A comprehensive dictionary of organ stops - Allen Organ Studio of ...
A comprehensive dictionary of organ stops - Allen Organ Studio of ...
A comprehensive dictionary of organ stops - Allen Organ Studio of ...
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7 6 DICTIONARY OF ORGAN STOPS.<br />
Free Reeds.<br />
The invention <strong>of</strong> free reeds is attributed to Kratzenstein, a German<br />
builder, domiciled at St. Petersburg under Katherine II (regnat 1762-96).<br />
Seidel states that they existed in an embryonic stage<br />
some two hundred years previously.<br />
" The Chinese,,<br />
however, had an instrument, the Tscheng, reputed<br />
to date from nearly 3000 years B.C. It consisted <strong>of</strong><br />
thirteen, seventeen, nineteen or twenty-four pipes <strong>of</strong><br />
bamboo, planted on a half gourd, with a mouth-<br />
piece attached. At the foot <strong>of</strong> the pipe was a metal<br />
free reed, set into vibration only when the hole at the<br />
foot <strong>of</strong> the pipe was closed by the finger, the breath<br />
being drawn in, and not exhaled, when playing."*<br />
The free reed was popularized by the celebrated<br />
Abt Vogler (1749-1814). But a Frenchman named<br />
Grenie" was the first to set the use <strong>of</strong> free reeds upon<br />
an equitable basis. He succeeded in manufacturing<br />
a five-octave compass "orgue expressif" with well-<br />
regulated free reeds in 1 810. An American citizen<br />
named Aaron Merril Peaseley, in 18 18; Bernhard<br />
Eschenbach, <strong>of</strong> Konigsh<strong>of</strong>en, Gabfelde, in 1820; and<br />
Anton Hackel, <strong>of</strong> Vienna, in 1821, also built reed<br />
<strong>organ</strong>s. Whereas Eschenbach's ^oline or ^Eolodikon<br />
was expressive, Hackel's original Physharmonika was<br />
not. The first examples <strong>of</strong> the modern type <strong>of</strong> free<br />
reed to be inserted in the <strong>organ</strong> were those introduced<br />
in 1827-29 at Beauvais Cathedral, France. Free reeds<br />
were practically perfected by M. Hamel (1786-1870)^<br />
See Reed, Clarinet, Cor Anglais, Musette.<br />
Frein Harmonique-(Fr.) Frein,<br />
= bridle, curb. Harmonique = harmonic.<br />
See Beard.<br />
French Horn—8 ft.<br />
The accompanying illustration is that <strong>of</strong> a treble C<br />
French Horn pipe. This stop, the invention <strong>of</strong> Mr.<br />
John H. Compton, <strong>of</strong> Nottingham, gives a very<br />
faithful representation <strong>of</strong> the orchestral French Horn.<br />
The imitation <strong>of</strong> this instrument has been the ideal<br />
French Horn. for which <strong>organ</strong> builders have for many years been<br />
(Compton). striving. Its characteristic beauty <strong>of</strong> tone is such as<br />
* From "The Precentor," Aug. 15th, 1903. An article by the author.<br />
) See Bibliography introductory to this work.