|
 |
Residence Organ Scheme: Percy Whitlock
(783 total words in this text)
(635 reads)
A residence organ scheme by Percy Whitlock, possibly of some interest in that while it comprises three manuals, it's based on only four ranks of pipework.
From "The Organ" No. 97, July: 1945.
"A Novel Chamber Organ"
By Percy Whitlock
It is the ambition of most organists to possess an instrument of their own, one small enough to take up but a limited amount of space in the home, yet of sufficient capacity to be capable of an adequate presentation of much that is written for the instrument. Having of late given some thought to this matter, the writer has devised the scheme considered here. The object was not to produce an "ideal" organ, nor was the matter of first cost considered, but the design is more or less that of a large organ brought to its lowest terms.
Basically, the instrument consists of four extended ranks of pipes enclosed in three separate swell boxes. In Box I is the Great "Diapason Chorus"; in Box III is the Swell "Reed Chorus"; and in Box II are units which can with advantage be used to amplify the resources in Boxes I and III. The idea is the pedal controlling the shutters of the intermediate box should be placed between the other two, so that by simultaneously opening Boxes I and II the whole of the Great Organ is under control, and similarly by opening the shutters of Boxes II and III together the whole of the Swell Organ is simultaneously controlled.
The four units suggested are as follows:--
UNIT A: SWELL BOX I. -- Diapason (metal), with suitably voiced quintaton basses for the lowest octave. Lowest note, CCC, 109 pipes. This rank runs through to C6, and then breaks back to unison pitch for a further octave of metal gamba pipes.
UNIT B: SWELL BOX II. -- Violoncello, of mild broad string tone, in volume about half that of the diapason. The pipes preferably to be of wood, with metal pipes in the extreme trebles. Lowest note, CC, 97 pipes. This rank runs through to C6, and then breaks back to unison pitch in pipes of geigen tone. (If funds and space permit, this unit can with advantage be run through to CCC, this completing the Swell 16ft. and being of great use in the pedal department, -- see later.)
UNIT C: SWELL BOX II. -- Hohl flote, of characteristic quality, in volume about half that of the violoncello and a quarter that of the diapason. The pipes preferably to be of wood, and of triangular shape, with ordinary stopped bases, and harmonic metal pipes in the extreme trebles. Lowest note EEEE, which will also serve for the four lowest notes of the 32ft. octave, the whole of this octave being derived from one polyphone stopped pipe; 110 pipes in all, the open pipes beginning at tenor C note, and continuing up to C6, twelve more pipes of 8 ft. tone (gedeckts) completing the unit.
UNIT D: SWELL BOX III. -- Trumpet. In volume this unit should approximately equal the diapason. The lowest octave may have a half-length bass, and flue pipes will be used in the usual way for the extreme trebles. The ranks starts at CCC and has 85 pipes.
The practical specification for the organ:
GREAT ORGAN
16' Double Diapason (A)
8' Open Diapason (A)
8' Violoncello (B)
8' Hohl Flote (C)
4' Principal (A)
4' Hohl Flote (C)
2-2/3' Twelfth (B)
2' Fifteenth (A)
1-1/3' Nineteenth (C)
1' Twenty Second (A)
SWELL ORGAN
16' Violone (Tenor C)(B)
8' Violoncello (B)
8' Hohl Flote (C)
4' Viola (B)
2-2/3' Nazard (C)
2' Violino (B)
1-1/3' Larigot (B)
1' Octavin (B)
16' Trombone (D)
8' Trumpet (D)
4' Clarion (D)
CHOIR ORGAN
16' Bourdon (C)
8' Open Diapason (A)
8' Violoncello (B)
8' Hohl Flote (C)
4' Principal (A) (or viola, rank B)
4' Hohl Flote (C)
2' Flautino (C)
1' Ottavino (C)
8' Trumpet (D)
PEDAL ORGAN
32' Sub Bourdon (C)
16' Diapason (A)
16' Bourdon (C)
8' Violoncello (B)
8' Bass Flute (C)
5-1/3' Nazard (C)
4' Octave Flute (C)
32' Harmonikon VI (from C - 5, 10, flat 14, 16, 19, 22)
16' Trombone (D)
8' Trumpet (D)
4' Clarion (D)
COUPLERS and OTHER CONTROLS
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Swell to Great
Great to Choir
Swell to Choir
(Pedal to Choir)
(Choir Sustainer)
(Swell Sustainer)
(Tremulant to Rank A)
(Tremulant to Rank B)
(Tremulant to Rank C)
Three balanced swell pedals (from left to right: Box III, Box II, Box I)
A suggested combination action includes 4 toe pistons to pedal, and four thumb pistons to each of the Great, Choir and Swell.
It seems as though Whitlock was very much influenced by the Compton style, as it were, as might be seen from the use of the Polyphone for a 32' Bourdon, the pedal 32' "reed" harmonics, and the sustainers.
|
[ Back to 01. Pipe Organ Materials | Main Index ] | |
|
|
