Frequently Asked Questions about the Organ

When was the first organ invented?

In the year 250 B.C., a Greek inventor by the name of Ktesibios from Alexandria (!) invented the first pipe organ, called a hydraulis because it used water to displace the air, keeping air pressure even. It became popular in Rome where it was used for entertainment feasts and gladiatorial combats. (The use of the Hammond organ at the baseball stadium is a modern remnant of this!) The mythological character Pan played the "pipes," a kind of ancestor to both the pipe organ and the modern day flute. In the 300's A.D. an ancient obelisk of Theodosius depicts an organ with bellows. In 757 A.D. an organ was given as a gift from Copronymos to Pippin, the father of Charlemagne. The English Bishop Aldhelm (ca. 640-709) described the powerful sound of an organ. About 980 A.D., Wulstan described a loud organ in Winchester, England that required 70 men to fill the 26 bellows with wind. In Halberstadt, Germany an organ built in 1361 had 3 manual keyboards and a pedal keyboard resembling the one of today.

What is a rank? A stop? What is the difference?

A rank is a row of pipes, one for each key on the keyboard to which it is assigned. Each rank has a particular musical timbre/color [such as a flute, trumpet or diapason] Generally, each rank has its own stop knob, however there are a few stops that are comprised of more than one rank, such as a "Mixture" or "Cornet".

What do the numbers on the stop knobs mean?

They refer to the register [octave] at which the stops sound. For example, 8' means that a middle C will sound at the same pitch as the middle C on the piano, however at 16' it will sound one octave lower than the middle C played and, conversely, at 4' it will sound one octave higher than the middle C played. Thus, by playing one key [middle C, for example] with 3 stops drawn [16', 8', 4'], three notes will sound: one octave below middle C, middle C, and one octave above middle C. The numbers also refer to the length of the longest pipe in that rank. In an 8' stop, the bottom pipe would be 8 feet long, unless it is a stopped pipe, one with the top plugged, and then that pipe would be 4' long because the air travels both up and down the pipe [4'+ 4'], effecting an 8' sound.

What is a case and what is its function?

The case on our new organ is that "big, oak box" in which the pipes and most of the mechanical parts are located. A case serves several functions: (a) to project the sound, (b) to focus the sound, (c) to act a resonating chamber, (d) to protect the pipes from dirt, dust, etc. and (e) to add a visual dimension to the church.

What is the console?

The console is where the keyboards [both manual and pedal], stops, etc. are located. The console at St. Matthew's will be moveable and be able to go where ever it is needed for a service or a concert. It will even be able to be unplugged and moved off the choir risers.

Why should we not touch the pipes in the front of the case?

Skin oil permanently marks the polished tin. Any handling of pipes by those not trained to do so could adversely affect them. Musical instruments are sensitive machines!

How many pipes does our organ have and what size in the smallest and biggest?

Almost 3200 custom made pipes! This helps explain why organs cost so much. Each one is hand made to fit in our organ and church. Many of the pipes and working parts are not visible. The smallest is about two-thirds the size of a wooden pencil. The largest is more than 250 pounds and over 16 feet high!

Going by the size of our organ, will it "blow the roof off?"

No. Size has relatively little to do with volume because it is the "voicing" that determines how loudly the pipes speak.Voicing also determines the character of the tone: smooth, rough, thin, thick, etc. Our new organ has 55 ranks.The largest organ in the world has over 800 ranks. Moderate-sized organs range approximately from 25 to 45 ranks. Fewer than 20 ranks could be considered small and 50-75 could be considered large. Over 100 would be a huge organ.

Is the Organ affected by the acoustics of the building?

Yes, Organ and choral music are best heard when the building has a good reverberation time. This allows the sound to blend and mix before the congregation hears the music. The organ and acoustics of the church were designed together. So the "best seats in the house" are almost anywhere. The rule of thumb is, if you have a sight line to the organ you will have a good sounds line as well. Closer to the organ of course will be louder so, by choosing where you sit in our sanctuary, you can control how directly you will hear the organ.