Basic Organ Registration and Hymn Playing

This is a complicated subject because of the organ’s long history that involves many countries all of
which had their own nomenclature. Every organ is different. The ear is the final judge.

Introduction
Pitch

List of partials:

1 (8’); 2 (4’); 3 (2 2/3’); 4 (2’); 5 (1 3/5’); 6 (1 1/3’); 7 (1 1/7’); 8 (1’)

Chorus = combination of different pitches, e.g. 16’, 8’, 4’, 2 2/3’, 2’, Mixture IV. May be principal,
flute, mixed. Sometimes we use a ‘gapped’ combination for playful effects (e.g. 8’, 2’, 1 1/3’). These
are usually flutes, though sometimes they’re mixed. When mixing choruses with a desire for clarity,
flute stops normally supply the lower pitches, not the upper. E.g. Flutes 8’, 4’, Principals 2’; not
Principal 8’, Flute 4’. (The latter can be very useful in certain circumstances.)

Mixtures = compound stop (i.e. more than one pipe per note) usually of principal pipes of unison
and fifth pitches. (Names include: Mixture, Fourniture, Furniture, Plein Jeu, Scharf. Cymbel)

Mutations = principal or flute pipes sounding non-unison pitches (i.e partials 3, 5, 6, 7)

Cornet = compound flute stop of partials 1-5. A Cornet V has all five pitches; Cornets of IV, III, II
ranks progressively omit the 8’, 4’, and 2’ in that order.

Sesquialtera = compound ‘narrow scale’ stop of partials 3 & 5.

The Two Classifications of Pipes: Flue and Reed

A: Flue Tone (labial)

Pipes may be narrow and wide scale; metal, wood, open, stopped, half-stopped, double-length.

Principal = the basic ‘voice’ of the organ; open metal pipes of many pitches. Each pipe produces a
full range of partials.
Flute = huge variety of colour; wood or metal pipes; many pitches; open, stopped, half-stopped
(‘chimney flute’), double length (‘harmonic flute’). Most flute pipes suppress the even numbered
partials [There are ‘hybrid’ stops
String = usually metal; moderate or narrow; usually unison (Gamba, Viola, Salicional, Salicet). Most
produce a full range of partials. [The Céleste is deliberately tuned off pitch – usually sharp – and

Huw Lewis: Organ Registration and Hymn Playing, page 1

combined with another stop to create beats: the Italian 17th Century Voce Umana was a gentle
principal celeste stop – imitating the human voice.]

B: Reed Tone (lingual)

Vast variety of types and colours for solo and ‘chorus’ use, with or without flues, some imitating
wind instruments from the Renaissance to the Romantic periods.
A solo Tuba (very ‘round’ tone) can stand up against the full organ; a Trompette en Chamade has its
pipes positioned horizontally and is very sharp and brilliant.

Conical ‘full length’ reeds include: Trumpet, Clarion, Bombarde, Trombone, Fagott, Schalmei,
Oboe.
Cylindrical ‘half length’ reeds include: Dulzian, Cromorne, Krummhorn, Rohrschalmei.
Short (‘fractional’) length reeds include: Vox Humana, Regal, Sordun, Bärpfeife, Rankett

Setting Up the Organ

The most useful thing to do is to set up the organ so that one can move gradually from very soft to
very loud – using the divisional pistons as much as possible, rather than the general pistons.

1. Carefully evaluate the carrying power of your instrument versus the carrying power of
those you are accompanying.
2. Carefully assess the carrying quality of the unenclosed stops.
3. Be especially careful of the (unenclosed) higher pitches.
4. Try to support the choir from below (for example, by putting the R.H. on quieter
manual).
5. Be sparing in the use of celeste stops, and generally avoid a flat tuned céleste until after
the singing has ended…
6. Seize opportunities for soloing lines.
7. Be careful of using powerful 8' reeds while the choir is singing.
8. Work out a ‘standard’ service playing piston set-up that allows for easy crescendos and
diminuendos using divisional pistons only if possible. Keep careful records of
accompaniments for anthems etc. A suggested 'build up' on the Swell division might be:
String 8' + Flute 8' + Flute 4' + Diapason 8' + [+ Oboe 8' ] Diapason 4' + [Principal 2'] + Oboe 8' +
[Principal 2'] + Low Mixture + Reed 16' + [Higher Mixture] +
Reed 8' + [Higher Mixture] + Reed 4'

