THE ORGAN CASE.
(BUFFET, _French_; ORGEL GEHAUSE, _German_; KIST O’ WHISTLES,
_Scotticè_).
Division into Four Classes.--Subdivisions of ditto.
Organ cases may broadly be divided into four classes. Firstly, those
which stand at the end of the nave or transept of a Church, or the end
of a Concert Room. Secondly, organs which are pendent from the side of
the nave or choir of a large Church. Thirdly, organs which stand on
Choir Screens; and Fourthly, organs standing on the ground. Of these
classes many sub-divisions may be made. Of the organs in these four
classes, those in No. 1 are in general the most imposing, those in No.
2 the most picturesque, those in No. 3 the best for sound, and those in
No. 4 require some skill to make them rival their compeers. Class 1 may
be sub-divided into--
_A._ Those which fill the entire end, or nearly so, of the
building in which they stand;
_B._ Those which have a window, or “Rose” over them; and,
_C._ Divided Organs, and those with exceptionally designed
cases.
_A._ This sub-class (a very ordinary one in England and Holland)
has the finest cases in the world, for I suppose that the grandest
and most elaborate case in Europe is that in St. Jan’s Church,
Hertogenbosch (Bois-le-Duc), rich in sculptured oak, and bright with
burnished tin pipes and gilding. Externally, although it has not got
so many stops, it is as large as its well-known neighbour at Haarlem,
which has till lately been considered the type of a “Great Organ.”
Haarlem has a noble case, with excellent pipe-work within, but its
effect is injured by paint. The organ in the Hof Kirche, Lucerne, also
has quaint oak carving in its thirty-two feet front, and for pretty
cases, that at St. Jacques, Liége, by some considered the best of
its kind, and the Organs in St. Lawrence, Jewry, and St. Stephen’s,
Walbrook, the last looking somewhat like a miniature of that at Troyes,
may be cited as good examples.
_B._ A sub-class to which very many of the large French organs may
be referred. In general, these are more picturesque than those
in Sub-class A, not that the absolute design is so, but that the
architectural effect of the window above the case makes a most
effective combination. In France, the usual window is a Rose, a form
I think the best for the termination of a nave or transept, and when
this is filled with stained glass, as is often the case, the effect
is all that can be desired. The organs in Amiens, Rheims, Troyes, and
Rouen Cathedrals, and also in Rouen in the Churches of St. Ouen and St.
Maclou, are first-class examples. This sub-class is rare in England,
few of our churches being sufficiently lofty to allow an organ to stand
in such a position.
Sub-class _C._ is employed to show the west window. Fair examples are
to be seen at St. Gudule, Bruxelles, and in Gray’s Inn Chapel. Among
the exceptional cases, that in the Cathedral Church of St. Vitus at
Prague, is one of the most curious, being cut up into four divisions,
and scattered about the west galleries; and for an ugly style of
exceptional case, there is one in a church in Ghent, about as ugly as
can well be wished.
Class II. This class, as I have mentioned before, is highly
picturesque, but is not very common. Good examples are to be seen in
Strasburg and Chartres Cathedrals, and in the Minster at Freiburg, in
Bresgau, all pendent in the nave; and there is a grand modern example
hanging in the north side of the Choir at Ely. Organs which may be
placed in this class are not uncommonly built against the east wall of
the Transept in large Belgian churches: one in the cathedral church of
St. Bavon, Ghent, is a good example. There must be some difficulty in
building a large instrument in this position, and a lofty church is
required to contain it.
Class III. may likewise be subdivided into two divisions: _A._ Single
Cases, often with a Choir Organ in front; and _B._ Divided Cases. Of
the former sub-class, the old organ in St. Paul’s was in every way a
fine example. The old organ in Durham Cathedral was the best of Father
Smith’s usual design, all his cases having a strong family likeness,
that at St Paul’s being almost the only exception. The case on the
Grand Screen in York Minster, although perhaps not in the best taste,
is effective; and of the latter sub-class, the organ in St. Jacques,
Antwerp, is excellent, and is worth the study of any one who may have
to erect a divided “Screen Organ.” The much-divided organ case in
Westminster Abbey I am Goth enough to call bad.
Class IV. The divisions of this class are numerous, and often occur in
modern churches. _A._ those standing on the floor against the wall of
the nave or chancel. St Mary’s, Nottingham, has a first-class modern
specimen, an amplification of the organ case in Strasburg Cathedral.
_B._ Those standing in the nave, aisle, or some corner. A good example
of an old case in the first position, is in St. Clement’s, East Cheap;
and the organ in All Hallows, Lombard Street, is a good specimen of
one in the second position. Both these instruments, not so many years
ago, stood in galleries at the west end of their respective churches.
_C._ Those in Organ Chambers, examples of which, I am sorry to say,
are common in new and restored Churches. _D._ Those in Organ Chapels,
which are rather better for effect than those in Sub-class _C._ St.
George’s, Doncaster, is an example of an organ of the largest size in
this position. _E._ Those standing free under the arches of the Choir
of a Cathedral or large church. In the Cathedral at Hereford is a large
modern organ in this position. _F._ Organs with Divided cases. St.
Paul’s and Durham Cathedral have good examples of this form, which I
fancy is modern and peculiar to England.
In Italy and Spain, there are often two Great organs, one on each side
of the Choir or Nave, which arrangement, conjointly with a double Choir
of Singers, is capable of the grandest effects of antiphonal music. As
good examples in Italy, may be mentioned the organs in Milan Cathedral
on each side of the Choir, and those in Como Cathedral on each side of
the Nave. Those in Milan are externally alike, and those in Como differ
in appearance. In Spain, two organs are usual in Cathedrals and large
churches, and the two organs in Seville Cathedral have magnificent
cases.
CLASS I.--_A._ Filling the entire end of the building.
_B._ With a window or rose over.
_C._ Divided and exceptional cases.
„ II.--No subdivision.
„ III.--_A._ Single cases, or with choir in front.
_B._ Divided cases.
„ IV.--_A._ Against wall of nave or choir.
_B._ Standing in a corner, or in aisle of nave.
_C._ In organ chambers.
_D._ In organ chapels.
_E._ Under arches of choir.
_F._ Divided instruments.