J. C. W.—1. Mascagni was born in Leghorn, December 7, 1863.
2. Wagner is pronounced as if spelled Vahg’ner, with the accent on the first syllable.
3. The pronunciation of Haendel is difficult to indicate with letters. If you pronounce the word “hen,” then insert an “r,” making it “hern,” being careful not to pronounce it like the possessive pronoun “her,” you will have approximately the German pronunciation of the first syllable. The last syllable is, of course, like the English word “handle.” Many writers use the spelling “Handel” and pronounce like the English word, “handle.”
One should always modulate from the Prelude to the Doxology unless the key is the same or closely related.
4. “Speaking stops” are those which connect a set of pipes with the keys so that the keys “speak” when pressed down, in opposition to “mechanical stops,” as couplers and the tremulant, which are silent unless some “speaking stop” is drawn with them.
5. “Stopped pipes” are those which have their upper ends stopped with either a metal cap or a wooden torpion, thus making the pitch an octave lower and making the tone quicker and somewhat fuller.
6. No copy of the composition mentioned being at hand, it is impossible to advise.
The only way to subdue the accompaniment when melody and accompaniment are on the same manual (reed-organ) is to use two stops for that half of the manual where the solo is located and only one for the other half where the accompaniment is being played.