Huw Lewis: Organ Registration and Hymn Playing, page 2

 DIMNENT MEMORIAL CHAPEL
HOPE COLLEGE
HOLLAND, MICHIGAN

The Chancel Organ

Built by the E. M. Skinner Organ Company of Boston, Massachusetts

The main organ in the front of Dimnent Chapel was built in 1929. It contains forty-eight ranks of pipes making a total of 2,932 pipes
in all. These are distributed over six divisions which are controlled by a console with four manuals and a pedal keyboard. The longest
pipe is 16 feet long and about 16 inches square; the smallest pipe is about one-half inch long. The organ also has two percussion
stops: a set of chimes and a mechanical harp. In 1963 it was cleaned, refurbished, re-leathered and regulated.
The Great, Choir and Pedal divisions are located in the chambers to the left, the Swell division is located in the chamber to the right
and the Solo division is located in a chamber above the proscenium arch. The Echo section and the chimes are located in a chamber
which opens in the southwest corner of the gallery. The action of the organ is electro-pneumatic, and wind pressures range from 5 to
15 inches.
Several of the divisions reflect the goals of organ builders from the American Romantic period of the early 1900’s, and boast
numerous 8 foot (unison) stops. Such stops are intended rather to imitate instruments of the symphony orchestra than to function as
members of the classic organ ensemble. Complete diapason and reed choruses are to be found on the Great and Swell divisions,
however: these two divisions provide the full traditional ensemble of the instrument.
SPECIFICATIONS
The organ has a total of 8 unison, 12 octave, and 6 pedal couplers.
There are 4 adjustable general combinations pistons affecting all stops; 6 combination pistons for the Great, Choir, Solo/Echo, and
Pedal divisions, and 8 for the Swell division.

Great Organ Harp 8' 61 bars and resonators

Bourdon (Pedal extension) 16' 17 pipes Celesta 4'
First Diapason 8' 61 pipes Tremolo
Second Diapason 8' 61 pipes
Flute Harmonique 8' 61 pipes Solo Organ (under expression)
Principal 4' 61 pipes Gamba 8' 73 pipes
Flute 4' 61 pipes Gamba Celeste 8' 73 pipes
Fifteenth 2' 61 pipes French Horn 8' 73 pipes
Mixture IV ranks 2' 244 pipes Tuba Mirabilis 8' 73 pipes
Tuba 8' 61 pipes Tremolo
Clarion 4' 61 pipes
Echo Organ (under expression)
Swell Organ (under expression) Diapason 8' 73 pipes
Diapason 8' 73 pipes Fernfloete 8' 73 pipes
Rohrfloete 8' 73 pipes Vox Humana 8' 73 pipes
Flauto Dolce 8' 73 pipes Tromba 8' 73 pipes
Flute Celeste 8' 61 pipes Chimes 25 tubular bells
Salicional 8' 73 pipes Tremolo
Voix Celeste 8' 73 pipes
Octave 4' 73 pipes
Flute Triangulaire 4' 73 pipes Pedal
Mixture V ranks 2' 305 pipes Diapason 32' (Lower 12 resultant)
Waldhorn 16' 73 pipes Diapason 16' 32 pipes
Trumpet 8' 73 pipes Bourdon 16' 32 pipes
Oboe 8' 73 pipes Octave 8' 12 pipes
Vox Humana 8' 73 pipes Gedeckt 8' 12 pipes
Clarion 4' 73 pipes Flute 4' 12 pipes
Tremolo Trombone 16' 32 pipes
Tromba 8' 12 pipes
Choir Organ (under expression) Clarion 4' 12 pipes
Geigen 8' 73 pipes
Concert Flute 8' 73 pipes
Dulciana 8' 73 pipes
Unda Maris 8' 61 pipes
Flute 4' 73 pipes

