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Page 2 of Frequently Asked Questions
| How is a Theatre Pipe Organ (TPO) different from a classical organ?' The History of the Classical Organ Pipe organs trace their roots back to the hydraulis in the days BC. It was a single set of pipe, powered by water. For the next thousand years, organs grew in size and complexity. Water power was replaced by air pressure from a bellows. By the Middle Ages pipe organs filled many cathedrals with glorious sound. These organs looked and sounded much like classical organs of today, except electric motors now provide the air pressure instead of the hard-working bellows boys. Sounds that range from ethereal to thunderous can be produced by one person at the console. Only a full symphony orchestra can come close to making that much sound. But a pipe organ can play louder and play higher and lower pitches. The Birth of the Theatre Pipe Organ The development of motion pictures in the 20’s created the need for a special kind of pipe organ – one that could replace the pit orchestra that accompanied the silent films. Pipes were especially designed to imitate the sound of clarinets, trombones, saxophones, and trumpets. Sound effects were added. For economy, the wind pressure was raised to make more sound with fewer ranks. Special modifications of the console made it easier to play. TPO's were an instant hit. Every theater had to have one to accompany their movies – until 1928 when sound was put on film and the movie accompanied itself. After a long exile in obscurity, some TPO's were moved into private homes and even schools, where they could again entertain audiences. Some became the featured entertainment in large pizza restaurants. Although the TPO was developed from the classical organ, it is a different instrument in its sound and in its purpose. Return to Frequently Asked Questions Why is so much engraved on each tablet? Often the organist must press the correct tablet quickly, choosing it from all the others in an instant. They need to be sure the tablet will play exactly the pipes they want. So each tablet is engraved with this necessary information: -- Name of the Rank Unlike classical organs, TPO's can play a rank from several manuals. -- Longest Pipe available with that tablet The usual pitch range of a rank (comparable to the pitch of a piano) starts with the pipe that is 8 feet long. Pipes get shorter as they go up the scale to the smallest pipe in the rank. Pipes an octave lower can be accessed by choosing a tablet marked 16’. Tablets for two octaves lower are marked 32’. Pipes sounding an octave higher than usual can be accessed by choosing a tablet marked 4’ . Return to Frequently Asked Questions |