1896 Jardine Organ Recital
Newspaper Article
The organ was dedicated at a Thanksgiving night recital. The article not only describes the concert, but goes into detail about the instrument itself. There were no pictures included in the newspaper article. The text of the article as published in the Friday, November 27th, 1896 issue of The Daily Times reads:
GRAND NEW ORGAN PEALS
At the Remolded First Methodist Church
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THE RECITAL A GRAND SUCCESS
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Professor Carl and Mrs. Sawyer
Render a Delightful Programme.
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The organ recital at the First M.E. Church last evening afforded the public its first opportunity to inspect the recent alterations and hear the new and magnificent organ manipulated by an artist. The church was crowded, seats being placed in the aisles of the main floor and the galleries.
The recital was under the direction of Professor William C. Carl, the famous concert organist of New York, and his selections of the various numbers on the programme was of such a wide and varied scope that every feature of the organ was brought into full play, from the softest tones to the grand and majestic strains as illustrated by the selection on the programme entitled “Storm.” This gave first the repose of nature, the dance of the shepherds and then the approach of the storm in all its wildest fury, which was loudly applauded. Then came a sweet, delicious calm and the rendition of the beautiful vesper hymn. Professor Carl merited all approbation so bounteously bestowed on him and he proved himself a thorough master of the organ.
He was ably assisted by Mrs. Antonio H. Sawyer, the contralto soloist of the First Presbyterian Church, in New York.
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A SPLENDID INSTRUMENT
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Superb Mechanical Work to Be Found
in the New Church Organ.
Apart from its many great merits as a superior musical instrument, the new organ in the First Methodist Church will attract attention and win the admiration of observers generally on account of its splendid construction and appearance. Finished in paneled quarter oak, highly polished the wood work harmonizes well with the other work of the interior of the church, while the 45 speaking tubes above the body of the organ grouped in symmetrical style are handsomely finished in pale green and yellow with decorations in arabesque designs in silver and gold which also harmonize well with the other decorations and frescoes on the walls and ceiling of the church.
The woodwork and decorations show that the best artisans have been engaged in constructing the organ. The instrument takes up the entire space of the recess at the rear of the pulpit platform, while before it is a low partition of oak, mounted with brass rails and curtains, providing a space for the use of the choir. The organ measures 22 feet in width, is 10 feet deep and 25 feet high. The details of the mechanical part of the organ show that it contains 1,450 pipes. There are 10 stops in the great organ, 12 in the swell organ, and 3 stops in the pedals. The list of stops in the great organ include trumpet, piccolo, octave quint, octave, flauto tremolo, melodia, dulciana, Gamba, open diapason, double open diapason, Boardon and violoncello.
The stops of the swell organ are bassoon, oboe, dolce cornet, violina, Rohr flute, flute harmonie, stopped diapason Boardon treble and Boardon brass. The couplers include swell to pedal, swell to great pedal. There are four combination pedals, two being to the swell organ and two to the great organ. There is a reversible combination pedal. The swell organ is all enclosed in a swell box. There are 30 notes on the pedal and 61 keys on the keyboard. All the pipes made of wood have a natural finish while the metal pipes are of the best material. The whole instrument shows the finest work as developed in modern organ building.
The new organ is operated by a water motor constructed on the most approved plans. This motor is under direct control of the organist who can operate it by turning a nickel crank at the right of the keyboard. The organ was built by the Jardine Organ Company of New York and cost over $4,000. The work of erecting it in the church consumed the greater part of two weeks and the men worked each night until 1 o’clock a.m. George Eifert has been in charge of the men. The decorations on the organ were made by Frankel & Sproccer, of New York, well known in their work in decorating churches and interiors.