ORGAN FOR GRAND TURK

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 April 1932, Page 9

ORGAN FOR GRAND TURK

QUEEN ELIZABETH’S GIFT In the days of great adventure the Levant Company had the Near East as their special concern. Queen Elizabeth was interested both in the adventure and the potential profits, and m ,15‘»6 sent her first Ambassador to the Grand Turk. It was probably from Sir Edward Barton that the brilliant suggestion was sent home of giving the Sultan an organ, a present so unique as to create an immediate prejudice in favour of the English company. If an organ, then an organbuilder, and here a. Lancashiie man appears upon the, scene and takes a share in the adventure. Thomas Dallam was born at Dallam, a village near Warrington, and went to London to learn his craft. He was apprenticed to the Blacksmiths’ Company, afterwards becoming a liveryman.' as the organ-builders were regarded as a branch of that craft. Already he was considered a master craftsman and most fitted to take an organ to Constantinople. Towards the end of January, 1598, the whole town was talking of the great and curious present which was going to the Grand Turk, and there was much satisfaction at. being able to “scandalise” other nations, and especially al being able to steal a march upon the Germans. Thomas Dallam took kindly to hisadventure and kept a diary of his voyage. He puts down the things which are really interesting, and his voyage to the Levant was an adventure from February 9, when he paid a waterman sixpence to take him to Gravesend, until the day he returned to his organbuilding in London. He stayed four days at Gravesend

Availing for a favourable wind, and his four days cost him twelve shillings, whilst later he stayed seven days at Plymouth at a cost of but fifteen shillings. Delayed in the Downs, he went ashore at Deal, and there spent a. jolly evening. His diary records that meiriment cost him a shilling and when the signal came to go aboard one of • the roisterers was too drunk to get aboard and was left behind. Going down the Channel a storm drove them into Dartmouth, and it. was six weeks after going on board at Gravesend before they were sailing from Plymouth Sound. A BRUSH WITH BUCCANEERS The Channel was beset by the bucaneers of Dunkirk, and seven sail attacked the Hector; with well-armed ship and a valiant captain, the Dunkirkers were not only beaten off but pursued, and if the captain had had his way some prizes would have been made and taken into port.. But the precious freight was not to be risked, and so the voyage was continued, much to the dissatisfaction of those, Dallam amongst them, who had a relish for a tight, especially with prizes at (he end. At last the Hector anchored at Scanderoon. wailing for permission to take lhe organ lo the Grand Turk and to astonish the Sultan with this famous invention. What the Grand Turk _ would do with his organ when Dallam, the only" man likely to be able to play upon it. returned to England, is one of lhe historical mysteries yet unsolved. Waiting for the Grand Turk to issue permits to come to Constantinople. Dallam and his shipmates had a run ashore. With one companion, the or-gan-builder ventured into the country, and at last, amongst the hills, came

upon a village with lierce-looking men and wild dogs. The companion is afraid of being killed and hides among the trees, but Dallam is hungry and feels it. to be a pity not to make closer acquaintance with the villagers. He is not for turning back until he has seen a wild Turk in his own home. So Dallam goes forward alone, and in the language' which all can understand makes the villages know he is thirsty. They are as interested in the coolness and courage of this queer infidel as he is in them, and treat him hospitably. He eats and drinks and rather enjoys the food of the country, and returns to pick up his trembling comrade and to make a story of his adventures, and especially of the interest he aroused in the women of the hill village. The organ is delivered, the Grand Turk amazed at the great and curious present the English Queen has sent to him. and perhaps as astonished at the Lancashire man who plays upon the organ. Dallam returned home to found a family of organ-builders and to become the most famous builder of the seventeenth century. The case of his organ in King's college, Cambridge, still remains; the organ, the great double organ, which he built in Worcester Cathedral at a cost of £2ll was destroyed in the Rebellion. The organ he and his son built for Durham was eventually sold to St. Michaellebelfry at York, and in 1885 was bought by Mr Bell for £4. Yet the most famous organ he built is. surely the one which ran the risks of storm and pirates and amazed the Grand Turk.