Double pedalboard?

[wurlitzerman3]

I'll pre-apologize if this has already been answered or discussed in an earlier forum.

The article on pipe organs in Wikipedia (talk section) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Pipe_organ] makes reference to the fact that there are a few organs in the world with 2pedalboards, in effect 2 manuals, such as the Seville Cathedral.

Here's the paragraph that makes reference:

"As far as the pedals are concerned they are for the feet to play accompanying harmonies or in many cases a melody. The Pedal stop section of an Organ is usually rich in bass sounding ranks. A rank consists of (usually in the pedal 32 pipes and in the manuals 61 pipes). Normally there is just one pedal for playing by the feet. However, there are Organs such as the one in Seville Cathedral which have double pedals being the equivalents of double manuals."

My question is, does anyone have info or pictures of any installations were this is the case? I have to admit I have not heard of any such thing. (Though my knowledge is hardly inclusive of everything...)

Any help or info would be appreciated. Thanks!!

[Havoc]

Re: Double pedalboard?

AFAIK there has only been a single organ sporting dual pedal boards. That is/was the Walcker in Stuttgart. Here is the only pic I could find of it: http://www.gewalcker.de/gewalcker.de/EFW/EFW_50.htm (about 1/3 in the page)

There is a cut-away drawing of it in "The Art of Organ-Building" by G.A. Audsley, Vol II p145.

[Guest]

Re: Double pedalboard?


I'll put the pic on here so its easier to view.

[Guest]

Re: Double pedalboard?

That looks just plain uncomfortable.

[Bombarde32]

Re: Double pedalboard?



Agreed.

And what is the point? I mean ... seriously. Have you ever once had 2 lines going in the pedal and thought "Wow, it would be nice if this was a solo voice and this was something else" ?? That is the only reason I can think of for 2 pedal boards and I've never seen/heard any music that would call for it.

Seems like it is just there for show .... and for you to accidentally bump/play while you are moving around.

[Guest]

Re: Double pedalboard?

Now prior to the invention of combination pistons, I could see a use for that, but not now. Before pistons, you could have one pedalboard coupled to the swell, the other to the great, and when you swapped manuals, you could swap pedalboards too, if need be.