NOTES ON GERMAN ORGANS.
S
ST. CASTOR.—A west end organ, with a rather elaborate case, which has the German peculiarity of the Great Organ case having, under the usual pipes, pipes as of a Choir Organ. I imagine this organ was played from the side. 1869.
THE CATHEDRAL.—The organ stands in a wooden gallery at the end of the north transept. The case, which is of a confused design, is not good; part of the work is old. The Choir Organ pipes show, after the German manner, in the lower part of the Great Organ case. The tone was fair, but it was not sufficient for the building, and there was no striking quality about it. 1869.
This organ is to be replaced by an enormous instrument, with at least 100 registers.
THE MINORITES.—At the west end stands a large organ, said to be the best in the city, and the little I heard at vespers was good. The pipes were very dull and dirty. The case, painted white, and relieved with gilding, is very curious. It stands right across the church,flush with the front of the gallery, on which it stands. At each end is a projecting tower, supported by figures, and containing seven pedal pipes. In the middle of the gallery is the Choir Organ, the centre tower of which is supported by a figure. Arches are thrown from this organ to the towers on each side, on which, and above the Choir Organ, stands the Great Organ case, a confused mass of angular and round towers, curved and broken pediments, &c.
The player sat under the arch on the north side, but I could not see the precise position of the key-board. The case was broad and shallow, and stood about one bay clear of the west window, which was large and handsome. 1869.
THE CATHEDRAL.—When I saw this church, it was under repair after the fire, and the only organ in it was a small modern Gothic instrument, which was evidently a temporary erection. 1869.
THE CATHEDRAL.—The Great Organ is a hanging one, and is pendent above a pillar half way down the north side of the nave. It was built in 1515, and repaired in 1818. It has two flat towers of seven pipes each, the largest being outside, with a V flat of 20 pipes between, above which is a statue of the Virgin and Child, with scroll work all gilt. The towers overhang the base on each side. The Choir Organ, which consists of a flat of nine pipes, between two flat towers of five pipes each, hangs in front of the organ gallery, which is a semi-octagon, with gilt open-work, and its corbel terminates in an angel playing a trombone. This organ is only played at the great festivals; the tone is said to be good. Showing under the south-east arch of the choir, is an organ placed on a platform, which fills up one bay of the south aisle. Its date is about 1700. It has three flat towers of five pipes each, the smallest in the centre with one pipe in each angle, so as to make the towers project slightly in front of the two flats, which contain ten pipes each. On each side of the case is a wooden screen containing a wheel window. The towers are crowned with open Gothic pinnacles, and the style is a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance. The organ gallery has open wood work about it. Three bellows stand in a loft on a level with the organ pipes. The blower stands on a floor level with the organ gallery, and works the bellows by means of ropes coming through the floor, as if he were ringing bells. The organ has but one manual, C C to f3fifty-four notes, and a pedal from C C C to D, fifteen notes. Its naturals are black and its sharps white. Its contents are:
The Nave Organ in this Church is a very good specimen of a hanging organ. 1869.
(Larger)FREIBURG IM BRESGAU21ST.SEPTR.1869.
(Larger)FREIBURG IM BRESGAU21ST.SEPTR.1869.
(Larger)
FREIBURG IM BRESGAU
21ST.SEPTR.1869.
ST. ——.—A Church (near the statue of Schwartz) the name of which I omitted to learn. At the west end in a very deep gallery, supported by many columns, is an organ of brown wood, in the Teutonic taste of the seventeenth century. It has a large centre tower, with a small flat of little pipes on each side; then a painted tower, beyond which is a wing of pipes, looking like the open shutter of a tryptich, the largest pipe being outside. The Choir Organ, which stands well away fromthe great case, has three towers, the least in the centre, with flats between. All the ornaments are painted white, and the pipes stand their natural heights, with carved work so fitted as to stand clear of them. The irregular effect is peculiar. 1869.
HOFKIRCHE.—In the Silver Chapel is an organ said to have belonged to Philippina, who died in 1580. It is a curious old instrument, with a montre of cedar, and all the work is very rough and clumsy. 1855.
THE JESUITS’ CHURCH.—At the west end stands an organ in a heavily designed case, painted white, with a very small Choir before it, not higher than the front of the gallery. In the centre of the Great Organ is a fanciful arrangement of pipes, forming a perspective. I may mention that this Church has its flat roof painted so as to represent three domes, a clever deception on first entering the Church. In the Tyrol flat towers with seven pipes are common. 1855.
THE CATHEDRAL.—At the west end is an organ having plain metal pipes, and decorated with much bad modern Gothic work. 1863.
THE CATHEDRAL.—In the north gallery of the western transept, stands a small organ of last century work. It has two fronts, the chief looking towards the west, and the other to the north. The case, which is white, has much ornament about it. As the Cathedral was under repair at the time I saw it, there may be some larger instrument in it which I did not see. 1869.
THE JESUITS’ CHURCH.—The only note I took of the organ was that it had a very low Choir Organ, not higher than the front of the gallery. 1863.
THE CATHEDRAL.—The organ at the west end is very much divided. In the lowest gallery stands a sort of Choir Organ, above which in another gallery stands a still smaller case, and again, above this, is the Great Organ, which is a divided one. On the right of the entrance, in a small side chapel, is the rudest organ I have yet met with. It is closed with shutters, and a sort of screen of wood pipes stands behind the player. 1863.
THE MONASTERY OF STRAHOW.—The organ stands at the west end of the Church, and another at the north side of the choir, to match which on the south side is a painting of a similar organ. 1863.
PFARRKIRCHE.—This is a curious double Church, with two naves and chancels, standing side by side. The organ stands at the west end, and the Choir Organ in front goes round the pillar common to both naves. 1863.