In the summer of 1853, less than a year after the Music Hall was opened to the public, Dr. Upham, who had been for some time occupied with the idea of procuring an organ worthy of the edifice, made a tour in Europe with the express object of seeing some of the most famous instruments of the Continent and of Great Britain.  He examined many, especially in Germany, and visited some of the great organ-builders, going so far as to obtain specifications from Mr. Walcker of Ludwigsburg, and from Weigl, his pupil at Stuttgart.  On returning to this country, he brought the proposition of procuring a great instrument in Europe in various ways before the public, among the rest by his “Reminiscences of a Summer Tour,” published in “Dwight’s Journal of Music.”  After this he laid the matter before the members of the Harvard Musical Association, and, having thus gradually prepared the way, presented it for consideration before the Board of Directors of the Music-Hall Association.  A committee was appointed “to consider.”  There was some division of opinion as to the expediency of the more ambitious plan of sending abroad for a colossal instrument.  There was a majority report in its favor, and a verbal minority report advocating a more modest instrument of home manufacture.  Then followed the anaconda-torpor which marks the process of digestion of a huge and as yet crude project by a multivertebrate corporation.

On the first of March, 1856, the day of the inauguration of Beethoven’s statue, a subscription-paper was started, headed by Dr. Upham, for raising the sum of ten thousand dollars.  At a meeting in June the plan was brought before the stockholders of the Music Hall, who unanimously voted to appropriate ten thousand dollars and the proceeds of the old organ, on condition that fifteen thousand dollars should be raised by private subscription.  In October it was reported to the Directors that ten thousand dollars of this sum were already subscribed, and Dr. Upham, President of the Board, pledged himself to raise the remainder on certain conditions, which were accepted.  He was then authorized to go abroad to investigate the whole subject, with full powers to select the builder and to make the necessary contracts.

Dr. Upham had already made an examination of the best organs and organ-factories in New England, New York, and elsewhere in this country, and received several specifications and plans from builders.  He proceeded at once, therefore, to Europe, examined the great English instruments, made the acquaintance of Mr. Hopkins, the well-known organist and recognized authority on all matters pertaining to the instrument, and took lessons of him in order to know better the handling of the keys and the resources of the instrument.  In his company, Dr. Upham examined some of the best instruments in London.  He made many excursions among the old churches of Sir Christopher Wren’s building, where are to be found the fine organs of “Father Smith,” John Snetzler, and other