A comprehensive dictionary of organ stops - Allen Organ Studio of ...

86 DICTIONARY OF ORGAN STOPS.
power and pre-eminently mellow and musical, are nevertheless possessed
of far greater pervading and travelling power, and exercise a more beneficial
influence on the general tone, than blustering stops of the Harmonic
Diapason and Stentorphon type. Instead of amalgamating with the true
organ tone the Harmonic Diapason cuts through it, being raucous and
unduly self-assertive. St. Columb Major, Cornwall (1877)
Hall (1882); Rugby Speech Room (1890). All by Bryceson.
; Paisley Concert
Harmonic Flute-(Fr.) Flute Harmonique ; (Ger.) Harmonieflote
; (Sp.) Flauta Armdnica. 8 ft. ; 4 ft. Invented by
Cavailld-Coll. See Harmonic Pipes and Flauto Traverso.
The tone of the Harmonic Flute, as of most flue pipes, can be varied
considerably in power, and to some extent in quality, by regulating the
width of the mouth. In 4 ft. pitch on the Great organ it forms a stop
invaluable for accompanimental usage, and, provided it is not unduly
powerful, beneficial in combination. In 8 ft. pitch it is not very suitable
to the Great organ, for, if sufficiently powerful to be serviceable, it is apt
to render the Diapason tone "muddy," and certainly does not supply as
much body and "filling" power as a Hohlflbte or Tibia. When incorporated
in the Choir organ the stop is usually named Flauto Traverso, and
made of 4 ft., though occasionally of 8 ft., pitch. The Choir organ Flauto
Traverso is of quiet tone and voiced with more character than the larger-
scaled Harmonic Flutes. The Solo organ Harmonic Flute is powerlul
and legitimately somewhat hooting in tone. It is sometimes enclosed,
sometimes not. It would certainly seem more satisfactory to enclose
stops of this class, alike in resonant and unsympathetic buildings, for the
sake of the expressive facilities thereby obtained. The Harmonic Flute
combines effectively with such, imitative and orchestral reeds as the Vox
Humana, Orchestral Oboe, Bassoon, etc. With certain types of the Vox
Humana, indeed, most peculiar timbres may be built up. Many combinations
of this class are enhanced by the use of the Tremulant, upon
the speed and power of which their success is largely dependant. When
enclosed there can scarcely be any objection to the lowest octave of the
8 ft. variety being composed of stopped pipes. Harmonic Flutes may be
of very full cloying tone, or liquid and bright. An instance of the former,
with leathered lips, may be heard to advantage at St. Stephen, Wandsworth,
S.W. (Whiteley), as a Great organ 4 ft. stop; whilst good examples of the
latter variety may be often encountered in the work of Messrs. Walker
(e.g., York Minster ; St. Margaret, Westminster). Specimens of each kind
are useful in large organs, though the fact must not be ignored that the
liquid and hooting style of Harmonic Flute owes its successful effect to
favourable acoustical conditions far more than to any peculiarly meritorious
voicing. At the Parish Church, Hucknall Torkard, Nottingham (Musson
& Compton), may be heard side by side an exceedingly full-toned Solo