THE WESLEYAN MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 51, 29 July 1874, Page 2

THE WESLEYAN MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

The opening of the new organ recently received from England, and now erected in the Durham-street Wesleyan Church, will be celebrated to-morrow evening by a festival, in which alike as soloists, instrumentalists, or chorus a very large number of our best musical amateurs will assist. Of course in view of the character of the place in which the festival is to be held, and the celebration itself, the music to be given will be entirely sacred. Mr R. Parker will preside at the organ, while Mr Spensley will wield the conductor’s baton. An organ prelude by Mendelssohn will open the programme, the other organ pieces being an occasional overture by Handel, arranged as a duet; andante in F major, by Wdly ; marches in C minor and G minor, by. Scotson Clark ; and an organ solo not named. The other numbers consist of airs, choruses, and trios from “ Samson,” “ Elijah,” and •' St Paul.” concluding with Beethoven’s “ Hallelujah.” In the second part, “ The Creation” is mainly laid under contribution. Miss Winter will sing “ With verdure clad Miss Rowley, Messrs Knox, and Walcott the trio, “ On thee each living soul.” The rehearsals throughout have been well attended, and we look for a musical treat of no mean order.

Of the organ itself, we may say it was built by Messrs Bishop and Starr to an order and specification of drawing by Mr J. Spensley. The builders, who are eminent for the superiority and finish of their work, have carried out the specification faithfully and well, all the stops sent for having been put in. There are two more which it is contemplated to add so soon as the funds in hand will allow, and additional stop space has been provided. The bellows also is so constructed as to allow of the organ being considerably enlarged if required. The organ has been erected by Mr Jenkins, who has carried out his work in a highly creditable manner. Of the tone of the organ it i» hardly fair at present to speak, seeing that it has only been heard when just completed, but we may say that it is exceedingly mellow in sound and tone, and one fully worthy of being placed in what has not inaptly been called the Wesleyan Cathedral of Canterbury. The following is a description of the organ : Great Organ, Compass C C to G—s 6 Notes. Stops. Feet. Pipes. Open diapason, metal ... 8 66 Viol dc Gamba, do, tenor C 8 44 Stop diapason, wood, bass... ) Q , c Do do do treble j 8 56 Principal, metal 4 ‘ 66 Twelfth do ... ... 3 66 Fifteenth do 2 56 Sesquialtra do, three ranks ... 168 Total pipes in great organ ... 492, Swell Organ, Compass CC to G--56 Notes. Stops. Feet. Pipes. Double diapason, wood ... ) Tenor C ... } lb U Open do, do, metal 8 66 Leiblich Gedast, wood, bass ) q Do do, do, treble J Principal, metal 4 66 Fifteenth ... 2 66 Cornopean ... ... ... 8 56 Hautbois, tenor C 8 44 Total pipes in swell organ 356 Pedal Organ. Compass CCC to E—--29 Notes. Stops. Feet. Pipes. Open diapason, wood ... 16 29 Couplers. Swell to great three composition; swell to pedal; great to pedal; pedals to great organ. The total number of pipes in the organ is 877. The wind chest to both manuals is fitted with concussion bellows (Bishop and Starr’s patent). The bellows are double action, weighted to a three-inch pressure, and the organ itself is enclosed in a stained and burnished case, having 29 diapered front pipes. There are also radiating and concave pedals, ,x