Diapasons and Flutes!

[Guest]

This may seem like a fundamental question but here goes anyway - when combining stops what do people think aboutmixing flutes with diapasons? The reason for asking is I am experimenting with various settings for my divisional pistons and am wondering is I should do either of the following options: Use the pistons to build up the principal chorus e.g.: #1: 8' #2 8' 4' #3 8' 4' 2'2/3 etc; OR: use them to build up a gradual crescendo mixing flutes and diapasons. I've noticed that the diapsons never seem as bright when the flutes are included (my flutes go up to 2' on the great), so the combination sounds much brighter and clearer without though the dynamic changes between adding ranks is less smooth than when adding diapasons and flutes io combination. Would people mind sharing thier own piston setting ideas? I have eight divisionals pistons to all manuals. Here sre the specs I have to work with. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Gt.

Bourdon 16, Diapason 8, Stopped Diapason 8, Principal 4, Harmonic Flute 4, Twelfth 2 2/3, Fifteenth 2, Block Flute 2, Mixture IV, Trumpet 8'.

Sw.

Diapason 8, Lieblich Gedeckt 8, Gamba 8, Viox Celeste 8, Principal 4, Flute 4. Fifteenth 2, Sesquialtera II, Mixture IV, Contra Fagotto 16, Cornopean 8, Oboe 8, Clarion 4

Cheers,

M. O.

[Menschenstimme]

Re: Diapasons and Flutes!



That is a nice stoplist. Both approaches are correct. Depending on the voicing and the sound they want, organists register either way. Why not try this? First build up the principal chorus all the way without the flutes and then add the flutes for more "body"? Morever, it also depends on the music being played.

Here at home, since my organ is small-scaled and on low pressure, I usually use the flutes as part of the build up. But I also use the principal chorus separately and the flutes can also make their own 8-4-2 chorus separately.

Have fun!

[Guest]

Re: Diapasons and Flutes!



Personally I tend not to mix same pitch diapasons and flutes. I quite like mixing a swell diapason with an dboe.

To be honest it depends on the organ. Sometimes I find adding flue stops to diapasons gives are rather cloying effect rather than the clean line a principal chorus has.

[james]

Re: Diapasons and Flutes!



I was wondering about adding the Bourdon to Principalchorusof 8' 4' 2' to give added depth. Are there any comments for or against this practice. I do it often on my church model Baldwin here at home although my 16' pitch is a Violone 16' which gives the same effect as a Sw to Gt coupler 16'.

James

[Guest]

Re: Diapasons and Flutes!

The line of demarcation between families of organ tone is not made of cement. All tones have some harmonic development save a sine wave. Thus any combination wherein harmonics overlap regardless of the 'family' of tone will blend. Thats because there are fluty and stringy diapasons; fat and skinny strings; spitzflutes voiced like a principal; gemshorns voiced like a string or a flute; dulcianas that sound like a flauto dolce; oboes that sound like a trompette; and so forth. Do not be fooled by artificial designations of what can work. Go by the ear and not the erroneous wind issuing not from the organ but from the windbags.

[soubasse32]

Re: Diapasons and Flutes!



I can only speak for pipe organs.

I almost always add an 8' Bourdon to the plenum; this is a very ancient practice, the Bourdon is said to 'take the curse off' of the Diapason's sound. [:)] I take that to mean thatany rough edges are smoothed out a bit, plus there is a bit more weight and fullness to the sound - usually a very good thingfor the 8'line unless the organ is tubby.

If the Diapason is very large scaled and perhaps on the flutey side, I probably would skip adding the Bourdon.