, No. 2 4Salicet 4Wind pressures: 5, 7, 10, and 15 inches.[Transcriber's note: in "Full Mixture", the "b21" above, the "b"represents the music "flat" symbol.]SOLO ORGAN (23 STOPS).FEET. FEET.*Contra Hohl Flöte 16 Concert Flute 4Contra Viole 16 Octave Viole 4*Hohl Flöte 8 Piccolo Harmonique 2Flute Harmonique 8 Violette 2Viol de Gambe 8 Cornet de Violes, 10, 12, 15Viol d'Orchestre 8 Cor Anglais 16Viole Celeste (FF) 8 Clarinet (orchestral) 8*Octave Hohl Flöte 4 Bassoon (orchestral) 8French Horn (orchestral) 8 Tromba Real 8Oboe (orchestral) 8 Tromba Clarion 4Contra Tromba 16 *Diapason Stentor 8Tromba 8All Stops in a Swell Box except Stops marked *.Wind pressures: 7, and 20 inches.CLAVIER DES BOMBARDES (TUBA ORGAN) (6 STOPS).FEET. FEET.Contra. Tuba 16 Octave Bombardon 4Bombardon 8 Tuba Clarion 4Tuba Mirabilis 8 Tuba Magna 8Wind pressures: 30 inches; Tuba Magna, 50 inches.The Stops of this department will be played from the fifth Keyboard,the action being controlled by Draw-stop Knob marked "Tuba On."ECHO ORGAN (19 MANUAL AND 4 PEDAL STOPS).ECHO PEDAL.FEET. FEET.Salicional 16 Fugara 8Echo Bass 16 Dulzian (reed) 16ECHO MANUAL.FEET. FEET.Quintaton 16 Flautina 2Echo Diapason 8 Harmonica Aetheria (fluteCor de Nuit 8 mixture), 10, 12, 15Carillon (gongs) 8 Chalumeau 16Flauto Amabile 8 Cor Harmonique 8Muted Viole 8 Trompette 8Aeoline Celeste (FF) 8 Musette 8Celestina 4 Voix Humaine 8Fernflöte 4 Hautbois d'Amour 8Rohr Nasat 2 2/3 Hautbois Octaviante 4Wind pressures: 3 1/2 and 7 inches.Both Pedal and Manual Stops in Swell Box. The Echo Manual Stops playedfrom the fifth Keyboard, the action being controlled by Draw-stop Knobmarked "Echo On."Arranged in two double columns on the left-hand or bass jamb are 48draw-stop knobs for the Couplers and Tremulants. The principalCouplers may also be operated by reversible pistons and the Tremulants(3) by reversible pedals. There are also 5 reversible pedal pistonsfor the Manual to Pedal Couplers. In addition to the usualInter-manual Couplers there are on the Choir, Swell, Solo, and Echoorgans Sub and Super and Unison (off) Couplers, each on its own Manual.A novelty is a coupler labeled Solo Tenor to Pedal. By its use theupper 20 notes of the pedal-board are available for a tenor solo by theright foot, at the same time the Pedal tones are cut off from thesenotes and the remainder of the pedal-board is available for use by theleft foot as a bass.The stop control is effected in the first place by 9 AdjustableCombination Pedals to the Pedal Organ. Then there are 9 AdjustableCombination Pistons to the Choir, Great, Swell, Solo and Echo organsand 5 to the Tuba organ. It is possible to couple each set of theseManual Pistons to the Pedal organ Combination Pedals, either bydraw-stops or by piston, thus moving pedal and manual stopssynchronously.All these Combination Pedals and Pistons move the draw-stop knobs,showing a valuable index of their position to the organist.There are 5 Adjustable Pistons on the treble key frame (and 5duplicates on the bass key frame) for special combinations, on Manuals,Pedal, and Couplers.There are 5 pedals to operate the various swell boxes of the leverlocking type--a locking movement allowing the performer to leave pedalin any position. The swell pedal for the Pedal stops can be coupled toany of the others.The Tremulants have attachments allowing the performer to increase ordecrease the rapidity of thevibratoat will.The action throughout is electro-pneumatic and tubular-pneumatic(according to distance of pipes from keyboard), excepting the Manual toPedal Couplers, which are mechanical to pull down the manual keys.There are seven separate blowing installations of electric motors.
The instrument occupied two special chambers on each side of the chancel, and a portion of the south chancel triforium. There are four fronts, two facing the chancel and two (32 feet) facing the transepts. The console is placed on the north side above the choir stalls. The organ is the gift of Mrs. James Barrow and cost (without cases) about $90,000. The specification was drawn up by Mr. W. J. Ridley, nephew of Mrs. Barrow, with the full approval of her committee, Mr. Charles Collins, Mr. E. Townsend Driffield, the Cathedral organist, Mr. F. H. Burstall, F. R. C. O., and Henry Willis & Sons.
It is claimed that this organ is now "the largest in the world." We give the dimensions of some notable instruments for the sake of comparison:
Paris, St. Sulpice, 118 stops; London, Albert Hall, 124; Sydney Town Hall, 144; St. Louis Exposition, 167; Hamburg, St. Michael's, 163, and Liverpool Cathedral, 215.
[1] This is really only c3(see footnote, page 22), but we have decided to adopt the usual nomenclature.
James Ingall Wedgwood, in writing his excellent "Dictionary of Organ Stops," felt it incumbent upon him to offer an apology, or rather, justification for introducing the name of Hope-Jones so frequently.
The author of this present volume feels the same embarrassment. He, however, does not see how it would be possible for him, or for any future writer, who values truth, to avoid reiteration of this man's name and work when writing about the modern organ.
The author's thanks are due to the Austin Organ Company, the Bennett Organ Company, Dr. W. C. Carl, the Estey Organ Company, the Hook & Hastings Company, the Hope-Jones Organ Company, the Hutchings Organ Company, Mr. M. P. Moller, Messrs. J. H. & S. C. Odell, and the E. M. Skinner Company, of the United States; to Messrs. Casavant Frères, of Canada; to Messrs. J. H. Compton, W. Hill & Son, Dr. J. W. Hinton, Alfred Kirkland, John Moncrieff Miller, and Henry Willis & Sons, of England; to Dr. Gabriel Bédart, of Lille, and M. Charles Mutin, of Paris, France, for valuable data, photographs and drawings, kindly furnished for this book.