The Elderly Novice Organist

Glossary

This glossary describes organ-specific terms used on this website. It is not intended as a source of general information; for this see the relevant sections on this website.

This glossary specifically excludes organ stop names, of which there are hundreds in several languages. For the most comprehensive reference available, see Encyclopedia of Organ Stops.

Accessory Stop

A control found with the Stop Controls that does not control one or more ranks of pipes (mainly Couplers, Tremulants, and Toy Stops).

Borrowing

The use of the same rank(s) in more than one division. A common stop such as Principal 8' frequently appears in more than one division of the organ, but these would normally be separate ranks, voiced differently. However, sometimes the same rank is used to avoid having to provide two similar ranks.

Cantus Firmus

In early music, a term used for a melody used as the basis of polyphonic composition. On the organ, this would typically be played on the Choralbass.

Chiff

The term given to the initial transient when a pipe starts to speak (perhaps something like a cough). In an organ with mechanical stop action, it can be controlled by varying the force with which the key is hit.

Crescendo Pedal

Available on some organs to change the volume by successively adding or removing stops in a predetermined sequence.

Coupler

A means of combining two divisions of the organ by uniting keyboards. See Coupler.

Division

A set of stops normally associated with a keyboard, but may also be a floating division. See Division.

Expression Pedal

A pedal (swell or crescendo) that allows the volume to be continuously adjusted while playing. See Expression Pedals.

Floating Division

Normally found only on large organs, this is a division that is not normally connected to a keyboard, but may be connected to the required keyboard when needed by means of a Coupler.

Flue

The most commonly used class of organ pipe, that produces sound without moving parts. See Flues.

Harmonics

A series of integer multiples of the fundamental frequency; the presence of these give musical instruments their specific timbre. See Harmonics.

Hauptwerk

This is the name of the main manual on a German organ, but also the name of virtual organ software; see the producer's website. The only other similar software is GrandOrgue.

Key Action

One of the two actions of the organ, operated by the keys on the manuals and pedals. See Actions (Stops and Keys).

Keyboard

On the organ, this may be played either with the hands or the feet. See Keyboards.

Kickboard

Another name for kneeboard.

Kneeboard

Vertical panel behind and above the pedalboard. See Kneeboard.

Manual

An organ keyboard for the hands. See Keyboards (Manual).

MIDI

(Musical Instrument Digital Interface) a protocol developed in the late 1980s to transfer signals from devices such as keyboards and (in the case of the organ) expression pedals.

Mixture

An organ stop comprising several ranks. See Mixture.

Mutation Stop

An organ stop comprising a single rank at non-octave pitch. See Mutation.

Natural

A flat (not raised) note on a keyboard (usually white on a manual). See Keyboards.

Pedalboard

A keyboard for the feet. See Keyboards (Pedalboard).

Piston

A button under the keys of a manual typically used to activate a pre-recorded stop combination. See Pistons.

Portative

A type of organ that can be carried.

Positive

An organ that can be moved, and would normally have ranks no greater than 4'. Also used for a division of an organ that produces a similar sound.

Pure

Refers to intervals that correspond to the harmonic series - see Harmonics. For example, a pure perfect 5th has the frequency ratio 3/2.

Rank

A row of pipes producing the same type of sound. See Rank.

Reed

One of two commonly-used classes of organ pipe, that produces sound by means of a vibrating metal tongue. See Reeds.

Registration

The art (unique to organists) of creating an appropriate sound by combining the available stops. Also refers to the selected combination(s) of stops. See Stop.

Resultant

An organ stop comprising two ranks that produces a difference product. See Resultant.

Sample Set

The set of recorded sound samples, and other data such as images and the organ definition used to implement a virtual organ.

Sharp

A raised note on a keyboard (usually black on a manual). See Keyboards.

Speaking Stop

A control found with the Stop Controls that is involved with the stop action (i.e. in opening one or more ranks of pipes).

Stop

This may refer to either a speaking stop (see also Stop) or to an accessory stop.

Stop Action

One of the two actions of the organ, operated by the stop controls on the console. See Actions (Stops and Keys).

Swell Pedal

A pedal that allows the volume of an enclosed division to be changed by opening and closing shutters.

Temperament

The application of adjustments to pure intervals to make them align with the 12-note chromatic scale. See Temperament.

Toe Stud

(also Toe Piston) This has the same function as a piston, except it is operated by the feet.

Toy Stop

A type of accessory stop that produces sound effects not involving pipes (for example, percussion and bird song).

Tremulant

A wavering effect created by varying the wind supply. See Tremulant.

Undulating Stop

An organ stop comprising two ranks, one slightly detuned of the other. See Undulating.

Unification

The creation of stops of different pitches using the same rank.

Voicing

The art of designing and making an organ pipe, with a view to producing the required quality and quantity of sound. Also fine adjustments made to a completed pipe (both in the workshop, and in its location) so that it is consistent with the other pipes.

Virtual Organ

This is an organ that generates sound by combining in real time recorded samples from one (or possibly multiple) real organs. See The Three Organ Types.

Wind

The pressurized air fed to the pipes.

Wind Chest

The container of pressurized air on which the pipes stand.