The Organ Forum

Hi all,

This is my first post, and my experience with organs and organ music is also very limited (I am a pianist by training, and have played the organ and many protestant churches without ever having the oncentration to learn to play the instrument properly (no pedals, no principled use of stops, etc.)

I am setting to correct that, and wanted to explore the possibility of buying an electric organ for my home, so that I don't have to go to church whenever I want to practice.  My instinct is that I will start with hymn books, trying to work in the pedal line, and with the chorales and smaller preludes of J.S. Bach, although in the not so distant future I hope to be able to play some Widor and larger Bach works (I love the F major Toccata).

I imagine I should narrow my search to used Hammond organs, but I do not know which one would match what I in my ignorance believe to be basic specs.  For the record, I like the stops that are little knobs one pulls (so not bars and not switches).

 Your guidance is appreciated.  Apologies if the post is in the wrong board or if I failed to follow the rules of posting (I tried!!!):

 

Hauptwerk (lower manual, C-f''' = 54 notes)

1. Bordun 16' 54 pipes 18 pine, rest 85% lead
2. Principal 8' 54 pipes 90% tin, front
3. Viola di Gamba 8' 54 pipes 90% tin
4. Rohrflöte 8' 54 pipes 12 pine, rest 85% lead
5. Octava 4' 54 pipes 90% tin
6. Spitzflöte 4' 54 pipes 90% tin
7. Quinta 2-2/3' 54 pipes 90% tin
8. Octava 2' 54 pipes 90% tin
9. Mixtur III 162 pipes 90% tin
10. Cimbel II 108 pipes 90% tin
11. Cornet III c' 90 pipes 85% lead
12. Trompete 8' 54 pipes 90% tin, brass shallots, metal boots
13. Vox Humana 8' 54 pipes 90% tin, brass shallots, metal boots, not playable in Pedal

Oberwerk (upper manual, C-f''' = 54 notes)

1. Gedackt 8'54 pipes 12 pine, rest 85% lead
2. Quintadena 8' 54 pipes 90% tin
3. Principal 4' 54 pipes 90% tin, front
4. Rohrflöte 4' 54 pipes 85% lead
5. Nasat 2-2/3' 54 pipes 85% lead (as Rohrflöte)
6. Octava 2' 54 pipes 90% tin
7. Waldflöte 2' 54 pipes 90% tin
8. Terz 1-3/5' 54 pipes 90% tin
9. Quinta 1-1/3' 54 pipes 90% tin
10. Sifflet 1' 54 pipes 90% tin
11. Krummhorn 8' 54 pipes 90% tin, brass shallots, metal boots

Pedal (C-f' = 30 notes,flat)

1. Principal Baß 16' 30 pipes 6 pine, open, rest 90% tin, front
2. Subbaß 16' 30 pipes pine
3. Octaven Baß 8' 30 pipes pine
4. Octava 4' 30 pipes 90% tin
5. Posaunen Baß 16' 30 pipes pine, cast lead shallots
6. Trompete 8' 30 pipes 90% tin, cast lead shallots

Couplers
Oberwerk to Hauptwerk (shove coupler)
Hauptwerk to Pedal (separate pallets in Hauptwerk)

 

First of all, congratulations on choosing to become an organist. Now we know you're a nut. Ok, so you want to become an organist, the first thing about pipes is that there are two major families of pipes - flues and reeds. Flue pipes are the kinds that would bear names like Principal, bourdon, gedackt...these will usually be engraved in black on drawknob faces. Reed stops will be labled things like Trompette, Tromba, Posaune...

Anyway, if you want a practic instrument for your home, I would actually recommend getting something more like an Allen or a Rodgers, or if you really have the money, get an old Moeller (sometimes Moller, and sometimes with the umlat over the o) Artiste, Wicks Fuga, or from my favorite builder, Holtkamp, a Martini. Any of the above listed options will work well, especially because they have standardized 32 note concave radiating pedalboards, which have been built to AGO standards. Stay away from the Allen princess pedalboards if you can, they are smaller than AGO boards, and may cause you problems later. The other reason I recommend something like an Allen or Rodgers is that they are more like a pipe organ than a Hammond, and will be better for your practice.

