JULIAN RHODES' DREAM ORGANS
STOPLISTS FOR IDEAL ORGANS

The following is taken from 'The Organ' monthly, No.12, April 1894, Boston.

A number of your correspondents have spoken of an "ideal organ". What constitutes an ideal organ is largely a matter of opinion; but I think a majority would find a near approach to their idea of perfection in an organ built from the following specification. The points considered are a complete tonal resource; a perfection of touch, repetition and response; an absence of duplication in the stops (for use in combination); an increase in combination possibilities, by a new stop-action system in swell and choir organs; a simplicity of arrangement in key, drawstop and combination action; and an expense within reasonable limits - in short, a practical organ, which is suitable in every way for any purpose for which a pipe organ can be utilized.

GREAT ORGAN     
    16       Open Diapason       
     8       Open Diapason, American type
     8       Open Diapason, English type
     8       Open Diapason, small           
     8       French Horn
     8       Violoncello
     8       Gemshorn
     8       Harmonic Flute                  large scale                    
     4       Octave  
     4       Harmonic Flute
    2 2/3    Quinte Flute    
     2       Fifteenth
    IV       Mixture
     8       Trumpet

SWELL AND CHOIR (or SECOND ORGAN)
One wind-chest enclosed in a swell box, and controlled by the swell and choir keys. Every stop can be drawn upon either or both manuals, the couplers working as in the old stop system; for instance, if the Oboe, Stop Diapason and Salicional be drawn upon the swell manual, the same Salicional may be drawn upon the choir manual, in combination with any or all other stops on the swell and choir chest, and the swell to pedal, choir to pedal, choir or swell to great, and swell to choir will bring into effect such stops as are in use on the manuals affected by the coupler drawn. The "second" organ is a combination of the common type of swell and choir organs now in use, without duplication of stops and with a few additions which would be acceptable.

    16       Gedeckt
    16       Contra Salicional
    16       Contra Dulciana 
     8       Open Diapason
     8       Geigen Principal
     8       Spitz-flöte
     8       Salicional
     8       Voix Céleste
     8       Viol d'Orchestra
     8       Aeoline
     8       Concert Flute
     8       Stopped Diapason
     8       Dulciana
     8       Quintadena
     4       Octave
     4       Violina
     4       Salicet
     4       Flauto Traverso   
     4       Flûte d'Amour 
     2       Piccolo
    IV       Dolce Cornet
    16       Contra Fagotto
     8       Cornopean
     8       Clarinet
     8       Orchestral Oboe
     8       Oboe             
 
ECHO ORGAN (ventil), from GREAT MANUAL
     8       Quintadena
     8       Echo Flute                     
     8       Echo Voix Céleste II
     8       Vox Humana             
 
PEDAL ORGAN    
    32       Bourdon  
    16       Open Diapason    
    16       Bourdon
    16       Violone
    16       Dulciana
   10 2/3    Quinte
     8       Flute
     8       Gedeckt
     8       Dulciana
 
Couplers:   Swell on itself at 8vs
            Swell to Great (unison)
            Great to Swell at 8vs (pedal)
            Choir to Great (unison)
            Choir to Great Sub-Octave
            Swell to Choir (unison)
            Great separation
            Great off, Echo on
            Swell to Pedal
            Choir to Pedal
            Great to Pedal (rev.)
            Pedal on itself at 8vs.

Stop and Combination Action.
Every stop on the second organ has two registers - one for the upper, and one for the lower keyboard. The second organ contains twenty-seven stops; but in combination possibilities it is equivalent to two separate organs of twenty-seven stops each, every stop being characteristic, and all together representing all qualities and grades of organ tone.

GREAT ORGAN
Combinations 1, 2, and 3 - set
Combination 4, 5 - adjustable

SECOND ORGAN, UPPER MANUAL
Combination 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - adjustable

SECOND ORGAN, LOWER MANUAL
Combination 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - adjustable

All combinations control pedal stops and suitable couplers, and move registers, are so comprehensive in arrangement that a few moments' inspection will make their operation clear.

Tremolo, upper manual
Tremolo, lower manual
Tremolo, Echo organ
Grand Crescendo (balanced pedal)
Full Organ with Couplers
All Couplers (locking pedal)
Balanced Swell (Second Organ)
Tubular Pneumatic or electric action

Greatest wind pressure necessary for pipework, 4 inches; and for mechanism, 3 inches.

I have long believed that the combining of the swell and choir manuals, in the manner suggested here, would meet with favour, and take this opportunity of offering it for criticism. It is not what might be called a colossal organ in its number of stops nor in its number of manuals.

It may be thought that an ideal organ should have four or five manuals, but this is written in the belief that three manuals, under proper control, make the most convenient form of console.

Hoping that THE ORGAN will live and grow, and that this will be thought worthy of your consideration, I am,

Very truly yours,

ERNEST M. SKINNER