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THE APOLLONICON
ROLAND KEEN
The gigantic entertainment organ, the Apollonicon, built by the partnership of Flight & Robson between 1812 and 1817, was offered for sale in 1881 in The Musical Times.
Since the time of its manufacture, its physical appearance has been described in some considerable detail, as follows:
Dr Hinton described the Apollonicon thus:
The case of the Apollonicon was of Grecian style and stood 24 feet high, 20 feet wide and 18 feet deep. The front contained three flats of pipes, divided by double pilasters in the Doric order and above which were paintings of Apollo (representing Music), Clio (representing Poetry) and Erato (representing History).
Hebert, writing a detailed study of the Apollonicon, states that:
The front is divided into three compartments by pilasters of the Grecian Doric, surmounted by others of the Ionic order. Between the upper pilasters are three paintings; that in the centre representing Apollo, and those on the sides the Muses: Clio and Erato, somewhat larger than life, which do much credit to the artist (Mr John Masey Wright).
Christopher Davy writes:
The front of the case has an appropriate and somewhat classical design, the Lower portion being decorated by pilasters of a Greek Doric character, surmounted by an architrave cornice, the central part being occupied by its name in Greek characters, APOLLWNIKON.
The upper part has four pilasters (Greek Ionic) reaching to the ceiling (sic), 24 feet, with gilt capitals, entablature, etc., the intermediate spaces between the pilasters being filled by three well executed paintings.
The widely published drawing / engraving of the Apollonicon, shown above, displays almost no detail, the instrument being covered by a drape or curtain. However, during the present author's research at the University of Reading, in respect of the partnership and work of Flight & Robson, a further illustration was discovered.
The pencil sketch by G. F. Sargent shows six performers - the organ is thought to have had five consoles originally, but it is believed that the Apollonicon was later enlarged by Hill.
The Apollonicon was exhibited and used for concerts at the Adelaide Gallery in London at the time when the drawing was made. It is noted that the sketch by Sargent shows little similarity to the above written descriptions. there appears to be a rank of pipes en chamade at the top of the instrument. The hand written inscription at the foot of the drawing is: 'The Apollonicon Exhibiting in the Adelaide Gallery 1851'.
I thank Mr John Fisher, Librarian (prints & maps), Guildhall Library, and Dr Christopher Kent, for their interest and patience.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cowgill, R., 'The London Apollonicon Recitals, 1817-1832, A Case Study in Bach, Mozart and Haydn Reception', The Journal of the Royal Musical Association, (Oxford, 1998).
Davy, C., Mechanics' Magazine, 15 March 1828.
Edrnunds, B.B., 'Once upon a time, The Organ Club Journal, 1960.
Edmunds, B.B., ibid., (corrigenda et addenda - MSS).
Hebert, L., Engineers & Mechanics Handbook, 1843.
Keen, R.L., A Brief History of Flight & Robson - The Early 19th Century London Organ Builders (unpublished), University of Reading, August 1999.
Ord-Hume, A.W.J.U. (Dr Hinton's description), Barrel Organ, (Boston, USA, 1978).
The Musical Times, 469, April 1881.
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