I'm actually not sure why you posted the spec. If you have questions, ask. This forum is a wellspring of knowledge, advice and help.

One more thing, I would actually recommend that you take organ lessons from someone

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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

Nothing much to add, other than agreeing with everything Austin766 has said.

Hammonds tend to have a rather useless undefined pedal division, not all that different from the remainder of the instrument.   There are lots of used Allens and Rodgers out there at bargain prices. For the kind of music you will be playing, a well appointed Pedal Division is essential; and typical of specs usual to the aforementioned Allen and Rodgers organs.

A useful Pedal Division will generally have about the same number of stops as any one of the keyboards. For instance take a listen, and look at what's happening in this Stefanussen Youtube offering just posted elsewhere here today. Observe particulary, what is required of those big honkin' pedal reeds, while the hands are merely tinkling away playing arpeggios. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01omJsDCNOE&fmt=18 

BTW Stefanussen . . . awesome! It probably wouldn't sound quite the same on a Hammond organ.

to give you an idea of what id really required in a great deal of organ literature, I offer for your enjoyment, edifiction, and inspection my organ play list from youtube http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B2FE2B3D3F0305C1

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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

Thanks!

Precisely the information I was looking for, and yes, lessons are in the horizon.  I loved to see the word bargain.  What number should I recognize as such?

Welcome to the forum. 

Sol:

This is my first post, and my experience with organs and organ music is also very limited (I am a pianist by training, and have played the organ and many protestant churches without ever having the oncentration to learn to play the instrument properly (no pedals, no principled use of stops, etc.)

I am setting to correct that, and wanted to explore the possibility of buying an electric organ for my home, so that I don't have to go to church whenever I want to practice.

A couple of things come to mind...  going to church to practice is not such a bad thing!  Like you, I started with piano.  I bought my first home organ well after I had established myself as an organist.  Prior to getting the organ, I practiced a great deal of organ music at home on my piano, and at various churches around town.  In spite of not having a home organ, I guess I ended up OK!    Now that I have the organ at home, I find that I hardly play it.

If you have an excellent piano technique you are halfway to your goal!  I've known organists who were poor pianists, and I can't say their organ playing impressed me either.  Organ playing has a technique that is different from the piano however; for example, the releases must be as exacting as the attack; finger substitution is critical for legato playing, etc.

Your next steps might include pedal technique, coordination between different manuals and pedal; registration, and repertoire.  There are some other topics to cover, but it sort of depends on what your goals are as an organist - do you know for sure what you wish to accomplish?

The good thing about practicing in churches is that is that you get used to playing on many different instruments, in different acoustics.  The more instruments you know, the easier it will be for you to adapt when you must play an unfamiliar instrument.  By practicing in different churches you may also get your foot in the door for some substitute jobs and/or finding a teacher.

The advice to get a teacher is spot-on - I highly recommend it.  The folks here on the Forum are very helpful, but you probably need to have someone observe your playing.  Finding a qualified teacher may be challenging; you might start at the largest churches in your area.  Have you considered joining the American Guild of Organists?

In the meantime, you could start with books on registration and pedal technique.  Some good info is also available online.  As far as repertoire, I recommend you listen to as many organ recordings as possible (CDs in particular).  Bach, Mendelssohn, and Franck are ideal composers for a start...

I hope this helps!

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Soubasse32

Sol:

I loved to see the word bargain.  What number should I recognize as such?

Older organs, still in good working condition, are often given away to anyone who will cart it away for them. Take at look at this thread on the Forum. It will give you a pretty good idea what to expect.

http://organforum.com/forums/thread/20063.aspx