The Organ Forum

What follows is a theoretical/hypothetical/fantasy stop list for a strict tracker (both stop and key actions are mechanical). I think this would make a good organ, but would like to see what others think. The overall scheme here was neo-baroque, with something resembling the big Flentrop at Trinity Cathedral Cleveland. All couplers are 8'.

Oberwerk (Manual II)

16 Pommer

16 Prinzipal

8 Gedackt

8 Prinzipal

4Rohrflote

4 Octave

IV Mixture

V Cornet

2 2/3 Nazard

2 Fifteenth

2 Flute

1 3/5 Terz

1 Sifflote

8 Cromorne

8 Oboe

4 Clarion

            Schwellwerk to Oberwerk

            Ruckpositiv to Oberwerk

Schwellwerk (Manual III)
16 Bourdon

8 Bourdon

8 Viole

8 Viole Celeste

8 Quintaton

4 Principal

4 Bourdon

V-VII Mixture (double draw, half is V)

2 2/3 Nazat

2 Prinzipal

1 1/3 Quinte

1 Sifflote

16 Contra Trumpet

8 Trumpet

4 Clarion

Ruckpositiv (Manual I)

8 Copula

8 Praestant

4 Rohrflote

4 Praestant

2 2/3 Twelfth

2 Doublette

2 Flute

III Fourniture

1 3/5 Tertz

1 1/3 Larigot

2/3 Zimbel

8  Krumhoorn

       Schwellwerk/Ruckpositiv

Pedal
32 Bourdon

16 Prinzipal

16 Bourdon

8 Gedeckt

8 Principal

8 Bourdon

4 Choral Bass

4 Bourdon

4 Nachthorn

2 Waldflote

16 Bazuin

8 Trumpet

4 Trumpet

Fuschwanz (foxtail, labeled “Noli Me Tangere”)

            Oberwerk to Pedal

            Schwellwerk to Pedal

            Ruckpositiv to Pedal

 

Accessories

Zimbelstern

Nachtigall

Toe spoons to add or subtract pedal reeds.

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Once you can tie your arms into a pretzel and your legs into a knot, you've got it under control

Looks like a charming little organ, perhaps as use for a house organ?

I'm not quite sure if you really need the 32', but other people may think otherwise...

Jezza

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"If you can't get the orchestra any louder, add the organ"

Fascinating, Austin!

Is it just me?  I do not see the Schwellwerk?

How about a Kontraposaune 32'?  Since you are talking about at least $2 million here anyway, why not?

Enjoyed reading this; thank you!

EDIT:  Our organ at church also has two Krummhorns; but we renamed one of them Klarinett, only to make it look more orthodox (rather than having two Krummhorns).

Cheers!

apparently the Schwellwerk didn't make it in on the first post, i've put it in. Thank you for mentioning that.

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Once you can tie your arms into a pretzel and your legs into a knot, you've got it under control

Austin,

I'm just curious why you find this style appealing - the "neo-baroque" era is... (how do I put this delicately) ... dead. 

I personally run the other direction when I see an organ with twice as many 2' stops as 8' Principals. 

Setting aside my tendency for neo-baroque-induced migraines, let's look at one 'iffy' area in the Oberwerk:

1 Sifflote

8 Cromorne

8 Oboe

4 Clarion

You already have a 1' stop in the organ - any more than this is too many!  They are horrible to tune.  The ideal place for a 1' stop would be in a division that has many mutations, such as a Positiv.

The Cromorne is customarily in the Positiv, and the Oboe is usually found in the Swell.  If you go against tradition it can make the organist's job rather difficult when it comes to interpreting standard repertoire.  As an organ designer you want your clients to like your organs. 

[edit] Oh I see you have a Krumhoorn and a Cromorne.  That is fine, but if you really want to do early music you might want to replace that Cromorne with a baroque Vox Humana.

The Clarion doesn't have any foundation (an 8' chorus reed).  You don't want a Clarion out-shouting the other reeds in the division.  The result can be very ugly. 

What, no Pedal mixture?

Other than that, the spec seems fine enough - - for people who like that kind of thing. 

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Soubasse32

I guess I found this appealing because I've played a few good organs in this style, and the last thing I thought up was some 5 manuals and gazillion stops (think sort of a mix of Severance, Cleveland Muni, St. Ann's [the one with the really run down console] a couple of old Austins and a Positiv division) I think it might have worked, but that postiv was stolen almost stop for stop from St. Paul's in Cleveland Heights (1952 Holtkamp), and sort of stuck out like a sore thumb. No one but me has seen that design. So, I wanted to come up with something more realistic, more feasible, smaller, and different than a great big romantic organ, I supose this doesn't have to be neo baroque, but I was definitely thinking something in the style of Flentrop, Holtkamp and the Shaker Heights Rieger (funny, my insparation on this one seems to be coming from three Episcopal churches).

As for Clients liking the designs, I thought the whole idea was to come up with designs that no one likes, so that you go bankrupt and can't build more organs

Now I just need to get a bigger house.

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Once you can tie your arms into a pretzel and your legs into a knot, you've got it under control

Austin766:

Now I just need to get a bigger house.

Forget the house organ - look at all the great organs in your neighborhood! 

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Soubasse32

Gee..I wouldn't know anything about all the great instruments on Cleveland's East Side Not as though I visited many of them during the month of May. However, I could use a dorm room organ.

In all seriousness, it is difficult for me to get practice time on the college's Martini because the organ studio is used by two other teachers most of the day and they were apparently kind of expecting that I'd practice in the evening, but my evenings are taken up with x-country. Oh well, c'est la vie.

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Once you can tie your arms into a pretzel and your legs into a knot, you've got it under control

Is it me, or have we forgotten this is a tracker?    I'd think that either full organ (coupled) would be terribly hard on the hands, or the action would be so well-balanced that a simple breath would play the keys with only one stop drawn.

Is there something I'm missing here?

Michael

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Allen Organs (505-B & ADC-6000), Frazee Pipe Organ (2/13 w/chimes),
Pump Organs (Estey, Sears & Roebuck, Mason & Hamlin, Chicago Cottage, Williams & Sons, Angelius, Cornish)
Pianos (Ivers sq. grand ca.1865, Ivers & Pond Upright-1929, Technics SX-PR600)

I suppose it depends on the organist, but, I've played a similarly sized Flentrop with everything coupled an it wasnt too much of a workout. what would you suggest, Barker Levers, or stronger hands? (for the "big" Flentrop, see here http://www.trinitycleveland.org/pdfs/TrinityClevelandFlentrops.pdf)

As for what you're missing, maybe a couple of screws, which might help explain why you're an organist

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Once you can tie your arms into a pretzel and your legs into a knot, you've got it under control

Austin766:

As for what you're missing, maybe a couple of screws. . . .

Did you find them?  I hope so!  I've been looking for them EVERYWHERE!!!

Michael

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Allen Organs (505-B & ADC-6000), Frazee Pipe Organ (2/13 w/chimes),
Pump Organs (Estey, Sears & Roebuck, Mason & Hamlin, Chicago Cottage, Williams & Sons, Angelius, Cornish)
Pianos (Ivers sq. grand ca.1865, Ivers & Pond Upright-1929, Technics SX-PR600)