Kegg Pipe Organ Builders
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Cover feature Console Pencil drawer Kegg Pipe Organ Builders, a highly evolved system, using oversized individually and in combination, are very this organ is the Sesquialtera II on the Hartville, Ohio valves that feed copious wind to each different on each manual. This is another Great. The flexibility of our chest action Sacred Heart Church, pipe by way of an expansion chamber. example of carefully “breaking the rules,” permits using the lowest rank of the 2 New Philadelphia, Ohio The expansion chamber then conditions while providing an interesting organ to Mixture for the tenor-C 2 ⁄3′ partial, the wind to the pipe such that it has a play. The unification of the stops is musi- thus only needing the additional 37 3 From the organbuilder gentle attack and release. With this cally invisible. small pipes of the TC 1 ⁄5′ to be inde- I recently agreed with a colleague action, borrows are economical while Kegg organs of this size are surprising pendent for this stop, and these pipes who said you can determine a pipe retaining integrity of pipe speech. Unity because they give the player and the lis- can be bold. Thus we have a strong organ builder’s priorities by the design of speech is assured, regardless of the tener the impression that they are larger leading solo voice that takes little room of his smaller instruments. Large instru- size of the instrument, or how many than they actually are. Several key design in the organ, plus it is another sound ments are easier to design because you stops and couplers are in use. features contribute to this, including that is not expected in an instrument of have all the sounds required. Nothing Our new instrument for Sacred musical effects that are usually found 12 stops. needs to be left out; the only decision Heart Church in New Philadelphia, only on larger instruments. Some of Another significant and unusual is where to place everything. In smaller Ohio is an example of what I consider these design features are effective swell sound in this organ is the 16′ Violone. instruments, decisions must be made close to ideal for a parish church. At 12 shades, a string celeste pair that are not This stop is an extension of the Viole regarding how to best use the resources stops and 15 ranks, it is not small. It is too soft, more than one enclosed reed and is slender in scale in the Cavaillé- available, and these reveal just what is large enough to include a great deal stop, at least one reed stop that continues Coll tradition. It is entirely enclosed most important to the builder. While our of color and variety, while still being to 16′ completely within the swell box, within the swell box. The incisiveness of firm has built many large pipe organs, affordable, and it can physically fit into and if possible, a special sound that is not this stop blends well with the substan- we have made something of a name for many spaces. The key to successful expected from a smaller instrument. In tial Bourdon. It is a very present help ourselves with our smaller instruments, unit organ design is restraint, careful the case of the Sacred Heart organ, we when registering an intriguing Pedal and it is in these instruments where you scaling, and of course finish voicing of have all of these things. line. It would be a welcome addition to can discover our personal priorities for a the organ in its final location. Scaling The organ is entirely enclosed, with any instrument, but particularly in one parish pipe organ. of the pipes must be treated differently the exception of the 8′ Great Principal where only a single 16′ Bourdon is usu- Some builders would say that any for a successful result on an extended and the 16′ Pedal Bourdon. The effec- ally found. organ of 12 stops would be simply 12 set of pipes. It is a different treatment tive swell shades allow the strings to While this instrument would be effec- stops. Since I was a young man discov- than you would give to the same pipes be more aggressive because you have tive in an intimate room, Sacred Heart ering the pipe organ, I have always felt for a straight stop, and it eliminates the control over them. The 8′ stops are of Church seats approximately 400 people, that the best use of funds, and the desire “unit” sound that older highly unified similar volume, allowing combinations was built in the early 20th century, and for an interesting specification, indicate organs usually exhibit. to blend while retaining individual enjoys a superb acoustic with an empty that careful borrowing of stops between The stoplist of a successful unit organ color. The Spitzflute’s milky sound gives