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 STRING PIPES

Pipes belonging to the "String" family of organ pipes produce their sound the same way the Principal and Flutes do.  However, the diameter of these pipes is significantly smaller than Principal and Flute pipes of the same length.  The narrow scale of the String pipes emphasizes the upper "harmonics" of the tone, imitating the sound of bowed string instruments like the Violin, Viola, Cello, or Double Bass.  Sometimes extra sets of String pipes are are tuned slightly sharp or flat to create a so-called "choral effect" of several stringed instruments playing in ensemble.  Sets of detuned String pipes are generically called "celeste" ranks, because they evoke a heavenly, celestial sound.  One name for a "celeste" rank is "Unda maris," or "wave of the sea."  You get the idea.  Listen to the demonstration below.

We'll have two "celeste" ranks on our new organ:  the String "Vox coelestis" ("celestial voice") and the Principal "Suavial," connoting "sweetness."

LISTEN

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