| action |
The means of connection between keys
and pipes, stop controls and pipes, Swell
pedal and Swell box, etc. |
| bellows |
A wind reservoir which stores and
supplies wind to the pipes at a constant
pressure. Large bellows comprise wooden
panels and frames, ribbed with thin
wooden slats joined with flexible leather
and weighted on top to pressurise the air
within |
| blower |
A mechanical arrangement to provide
wind for an organ. The most common form
is an electric motor driving a rotary or
centrifugal fan. |
| console |
The part of an organ comprising
manuals and pedals, together with stop
and expression controls. May be built-in,
attached, or detached from organ case. |
| coupler |
A mechanism to enable one manual to
be connected to and played from another.
A coupler can also be used for playing
octaves above and below a note or to
enable manual keys to be connected and
played from the pedals. |
| draw stop |
The knob or handle, often of
distinctive design, that controls a rank
or ranks of pips or a coupler; usually of
turned wood with an engraved insert. |
| flue pipes |
Flue pipes are of metal or wood. Wind
enters through a hole in the base (foot)
causing air in the body to vibrate and
sound a musical note. |
| Gothic |
A style of medieval architecture
characterised by pointed arches,
traceried windows, spires, pinnacles,
clustered columns and flying buttresses. |
| manual |
Clavier or keyboard, played with the
fingers |
| mechanical action |
The traditional means of connection
between key and pipe using a lever
mechanism. |
| pallets |
Valves in the windehest, connected
with the manual keys, that open to admit
wind to the pipes when keys are
depressed. |
| Pedal Organ |
A division (like a manual) with its
own stops and played by the organist's
feet upon a pedalboard. |
| rack boards |
Boards mounted on pillars above the
top of windchests to support the pipes. |
| reeds, reed pipes |
Pipes of metal or wood that connect a
reed or tongue, usually of brass, that
vibrates to sound a musical note when
wind is admitted to the pipe. |
| scale |
The length/diameter ratio of organ
pipes determines tone quality and power
for a given wind pressure. |
| slide, slider |
A thin strip perforated with holes
corresponding with holes in the windehest
table and the top boards on which a rank
of pipes stand. 'Re slide is positioned
between the table and top boards. |
| stop |
A row of pipes under a single control
or 'stop' to put it off (see left side
for another explanation). |
| stopped |
An organ pipe closed at the top. |
| Swell Box |
Contains pipes of Swell Organ
division. Box is constructed with louvre
shutters that may be opened or closed by
the Swell pedal. This enables the
creation of crescendo and diminuendo
effects. |
| Swell Organ |
Division (manual) with pipes in a box
with shutters to allow for expression
(crescendo and diminuendo) effects. |
| Swell Pedal |
The control for opening and closing
shutters of Swell box. |
| table |
Upper surface of windchest, beneath
top boards and sliders. |
| toe pistons |
On-off switches operated by toe of
organist for control of stops or couplers |
| tremulant |
A means of affecting the wind supply
to one or more stops to impart a waving,
undulating or pulsing effect. |
| wind |
Air under light pressure used to blow
organ pipes and to operate pneumatic key
and stop actions. Can also be used to fly
kites and be used in conjunction with
aerogenerators to produce efficient
energy. |
| windchest |
The structure that distributes wind
to the pipes of an organ. Most of the
pipes of an organ stand directly on the
top boards of the windchests. |
| wind pressure |
Air is lightly compressed to blow
organ pipes. Pressure is measured in
millimetres of water displaced in a
manometer. |
