DREAM ORGANS
JULIAN RHODES' IMAGINARY ORGANS

Sidney Smirke wrote: "Where are the monuments to those eminent men whose exertions or whose genius have bequeathed to their country the inheritance of a noble name?... In reply...we point to Westminster Abbey, where...the enquiring stranger will survey, in a corner of the south transpet, a more motley, ill-assorted and graceless collection of bad sculpture than ever dishonoured the workshops of a marble mason."

Sidney Smirke's answer was to design a 'National Edifice to receive the Monuments to Illustrious Men', to be built on the north bank of the Serpentine in Hyde Park. The main hall was to be reminiscent of Salisbury Cathedral, complete with central spire, set among cloistered arcades.

Here is a modern stoplist for an instrument appropriate for Smirke's building.

UPPER  
     1       High Flute
     2       Wind Flute
     4       Spire Flute
     8       Coppel Flute
 
ÆRIAL
     8       Hautboy
     4       Celestina
     8       Vox Angelica II         flat+natural
     8       Vox Cœlestis II         natural+sharp
     8       Choeur Seraphique       natural + sharp 4' + sharp 2'
 
MIDDLE
    1 3/5    Flute 17th
     2       Recorder
    2 2/3    Flute 12th
     4       Dulcett II              natural+sharp
     4       Flute Harmonique
     8       Muted Viole             sharp
     8       Muted Viole
     8       Ondamar                 flute celeste, flat
     8       Wood Traverso           harmonic wood
 
CHORUS
     V       Accord  12.15.17.19.22  mp
     2       Decimaquinta
     4       Gemshorn
     4       Octave Diapason
    5 1/3    Quint
     8       Bourdon
     8       Gemshorn
     8       Dulciana Diapason
     8       Third Diapason
     8       Chorus Diapason
     8       Principal Diapason
    16       Quintaton
    16       Montre
 
PEDAL
     4       Voice Flute             open wood
     8       Clarabella
     8       Viola
     8       Octave
   10 2/3    Quint                   stopped wood
    16       Dolce
    16       Bourdon
    16       Viola da Gamba
    16       Diapason
    32       Double Bass         
 
(1991)

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