MUSIC 2244 Quiz 1

Four main parts of an organ

Pipes, Windchest, Action, Wind-raising device

Sustain, Power, Variety

Essential characteristics of the organ that distinguish it from other musical instruments

First organ invented

The hydraulis, an ancient Greek water organ that used water pressure to create sound through its pipes (3rd century BCE)

Mechanical (key) action

aka “Tracker Action”; Tracker, rollerboard OR electric action

Stop action

Stop knobs, mechanical linkage, slider; used to control the flow of air to specific ranks of pipes on an organ.

Blockwerk

Oldest still-functioning organ; represents the primary and massive sound-producing division of early Gothic church organs from the 14th to the mid-15th century

Rank

A row of pipes that can be allowed to sound by drawing a stop

Flue pipe

Reed pipe

Pipe voicing

The delicate, manual process of adjusting each individual pipe so its tone, volume, attack, and character match the musical standards of the instrument and the acoustics of the room

Principal pipes

The core foundational voice of a pipe organ, producing the classic and distinct "organ" sound that does not imitate any other instrument

1. Blower

2. Reservoir

3. Wind trunk

4. Windchest

5. Stop knob

6. Slider

7. Keyboard

8. Pallet

9. Key channel

Bellows

A mechanical device that stores and supplies pressurized air (wind) to the pipes of an organ

Tracker

A thin wooden or metal rod that transmits the physical motion of the key away from the keyboard console

Rollerboard

Uses pivoting metal arms ("rollers") to transfer the physical motion sideways or laterally to line up with the correct pipe note

Pallet

A small spring-loaded wooden valve inside the windchest that unseals a channel and lets pressurized air rush into the designated pipe

Wind-raising mechanisms

Wedge bellows, horizontal bellows, steam or electric blower

Pallet box, pallet, slider

Parts of the windchest

Parts of the keyboard

Manual(s), pedal, compass, console