Organ Registration

[ramseytheii]

Can someone give me general information on organ registration?  Start from the assumption that I know... nothing .  Here is the disposition of an organ I have access to:

Hauptwerk (I)
16 Bourdon
8 Principal
8 Spitzfloete
4 Octav
2 2/3 Quinte
2 Superoctav
1 1/3 Mixtur IV-VI
8 Cornet V
8 Trompete
4 Clarion

Schwellwerk
8 Rohrfloete
8 Salicional
8 Schwebung
4 Prestant
4 Blockflote
2 2/3 Nazard
2 Flote
1 3/5 Tierce
2 2/3 Mixtur VI
16 Basson
8 Trompete
8 Voix humaine

Positiv
8 Holzgedackt
4 Rohrflote
2 Principal
2 2/3 Sesquialter II
1 1/3 Quintlein
2/3 Zimbel II
8 Krummhorn
Zimbelstern
Tremulant
Expression

Pedal
16 Principal
16 Subbass
8 Octav
8 Gedackt
4 Choralbass
2 Rauschpfeife II
16 Posaune
8 Trompete

Couplers
Reversible pistons for all, Thumb and toe
III/II    III/I    II/I
III/P    II/P    I/P

-------
Some questions I have: what are foundation stops?  Which are the "strings" stops?  How does one artisically combine these particular ones?  Tell me about the art behind registration!

Walter Ramsey

[thalbergmad]

Thankfully, i think there are 1 or 2 organists on this forum. I have insufficient knowledge to assist.

https://www.howardgoodall.co.uk/presenting/organsnu.htm

I have posted the above link because if you know nothing and would like to learn, Howard Goodals Organ Vid is an absolute must watch.

He tracks down the history of the organ and then takes you on a journey to show how the modern organ came about. He also plays many great organs and presents the whole thing in a wonderful laid back style.

Thal

[quantum]

I'm interested in a response for this question too.

[thalbergmad]

One of the great joys for me when i started to play the organ was the experimentation with different sounds and combination of sounds. One of the worst was learning pedals.

The organ that Walter has here, i think i would be rather excited with. I am not completely familiar with German stop names and i am definately no expert, but it looks more suited to Bach than the French Romantics.

I remember seeing the great organist Daniel Roth giving a little talk and demonstration at the consol of the organ at St Suplice. He said he had been there 15 years and had still not exhausted all the possible combinations of sound. A couple of years ago i was in Paris and went to hear him play, which was an incredible experience. That has to be my favourite organ.

The organs at Ulm, Passau, Liverpool and Exeter Cathedrals i also happen to love.

What a great instrument.

Thal

[ahinton]

One of the great joys for me when i started to play the organ was the experimentation with different sounds and combination of sounds. One of the worst was learning pedals.

The organ that Walter has here, i think i would be rather excited with. I am not completely familiar with German stop names and i am definately no expert, but it looks more suited to Bach than the French Romantics.

I remember seeing the great organist Daniel Roth giving a little talk and demonstration at the consol of the organ at St Suplice. He said he had been there 15 years and had still not exhausted all the possible combinations of sound. A couple of years ago i was in Paris and went to hear him play, which was an incredible experience. That has to be my favourite organ.

The organs at Ulm, Passau, Liverpool and Exeter Cathedrals i also happen to love.

What a great instrument.

Thal

But what about Westminster Cathedral, ditto Abbey, St. Paul's and our (almost) local here (by which I do not mean the so-called "mighty Klais" at Bath Abbey) - the Harrison & Harrison at the Church of St. Mary Redcliffe in Bristol?

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

But what about Westminster Cathedral, ditto Abbey, St. Paul's and our (almost) local here (by which I do not mean the so-called "mighty Klais" at Bath Abbey) - the Harrison & Harrison at the Church of St. Mary Redcliffe in Bristol?

Best,

Alistair

Westminster - nice
St Pauls - 2 concerts for the price of 1
Bath - superb
Bristol - never heard it live, only in a recording of an extremely long and strange sounding  organ symphony. The name of the composer has escaped me.

Thal

[ahinton]

Westminster - nice
St Pauls - 2 concerts for the price of 1
Bath - superb
Bristol - never heard it live, only in a recording of an extremely long and strange sounding  organ symphony. The name of the composer has escaped me.

Thal

I can only recall the last-named in what is by far the shortest of the said name-escapes-you composer's three symphonies for organ solo. I can recall the composer's name actually. This magnificent instrument was also used in the recording of another composer's piece called Pansophiæ for John Ogdon, played - as it happens - by the same organist as recorded that other composer's First Organ Symphony there. Can't recall the name of this composer, either...

Best,

Alistair

[mephisto]

I think the name was Nhtino. He is a Cyprien composer, brother of the famous virtouso pianist Cyprien Katsaris.

[thalbergmad]

Did not know you had composed for organ as well Hinty. Indeed you are multi talented.

As a matter of interest, how much instruction did you give in the score, in terms of registration?. If so, did you have a particular organ specification/organ in mind when doing so.

Thal

[ahinton]

I think the name was Nhtino. He is a Cyprien composer, brother of the famous virtouso pianist Cyprien Katsaris.

I think it was Nothin (and I got plenty o' that, oh yes siree!...)

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Did not know you had composed for organ as well Hinty. Indeed you are multi talented.

As a matter of interest, how much instruction did you give in the score, in terms of registration?. If so, did you have a particular organ specification/organ in mind when doing so.

Thal

Just four pieces, of which by far the most substantial (almost 45 minutes) is Pansophiæ for John Ogdon, commissioned in the great pianist's memory by the organist Kevin Bowyer (a name already known to you, of course) and first performed and recorded by him. My other three organ works are much smaller - a couple of wedding pieces (1990 & 2002) and a very short (about two minutes) piece called Festal Fanfare (2005). Not a great amount of detailed registration instruction in the scores, although the basics are of course there. The instrument at St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol was the principal instrument that I had in mind when writing these pieces.

Best,

Alistair

[quantum]

This vid may explain a little on stop sounds:

&NR