EXHIBITION NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2510, 24 April 1882, Page 3

EXHIBITION NOTES.

No. VI. THE MUSIOAL EXHIBITS.

Occupying a large portion of the concert hfcll, opposite the fernery, are the musical instruments exhibited by the well known firm of Allan and 00., formerly known as Wilkie, Webßter and Allan. The firm hos been established in Melbourne for upwards of thirty-one years j the present proprietor, Mr G-. L. Allan first having joined the house, then Wilkie, Webster & 00, some fifteen years ago. The large business premiseo in Collins street are well-known to every visitor to Melbourne, and indeed may be regarded as one of the "lions" of the Queen City of the Bouth, being the place where all the musics! talent, bct'i local and foreign, most do congregate. On the premises is a grand saloon, 100 ft. long by 20ft. high, where musical matinees are given. The size of this room may be gathered from the fact that the sitting accommodation provided is sufficient to seat five hundred visitors. The principal portion of Messrs Allan and Oo.'s exhibits comprise samples of the Smith American organ, which is new hare, and for which the firm are the sole agents in Australia. The Smith Company has been in existence twenty-six years, and some idea of the extent of its business may be gathered from the fact that it has made 80,000 organs. It has two large manufactories, filled with the most ingenious modern machinery, and employing 300 skilled workmen. While this is so, the demand has increased to suoh an extent that even with the large staff and plant of machinery it is unable to fill all the orders sent in. The elaborate and beautiful organ (worth £400), specially built for the Aoademy of Music in Melbourne, was made by the Smith Company, selected in preference to all other makers. This is the largest and finest reed organ ever made, and has received the highest encomiums from the Press and leading musicians of America and Victoria. The tone of the organ exhibited is full of sweetness and roundness, the various combinations of-stops which can be used affording an almost unlimited ohoice for the player in the production of effect. There is also another advantage, viz.Jquicknesa of touch, which is almost as quick as the piano while producing great fullness and quantity of tone. Sweetness is also secured by the admixturo of silver in the manufacture of the reeds. Some of the organs exhibited are enriched by the addition of various solo stops, notably the kalophon, a stop of unequalled beauty, having muoh of the sympathy and stress of the human voice ; the baritone, whioh possesses a rich, deep, and mellow tone; the hautboy, saxophone, wald flute, fagotto, &o, By the use of these stops in various combinations, the moft beautiful and varied effects can be produoed. They possess also the sub-bass, an octave of deep and powerful bass notes like the pedal notes of an oigan ; the octave coupler, which doubles the power, by causing the octave to sound with each note pressed down ; and the grand organ stop,, a lever moved by the left knee, enabling the player to throw on the whole power of the organ, either by a gradual crescendo, or by a sudden outburst, and then to allow it to subside slowly or suddenly as may be desired. There are in all ton styles of organs exhibited by the firm. Of these three may be selected for speoial notioe. First in order comes " The Connoisseur," a really grand instrument, [made expressly for oonoort performances. The scale of it is 5 12 octaves, ranging from Fto C. It has fifteen stops, viz., diapason, duloiana, principal, flute, bassoon, hautboy, kalaphon, saxophone, sub-bass, tremulant, piccolo duetto, wald flute, grand solo, principal dolce, octave coupler and knee swell and grand organ. There ate eight sets of roedi, viz, four se L s of 3 1-2 octaves, three or. 2 1-4 octaves and one of 1 14- octaves. The kalaphon stop has a complete and perfect, swell, softening its quality. The wald flute (whioh is a mechanical stop) has a new quality of tone. The piccolo duetto is a combination of saxophone and flute. Underdeath the keyboard, next to the grand organ lever, is a button designed to hold the grand organ in full power when horizontal, or, when vertical, to lcavo it at the will of the player. Tha mechanism of this instrument is very elaborate, and as a specimen of work, as fine as the interior of a watch. This instrument is built upon entirely new principles. The important point is that the bellows are upright, and that a sounding board extends from the foot to the top of the case, and upon this sounding board the reeds are so placed that they are over and above the key-board, and directly in front of the player. The position of the reeds on this sounding board gives to their vibrations a deep, distinot and almost startling resonance, the tone obtained being the maximum ever produced from reeds. The swells are real " organ swells," the front of the oase having Venetian shutters, which are controlled by the kneelever. This is the only organ ever made with suoh perfect swells, and the various new features and improvements in it are oovered by no less than seven patents. The variety of resources in this organ is romarkable. No two stopa are alike in quality: every set displays characteristics peculiar to iteolf. Iu the combination of the softer stops the illusion of distance is perfect, and suggests tbe piano effects of a large cathedral organ. Tbe full organ represents a complete and powerful orchestra, the tone being exceedingly rioh, with great penetrating power; and, by suddenly withdrawing the grand organ it can be reduced to the softest whisper; and at the same time, by drawing the tremulant, a perfect imitation of the vox humana of the pipe organ is produced. The connoisseur organ is, beyond doubt, by its beauty of design, its facilities for extraordinary effects, and its wonderful combinations and power, the most complete onemanual organ ever manufactured. It is capable of producing many of the effects of a double manual instrument, and a great rnacy more. That is to say, it has facilities for the representation of orchestral music, operatic transcriptions, and other fantasias for concerts. Lovers of musio will have a great treat to-day, as Signor Grioiza, the best organ performer in the colonies, will give a reoital this afternoon on the instrument we have been describing, and in the hands of a performer of such eminence the beauties of the organ will be heard to the fullest advantage. The next instrument is called "The Victoria," and is also a very fine instrument, of great power and sweetness of tone. The stops are twelve in number— Diapason, dulciana, principal, flute, kalophon, sub-bass, octave coupler, tremulant, two forte and two dolce stops. It has five sets of reeds of two and a half octaven each, and a set of one octave. Another worthy of notioe by musical people is "The Queen Anne." In this,there are twelve stops —Principal, flute, dulciana, diapason, kalophon, sub-bass, octave coupler, tremulant, principal dolce, diapason dolce, principal forte, diapason forte, and the grand organ. Though we have selected these three as possessing perhaps the most noticeable features, all of the organs are exceedingly fino instruments. The finish end style of the cases is also worthy of mention, being perhaps the handsomest seen here. The Bmith Company, it may be mentioned, took first prize at the Melbourne Exhibition, the only gold medal for cabinet organs being awarded to them. In pianos Allan and 00. exhibit specimens of the manufacture of two German firms, also new here, viz., Schiedniayer and Soehne and Schmidt and Sohn. Of the former make three are exhibited, al! being cottage grands.. One is straight strung, one overstrung, and one double overstrung. They have a rich powerful resonant tone, quick touch, and are strengthened with full iron frames, the rest plank bsiog faoed with burnished brats. The compass of all is seven ootaves; they are fitted with patent check action, and are full trichord throughout. These are oortainly beautiful instruments, the finish and workmanship throughout being excellent, whilst the cases are splendid specimens of cabinet work. Of the manufactures of Schmidt and Sohn the firm have two specimens—-viz., the ordinary cottage piano in handsome walnut case, with complete iron f.-ame, full trichord throughout, seven ootoves compasß, cheek aotion, and all the latest improvements, and the extra large cottage piano, of similar construction, but with more imposing oppearanoe and a corresponding increase in volume of tone. The latter is in black and silver, and is a very full toned instrument. The powers of these pianos will be manifested this afternoon in the ooncert hall, when Signor Borge will give a recital in conjunction with Signor O-iorza,