Organ History/Design Quiz 2

Question 1

Advantages of electric action

Answer 1

-Easy to lay out and construct
-Easier to build in mass
-Avoids issue of connection between key and frame
-Can instantly change stops
-Larger instruments with greater variety of stopsA

Question 2

Disadvantages of electric action

Answer 2

-It created a disconnect between the key and pallet
-Loss of integrity between the console and frames
-Many organs no longer stand-alone instruments, but orchestral imitations

Question 3

True or false: While voltage is the force behind electrons, amperage is the amount of current being forced through the circuit

Answer 3

True

Question 4

True or false: the circuits for electric action use low voltage (from about 12-18 volts) direct current (DC)

Answer 4

True

Question 5

True or False: A rectifier increases the voltages from low to high and smooths AC into DC

Answer 5

false

Question 6

True or false: Whenever a piece of ferrite metal is mounted so that it intentionally moves in the direction of the electromagnet core, that piece of metal is called an armature

Answer 6

True

Question 7

An electromagnet is also known as a….

Answer 7

solenoid

Question 8

True or false: In parallel wiring each circuit is directly connected to the positive side of the power supply and returns directly to the negative side

Answer 8

True

Question 9

_______ wiring is never used in organ building, saved by accident

Answer 9

series

Question 10

What prevents arcing?

Answer 10

The bronze or copper, when pushed by the key, intersect with gold or silver that resists arcing

Question 11

True or false: a multiple or ganged switch is a compound switch (i.e. a series of single switches grouped together) so mounted that all the switches open and close simultaneously

Answer 11

True

Question 12

True or false: The unison off is like all other couplers

Answer 12

false

Question 13

What do stop knob and stop tab do in electric action?

Answer 13

They either open slider to the note note channel chest or allow wind to the stop channels. Act as simple switches

Question 14

Organ chests serve three functions:

Answer 14

1. Provide support for the pipework
2. Provide space beneath the pipes for air
3. Have action to let the player activate certain times

Question 15

What are the two most common ways of lining up pipes of a chest?

Answer 15

1. The V shape, one side C whole tone and the other C sharp
2. The A shape, C and C-sharp sides go to the middle

Question 16

What are the three kinds of chests?

Answer 16

1. Note or key channel
2. Stop channel
3. Universal chest/direct action

Question 17

What is a pallet box?

Answer 17

The box connected to the wind supply and always containing air

Question 18

What are pallets? What are they made of? How do they work?

Answer 18

They are rectangular valves made of light wood with leather on top to keep them airtight. They are opened by a wire pulldown to let air into the pipe and are cut shut by a spring.

Question 19

What are sliders and how do they work?

Answer 19

They are pieces of wood with holes that either block or allow air into the pipes. They usually go left to right.

Question 20

What are spiderings and how are they useful.

Answer 20

They are shallow grooves in sliders that prevent runs of air from going from one pipe to the other, since sliders cant be airtight.

Question 21

What is a divided stop?

Answer 21

Stop divded between the bass and treble. Made by having sliders move for only bass or treble.

Question 22

In the Spanish tradition, the break occurs between…

Answer 22

C and C#

Question 23

In the English, French, and Italian tradition, the break occurs between…

Answer 23

B and C

Question 24

What is a spring chest?

Answer 24

Similar to a slider chest. Each toe has a spring pallet that is opened as a stop is pulled. This opens an entire note channel that allows for wind to enter a given note channel.

Question 25

Briefly discuss the Barker lever

Answer 25

It is an assist to mechanical action that utilizes a pneumatic bellow. As a key is depressed, the pulldown opens a valve that allows air into a bellow that inflates and pulls down on the pallet to the pipe.

Question 26

What is the Pitman chest? What is its advantage?

Answer 26

It is a chest where air is constantly in the stop channel allowing for instant changes of stops.

Question 27

Name the two families of organ builders prominent in France in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries

Answer 27

1. Clicquot
2. Thierry

Question 28

Name two of the three prominent organ building families in England in the seventeenth centuries.

Answer 28

1. Dallam/Harris
2. Smith

Question 29

How was the pedal division of the North German Organ different from the pedal division of the French Classic organ and also that of Sweelinck’s instrument?

Answer 29

It was much more developed and independent division in Germany than in France. The French organs only had two-three 8’ stops, while the German organs could have upwards of 15 stops. Sweelinck’s had an 8’ trumpet and 2’ nachthorn.

Question 30

What is Werkprinzip? What divisions would you find and where would they be located.

Answer 30

It is the relationship between all the different divisions of a North German style organ. On larger organs, would find:
-A haptwerk: division in the center of the organ that contained the primary principal horus, flutes, and trumpets.
Ruckpositiv: Behind the player, contains a secondary principal chorus, built in a narrower scale.
Obwerk: based on 8 ft, found inside the case.
Sometimes a brustwerk that is below the Haptwerk can be found.