MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS— THE ORGAN. 



627 



the instrument. Here it was used from 1718 to 17oG, when it was 

 sold to St. Paul's Church, Newburyport. In 183G it* was trans- 

 ferred to St. John's, Portsmouth. 



It has been generally accepted that Edward Bromfield, Jr., of 

 Boston, built the first American organ, in 1745. The writer, how- 

 ever, is in a position to assert that, although a venerable piece of 

 musical history, this is not a fact. Mr. J. W. Jordan, Assistant 

 Librarian of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, who has paid 

 special attention to the subject, recently discovered that Mathias 

 Zimmerman, of Philadelphia, a 

 carpenter and joiner, built an or- 

 gan in that city some time before 

 1737. In his will, probated in 

 1737, he bequeathed the organ to 

 a nephew, hoping that he would 

 learn to play on it, adding that if 

 not it could be sold to advantage, 

 owing to its being so much of a 

 curiosity. The record of Zimmer- 

 man's will forever disposes of the 

 time - honored belief regarding 

 Bromfield. 1" 



The Germans and Swedes were 

 the chief organ-builders in Ameri- 

 ca during the last century. In 

 Pennsylvania, where several col- 

 onies located, no less than four 

 organ-builders of note practiced 

 their art from 1740 to 1770. These 

 were Gustavus Hesselins, John Klem, David Tanneberger, and 

 Robert Harttafel. Mr. Jordan, to whom I also owe the foregoing 

 information, says the first named was a Swede. He adds in a 

 communication, " Tanneberger's reputation as an organ-builder 

 stood very high, and I know of at least one of his fine instruments 

 still in use." 



The Moravians of Bethlehem, in that State, were particularly 

 noted for their connection with musical art during the last cent- 

 ury, and their descendants manifest the same faculty. The an- 

 nexed extract of a letter from Hesselins, of Philadelphia, to Rev. 

 J. C. Pyrlaens, Bethlehem, May 28, 1746, has some value to stu- 

 dents of national musical history : " I hope Mr. Klem will see 

 the organ well and safe in your hands." The following is another 

 record of a more explicit nature : "Received, June 9, 1746, of Jas- 

 per Payne, of Bethlehem, four pounds and three pounds for the 

 half set of pipes, and one pound for coming and putting the organ 

 up." (Signed^ " John Klem, organ-builder." Franklin, in writing 



Fig. 6. — Method of blowing described by 

 Pr,etoritjs; representing the old organ 

 in the Church of St. ^gidien, Brunswick. 



