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Classical Music/baroque era organs vs. modern organs

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Expert: - 1/28/2007


Question
Hi,

I'm wondering if you could tell me some similarities and differences between modern and baroque era organs, mainly in design and sound.

Thank you.

Answer
Organs are pretty much unchanged from ~1700 onward.  Usually the organ (that is, the pipes) is placed in the front of the church, tho some ranks are placed in the back, such as the trompettes en chamade (also called Spanish trumpets) or an entire antiphonal organ.  The console (the keyboard unit) is usually nearby, esp if it is a tracker bcs there needs to be a direct physical linkage, tho, as noted above the organ can be divided in location yet played from one console.

Modern organs can have the console near the organ, as electric pneumatics make that possible.

As to disposition (which stops are on the organ), there is more difference btw countries/schools of playing than there is btw modern and Baroque organs.

The displayed pipework can form an inverted V, an M, and so on.  This is usually a fcn of the builder or the organ donor but also could be a regional tradition, etc.

mb

Classical Music

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Marbeth

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I have a PhD in musicology, with expertise in medieval - Renaissance - Baroque - Classical periods, but I'll try to help you with any period.

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