[LAU] stupid organ-question

[Bert Visser]

> Hi,
>
>   
>> There are two similar terms, 'plenum', and 'ripieno'.
>> Neither of them mean 'all', rather they refer to all
>> stops (starting at 8' and up) of a same family, or
>> a combination that includes (almost) all harmonics
>> of an 8'.
>>     
>
> IIRC there are two further terms called "plein jeux" (all stops of the 
> principal family like prestants, montres, octaves etc.) and "Grand Jeux" 
> (adding the reeds to plein jeux?!?).
>
> IMO all those names may describe different things, depending on the instrument 
> the composer was using. If your instrument has no montre 8', "plein jeux" 
> would probably include an 8' flute. And if you have no reeds at all, 
> maybe "Grand Jeux" then means a "plein jeux" plus an tertiary aliquot (like 
> tierce etc.) to fake the missing reeds?
>
> Best regards,
>
> ce
>
>   
Perhaps I can clarify a bit of the terminology.

"Plenum" or "In organo pleno" and "Ripieno" come from the German Baroque 
era. They mean a full Principal chorus (Prestants, Octaves, Quint 2 
2/3', not 5 1/3' !, Mixtures), combined with some Flute stops (Quintaton 
16', Flute 8'), and depending on the character of the piece, one or more 
manual Reeds. In the Pedal you have to draw the strong Reeds like 
Posaune 16'.
In later time, say Reger c.s., this term is used as the final, strongest 
sound and that quite equals the "Tutti", then meaning full organ but of 
course, as pointed out earlier without undulating stops and without some 
very soft charachteristic stops. Usually also without Flute's 4' (on a 
real organ a Flute 4' only consumes a lot of air and adds practically 
nothing to the Tutti)

"Plein jeu" and "Grand jeu" are stemming from the French Baroque music.
In a "Plein jeu" you have the principals ( on a 16' basis), bourdon 8' 
and all the different mixtures (Cymbale etc.); no reeds. In the pedal 
only a Trumpet 8', coupled to the manuals; French organs from this 
peroid had no other pedal stops.
In a "Grand jeu" you have the Trumpets, Clairons (4') plus tertiary 
aliquots like Cornet or Sesquialter; no principals or bourdons.

"Tutti" in French romantic music (and later) means all manuals coupled, 
with foundations (principals, flutes etc.), mutations and reeds and sub- 
and supercouplers. No undulating stops and no soft charachteristic stops 
like Voix humaine, quite similar to the German romanitcism. Only the 
sound is very different: in French organs the Reeds are very strong and 
dominant and the Mixtures are quite soft in comparison; in German organs 
from this time the Reeds are fairly weak and the upperwork is stronger.

Kind regards,
Bert

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