Nazard 22/3' 61 pipes

English Horn 8' 73 pipes

Huw Lewis: Organ Registration and Hymn Playing, page 3

 DIMNENT CHAPEL PISTON SETTINGS FOR SERVICE PLAYING

Solo #1 = Flute 8' #2 = #1 + Vox Humana 8' #3 = Cel. 8' #4 = Diap. 8' #5 = #4 #6 = #5 + Tuba 8'

+ Trumpet 8'

Swell #1 = Voix Celestes 8' #2 = Salic.8 & Rohr Flute 8 #3 = #2 + Flute 4' #4 = #3 #5 = #4 #6 = #5 + Mixture #7 = #6 #8 = #7

+ Diapason 8’ + Octave 4’ + Oboe 8’ + Waldhorn 16 + Trumpet

8’

+ Clarion 4’

Great #1 = Flute 8' + Flute 4' #2 = #1 #3 = #2 #4 = #3 #5 = #4 #6 = #5

+ 2nd. Diap. 8 + 1st. Diap. 8’ + Principal 4’ + Bourdon 16' + Mixture

+ Fifteenth 2’ + Trumpet 8'

Choir #1 = Unda Maris & Dul. #2 = Dulciana #3 = #2 #4 = #3 #5 = Fl. 8' & 4' + Nazard #6 = English Horn

+ Melodia 8’ + Flute 4’ + Geigen 8’ + Flute (4')

Pedal #1 = Bourdon 16’ #2 = #1 #3 = #2 #4 = #3 #5 = #4 #6 = #5 .

+ Gedeckt’ + Diapason 16' + Octave 8’ + Diapason 32' + Trombone 16'

Gen. #1 So: #2 Sw: Flute Celestes 8' Gt: Flute 8' Ch: English Horn Ped: #1 Sw/Ped 8' Sw/Gt 8'

Gen. #2 So: #4 Sw: #4 Gt: #2 Ch: #4 Ped: #2 Sw, Gt, Ch, So/Ped 8' Sw, Ch, So/Gt 8', Sw/Ch 8'

Gen. #3 So: #4 Sw: #6 Gt: #4 Ch: #4 Ped: #3 Sw, Gt, Ch, So/Ped 8' Sw, Ch, So/Gt 8'; Sw/Ch 8' So/Gt 4'

Gen. #4 So: #6 Sw: #8 Gt: #6 Ch: #4 Ped: #6 Sw, Gt, Ch, So/Ped 8' Sw, Ch, So/Gt 8'; So/Gt 16'

+ Clarion 4' + Tromba 8' Sw/Ch 8' & 4'

Huw Lewis: Organ Registration and Hymn Playing, page 4

 Guidelines for Hymns Accompaniment
Articulation (tied notes etc.)

As a general rule:
• Play legato – especially in dry acoustics;
• Tie common-tones, but repeat before strong beats;
• Don't tie repeated melody notes:

1. Play the tune while singing it.

2. Practice the pedal part alone (sing the tune while playing the pedal part!).
3. Play the tune with the pedal.
4. Avoid doubling the pedal part with the left hand.
5. Carefully work out the distribution of the manual parts between the hands, and add
in the fingering and points of articulation.
6. Clearly set the mood of the hymn through the tempo, dynamics, and touch.
7. Establish a consistent pattern of rests between the verses, and keep it consistent for
the duration of the hymn if there are to be no interludes. This can help
congregational confidence. (If you use interludes, make it clear to the congregation
by starting the interlude on the last word of the stanza: if you modulate in major
keys, remember that minor IV is very helpful..)

The introduction may be simple or complex.

