Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > January 2000 > 2000.01.21 > 04Prev  Next


Tracker Organs vs. Electro-Pneumatic Action
By Bill Chapman

I noted with interest the comments about tracker organs being compared
to old cars on a freeway, but its au contraire !

Tracker organs, in my opinion, have advantages over the application of
electricity to the action.  With a tracker organ you can control the
initial tone to pipes which are voiced with chiff.  The initial burst
of harmonics notable on some ranks is dependent upon the organist's
touch.

Besides all that, playing a tracker organ is a real treat.  You are
very much connected to the instrument as you feel the pluck as the key
overcomes the resistance of the windchest air against the pallet.  All
that is lost when you remove the direct connection of the fingers to
the pipe.  When the keyboards are coupled the touch is slightly
heavier, but that is not a problem.

As I see it, the advantage of electrifying keyboards is that you can
move the console around corners, have multiple consoles, put them on
hydraulic lifts, and transfer ranks.  This gives rise to a different
type of sound that has its own literature.

Bill Chapman

 [ Since the key in a tracker organ moves the pipe valve directly
 [ it really constitutes a continuous control valve, whereas the usual
 [ electric organ keyboard is on-off.  The calliope is a very simple
 [ tracker organ.  The keyboard is right above the valves and the key
 [ pushes directly down upon the valve stem.  It's fun to modulate
 [ the air flow through the valves to make the "hwoo-woo" sound of
 [ a locomotive whistle!   -- Robbie


(Message sent Fri 21 Jan 2000, 15:39:43 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Action, Electro-Pneumatic, Organs, Tracker, vs

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page