Page:A Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol 1.djvu/497

EITNER.  to the valuable historical periodical 'Monatshefte für Musikgeschichte.' He edited a 'Verzeichniss neuer Ausgaben alter Musikwerke … bis zum Jahre 1800' (Berlin 1871), which though singularly defective as regards the English School, is a useful catalogue. More recently he edited, in conjunction with Haberl, Langerberg, and C. F. Pohl, a valuable 'Bibliographic der Musik-Sammel-werke des 16 und 17 Jahrhunderts ' (Berlin 1877). His papers on Peter Sweelinck (Berlin 1870) and Arnold Schlick are of importance. [App. p.626 "he has edited Sweelinck's organ works and other things for the Maatschappij tot bevordering der Toonkunst. [See ../Vereeniging voor Noord-Nederlands Muziekgeschiedenis, vol. iv. p. 255 a.]"][ F. G. ]

ELECTRIC ACTION. Under the head ../Key a description is given of the usual forms in which communication is established between the claviers of an organ and the soundboard pallets which admit wind for the service of the pipes.

There are some situations, however, in which it is difficult or even impossible to establish a satisfactory connection by means of the ordinary mechanism; or if possible is scarcely desirable on account of drawbacks which may easily be foreseen. Apart from the tendency to derangement inevitable in the numerous parts of an extended movement of the kind under consideration, the trackers when so very long are apt to expand with the damp and shrink with the drought; and if in tracker-work, traversing a distance of 30 feet or more, the total alteration amounts to no more than one eighth of an inch, that is quite sufficient to cause a thorough disarrangement. The normal depth for the touch of an organ is three eighths of an inch. If reduced by one eighth&mdash;to a quarter of an inch&mdash;the pallets are opened imperfectly, the wind admitted is insufficient, and the organ sounds out of tune: if increased by that much&mdash;to half an inch&mdash;some of the pallets are drawn slightly open, and hummings or 'cypherings' are the result.

Some other means of communication, which should if possible be less under the influence of atmospheric variation, and therefore better adapted to withstand the frequent sudden changes of our climate, as well as for other reasons, thus became a great desideratum, and two were devised&mdash;first the electric action,' and then the 'pneumatic tubular transmission system.'

The earliest patent for anything like electric action was taken out by the late Dr. Gauntlett in 1851, who proposed erecting in the Great Exhibition of that year facsimiles of the eight most celebrated organs in Europe, and playing them all together or separately from the centre of the building by electric agency; but the suggestion was not favourably received. In 1863 Mr. Goundry patented an elaborate electric system; and in 68 Mr. Barker protected his 'electro-pneumatic system' for opening pallets, drawing stops, etc.; since then Messrs. Bryceson have simplified the system by devising a new form of pallet which offers no resistance in opening, and thus does away with the necessity for the pneumatic bellows. The action may be thus briefly described. Each key is furnished with a rocking lever provided with a copper point, which latter, on being depressed, is plunged into a mercury cell, and so establishes the electric current. The other end of the wire is furnished with an electro-magnet, acting directly on the pallet. The insulated wires of the several keys can be gathered up into a cable not more than an inch in diameter and carried in any desired direction, and to any distance, without there being any appreciable interval between the touch upon the keys and the response at the pipes. [ E. J. H. ]

ELEGY (έλεγος). In its original sense a poem, always of a sad and touching character, and generally commemorative of some lamented decease (e.g. Gray's Elegy); subsequently such a poem with music; and still more recently a piece of music inspired by the same feeling and suggested by a like occasion, but without poem, or any words whatever. The elegy has taken many musical forms; that of the vocal solo, duet, trio, quartet, etc., with or without accompaniment; of the instrumental solo for the violin, pianoforte, or other instrument, and of the concerted piece for stringed or other instruments. One of the most beautiful specimens of the first class extant is Beethoven's quartet in memory of the deceased wife of his friend Baron Pasqualati ('Elegischer Gesang,' op. 118). In the score of Handel's 'Saul' the lament of the Israelites over the king and Jonathan is entitled 'Elegy.' Of the second we have Dussek's 'Elégie harmonique' on the death of Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia, for piano solo. Better known than either of these to the modern concert-goer is Ernst's 'Elégie' for violin solo with piano accompaniment. Of the third class a better instance can hardly be cited than Mr. Arthur Sullivan's overture 'In Memoriam,' which is in truth an elegy on the composer's father. [ J. H. ]

ELFORD,, was educated as a chorister in Lincoln Cathedral. His voice changing to a fine counter-tenor he became a member of the choir of Durham Cathedral. About the commencement of the 18th century he came to London, and was engaged as a singer at the theatre. On August 2, 1702, he was sworn-in as a gentleman of the Chapel Royal, a place being created expressly for him. He also obtained the appointments of vicar-choral of St. Paul's Cathedral and lay vicar of Westminster Abbey. After a few years he withdrew from the stage, on which he had never been successful, owing to his ungainly figure and awkward action. Weldon, in the preface to the first book of his 'Divine Harmony' (six solo anthems composed expressly for Elford), and Dr. Croft, in the preface to his 'Musica Sacra,' speak in high terms of Elford's voice and singing. He died Oct. 29, 1714. [ W. H. H. ]