| Bruce Miles . |
| Organ Sounds Page
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Flutes.Flutes are the simplest sounds on the organ, have few harmonics and give a relatively 'pure' tone. Open Flute. has a very simple harmonic structure, the sound is clear and characteristic. Stopped Flute. The end of the pipe is closed, which lowers the pitch by an octave and suppresses the odd numbered harmonics. The sound is mellow and blends well with other stops. Harmonic Flute This is an Open Flute with a small hole drilled about half way along the pipe. This enhances the second harmonic and gives a more brilliant sound. Often used alone as a 'solo' stop. Stopped Diapason This is a cross between a Stopped Flute and a Diapason and has a more breathy and less pure sound. Tibia, The Foundation stop of the Theatre Organ is large scale Stopped Flute with very low harmonic levels. It is usually used with tremulant to give the distinctive theatre soundTuned Percussions.These are instruments such as Vibraphone and Xylophone which are Polyphonic, ie you can play a tune or chords on them.Chysoglott. This is akin to the orchestral Celeste - not to be confused with the organ stop 'Celeste' which is something quite different - see above. The sounds are of small bells rather like a Music Box. Found in most cinema organs and very often used in combination on the Accompaniment manual to add a 'ring' or quasi reverb effect to the sound.Listen Vibraphone. In a cinema organ this is the Chrysoglott with an applied tremolo. This takes the form of a set of rotating vanes in the resonators which varies the intensity of the sound but not the pitch. Common in UK Compton cinema organs but rare on Wurlitzers. Used mainly as a special effect. Listen Carillon. This uses a set of four notes sounded simultaneously on the Chrysoglott to give a chime-like sound. Found only on Compton organs. Used as a special effect on the Solo manual.Listen Glockenspiel. This is the orchestral instrument, giving a bright tinkling bell sound. Most useful in combination with the tremulated Tibias where the Glockenspiel sound provides an attractive non-tremulated contrast. With the Vibraphone gives distinctive and useful solo combination. Orchestral Bells. A re-iterating version of the Glockenspiel. Xylophone. This is the orchestral instrument giving a dry 'rattling-bones' sound. Consists of wooden resonator bars struck by hard wooden hammers. Useful to add definition to other combinations in fast rhythm numbers. May be single-shot or re-iterating. Harp. This has no connection with the orchestral harp. Often referred to as a 'wood harp' it consists of large metal resonators struck by padded hammers. Gives soft and mellow percussion sound. Adds a subtle definition to other sounds. Listen Marimba. The re-iterating version of the Harp. This sound creates a characteristic 'tropical' atmosphere - often used with soft Tibias. Listen
Un-tuned Percussions.These are unpitched Cinema Organ sounds such as Drums, Triangle and special silent film (Toy Counter) effects). Used on Accompaniment and Pedal manuals or as 'floating (transferrable) stops, they respond to any note in the lower half of a keyboard or any pedal note. Some may be available on separate toe pistons or push buttons.Drums. The Bass Drum, soft or loud or as a Roll. The Snare Drum Tap or Roll. Listen. Cymbals and Crashes. The Cymbal appears as a Tap or a Roll. The Crash Cymbal may be used alone or with Bass Drum preceded by the Bass Drum Roll or Cymbal Roll when it is known as a Grand Crash. Listen. Rhythm Sounds. These include Castanets, Tambourine (one-shot or reiterating), Tom-tom, Chinese Block and Sand Block. Listen. Triangle. This is the orchestral unpitched 'tinkle' sound often used with other sounds on pedal and/or accompaniment in march music. Listen. Siren. The 'party' type or 'Acme' Siren - used as a novelty 'making whoopee' sound and a Klaxon 'Agoo-gah' type Auto horn. Listen Bells and Whistles. Bell and whistle sounds used mainly as silent film effects. Telephone Bell, Door Bell, Fire Bell, and for Christmastime, Sleigh Bells. Also Police Whistle and Boat Whistle. Listen Birds and Horses Hooves. Special effects used with silent films or in novelty numbers. Listen Aero and Surf These effects are usually controlled directly by stop tabs. The Surf effect is just wind noise. The pre-jet age Aero sound is produced by sounding two low notes on the 16 ft.Tuba together. Listen |