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THE NEW ORGAN IN ST. MARTIN'S RAIL.
At Mr. Hullah's performance of The Messiah on Wednesday evening, and again at a special performance last night, a new organ was inaugu- rated in St. Martin's Mill, where it is to remain for a time, but Wells Cathedral is its ultimate destination. The organ has been constructed by Mr. Willis, the eminent builder, at the expense of a number of gen- tlemen at Wells, who have raised the amount by subscription. Being intended for a cathedral, it is too powerful for St. Martin's Hall, at least when all its strength is put forth ; but its quality is admirable. It has all the variety of stops with which a great organ is usually furnished, and contains the most modem improvements in the mechanism of the instrument. We were particularly struck with the mellow richness of the diapasons, and the grandeur of the deep pedal notes, which seemed to fill the air with sound. There is a "combination movement," (for which, we understand, Mr. Willis has a patent,) that acts upon the pedal organ simultaneously with the great organ ; and there is consequently no loss of time in adapting the power of each to the other as is usual in most large organs. A new temperament has been adopted, which seems to be a compromise between the "equal temperament" used on the pianoforte and the old method of tuning the organ, whereby some keys are made more perfect than others. On the expediency of this innova- tion we are not prepared to give an opinion. We have long thought that the "equal temperament" ought to be adopted on all keyed instru- ments, as the only mode of reducing to a minimum the imperfections of the scale ; and we doubt the expediency of reverting even partially to the old and now generally exploded system.
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