PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION. My paper on Organ Stops, originally written for a course of lectures to organists, was published by the desire of a committee of teachers. In altering and enlarging the original work for the press, I was struck by the number and excellence of literary works on the organ, its construction, preservation, and pitch. It is evident, however, that in these only a limited space could be devoted to the organ stops. During a practice of twenty-five years, interspersed with numerous concert-tours, and occasional calls upon me as an expert, I have made organ stops, their peculiarity and acoustic effects, my special study. In working up this material, extending as it does over divers provinces of musical science, I secured the welcome co-operation of several highly experienced colleagues. Before all others, I offer to Prof. Dr. A. Forster, of Berne, my warmest thanks for his kindness in stimulating and facilitating my studies by the loan of books on physical acoustics, and by highly interesting experiments. I also wish to offer my best thanks to the organ-builders who have thoroughly revised that portion of my work treating on the technicalities of organ-building. The kind acceptance of the dedication of the following technical work by the great author of the "Sensations of Tone," Prof. Dr. von Helmholtz, was specially encouraging to me. I venture to hope that this modest work may find favour with all friends of the organ, even in its new English shape, and that it may serve to increase their number, and their interest in this the grandest of all instruments. BERNE, SWITZERLAND, C. L. |