1. Play the hymn all the way through, with or without pedals.
2. In some hymns (in some situations), omit selected interior phrases.
3. Alternate the tune in octaves with harmony, phrase by phrase; the octaves may be
played on a loud solo stop.
4. Add parts incrementally (i.e., start with a solo line—pedals?—add one voice per
phrase.
5. Solo out the tune with the right hand. A strong Cornet can be very nice for this.
(Note: this often takes practice and is not so easy for most beginning organists.) Try
introducing the hymn in the tenor range;
6. Introduce the hymn over a musette figure.
7. More elaborate introductions may be selected from composed collections, or
improvised (i.e. worked out beforehand!).

Registration

1. The first stops to draw are: Swell to Great; Swell to Pedal; and Great to Pedal.
2. The Diapasons are the 'bread-and-butter' stops of hymn playing. A good Diapason
at 8' pitch (unison) should be scaled and voiced to accompany a congregation in a
prayerful hymn—unless the building is very, very large.
3. The Diapason chorus (8', 4', 2', with or without mixture) is the basis for most hymn
accompaniments.

Huw Lewis: Organ Registration and Hymn Playing, page 5

 4. Flutes are used if they are full-bodied, the hymn is very quiet, and the congregation is
small.
5. Strings are rarely used for hymn accompaniment: they are usually too soft. They can
be very effective, however, if the congregation is a 'singing congregation' or if there
is a good choir that will lead the congregation in quiet hymns. They are used for
very quiet verses, and for fading out organ accompaniment where unaccompanied
hymn singing is desired and possible.
6. Reeds may be added to the Diapason chorus for fiery, and dramatic effects. A 16'
reed is often more effective than an 8' reed.
7. Some traditions tend to discourage the use of 16' manual tone, while others
encourage it. It is a matter of 'local taste.'
8. Plan the registration beforehand, and allow it to be varied. While Diapasons 8' 4', 2'
are an effective way to lead a congregation, they can become tiresome.
Do not be afraid to use 16’ manual tone, as well as reed tone at 16’ pitch.
9. However, in planning registration, avoid excessively dramatic changes — these may
be more gradually introduced by interludes.

Tempo/Phrasing

1. Establish a natural, easy tempo before you start the introduction. If you sing ‘in your
mind’ imagine singing loudly with deep breaths.
2. Imagining fewer but larger beats can help with musical flexibility.
3. The 'larger' the beat, the easier it is to project the musical line, which in turn will the
literary (spiritual) thought being expressed. The character of the text, the length of
the musical phrase, the number of singers, the size of the space, the nature of the
church’s acoustics, and, finally, local tradition (not to be underestimated) will play
important roles in determining tempo.
4. Generally, the bigger, the broader.
5. Speed does not necessarily generate excitement: nor does slow guarantee
expressiveness.
6. A living, flexible rhythm is paramount.
7. Do not be afraid to be flexible with the tempo: indeed, a slight broadening of the
tempo of the final verse can be very powerful.

Varying the hymn accompaniment.

1. Less is usually more: never draw too much attention to the organ.
2. Pedal points, especially in the last phrase.
3. Descants created from either the alto or tenor voices (when you are practiced at this,
you end up combining these voices).
4. Passing tones, especially between thirds (this is a simple diminution technique).
5. Simple re-harmonization of internal main cadences.

Huw Lewis: Organ Registration and Hymn Playing, page 6

 Quiet Solo Combinations

All of the folowingcan be used with or without the Tremulant. The accompaniment can be
a simple 8’ flute (possibly with a 4’)’ in the manual, and a quiet 16’ in the pedal coupled to
the accompaniment manual.

8’ Principal (or 4’ played octave below).

8’ Oboe (sometimes a 16’ reed played 8ve higher, or a 4’ reed played 8 ve lower.
Cromorne, with or without flute 8’ or 4’.
Flutes 8’, 4’, 2 2/3’.
Flutes 8’, 4’, 1 3/5.
Flutes 8’, 2 2/3, 1 3/5’.

Huw Lewis: Organ Registration and Hymn Playing, page 7