NOTES ON DUTCH ORGANS.
N
NIEUWE KERK.—At the west end is a large organ, with double shutters, the lower half of the case being wider than the upper part. It is painted mahogany colour, as well as the Choir Organ in front. It is altogether a tasteless design. A second organ stands at the junction of the nave with the south transept; it is closed with shutters, and is a very good picturesque specimen of a small organ, as tasteful as the west organ is tasteless. 1872.
OUDE KERK.—At the west end, in a marble gallery, stands a fine organ, the wall behind which is painted black. The case is bronze colour, with white statues and decorations. The claires-voies and the bases of the pipes have much gilding, and the mouths of the pipes are also gilt. It has five towers, the centre and the two outer of which are circular, the two others are angular. The central tower is surmounted by a black-faced clock, with white and gold ornaments. The southern circular tower has a statue of St. John, and the south angular tower a shield bearing a “ship proper.” The north angular tower has the arms of the town, and the north circular tower a figure standing by an altar. The flats between the towers have each three tiers of pipes, the central tower two tiers, seven pipes in the lower, and nine in the upper. The angular towers have also two tiers, seven below and eleven above. The outer towers have seven pipes each. The Choir Organ has a central tower of seven pipes, with a flat on each side, containing two tiers of pipes, ten in each; then an angular tower of seven pipes, with half circles of ten pipes for a finish, above which are white recumbent figures. On the north side of the Church is a little organ closed with shutters, on which musical instruments are painted. 1872.
(Larger)OUDE KERK AMSTERDAM.25TH.SEPTR.1872.
(Larger)OUDE KERK AMSTERDAM.25TH.SEPTR.1872.
(Larger)
OUDE KERK AMSTERDAM.
25TH.SEPTR.1872.
NIEUWE KERK.—A large organ at the west end, with a Choir Organ in front, said to have a very fine tone. The case is painted a light bright pink, and is very tasteless. 1872.
OUDE KERK.—At the west end is a large organ, with its Choir in front. Both have three towers, the largest in the centre. The pipes have gilt mouths, and the case is painted light salmon colour. It is a very similar design to the organ in the Nieuwe Kerk. 1872.
JANSKERK(St. John’s).—A fine organ with its Choir in front, painted a cold dark brown colour, stands in a marble gallery, at the west end of the Church. It is surrounded by a plaster curtain or mantle, coloured blue, with a dull red lining. It has three towers; the largest in thecentre has seven pipes, and is crowned with two angels, one of whom plays on a harp. On each side of the centre tower is a flat, with angels over them, the one playing a flute, the other a triangle; beyond which are angular compartments, joining the two outer towers, which are surmounted by angels bearing trumpets. Under the pipe-work stands coats-of-arms, blazoned and gilded. The front of the organ, which curves forward, is supported by four Corinthian columns, with gilt capitals. The centre tower of the Choir Organ has nine pipes, with a coat-of-arms over, supported by lions, on each side of which is a flat of pipes, beyond which are angular towers and curved ends. A large white and gold bracket supports this portion of the instrument. The balustrade of the gallery is wood-work, painted of the same colour as the organ, with coats-of-arms blazoned thereon, and having a handsome gilded cresting. The mouths of the pipes are gilt, and there is much gilding about the case, &c. The marbles of the gallery are grey and dove-coloured. 1872.
(Larger)JANS KERK GOUDA19TH.SEPTR.1872.
(Larger)JANS KERK GOUDA19TH.SEPTR.1872.
(Larger)
JANS KERK GOUDA
19TH.SEPTR.1872.
