Trystan Casey
The electric organ is a keyboard instrument with one or more pipe divisions or other means (such as woodwind or electric) for producing tones. The organ has two or three manuals (keyboards) for playing with the hands and a pedalboard for playing with the feet. The console or keydesk is the control centre of the organ, where the key and stop actions originate. The layout of an organ console is not standardised, but most organs follow historical conventions for the country and style of organ. The keys on the manuals and pedalboard each correspond to a specific note, and by pressing a key, a valve opens underneath a particular pipe.
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What You'll Learn
- Electric organs have one or more manuals (keyboards) and a pedalboard
- The console is the control centre of the organ
- The organ's key action connects the key with the valve
- Manual couplers and octave extensions are placed within stop knobs or above the uppermost manual
- The organ's registration can be changed with the aid of a combination action
Electric organs have one or more manuals (keyboards) and a pedalboard
Electric organs are keyboard instruments that can have one or more manuals (keyboards) and a pedalboard. The manuals are played with the hands, while the pedalboard is played with the feet. The most common configurations feature two to five keyboards, but some organs have as many as ten or twelve manuals. The keyboards on an organ are referred to as manuals, and the lowest manual is typically used to play the bassline.
The console or keydesk is the control center of the organ, where the manuals (keyboards), pedals, and stop controls are located. The layout of an organ console is not standardized, but it usually follows historical conventions for the country and style of organ. The console may be detached from the rest of the organ in instruments that use electrical action, allowing for greater flexibility in placement.
The keys on an electric organ are not expressive like those on a piano; pressing a key only turns the sound on or off. However, some divisions may be enclosed in a swell box, allowing the dynamics to be controlled by shutters. The lowest-sounding stops are typically placed at the bottom of the columns, with higher-pitched stops above them. The mixtures are placed above the higher-pitched stops, and the stops controlling the reed ranks are placed collectively above these.
Electric organs may use drawknobs, stop keys, tilting tablets, or a combination of these to control the stops. Drawknobs are usually found on organs with mechanical or electric action, while electric assist and electric stop actions use electric motors to control the stops. The stop action refers to the means of selecting sets of pipes that will sound when a key is pressed.
The keys on an electric organ can also control the volume and expression of the sound. For example, in organs with intra-manual couplers, pressing a key can play a note an octave higher. Additionally, some electric organs have features like automatic chord generation, where pressing a single key on a special section of the manual produces a full chord.
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The console is the control centre of the organ
The console, or keydesk, is the control centre of the organ. It holds the manuals (keyboards), pedals, and stop controls. The organist can play the organ using these components. The console is usually detached from the rest of the organ, although this depends on the type of organ. For example, in organs with mechanical stop action, the console is usually located close to the pipework. In electric-action organs, the console is often movable and can be located away from the pipework.
The layout of an organ console is not standardised, but most organs follow historic conventions for the country and style of organ. The lowest-sounding stops are typically placed at the bottom of the columns, with higher-pitched stops placed above. The mixtures are placed above the highest-pitched stops, and the stops controlling the reed ranks are placed collectively above these. The standard number of keyboards is one, but configurations featuring two to five keyboards are also common. A keyboard played by hand is called a manual, and an organ with four keyboards has four manuals. Most organs also have a pedalboard, which is a large keyboard played by the feet.
The selection of stops is called the registration. Pistons are buttons that can be pressed by the organist to change registrations. Programmable pistons allow comprehensive and rapid control over changes in registration, and multiple organists can store their own registrations. The console may also feature MIDI, which allows the organist to record performances and connect an external keyboard for tuning and maintenance.
Drawknobs, stop keys, and tilting tablets can be used to engage couplers. In organs with mechanical stop action, couplers are engaged with controls that must be "hooked down". These controls are usually placed on a panel above the pedalboard, called the kneeboard.
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The organ's key action connects the key with the valve
The organ is a complex instrument that produces its signature sound by combining near acrobatics of the hands with coordinated footwork on the pedals. The organ's key action is an essential part of this process, connecting the keys with the valves underneath the pipes. When a key is pressed, it triggers an electrical current that signals a specific valve to open, releasing air through a pipe and creating a sound.
There are several types of key actions found in organs, each with its own unique mechanism and advantages. The oldest type of key action is the mechanical or "tracker" action, which offers a more "`honest`" form of contact between the organist and the music. This action features a mechanical connection from the key to the valve, usually made of wooden "trackers" and roller bars that distribute the action to the correct pipe. The console, which houses the keyboards, pedals, and stop controls, must be located close to the pipework for mechanical key action to function effectively.
