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116 S. Highland Ave.
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About Us
Pipes of Glory
About the Organ
"The SWELL Organ"
Part 2 in the series
about ELPC’s Aeolian-Skinner Pipe Organ.
by the Rev. Dr. J. Richard Szeremany,
Worship Music & The Arts Director |
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In this, the second of an on-going series of brief articles in
which we attempt to explain the various tonal divisions of the
Sanctuary organ and their musical function, we will devote our
writing to the largest division in number of pipes as well as
tonal contrasts. It is known as the SWELL organ. Its name comes
from the fact that historically it was the first of the several
divisions of the organ that was mechanically equipped to create
expression (soft to loud and back to soft with all the
gradations of dynamics in between.)
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An organ pipe can produce only one
pitch and one dynamic level of sound. How then can the organist
control the volume of an individual stop or sound? By having
that one stop or all the stops or sounds of a division under
expression. And how is that expression obtained? By building a
large, sturdy wooden box—often the size of a small room—around
the many pipes of a particular division. On the front side of
that box are fitted large (sometimes 6 to 8 feet) wooden swell
shades about 3 inches thick and approximately 10 to 12 inches
wide. These shades function like Venetian blinds opening and
closing gradually or quickly to emit or to reduce the sound
being created inside the swell box. The movement of the swell
shades is at the control of the organ performer who operates the
swell pedal with a foot. There is an electrical connection
between the swell pedal operated by the organist and the
pneumatic mechanism which opens and closes the “Venetian
blinds.” In power and
brilliance, the SWELL organ houses the dramatic trumpet-like
sounds of the organ at a variety of pitches with the longest
pipes beginning at 16 feet. The SWELL division also includes
what are called mixture ranks—compound sounding stops of both
unison and quint or off-unison sounds which add both brilliance
as well as nobility to the sounds. The SWELL organ at ELPC also
contains a variety of beautiful string-toned pipes which are
used in accompanying choir and soloists. Included among the
sounds of this division are many flute-like sounds also at a
variety of pitches from 16 feet to 2 feet in length at the
lowest pitch. It is here that the wonderful sound of the Vox
Humana is housed.
Like the tonal resources of the
GREAT Organ (see
article), the SWELL organ
also has its backbone sounds of diapasons or principals at many
different pitches binding the entire division together tonally
and lending strong support to the congregation in its singing of
worship music. Because of the dramatic effects the SWELL organ
is capable of producing, it is usually placed high up in the
organ chamber so that its sounds of loveliness as well as of
brilliance and commanding power can ride over the top of the
entire organ and engage the listener emotionally and spiritually
in its “voice of the Spirit.”
Next article in the series --
Part 3: "The
SOLO and ANTIPHONAL Organs" |
For more
information about the Pipes of Glory project, contact:
The Rev. Dr. J.
Richard Szeremany
Director of Worship, Music & The Arts
email: jrichard
(please add the extension "@coh.net" to the email
address)
412/441-3800
Norma Meyer
Administrative Assistant for Worship, Music & The Arts
email:
normam
(please add the extension "@coh.net" to the email
address)
412/441-3800
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updated 2006-08-10 |