[sdiy] The Ultimate Analog?

[Tony Clark]

> >Could this be the ultimate analog? You decide!

   In a word, no.  The reason is that the console is electric and not 
mechanical as would be the case in a "Tracker" pipe organ.  Since the 
console operates the pipes by means of a giant relay box (and apparently 
needs work?) it's not the ultimate.
   I personally _love_ pipe organs.  I once got to play one of the largest 
Tracker pipe organ in North America.  Tracker organs have no 
electronics in them at al (save for the small air-motor that feeds the 
bellows).  It was immense, all built in to one super gigantic wood 
structure.  It has 4 keyboards, 70 stops, and 4861 pipes.
   In a tracker organ, the keys are mechanically attached to the pipes.
It requires much more force to play the keyboard (especially if you have 
linked multiple keyboards together (and yes, they do all move 
simultaneously when you do that!)).
   One of the neatest things about the organ is the placement of the 
pipes.  They are not symmetrical across the scale, so when you play up 
and down the keyboard, the stereo placement of the sound changes.  That 
leads to a very full three-dimensional sound when playing it!  It also 
could put out notes so low you felt it rather than heard it.
   Amazing piece, certainly one of the greatest highlights of my life.  
Also quite impressive to watch the little old lady (master organist) 
attack the instrument!  Bach fugues on this organ will make you weep.
   Here are some interesting links:

   http://church.southern.edu/aboutus/organ.shtml

   This page shows a picture of the monster organ.  Note how small the 4 
manual keyboard looks!  And yes, on either side are arched passageways 
that lead into the organ.

   http://www.philipglass.com/organ.html

   This is a CD made on the above tracker organ.  I haven't heard it, but 
it should be interesting to anyone who is interested in organ music and 
wants to hear what a truly magnificent organ is capable of.

   http://www.efn.org/~centluth/other_organs/collegedale_tn.html

   This page shows the technical details of the organ, including the 
pipe ranks and other instruments.

   Hope this has been of interest to someone.

   Cheers,

   Tony

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