The Recent Revolution in Organ Building: Being an Account of Modern DevelopmentsMiller, George Laing
Philosophy
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building: Being an Account of Modern Developments
Miller, George Laing
Organ (Musical instrument) -- Construction
The origin of the pipe organ is lost in the mists of antiquity.
Tradition hath it that there was one in Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem,
the sound of which could be heard at the Mount of Olives. It has the
honor of being the first wind instrument mentioned in the Bible
(Genesis iv, 21), where we are told that "Jubal is the father of all
such as handle the harp and the organ." The Hebrew word here is
_ugab_, which is sometimes translated in the Septuagint by cithara (the
ancient lute), sometimes by _psalm_, sometimes by _organ_. Sir John
Stainer ("Dictionary of Musical Terms," p. 444) says: "It is probable
that in its earliest form the _ugab_ was nothing more than a
Pan's-pipes or syrinx, but that it gradually developed into a more
important instrument." The passage, however, shows that the ugab was
known in the time of Moses, who was "learned in all the learning of the
Egyptians."
The flute, a component part of the organ, is one of the most ancient of
musical instruments. We find it pictured on the walls of early
Egyptian tombs, and specimens of it, still in playable condition, have
been unearthed and can be seen in our museums. Some of them were
double, as shown in the illustration. Side by side with these flutes
we find the shepherd's pipe with a reed or strip of cane in the
mouthpiece, which may be found in the Tyrol at the present day. The
next step was probably the bagpipes. Here we find four of these pipes
attached to a bag. The melody or tune is played on one of the pipes
furnished with holes for the purpose, while the other three give a
drone, bass. The bag, being blown up, forms a wind reservoir and the
amount of tone can be regulated by the pressure of the arm. Here we
have the precursor of the organ bellows. Next comes the Irish
bagpipes, with a bellows worked by the arm furnishing the wind to the
bag, the reservoir, and producing a much sweeter tone. This is one
line of advance.
[Illustration: Pre-historic Double Flutes. From Assyrian and Egyptian
Tombs]
On the other hand we have the syrinx or Pan's-pipes. Stainer says this
was undoubtedly the precursor of the organ. "It was formed of seven,
eight or nine short hollow reeds, fixed together by wax, and cut in
graduated lengths so as to produce a musical scale. The lower ends of
the reeds were closed and the upper open and on a level, so that the
mouth could easily pass from one pipe to another." This is the
instrument used at the present day by the Punch and Judy man. He wears
it fastened around his throat, turning his head from side to side as he
blows, while with his hands he beats a drum.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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