Organ in St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, Eng
This noble instrument was built by Henry Willis to the specification of Dr. S. S. Wesley, by whom it was opened on the 29th and 30th of May, 1855. The writer made its acquaintance in 1866, when it was tuned on the unequal temperament system. In 1867 Mr. Best succeeded in getting it re-tuned in equal-temperament, several improvements were made, and the wind pressure on four of the reed stops on the Solo organ increased from 9 1/2 inches to 22 inches. In 1898 the organ was thoroughly rebuilt with tubular pneumatic action in place of the Barker levers. The compass of the manuals was changed from GG—a3 to CC—c4,[1] five octaves, and the pedals were carried up to g—33 notes. A Swell to Choir coupler was added (!) and various changes made in the stops, the Vox Humana transferred from the Swell to the Solo organ, and two of the Solo wind-chests were enclosed in a Swell-box. We note that the Tubas are still left outside. The cast-iron pipes of the lowest octave of the 32-ft. Double Open Diapason on the Pedal organ were replaced by pipes of stout zinc, and four composition pedals added to control the Swell stops.
The following is the specification of the organ as it now stands, in its revised form:
FIRST MANUAL (CHOIR), 18 STOPS.
FEET. FEET. Double Diapason 16 Gamba 4 Open Diapason 8 Twelfth 2 2/3 Clarabella 8 Fifteenth 2 Stopped Diapason 8 Flageolet 2 Dulciana 8 Sesquialtera, 3 ranks Viol da Gamba 8 Trumpet 8 Vox Angelica 8 Cremona 8 Principal 4 Orchestral Oboe 8 Harmonic Flute 4 Clarion 4
SECOND MANUAL (GREAT), 25 STOPS.
FEET. FEET. Dble. Open Diap. (metal) 16 Twelfth 2 2/3 Open Diapason, No. 1 8 Fifteenth 2 Open Diapason, No. 2 8 Harmonic Piccolo 2 Open Diapason, wood 8 Doublette, 2 ranks Open Diapason, No. 3 8 Sesquialtera, 5 ranks Stopped Diapason 8 Mixture, 4 ranks Violoncello 8 Trombone 16 Quint 5 1/2 Trombone 8 Viola 4 Ophicleide 8 Principal, No. 1 4 Trumpet 8 Principal, No. 2 4 Clarion, No. 1 4 Flute 4 Clarion, No. 2 4 Tenth 3 1/2
THIRD MANUAL (SWELL), 25 STOPS.
FEET. FEET.
Double Diapason (metal) 16 Piccolo 2
Open Diapason, No. 1 8 Doublette, 2 ranks
Open Diapason, No. 2 8 Fourniture, 5 ranks
Dulciana 8 Trombone 16
Viol da Gamba 8 Contra Hautboy 16
Stopped Diapason 8 Ophicleide 8
Voix Celeste 8 Trumpet 8
Principal 4 Horn 8
Octave Viola 4 Oboe 8
Flute 4 Clarionet 8
Twelfth 2 2/3 Clarion, No. 1 4
Fifteenth, No. 1 2 Clarion, No. 2 4
Fifteenth, No. 2 2
FOURTH MANUAL (SOLO), 15 STOPS.
FEET. FEET.
Viol da Gamba 8 Vox Humana 8
Open Diapason, wood 8 Orchestral Oboe 8
Stopped Diapason 8 Corno di Bassetto 8
Flute (Orchestral) 4 *Ophicleide 8
Flute Piccolo 2 *Trumpet 8
Contra Fagotto 16 *Clarion, No. 1 4
Trombone 8 *Clarion, No. 2 4
Bassoon 8
These stops are all placed in a new swell-box, except those marked*, which are on the heavy wind pressure.
PEDAL ORGAN (17 STOPS).
FEET. FEET. Double Open Quint (metal) 5 1/2 Diapason (wood) 32 Fifteenth 4 Double Open Fourniture, 5 ranks Diapason (metal) 32 Mixture, 3 ranks Open Diapason (wood) 16 Posaune 32 Open Diapason (metal) 16 Contra Fagotto 16 Salicional (metal) 16 Ophicleide 16 Bourdon (wood) 16 Trumpet 8 Bass Flute (wood) 8 Clarion 4 Principal (wood) 8
COUPLERS.
Solo Super-Octave. Choir to Great.
Solo Sub-Octave. Choir Super-Octave.
Solo to Great. Choir Sub-Octave.
Swell to Great Super-Octave. Solo to Pedals.
Swell to Great Unison. Swell to Pedals.
Swell to Great Sub-Octave. Great to Pedals.
Swell to Choir. Choir to Pedals.
In addition to these coupling movements there are other accessories, consisting of 36 pneumatic pistons, 6 to each manual, and 12 acting upon the Pedal stops. There are also 6 composition pedals acting upon the “Great” and “Pedal” stops simultaneously, and 4 pedals acting upon the Swell organ pistons. The Swell and Solo organs are each provided with tremulants.
Two large bellows in the basement of the Hall, and blown by two steam engines of 8 h.p. and 1/2 h.p. respectively, supply the wind, which passes from the bellows to 14 reservoirs in various positions in the instrument, the pressure varying from 3 1/2 to 22 inches.