Description

"THE object of this little work is to give an outline of the history of that wonderful outcome of human ingenuity and skill known as the organ, from documentary evidence, apart from the vague speculations of Kircher and others."

Contents:

CHAPTER I.
The mechanically blown trumpet of Ctesibius of Alexandria
Hero causes a row of musical pipes to be blown by mechanical means
The hydraulic organ of Vitruvius Popularity of this instrument
Its representation on contorniates, gems, in pottery, and in a poem
The Roman emperors and the hydraulus
References by writers
The compass of the hydraulus
Discovery of two instruments at Pompeii which are probably portative organs
The state of music in ancient Rome
Greek slaves as performers
Gigantic instruments constructed
The Emperor Julian
The hydraulus used at weddings
Cassiodorus's description of the organ Abolition of theatres
Object of the water in the hydraulus
The "Pneumatic" organ
The word organ in Scripture
The meaning of the Greek word όργανον and the Latin organum
The principle of the modern organ explained
Explanation of the expressions "Equal and unequal temperament"

CHAPTER II.
The Christians and Pagans in the fourth and fifth centuries
Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, objects to instrumental music
The Hydraulus objected to
Loss of documents relating to music
The Christians introduce Roman secular music into the ritual
Hymns accompanied by the lyre
The Pneumatic Organ probably first used at Constantinople
Its introduction to the west of Europe Pepin's organ
Anglo-Saxon organs
Mention of organs by various writers Vitalian
The vocal organum
Introduction of the mixture or locatio into the organ
A gigantic organ at Winchester
The organ introduced into the churches of Italy
Medieval organ-builders
Dunstan
Wheels with bells in churches
Pope Sylvester II. as an organ-builder
Chaucer's references to the organ
Legend of St. Cecilia
References to organs in medieval poetry Portative and Positive organs
Origin of the term Keyboard
Small organs placed on pillars
The compass of the earliest keyboards
Introduction of Stops or Registers
The invention of the Pedal
Increase in the number of claviers, and their compass
The "coarse roar and deep growling" of mediaeval organs
Gradual reduction in the size of the keys
The organ did not always accompany the voices

CHAPTER III.
The bellows of mediaeval organs
Frequent repairs required
Improvements in the sixteenth century Stop-handles
The positive joined to the great organ
Invention of reed stops
Pretorius's description of organs existing in his days
Unequal temperament found unsatisfactory The black keys divided
Curious arrangements of keyboards Unequal temperament used for organs in A.D. 1879
The organs at Ulm and Danzig
The tremulant
The downward compass of German organs
fixed at C
Manual couplers introduced
Extraordinary features in organ cases The foxtail stop
Pretorius's suggestion for a cheap three-manual organ
The Regal

CHAPTER IV.
The keyboards of portatives and positives
The invention of the clavichord
Landino, the first famous organist Sguarcialupo
The Ricercare
Spanish organ-playing and organs
Italian organ-builders
English cathedral statutes
English organists
Anecdote of Christopher Tye
Marbeck escapes the stake owing to his musical excellence
Epitaphs on organists
A German opinion of the English organists of the sixteenth century
Objections to the organ
Efforts to regulate its use
Luther's dislike to it
Destruction of organs in Switzerland and Belgium

CHAPTER V.
The organ in the Church of England during the arrangements for a reformed ritual
English organs in 1634
General destruction of organs ordered under Oliver Cromwell
Escape of the organ at York Cathedral Quaint allusion to it by Mace
Destruction of the organs of Westminster Abbey, Chichester, Peterboro