60

times wh

appropria returned

placed, a

equal the may have

may take

time to t

I can s ordinary

shall rett

A further

that it ve

the æsthe

facing no they be n So far for the cle seats for 1

stall athe

of some come to b

it will be

Modern $

those use copied, w Old stalls

sitting, ar sort of ha early cus

--

— the the protipal organ

* & aDost without

assist the voices, or The age instrument

scrasia by way

a of being but

* Livå some

addingy magnificent.

thes are accom

says a miserable

cation situated

*te elapses

2 same note by the voices

tas almost impos

and organ should

be keeping time together with mathematical accuracy
If, on the other hand, the auditor be at the west eni
and the same accuracy of time be kept the megan s
first be heard. In actual practice, the player of the
large instrument must, to a great degree trust: dance
It is not uncommon to hear an interval of be
between the voices of the congregation at the two mi
of the nave, and the more the great organ la play of the
worse matters become.'

As regards the organ by itself, as I have fun an
the west end offers considerable advantages but wan
reasonable care any eastern position may be neary as
good. It is to be remembered that mere size la of lime
value. An organ containing but twenty mga falma
tageously placed, will tell better than the of day movie
away in the regulation organ-chamber. 121
importance that there should be plenty of que ba
It affe
above and around the instrument: in
the best qualities of tone, and indeed add to them an
additional charm, whilst a dif dy tone at line be
heard where space is too limited An arus pe
and shrillness will not remove the defen in any
The quality of tone is destroyed

1 That an intervening space much les between two sources of sound is TEST FIT readily tested at the Albert Halle

phitheatre, which is about on a level with the ban
directly opposite to the criter, be wise

organ reaches him at an inferely a

of time after that of the band Fereng

wrong, and never being quite ngin the wa

centre of the band to one in the cent ff the sad e z
about forty feet-S.C.

mere benches. The back row should be raised above the pavement from six to eighteen inches, according to the size of the church, and a passage should be left in the desk if required, but with returned stalls, both ends being open, this will not usually be necessary in churches of moderate size.

Most modern choir desks are too high, architects seem to forget that they are intended to be knelt at. The old examples are mostly exceedingly well proportioned, and as they are plentifully scattered about the country, and easily accessible, it will be sufficient to refer to them. The shelf to hold books, &c., often found under the old desks should not be omitted in modern ones, and care should be taken not to make the desks themselves too narrow.

During the Middle Ages the boys commonly stood in the choir, and although in late fittings we sometimes see benches provided for them, I do not know of any instance of boys' desks. Modern churches should however be provided with both, making a second row in the choir. The floor of these should be lower than that of the upper row, and, in most cases, a little raised above the chancel pavement. The boys' seats may either be returned or not; generally in a broad chancel most. accommodation is got by returning them, and in a narrow one by not doing so. The desks should be bona fide desks, capable of holding music-books, and not mere rails as many now are.

1 The boys sang from memory, and consequently did not require books of music.

I have spoken of the chancel seats as being in two rows on each side, one or both being returned at the west, and in the large majority of cases this arrangement is the best. But peculiarities of site and other local circumstances may bring about many varieties. The only rule being in this, as in everything else, that what is most convenient is also most correct.

SECTION X.

OF THE ORGAN.1

THE position which is most suitable to the organ in a parish church may be considered from three points of view-namely, as it regards the choir, the congregation, and the acoustic qualities of the building.

In modern plans we find, as a rule, that the side of the chancel is the selected spot, and as regards the choir it cannot be better. The player is near the singers, and can readily communicate with them, whilst the sound of the voices and of the organ supporting and accompanying them pass out together into the body of the church. Whether the north or south side of the chancel be selected matters not. It is entirely a question of convenience in plan.

There are several modes which may be adopted for providing the necessary space for the organ. It may be generally asserted that an organ chamber is a mistake.

1 This section has been written for me by Mr Somers Clarke, junior, who has made the organ a subject of special study, and is well-qualified to speak on it.-J. T. M.