reverberation time in excess of three manuals and pedal was the better design must contain a core ensemble that is the impression of a very soft stop with seconds. Placement is ideal, high in the choice for the smaller instrument than essentially straight. In the design of this the shades closed. Having a Trumpet rear gallery. The gallery is rather shal- the academic approach. To do this organ, the Great contains a chorus of and an Oboe on an organ of 12 stops low and there is a fine rose window that requires some kind of unit windchest 16-8-4-IV with no borrowing. There are is a happy discovery for the musician. commands respect. Conventional wis- action. Many years ago I chose to work two flute ranks of different character. The One reed stop doesn’t have to play all dom would place the organ case in the with the all-electric unit action to see if it wood Gedeckt is typical. The Spitzflute is the reed parts. The Oboe can be gentle, center, as was the previous instrument. could be built such that the undesirable delicate in the bass and increases in vol- while the Trumpet can shine. You are Because the gallery is only 10 feet deep, pipe speech characteristics associated ume as you ascend the scale. This makes not limited to one “medium” stop try- even a reasonably shallow organ case with this action could be corrected with a softer 8′ that can still sit above the ing to be all things for all music. Having would mean that the choristers would careful execution. This action offers Gedeckt well when used at the 4′ pitch, the Trumpet extended to 16′ pitch and be divided on either side of the case and/ complete freedom of chest layout, and and also provides a sparkling 2′. Note enclosed provides the exciting sound of or console and not be able to hear each it can offer long, trouble-free life. After that the flutes are distributed differently fiery reeds behind closed shades that is other well. The solution was to place the research and development and years of on each manual. Unification is minimized frequently heard only on larger instru- organ case entirely on one side, rather use, the Kegg all-electric action is now within each manual and the sounds, both ments. An additional special sound on than in the center. This clears sight lines Kegg Pipe Organ Builders GREAT SWELL PEDAL 16′ Violone 73 pipes 8′ Gedeckt 73 pipes 32′ Resultant (from Bourdon 16′) 8′ Principal* 61 pipes 8′ Viole (Great) 16′ Bourdon 44 pipes 8′ Spitzflute 73 pipes 8′ Viole Celeste TC 49 pipes 16′ Violone (Great) 8′ Viole (ext) 4′ Principal (Great 4′ Octave) 8′ Principal (Great) 8′ Viole Celeste TC (Sw) 4′ Spitzflute (Great 8′ Spitzflute) 8′ Bourdon (ext) 2 1 4′ Octave 73 pipes 2 ⁄3′ Nazard TC (ext 1 ⁄3′) 8′ Viole (Great) 4′ Gedeckt (Sw) 2′ Octave (Great 4′ Octave) 8′ Gedeckt (Swell) 1 2′ Flute (ext Spitzflute) 1 ⁄3′ Quinte 49 pipes 4′ Octave (Great 8′ Principal) II Sesquialtera TC 37 pipes 16′ Bassoon TC (ext Oboe) 16′ Trumpet (ext, Swell) 12 pipes and from Mixture 8′ Trumpet 73 pipes 8′ Trumpet (Swell) IV Mixture 244 pipes 8′ Oboe 61 pipes 4′ Clarion (Swell) 8′ Trumpet (Sw) 4′ Clarion (ext Trumpet) 4′ Oboe (Swell) 8′ Oboe (Sw) Tremulant Great to Pedal 8 Chimes (Deagan, 21 notes) Swell to Swell 16 Great to Pedal 4 Great 4 Swell Unison Off Swell to Pedal 8 Swell to Great 16 Swell to Swell 4 Swell to Pedal 4 Swell to Great 8 Swell to Great 4 Eagle * Unenclosed 26 n THE DIAPASON n DECEMBER 2012 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM Cover feature Façade and pipe shade panel for the window and keeps musicians bench is adjustable, and there is a large, together, leaving all remaining space in center pencil drawer. one contiguous block. The choirs are The Sacred Heart organ is an instru- already enjoying their new together- ment that has a wide dynamic range, ness, with confidence and blend being provides warmth, fire, and excitement immediately elevated. The free-standing for homophonic music, two contrasting case is away from each wall, leaving choruses for polyphonic music, and bal- an insulating space. Every part of the anced independence for trios. Its reeds instrument has a roof over it. These help provide color and fire. Its flutes and greatly with tuning stability, projection, strings are full of warmth and sparkle. In and blend. an age when substitute instrument deal- The organ case has several features ers would have you believe that you must of note. On the long side is a pipe have three manuals and 75 stops to play shade panel that has carved and gilded a hymn, it is gratifying to build, play, and representations of the symbols of the listen to an instrument of only 12 stops four Apostles: Matthew, Mark, Luke, that is so satisfying.