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DICTIONARY OF ORGAN STOPS. 63
Dulciana-(Lat) Dulcis = sweet. 8 ft.; also 16 ft.; and
rarely 4 ft.
The Dulciana is said to be the invention of Snetzler, and to
have been introduced in his organ at King's Lynn (1754).
Regarded from the point of view of the extreme purist, the tone
of the stop should be that of an Echo Diapason ; but, to the end
that the stop may be rendered more interesting in character and
less of a tonal duplication, some latitude of treatment is custom-
arily assumed, and a certain stringy and sometimes horny character
introduced, causing it to approximate in quality to the Salicional
or Keraulophon, respectively. In these days of "positive" or
decisive tone colours, the real Dulciana is rapidly becoming
obsolete, yielding its place to the Salicional. Dissociating one-
self candidly from merely antiquarian and traditional ideas, it
cannot indeed be maintained that the superannuation of the
colourless Dulciana is any loss at all. The real old-fashioned
Dulciana may be said to 'be a miniature replica of a Green
Diapason. As such it would barely be distinguishable, at a slight
distance from the keys, from the Swell Diapason with the box
nearly or entirely closed. Such tonal duplication violates one of
the most important principles of modern tonal design,* and there
is no valid reason why, conjointly with the traditional mellow and
ca.nta.bile characteristics of the stop—admirable in every respect
a certain amount of colour should not be infused into the tone.
The pipes of the Dulciana are of metal, cylindrical in form, of
small scale, and of gentle intonation. The nicking is fine and
close, and the wind consumption small. It is highly desirable
that the lips of the Dulciana be sufficiently cut up in the treble to
eradicate the objectionable horny or spitting quality so frequently
encountered.
The Echo Dulciana is, of course, still quieter in tone. It is
usually enclosed. There is an excellent example in the Solo box
at York Minster (Walker) actually on about 8 in. wind (see Tuba).
Beyond that pressure it is difficult to avoid windiness. Many
voicers of repute consider it easier to get good Dulciana tone on
or 4 in. wind than on the old fashioned 2\ in. The Dulciana,
3^
unless voiced "reedy," does not sound well when enclosed. It is
also very apt to be thrown off its speech by dust. A Gamba is
therefore to be preferred in the Swell organ. The Dulciana is a stop
which lends itself readily to effective use with octave and sub-octave
couplers. In view of this fact the 4 ft. variety is of little use. In rjuiciana.
16 ft. pitch it forms an excellent double for the Choir organ, whence
*See "Tonal Design in Modern Organ Building," pp. II and 12.
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