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

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DICTIONARY OF ORGAN STOPS.
misnomer, as super-octave implies 2 ft. not 4 ft. pitch. A real Super-
octave Coupler, Choir Super-octave (two octaves above) to Pedal was
fitted to the organ at Trinity College, Cambridge, as early as 1836, at the
suggestion of Dr. Walmisley, who desired to provide for pedal melodic
effects. At the same time, if Super-octave be wrong, then Sub-octave is
also wrong, for it would imply unison pitch. It would be less confusing
to adopt the style, Sub-unison and Super-unison, or simply "Sub" and
" Super." (c) Double Touch Coupler, coming into operation only when
the key is depressed beyond a certain distance. Patented in mechanical
form by Stidolph, of Ipswich, in 1859, used in pneumatic form by
Mr. Wedlake in 1862, and more recently in electric form by Mr. Hope-
Jones (see Double Touch), (d) "Unison Off" Coupler. This was
invented in the form of a movement giving "octaves only " by Mr. Casson,
being first used by him at Omagh, Ireland (1898). The "Unison Off"
Coupler has been used by Walker (St. Margaret, Westminster ; York Min-
ster), Forster & Andrews, Hunter, Keates, Compton, and possibly by other
builders. It is a device for silencing unison action. With Sub-octave
and Octave Couplers drawn, a given chord will sound in three pitches
sub-unison, unison and super-unison. On drawing the "Unison off"
Coupler the middle of the chord is removed, and super-unison and sub-
unison pitches only remain. Very curious and interesting possibilities
are thus placed at the disposal of the player. The Swell Oboe 8 ft. or
Gamba 8 ft. may be most effectively coupled to the Great organ Hohlflote
in sub-unison pitch only, or the Solo Bassoon 16 ft. and Harmonic Flute
8 ft. in super-unison pitch only. That the distinctive effect is at once lost
if unison pitch be added, practical experiment will readily demonstrate.
In some organs, more particularly in America, the unison action is
made to draw as a separate coupler. It is, however, preferable to assume
the normal operation of the unison action, for the provision of a negative
"unison off " action, for special use, is no constant tax on the organist's
memory, as is the case with the contrary arrangement. So much for the
different varieties of couplers. In 1881 Mr. Casson introduced the
practice of grouping all couplers as stops of the division, the power or the
resources of which they augment. Thus the Great to Pedal will be
grouped with the Pedal organ, the Swell to Great with the Great organ,
the Swell Octave Coupler and the Swell "Unison off" with the Swell
organ, and so forth. The practice has since been adopted by several
other builders, notably by the late Mr. Henry Willis at St. Paul's Cathedral
(1901). (See also Octave Coupler).
(2) For "Coupler," in the sense of Coupling Flute, see Coppel.
Coupling' Flute—See Coppel.
Courcellina—8 ft. See Bell Diapason.
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