A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Echo

ECHO. The organs built immediately after the Restoration generally contained what was then a novelty in England, called the Echo. This consisted of a repetition of the treble portion of a few of the leading stops of the organ, voiced softly, shut up in a wooden box, placed in some remote part of the organ case—usually behind the desk-board—and played upon by a separate half row of keys. The 'echo effect' enjoyed great popularity for many years, and exercised an influence on much of the cotemporary music both for voices and instruments. Purcell in some of his anthems exhibited a predilection for the loud and soft contrast; while most of the pieces written for keyed instruments abounded with recognitions of it up to the time of Handel, whose Concertos, Suites, etc., gave fresh impetus to the popular taste. [Cornet.]

[ E. J. H. ]