THE FIRST CHURCH ORGAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 21

THE FIRST CHURCH ORGAN.

In our illustrated pages- this week appear! a view of' portion of the interior of First Chureh, Dunedin, showing the fine organ, the pulpit, and choir platform, and also a portrait of Mr; Jesse Timson, tha organist. The ophicleide stop added to tha organ quite recently, and used in publio for the first time at a recital given by Mr Timsor on the 21st inst., completes th« organ according to the specifications drawn up by the builders and Mr Timson. Tha stop is of great power, and is used only with the full organ, giving grandeur and nobleness of tone to passages which requira powerful treatment. The cost of the organ, including erection, duty, alterations to church, etc., amounts to about £2OOO. There is still a debt of several hundred pounds, which is gradually being reduced from the profits of the recitals given at intervals. Upwards of 11,000 persons have attended the 21 recitals given. ... The organ is built- in two divisions, -.nd played from a detached console. On tha south side is placed the great and choir organs and Nos. 31 and 34 of the pedal organ; on the north side, the swell organ and Nos. 32, 35, and 36 of the pedal organ. The pipes forming the two towers form part of Nos 1 and 33. The action is tubular pneumatic throughout (of similar type to that of the new organ at the Royal College of Organists, London). The pedalboard is radiating and concave, of tha revised R.C.O. pattern, The pitch of tbs organ is 522 vibrations per second at 68deg Fa.hr. The motive power is hydraulic; tha two engines operating the main bellows and feeders being placed in an ante-r00m.,. There are six reservoirs, inside the organ, for the several departments. The wine pressures are: for the great and swell, 4gin ; for the choir and pedal, 4in. No. 36, now. added, is on .a Tin pressure. The action, is on Sin pressure, giving prompt The case is of oak, made in. New Zealand* to the design supplied by the builders. Me F. R. Frye, Mas. Bac., of Chelmsford, Essex, supervised the work at Norwich, and the erection in the church has been carried out by Mr Tustin, the representor tive in New Zealand of the firm. Mr Timson, the organist of the church, super* vised the erectiqn in the church, -.nd every* thing had to be completed to 4u '-atifl-, faction. The following is a summary ot the schedule: —

Great Organ . ■ 10 stops 580 pipe* Swell ,, .. 11 „ 684 „ Choir . • -7 ,, 406 „ Pedial .. .. 5 „ 114 „ Speaking Stops Derive No. 33 .. Couplers .. .. 1) „ Tremulants «• Drawis tops .. Accossoried . .. .. 13 „ 59 1784