Word: frobenius
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1970-1979
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...ORGAN INAGURAL concert, by its very infrequence, is bound to attract attention. All the more so in the case of the most recent dedication in Cambridge the First Church`s new instrument marks the first appearacne in this country of an organ designed by the firm of Theodor Frobenius & Sons of Copenhagen...
...uncluttered design were any measure of greatness. Frobenius organs are destined for eternal admiration. The initial visual impression of the case brings in mind Indian River orange crates: the bright unstained wood is painfully stark against the somber interior of the church the separates encased divisions seem to fit together like toy blocks in sterile symmetry. The en Chamade ranks sparkle the new chrome...
Johnson played a variety of solos in addition to the accompanied pieces. The Pachelbel Chaconne in F Minor was a conservative piece whose execution was marred only by some intolerable upper registrations. The most explicit demonstration of the Frobenius's various sounds was in a set of sixteenth-century dances published by Phalese. These sounded contrived in their flagrant, often unmusical exploitation of every available stop...
Perhaps it is only necessary that the organist become more familiar with the quirks of the Frobenius to produce a more enjoyable sound. (Johnson playing on the Busch-Reisinger's Flentrop is outstanding). But the problems of the Frobenius are noticeable: not enough foundation, raucous reeds, and questionable tone-regulation. The site for the instrument was promising, but the organ itself disappointing. It will be here for a long time--the previous instrument, a Hook and Hastings, lasted over 90 years...
...EVENT, the fact remains that the Frobenius is a well-crafted instrument, quite capable of fulfilling the church's sacred and secular functions. As a baroque organ (only the swell shutters and celeste belie this), its balance is too far off in favor of the noisy mixture stops, clearly a serious fault in a room with so little resonance...