Organ Pipe Families

Over the course of 1,000 years, four different types or families of organ pipes emerged: (1) Principals, (2) Flutes, (3) Strings, and (4) Reeds.  The families are distinguished by the timbre or quality of sound they produce, as well as the manner in which they are constructed.

THE FLUTE PIPES

The first three families of organ pipes are collectively called "flue" pipes because pressurized air passes through a narrow passage called a "flue" causing turbulence and setting the column of air inside the pipe into regular wave motion.  This is precisely how sound is created with an orchestral flute, and so it is no wonder that organ pipes are very good at imitating flutes.  However, there is great variety possible with "flute" pipes because of the various ways the pipes themselves can be sha.  Some are wider, some narrower, some with tapered bodies, some with stoppers in side of them, some with chimneys bored into the stoppers, and some have strategically located holes in the body like those in an orchestral flute that allows the flute to play higher harmonics.  Sets or ranks of flute pipes are often made to play at a variety of pitches as well, which means they can be played alone or with exponentially numerous combinations with other flutes or other families of organ pipes.

LISTEN

Listen HERE to Dr. Ben Keseley demonstrating the several varieties of colorful flute pipe in Martin Pasi's Opus 28 at St. George's Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia.  These are among the kinds of sounds we will hear from the new St. Michael organ when it is finished.