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DICTIONARY OF ORGAN STOPS. 155
Tibia Plena-(Lat.) Plenus = full.
The Tibia Plena is sometimes named Tibia
Major, Major Flute (see also Stentorphon).
The Tibia Plena was invented by Mr. Hope-
Jones, and first introduced by him into the organ
at St. John, Birkenhead. It is a wood Flute of
very large scale, with the mouth on the narrow
side of the pipe. The block is sunk, and the lip,
which is of considerable thickness, is usually coated
with a thin strip of leather to impart to the tone
the requisite smoothness and finish. It is voiced
on any wind pressure from 4 in. upwards. The
Tibia Plena is the most powerful and weighty of all
the Tibia tribe of stops. It is, therefore, invaluable
in large instruments. When used in organs of less
ambitious pretensions, the scale of the stop needs
considerable reduction if an exaggerated effect is
to be avoided. A curious acoustical phenomenon
is sometimes to be observed in connection with
this stop, for in the immediate neighbourhood of
the pipe a faint undertone, one octave below the
normal pitch of the pipe, is often apparent. The
cause of this has not yet been expounded. The
Tibia Plena is sometimes noticed to have the
effect of toning down the harshness of a Diapason
when used in combination therewith. The name
Tibia Plena has also been used in America. Used
by the Hutchings-Votey Organ Co. it has served
to denote a large-scaled metal Flute, heavily blown
(Yale University). The Tibia Profunda {q.v.) and
Tibia Profundissima are the 16 ft. and 32 ft. pedal
extensions of the Tibia Plena. Worcester Cathedral;
Collegiate Church, Warwick; Victoria Rooms,
Clifton ; St. Mark, Brighton ; St. Saviour, Oxton,
Birkenhead; St. John, Birkenhead, etc. In U.S.A.,
Christian Scientist Church, Denver, Colorado
(Austin Organ Co. and Hope-Jones) ; St. Luke,
Montclair, NJ.J Park Church, Elmira, N.Y. (Hope-
Jones and Harrison). At Worcester Cathedral
the stop actually measures :—CCC (pedal), isf in.
x 13! in. ; CC (manual), 9 in. x
5^
7^f in ; T. C,
in. x 4| in. ; Mid. C, 3! in. x 2^£ in. ; cut
.'/
12
%
\\
Tibia Plena (Hope-Jones),
showing leathered lip.