GROOTEKERK(St. Bavon).—This famous organ stands in a marble gallery at the west end of the Church, but the effect of its grand case is somewhat marred, by the Dutch want of taste, in the way the case is painted. The wall behind the instrument is painted a glossy black (the rest of the Church being whitewashed). The statues, coats-of-arms, &c., on the top of the instrument, are painted bright white, their bases grey marble, and the remainder of the case is painted with a light tint of dull pinkish drab. The mouths of the pipes and the carving at their tops and feet, are all brightly gilt. The support of the Choir Organ is bronze, with a large and two small gilded angels on it. Under the gallery is a white marble allegory, which I will not attempt to explain, and the entire top of the case, except the outer towers, is crowned with a mass of carving, with the arms of the town supported by lions. The central tower consists of two tiers, the lower of seven, the upper of nine pipes. On each side is a narrow flat, divided into five compartments, the next but one to the top being occupied by a statue playing on a musical instrument, and the rest filled with small pipes. Next are angular towers, with their pipes arranged in the same mode as the centre, beyond which is a flat, containing two tiers of pipes, above which is a niche with a statue. Beyond this are the two outer towers of seven great pipes each, the feet of which commence at a much lower level than the rest of the pipes, so that the summit of these towers is not so high as the rest of the instrument. That on the south side is crowned with King David, and that on the north with a figure, but whom it represents I never could find out. Outside the great tower, on tall pedestals, stand angels with trumpets. The Choir Organ has its tallest tower of seven pipes in the centre; a flat of three tiers of pipes on each side; then an angular tower of seven pipes, and curved ends. These last are surmounted by sitting figures. The balustrade of the gallery has some elaborate carved open work above it, and its supporting columns are of some sort of dark marble. The general tone of the instrument is very good, but the vox humana is bad. The player, though he could hardly be called first-rate, was very skilful in showing off the quality of the instrument. All the fittings about the key-board are clumsy; the black keys are topped with tortoiseshell. The cornices of the towers greatly overhang, but the flats between being small in proportion to the towers, and the intricacy of the general forms, prevent the usual ill effect. 1872.
(Larger)ST.BAVON HAARLEM.23RD.SEPTR.1872.
(Larger)ST.BAVON HAARLEM.23RD.SEPTR.1872.
(Larger)
ST.BAVON HAARLEM.
23RD.SEPTR.1872.
ST. JANSKIRK.—The organ case at the west end of this church is perhaps the finest in Europe. The oak wood-work is very dark, and profusely carved, without any gilding, and is ina good state of polish. The top of the case from the ground is about one hundred feet. The pipes, which, when I saw them, were in very bright condition, have their mouths gilded. The centre pipes of each tower have a pattern beaten upon their surface, and are gilt, with the exception of the lower one on the centre tower, which is only partially gilt. The centre tower, which is surmounted by a clock, under which is the Dance of Death, or some such subject, has two tiers of pipes, seven below and eleven above. On each side of this is a flat, divided into two tiers, which contain, in the lower compartment, what may be called five double pipes, or perhaps, more accurately speaking, it has ten pipes, with their feet joined together, the heads of the lower ones standing on the plinth, and the upper ones in their usual position. I could not see how these pipes were supplied with wind, and I have a strong idea that they are dummies. In the upper part were six double pipes arranged in the same manner, and above are niches, figures, columns, and pediments. Next come two angular towers, with a lower tier of seven, and an upper tier of eleven pipes. And to finish the organ, instead of the great towers, as at Haarlem, are two large flats corbelled out from the sides of the instrument, containing five large pipes, and sloping towards the wall behind. These are crowned with fantastic pyramids. The Choir Organ in front has over its centre tower, which contains five pipes, a figure of St. John with his Eagle, on each side of which is a flat with seven small pipes, in its lower compartment, and in its upper compartment six double pipes, similar to those in the Great Organ. Beyond this, is an angular tower of seven pipes, with a vase on its summit, and a small return compartment of pipes, joining the case to the gallery, which is of elaborately carved oak, and supported by two grey stone pillars. I did not hear the instrument, but was told it was nearly as good as Haarlem. 1872.
(Larger)ST.JAN HERTOGENBOSCH28TH.SEPTR.1872.
(Larger)ST.JAN HERTOGENBOSCH28TH.SEPTR.1872.
(Larger)
ST.JAN HERTOGENBOSCH
28TH.SEPTR.1872.
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.
(Larger)ST.Lawrence (Groote Kerk) Rotterdam.17TH.SEPT. 1872.
(Larger)ST.Lawrence (Groote Kerk) Rotterdam.17TH.SEPT. 1872.
(Larger)
ST.Lawrence (Groote Kerk) Rotterdam.
17TH.SEPT. 1872.
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.