The Pipe Organ: A Brief Celebration

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Westminster Abbey Organ | www.westminster-abbey.org

The Catholic Church has long held the organ in high esteem as the premier musical instrument for use in the sacred liturgy. Several key reasons emerge from the provided references as to why the organ is valued in the Mass:

The organ is "especially fitted for the sacred chants and sacred rites" and "adds a wonderful splendor and a special magnificence to the ceremonies of the Church." Its grand and majestic sound helps elevate the solemnity and grandeur of the liturgical celebration.

The organ "moves the souls of the faithful by the grandeur and sweetness of its tones" and "gives minds an almost heavenly joy and it lifts them up powerfully to God and to higher things." The organ's music has the power to inspire devotion and draw the faithful closer to the divine.

The organ's sound "enhances the whole liturgical ceremony with its noble art" and "adds dignity, majesty and a prodigious richness" to the sacred music of the Mass. It is seen as the premier instrument to accompany and elevate the singing and prayers of the liturgy.

The Church has "always held this polyphonic chant in the highest esteem" and "willingly admitted this type of music even in the Roman basilicas and in pontifical ceremonies in order to increase the glory of the sacred rites." The organ's ability to accompany and enhance this sacred chant is highly valued.

Overall, the organ is seen as uniquely suited to "add[ing] a wonderful splendor" and "powerfully lift[ing] up man's mind to God and to higher things" through its majestic and devotional musical contributions to the Mass.

References

  1. Musicae Sacrae 58
  2. Sacrosanctum Concilium 120
  3. Musicae Sacrae 15
  4. Musicae Sacrae 34
  5. Musicae Sacrae 16
  6. Musicae Sacrae 32


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The Machinery of Music

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/worship-music/music/the-organs

  1. Westminster Abbey Organ ​

    • Built by Harrison and Harrison in 1937, with subsequent modifications in 1982 and 1987.

  2. Great Organ

    • Double Geigen 16’, Bourdon 16’, Open Diapason I 8’, Open Diapason II 8’, Geigen 8’, Hohl Flute 8’, Stopped Diapason 8’, Octave 4’, Geigen Principal 4’, Wald Flute 4’, Octave Quint 2 2/3’, Super Octave 2’, Mixture 15.19.22.26.29 V, Harmonics 17.19.21.22 IV, Sharp Mixture 29.33.36 III, Contra Posaune 16’, Posaune 8’, Octave Posaune 4’. ​
    • Various couplers and combinations with other organs.

  3. Swell Organ

    • Quintaton 16’, Open Diapason 8’, Viole d’Amour 8’, Salicional 8’, Vox Angelica 8’, Lieblich Gedeckt 8’, Principal 4’, Lieblich Flute 4’, Harmonic Flute 4’, Twelfth 2 2/3’, Fifteenth 2’, Mixture 15.19.22.26.29 V, Contra Oboe 16’, Oboe 8’, Vox Humana 8’, Tremulant. ​
    • Various couplers and combinations with other organs.

  4. Choir Organ

    • Bourdon 16’, Open Diapason 8’, Rohr Flute 8’, Principal 4’, Open Flute 4’, Nazard 2 2/3’, Fifteenth 2’, Blockflute 2’, Tierce 1 3/5’, Mixture 22.26.29.33 IV, Cremona 8’, Tremulant. ​

  5. Solo Organ

    • Contre Viole 8’, Viole d’Orchestre 8’, Viole Céleste 8’, Viole Octaviante 4’, Cornet de Violes 10.12.15 III, Harmonic Flute 8’, Concert Flute 2’, Harmonic Piccolo 2’, Double Clarinet 8’, Clarinet (from 16’) 8’, Cor Anglais 8’, Orchestral Hautboy 8’, French Horn 8’, Orchestral Trumpet 8’, Contra Tuba 16’, Tuba (from 16’) 8’, Tuba Mirabilis (unenclosed) 8’, Octave, Unison Off, Sub Octave.

  6. Pedal Organ

    • Open Diapason 16’, Geigen (from Great) 16’, Bourdon (from Great) 16’, Principal 8’, Octave Geigen (from Geigen) 8’, Bass Flute (from Bourdon) 8’, Fifteenth 4’, Rohr Flute 4’, Open Flute 2’, Mixture 19.22.26.29 IV, Contra Posaune (from Great) 16’, Posaune (from Great) 8’, Octave Posaune (from Great) 4’.
    • Double Open Wood*^ 32’, Open Wood I 16’, Open Wood II (from 32’) 16’, Violone (from Bombarde) 16’, Viole (from Solo) 16’, Double Ophicleide*^ 32’, Ophicleide (from 32’) 16’, Tuba (from Solo) 16’, Clarinet (from Solo) 16’, Trumpet 8’, Clarion (from Trumpet) 4’. ​
    • Various couplers and combinations with other organs.

  7. Bombarde Organ

    • Violone 16’, Open Diapason 8’, Principal 4’, Fifteenth 2’, Mixture 19.22.26.29 IV–VI, Grand Cornet 1.8.12.15.17 IV–V, Bombarde 16’, Trumpet 8’, Clarion 4’, Contra Posaune (from Great) 16’, Posaune (from Great) 8’, Octave Posaune (from Great) 4’, Tuba Mirabilis (from Solo) 8’.
    • Bombarde Chorus on Great.

  8. Compass

    • Manual: CC – c (61 notes).
    • Pedal: CCC – g (32 notes).

  9. Combination Couplers

    • Great and Pedal combinations coupled.
    • Generals on Swell Foot Pistons.
    • Pedal to Swell Pistons.

  10. Accessories

    • 10 toe pistons to Pedal Organ.
    • 10 thumb pistons to Choir, Great, Swell, and Solo Organs.
    • 10 toe pistons to the Swell Organ.
    • 6 thumb pistons to the Bombarde Organ.
    • 10 General thumb pistons with stepper.
    • Next and Previous thumb & toe pistons.
    • 512 memory levels for General Pistons.
    • 16 memory levels for Divisional Pistons.

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