Another type of key action is the direct electric action, which utilizes electrical key contacts and magnetic pipe valves. Unlike mechanical action, direct electric action sacrifices control over pipe speech, resulting in a harsh initial attack as each pipe sounds. However, it offers greater flexibility in console placement as it can be positioned at any distance from the pipework. Direct electric actions are also less expensive to produce compared to mechanical or electro-pneumatic actions.
Electro-pneumatic key action combines air pressure and electrical circuits to connect the key with the pipe valve. While the organist has no control over pipe speech, the harsh initial attack of the direct electric key action is minimized. This type of key action is commonly found in electronic organs.
The key action plays a crucial role in determining the responsiveness and sound of an organ. Each type of key action has its own characteristics, offering different levels of control and flexibility to the organist. The choice between mechanical, direct electric, or electro-pneumatic key action depends on the organist's preferences, the organ's design, and the desired musical outcome.
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Manual couplers and octave extensions are placed within stop knobs or above the uppermost manual
Manual couplers and octave extensions are an integral part of electric organs, enhancing their functionality and the organist's performance. A coupler is a device that allows the pipes of one division to be played from an alternative manual simultaneously. For instance, a "Swell to Great" coupler enables the stops of the Swell division to be played by using the Great manual. Octave couplers work within a manual to either raise or lower the stops by one or more octaves. These couplers and extensions enable organists to play the entire range of the organ from a single manual and create complex registrations.
The placement of manual couplers and octave extensions depends on the design of the electric organ. They are typically placed within the stop knobs of the divisions they control or grouped together above the uppermost manual. The uppermost manual is the highest keyboard on an organ, which may be inclined towards the organist in organs with three or more manuals for easier access. The stop knobs are the controls that operate the mechanism, allowing the organist to select which ranks of pipes will sound when a key is pressed. They are usually placed on the key jambs on either side of the manuals and can be identified by the numbers and names on or above them.
The standard position for the columns of stops is for the Choir or Positive division to be on the outside of the player's right, with the Great nearer to the centre of the console and the music rest. The Pedal division is on the outside of the left-hand side, with the Swell to the inside. Other divisions can be placed on either side, depending on the available space. The pistons, which are buttons that can be pressed to change registrations, are usually placed directly under the manual they control.
The organ console or keydesk is the area where the manuals (keyboards), pedals, and stop controls are located. The selection of stops is called registration, and modern organs allow for instant changes in registration with the aid of pistons. Programmable pistons enable each organist to store their unique registrations, and newer consoles may also feature MIDI for recording performances.
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The organ's registration can be changed with the aid of a combination action
The organ is played with at least one keyboard, with configurations featuring two to five keyboards being the most common. A keyboard played by hand is called a manual, and an organ with four keyboards is said to have four manuals. Most organs also have a pedalboard, a large keyboard played by the feet. The collection of ranks controlled by a particular manual is called a division.
Registration is the technique of choosing and combining the stops of a pipe organ to produce a particular sound. Registration can also refer to a particular combination of stops, which may be recalled through combination action. The registration chosen for a piece depends on factors such as the composer's indications, the time and place of composition, the organ used, and the acoustic environment.
On modern organs, the registration can be changed instantly with the aid of a combination action, usually featuring pistons. Pistons are buttons that can be pressed by the organist to change registrations and are generally found between the manuals or above the pedalboard. In the latter case, they are called toe studs or toe pistons. Most large organs have both preset and programmable pistons, with some of the couplers repeated for convenience. Programmable pistons allow for comprehensive and rapid control over registration changes.
Newer organs may have multiple levels of solid-state memory, allowing each piston to be programmed more than once, enabling multiple organists to store their own registrations. These newer consoles may also feature MIDI, allowing for the connection of an external keyboard to assist with tuning and maintenance.
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Frequently asked questions
The electric organ is a keyboard instrument that uses woodwind or electric means to produce tones.
The console, or keydesk, is the control centre of the organ, where the key and stop actions originate. In electric-action organs, the console is often movable, allowing for flexibility in its placement.
There are four main types of key actions: mechanical, pneumatic, electrical, and electro-pneumatic. Mechanical key action, also known as "tracker" action, is the oldest type, offering a more direct connection between the organist and the music.
The keys on an electric organ are connected to valves underneath the pipes. When a key is depressed, a valve opens, allowing air to pass through the pipes and create a sound.
Modern consoles typically feature keyboards with 61 notes, ranging from C to c'''' (five octaves). The pedal keyboards usually have 32 notes, ranging from C to g' (two and a half octaves).
