Dictionary/K

These pages comprise a dictionary of terms relating to the pipe organ. Please keep definitions to a few sentences, and do not include pictures or sound clips. When more space is needed for a term, a new page can be created for it.

 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 

Kegellade Chest (German) -- Cone chest.

Keraulophone [noun] -- A flue stop appearing frequently in larger instruments of the late 19th-early 20th centuries. The typical version was medium-scale, with a tone like a stringy or horny diapason. Often found as a solo stop. Early builders used this name for other types of stops.

Key

Key Action [noun] the parts of an organ consisting of the keys and their connections to the wind chests.

Key Channel

Key Pin

Keyboard

Keydesk [noun] the part of an organ, similar to the console, that is attached to an organ case and houses the manuals (keyboards) stops, couplers, and other mechanical devices with which the organist controls the sound of the organ. Organs with an attached keydesk are usually have a key action that is mechanical or tubular-pnuematic.

Kimball -- The W. W. Kimball Organ Company was founded in Chicago in 1857, and built many important church, concert, and theatre organs until they shut down that part of their business in 1942. They were one of the most prominent American firms in the early part of the twentieth century. One of their important installations is the 1938 four-manual, 96-rank organ at St. John's Cathedral, Denver.

Knee-Lever

Koppelfl&ouml;te [noun] -- an open metal flute stop with a conical open cap, frequently found at the 4' pitch level. The tone is bright and blending.

Kronpositiv [noun] -- In the Werkprinzip style, a division that is at the top of the case, above the other manual divisions. "Kron" = German 'crown'.

Kronwerk [noun] -- see "Kronpositiv', above.

Krummhorn [noun] -- A colorful reed stop usually built with narrow-scale half-length resonators. Most modern versions resemble the Clarinet in tone, but the stop can also be voiced to sound more like a buzzy oboe. It is an "antique" stop, and was a fixture on the Positif division of the early French instruments, where it was called Cromorne. A version appeared on early English organs as Cremona.